Threats, Trucks, and Tenderness

There's nothing like using threats to ensure proper behavior!  

Surely, a solid mothering move...

I had to threaten a change of plans in order to get Alekzander to nap today, but I knew it was essential to a successful afternoon...  After nap, we invited two sweet brothers to come hang out with us while their mommy and daddy packed up their house for a long awaited move.  Alekzander was beyond cute with the baby ... he kept calling him "Baby" and would even say "my baby" to which big brother Allen reminded him multiple times that Watson was NOT Alekzander's baby.  "Baby" was well taken care of by Alekzander.  He received toys, books, hugs, kisses ... everything a baby could want.  "You want book, Baby?  Hmmm?"  {I love his tender little heart.}  When Alekzander wasn't obsessing over the baby, he was slightly possessive of his toys,  but learned to play nicely with his friend.  The big boys played "garbage" {filled the toy recycling truck with blocks and emptied it 20 times}, rocked out with guitars and improvised drums, raced cars, hit baseballs, hid in the "car wash tent," and taught Watson about new toys.

 {Alekzander - almost 2.5}

             {Allen - 3 yr + 51 weeks}               {Watson - "0 years" per Allen :: 8 months}         

So fun ... and surprisingly so easy with 3 little guys under 4!