Tonight’s bedtime adventures included an eclectic mixture of excuses from all three kids…leading up to bedtime and after I closed their doors and said goodnight. Sometimes, they go to bed nicely, but other nights go like this:

Can we have bacon tomorrow? One more hug. What’s your favorite book? Mommmmm, there’s a giant booger that’s really stuck up in my nose and it won’t come out. My water isn’t the right temperature. Can we watch the balloon parade now? He’s touching my hair. He’s touching my leg. I want my blanket. That’s not my blanket; the other one is mine. Can I have more milk? Where is Ranger? I have one more poop that is stuck; can I try to get it out now? What happens if we run out of toilet paper? My penis has a boo boo. Can we go outside? One more kiss. I hear my brothers talking. Where is Tay Tay; we go see her now? I still have a cough. Do my brothers have a cough too? Is Dad going to shave his beard? Oh no; Nemo’s missing! One more kiss? My pajamas are too hot. Can we play with Emma soon? Did I like turkey when I was a little baby? How come it can’t be my birthday tomorrow? Give me back my pillow! Can I come in your bed, Mama? Joseph, wake up! Don’t go to sleep yet. How come there are two brothers and only one sister? Can we have a sister too? Can we have a cat? I have a boo boo too. I smell something. My socks are too little for my feet.

This kind of stuff makes me nuts, especially after a long day. However, when the quiet finally creeps upon the house and the sound of silence is too much for me to handle because it’s not natural, I creep into their rooms and look at their little sleeping bodies, and my Mommy heart is happy. I wouldn’t mind a full night of sleep, but I am happy.