The White Horse Whispers: Bike ride, lasagna, cookies, and nightmares

I've gone from having two kids who sleep in their own rooms to two kids in bed with me tonight.

Last Saturday Daniel was in full meltdown mode, really rare, crying for an hour. The only words he could get out were that he was having nightmares that he couldn't get out of and that Loreli was always teasing him. Once he calmed down I told him that now that they were both with me or Daddy all the time the teasing was over and if it would help we could put a mattress on the floor of our bedroom and he could sleep there for awhile. That's where he's been for a week now.

Three different times this week Loreli has woken up with nightmares. The first thing that comes to mind is that it's been since we've taken everything out of her room. Her bed is in there and an empty chest of drawers but that's it. Is it at all possible all that stuff could have been protecting her from her fear?

We had a full day today and only one brief time-in for Loreli. Everything else went great. We went for a bike ride to the "water park" aka splash pad, had lunch, took a nice rester, went to Cheese Importers for a bunch of cheese for lasagna, made that lasagna with them helping every step of the way and topped it off with them helping me make chocolate chip cookies. Couldn't have asked for better family time.

And yet tonight, Loreli is suddenly terrified that someone is going to break into our house and steal her away from us. Is she feeling bonded now and this is suddenly scary? Is it a developmental thing? She said she wants to just be inches away from me so she feels safe. Is it a control thing? I just don't know yet.

But let's celebrate our happy day instead of dwelling on what things might mean--at least for tonight! Photos! :-)