Trains Trains Trains!

I wrote in a previous post that it's hard for me to focus for a long time when I'm trying to play with the kids.  My therapist suggested finding things that I enjoy doing and then fit them into our play routine. I like to craft and my kids like to color, so I bought a fun mosaic coloring book for me to do with them.  I love being outdoors, so I try to take them out for 15 min at least every day.  I don't always succeed at the every day thing, but it's more regular now than not.  I like mountains and exercise, and the kids enjoy running around outside, so I hope to integrate hiking into our routine.  Calvin really enjoys playing with his train tracks.  He spends most of his play time doing this.  I happen to enjoy puzzles.  Playing trains with Calvin (when he isn't bossy) is enjoyable because it's like a puzzle for me.

My older sister was really kind and mailed her kids' tracks to us last year.  It was a great start for us to build up a nice supply.  For Calvin's birthday, we purchased some new pieces so that I could make more intricate tracks for him.  We play with trains for at least 2 hours a day.  I've reached the point now where I need more pieces like t shaped splits and three way curves to make a better "puzzle".  Calvin is frustrated because it's hard to build the tracks so that he can go on every track without derailing.  I bought some new pieces on amazon to do this.  I've been looking forward to the T-shaped split to come in the mail.  During quiet time today, I finally figured out how to make it fit with the pieces that we already own!  I guess now we'll have more than one t-shaped piece right?

Calvin has a jar that he is trying to fill full of stones.  When he fills it full, he gets a prize (big prizes require more than one fill).  Sometimes it is a trip to the bounce house/arcade, a hot wheels car, a new coloring book, a craft item, etc.  I think I found something to motivate him AND me to earn stones for his jar!  I'm pretty excited about that!

What do you do to connect with your children more?  How do you make sure you are fully present with them in body AND mind?