It would be cute, if they both weren't so mischievous. But they are. Here are the two new play buddies (of late) taking turns reading and jumping off the bottom of the stairs. Xander looks guilty (which he is, since he knows he's not supposed to be playing - reading or otherwise - on the steps). Connor looks defiant (which he is, showing quite the attitude of late).
These two are fun to watch these days. Connor usually takes off running at full speed (he doesn't know any other way) and looks over his shoulder to see if Xander has taken the hint. If so, he just laughs and keeps going. If not, he yells "Come on, Xander!" over his shoulder. And little brother usually (as with everything the twins do, if the mood strikes them) follows along. Then Connor will shout instructions, which usually fall on deaf ears, but they figure out a way to chase and laugh and run and play together for 10 or 15 minutes at a time pretty much all day long.
The games they play usually don't make much sense. But they're four and a half and three and a half, so that's not much of a surprise. I just love to see them playing together. Xander, because it's a huge social step for him that makes us even more hopeful about his progress of late. And for Connor, it's nice to see him enjoying some of that brotherly interaction and fun that we kind of always expected with three little boys running around. You know, the kind that's been noticeably absent with two little brothers who don't talk and who aren't big on interaction or playing games that are not their own.
So, even though they weren't supposed to be playing on the steps, my reprimand was half-hearted. I couldn't quite hide the smile from seeing two of my boys laughing and playing together. Finally.