Most Likely to Scheme With Ashton Kutcher

So the boys were having one of those nights where they just didn't want to fall asleep. I put them into bed, turned out the light, and went to get Kailey ready for sleepy-time. Sean and Christian kept alternating their calls - "Mommy! I can't sleep!" "Mommy, Sean threw a pillow down!" "Mommy! I want water!" "Mommy! Mommy! Moooommmmmyyyy!"

This can get very annoying. I try to ignore them for the most part, lest I get sucked into an endless back-and-forth exchange, which is so not the point of bedtime.

But, finally, Sean said "Mommy! I'm scared! I think there's a monster in the closet!"
I started walking back to their room, yelling out across the house (I'm soooo ladylike sometimes) "THERE'S NOT A MONSTER IN THE CLOSET!" I got to their room and looked up at Sean on the top bunk. "Sean, there's nothing to be scared of. I promise, there is not a monster in the closet. Monsters are not real."
"Actually, Mommy, I think it's a small dinosaur."
"There isn't a monster and there isn't a dinosaur, either. There's nothing in the closet!" I turned to the closet, reached out to open the doors, and RRROOOOAAAAARRRR!!!!
Christian jumped out of the closet.
I nearly jumped right out of my fuzzy pink socks and let out a totally sincere scream.
They were so pleased with themselves for scaring me that it was all they talked about the next day.
Here's what really scares me - if they're coming up with pranks to pull on me now, at the sweet innocent ages of 3 and 5, what are they going to do to me when they're teenagers???

On Being Fruitful and Multiplying...

And then there were five. Kailey Juliet was born on June Tenth. She has already wrapped everyone in the house around her teensy pinky...we're having a great time dressing her up in cute dresses and getting baby-snuggles. I forgot how small the kiddos really are when they're born. She's already grown so much -- and she's getting more attentive, taking in this crazy world around her. But here's a picture of day one, in the hospital, when she was fresh out of the oven....

When I look at Kailey, Sean, and Christian together, my heart feels like it's going to burst at its seams. It's amazing how much love a person can contain, how much joy can fill us up. This is what it is to be blessed beyond measure.