Play Time

Earlier today, Hayden asked me if I could make him a fort. I was happy to oblige. I made him a fort using the dining room table and chairs. Hayden then started the task of bringing every single toy he owns into his fort. Soon the babies (Jake and Claire, Quinn was a sleep) were curious and wanted to check it out. Much to my surprise, Hayden let them in. He actually pulled them in.
For a while they were all playing nicely in the fort and I even heard some laughter. I thought great, I can get some more laundry done. After folding a load or two, everyone was still playing nicely and I had a smile on my face because Hayden was being such a good boy and he really likes the babies, it is finally working, they are able to play together ... but wait it is quite, too quite. I then see Jake trying to push his way out from under the table. I help him and pick him up and he is covered in black and yellow marker. I pull Claire out and she too had black and yellow all over her face.
"Hayden what happened? Why are the babies colored with marker?" I see Hayden and he has black and yellow marker all over his face too.
Hayden then shows me his hands and says "Mama, this is the light (yellow hand) in the cave and this is when it is dark (black hand)." "
Hayden, you don't color on your brother and sister."
"Mama, they are light and dark too."
I really didn't know what to say to this and begin to clean everyone up. My only regret is that I was too upset to capture this creativity with a picture. Maybe next time, and I am sure there will be a next time, I will remember that it is only marker, washable maker (Thank you, Crayola) and not the end of the world.