uncle don's barn

Uncle Don gave Ivar a very precious gift. After we were together at The Landing, he asked if Ivar needed any more farm toys. And then he showed us his barn. Uncle Don made this barn for his boys, based off of the barn my mom had on her farm growing up. That barn is gone now, but this one is getting more love and attention than ever.

On Friday morning, the day after we got the barn, Ivar called me into his room, unsteady on his feet in his crib and told me, "I need to play with my barn!" He went downstairs by himself (never happens) and played for 45 minutes while the rest of us slept.

I told Rory it was the closest we have come to a Christmas Morning with him. His first he was an infant, second we had the flu and this last year he cried the whole morning. He was out of sorts and it made for a memorable, but not picture perfect Christmas morning. But Friday morning held the same joy and anticipation we were expecting on December 25th.

And as you can see, the barn was intended for Ivar, but Elsie is just as interested. She takes all the hay bales and horses and puts on the upper level. And then she puts them all in the lower level. And again and again. Lots of "sibling sharing" teachable moments around here lately...