Talk to me...

Friends

Dear Corbin and Mia,

I took this picture to illustrate something for you. In the coming years, I have a feeling you will fight. At times, I am sure you will insist that you hate each other, that your life would be better off without the other. I'm positive that I will spend countless hours pulling out my hair trying to convince you that you really do love each other and that you need to quit fighting!!! So listen carefully...

When we first got to the park, neither one of you would go down this slide alone. In your own words this was a "really big slide", and you thought that you needed me to be there with you. Until I suggested that you do it together. If you look closely at the picture, you can see that you're holding hands. Now look at this next one....

You're happy! Together you did it, and you had a lot of fun in the process. That seemingly insurmountable task was accomplished because you were stronger together. Remember this. You are stronger together and together those scary, impossible things in life can be done. You have the power to make a difference, for good, in each other's lives-so use it. Please. I'm not asking you to do the impossible, you will fight. Just keep it to a minimum and then make up as you do now. With a hug and an "I love you so much", and you'll get through. You'll build each other up in ways only a sibling can. Trust me, I know. And I love you both. So much.
Love,
Mom

Traitor

Denver's schedule is pretty crazy. He works nights and has classes and flights and he's just all over the place so his sleep schedule isn't exactly regular. Hence, he's pretty tired, most of the time. He also hates waking up. A lot. And I hate to wake him up. It's not that he's beastly, but I feel bad because he could really use the sleep. In order to assuage my feelings of guilt, I use my kids. I can't ever feel bad about them getting to spend some time with their father, and then I don't have to face the wrath of a wounded bear. Ususally I send in Corbin or Mia because they've learned how to wake him nicely. A little kiss coupled with the words "I love you Daddy, get up and come play with me" and he's dragging himself out of bed. Magic! Well, I figured it was high time Karli got in on the action. She'd just woken up, chugged some milk and was a happy, wide-eyed little darling. Perfect! I took her in, told Denver it was time to get up and laid her right there with him. And then I ran before he could protest. I figured I'd have a few minutes before they came out so I piddled around the house trying to minimize the damage the kids had created for the day. Before I knew it 20 minutes had passed. 30. After 45 minutes I figured it was well-past time to investigate...

Now I know what to do with her when I can't get her to fall asleep.

I was even able to take the binky out of her mouth! Apparently, I have my work cut out for me if I want Karli as well-trained as her siblings. Stinking Daddy with his Sandman Voodoo!

The Cave

I know he's mine. I remember sleeping in strange places when I was a kid. A hotel closet and a bathtub, for instance. I'm just not sure if I started when I was three. You see, when I did it I wanted to be cool and show off how different I was. I made sure everyone knew where I'd been sleeping. This is not how my three-year-old chose to do it. In fact, I'm not sure I would have been able to find him if not for Denver telling me what he was up to. And Denver only knew because he happened to be going past the door before Corbin was fully in place.

 This is how Corbin and Mia's closet looked when I first came in.

And after I removed "the door".

 No, he's not turning his head to look away from me, he is genuinely conked out. In no way does that position look comfortable to me, but I suppose things bend a little easier when you're three...He's been sleeping like that for a few nights now. I don't have the heart to make him move. Okay, I'm just happy because now he actually goes to bed when it's time because he knows if he gets up and plays he won't get to sleep in his "cave".

He's also getting pretty excited for his new room with the big boy bed and the big green blanket that Gama is making for him. It's all he talked about today. "I will have a big bed with my big green blanket that Gama makes me that's so soft and green and big. I love it. It's big and green and Gama makes it"-I think you get the picture. I'm hoping that it will hold the same charm and keep him where he should like the cave has done. We shall see...we shall see.