Chaos inducing

Slip sliding away

The month is slip sliding away from me again. Much like the transit bus that came very close to slamming into my office building today. Luckily for us, there was a telephone pole in the way. But the bus was wedged tight against the pole and the road was icy and it remained there, blocking half the street, floundering and sputtering.

Pretty much sums up my life at the moment. Making it through each day without actually going anywhere. I need to just give in and take the antidepressants, already.

I've not had any chocolate or caffeine for nearly 4 weeks. Since they both make me crazy, I figured my own brand of crazy would be more than enough to handle without adding to the mix. I thought I'd be able to feel a difference by now. I'm past the withdrawal phase; boy, that was fun. Now I'm just antsy and impatient.

And an impatient mama is not safe. My boys are awesome, brilliant, curious and full of life. I can't match them. I just end up screaming and they scream and then they fight and I scream more.

I don't like my kids a lot of the time now. Dread picking them up from daycare. Felix is exerting his independence, he needs to control every aspect of every situation. You can't give him choices - he'll just refuse everything and walk home in his sock feet through the snow. (True story.) And that walk home? Snails travel faster. I can be having the best day ever; congratulating myself for finally having a stable day... and then that walk home leaves me a quivering mess. I've started picking them up in the car; driving the 4 blocks because walking makes me want to hurt someone.


I've piled my plate high. A new office job, my own business, school, my direct sales business, home life... They're prioritized askew and the ones that should rank highest - like time for me (and my blog - helllllo, writing helps. I know this!!) and family crap, er, time are being squashed beneath everything else. I see it but cannot fix it.

Ok. New plan. Sleep at night. Actually GO TO BED before 10. By 9, even. Those boys like to wake up early, so get your sleep when you know they'll be asleep. Keep off the chocolate and caffeine. Pretending things feel no different than before is just the crazy talking. It is working.  Pare down, learn to say no. Stop taking on the responsibility of others.

Any other tips? 

Snippets

Let's see. Last week, Elliot started school and Felix started preschool. Oh, and I started school, as well.

So things have been busy 'round these parts.

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I have class 3 days a week. It's only 8 hours, but it's a 1 hour commute each way, if I take public transit. About 20 minutes if I drive and then another 10 or so to find parking. I haven't had enough class time to figure out if I'll do well, but I think I'm going to like it, which is something, at least. We spent the first class throwing stuffed animals at each other, learning everyone's names.

1st day. Thanks, hubby.

~~
Felix's stitch-saga continues. Last week, we went to have them removed. Yeah right. First off, we couldn't see his usual doctor. This new doctor was all, "It's too early to take them out." And, "If you don't let me take them out they're going to grow out of the side of your face." I held him down, the doc tried to tweeze and snip, Felix thrashed and screamed, terrified. Elliot climbed the walls and put things in his mouth. I was totally and completely frazzled. In the end, we got one stitch out. One - of three. He'd been promised a lollipop, because I knew they had them in the office. But then the doc said he didn't have any and I should ask at the front desk.

Asshat.

We did track down some lollies and went home, in the rain. And hopped right in the car to go to my mom's birthday dinner. The boys convinced her new husband to light the candles on the cake and sing happy birthday before the meal. And then we did it again, when the boys were watching TV, once the guests had arrived and after our meal. With 2 pieces missing from the cake. Good times.

Two days later, we went back to see yet another doctor. I was prepared. EMLA cream applied, to numb the area. A new Lightening McQueen bribe dinky car. A full jar of lollipops sitting on the desk next to him. A different way of holding him and a much quicker - and warmer - doctor wielding the tools.

We got stitch number 2 out. She said she couldn't see the third, that it must have fallen out. I pointed out a faint blue mark sticking out from the scab. She probed it, declared it residual dye and sent us away.

Yeah. The scab has fallen off, revealing very plainly, 2 pieces of blue thread poking out of his little face. I really don't want to go through that all again, but seriously, how long can he go around with surgical thread sticking out of his cheek?

*sigh* Back we'll go. But not this week. This week is full.

Cool dude.

~~
I'm hosting an open house here on Wednesday evening. I sell spices. The new catalogue is out. Good times. Of course this means I need to clean the place from top to bottom.  No idea how many guests will arrive. Oh the clutter and grime I need to banish. Daunting.

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Oh, and today we receive this note from Elliot's teacher:

Elliot is settling into classroom routines nicely.  He is following directions, listening to stories, enjoying centres and is doing well in terms of independent work. As I'm sure you know, he loves to read and reads well. He has enjoyed independent reading times and today's Book Buddies. Centres has gone well with him and today, he had a great time creating a drawing and even made one for his friend and put it in her mailbox. I know he is a very sweet boy.

Unfortunately, Elliot is having some difficulties during unstructured times outside. Recess has been challenging for him and he has been hitting other children.  He is not always honest about this behaviour when he is asked---even when a teacher witnessed him hitting other children with no provocation. Today, he grabbed and held onto a child's nose in the meeting area just as the children came in to sit down. Other than that, he has done very well in the classroom. Elliot is full of hugs for me and I've seen him hug other children in class. I don't see him frustrated and am wondering if you've been experiencing/witnessing this aggression as well?

Just perfect. This is on the heels of him being banned from gymnastics - by us, not the facility. But it was a close call. I looked down from the parental observation area to see him running willy-nilly, being chased by instructors and then he started hitting and kicking, running away, climbing tall-and-not-age-appropriate equipment. I had to chase him through the whole structure, arms full of our bags, squishing into the padded mats while he laughed at me and danced out of reach. He refused to participate in class and wanted to make up his own rules. Later he said he didn't like the crowd of kids. And then changed his story and said he didn't mind them, it was the new teachers he didn't like. 


Gymnastics isn't new for him. But half way through the last session, he started doing stuff like this, refusing to do the class, etc. We debated putting him back in - when he would participate, he'd love it. But it would often take 30 minutes of cajoling to get him out there, or he'd run right out, happy as can be and then start crying and balking and asking to leave half way through. Still, we tried it again. Shouldn't have bothered. 

He says there are older boys at school, in his class, who take his hat and toss it around, laughing at him. he says there's a bully who makes fun of him. He says that sometimes the play chase, just for fun. Sometimes it's not fun. Today he was throwing rocks. He scratched a teacher in the after-school program and punched another one. After he calmed down, he hugged the teachers. And then was fine, his happy, sweet alter ego. 

I hope his teacher has some insights. He told us tonight that it's not him doing these mean things, that it's 2 other boys who wear the same clothes as him, whose parents spy on him to see what he's wearing so they can match their boys. Imaginative, huh.  I think he's been reading too many Calvin & Hobbes comics. 


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The boys had their first sleep over this past weekend. Went to my mom's. It was awesome. Hubby and I drank champagne, slept deep and went out for breakfast. The best part? Mom doesn't seem afraid to do it again!

~~
So it's been full. I'm worried about Elliot and school. Worried that he's going to be labeled. Worried we've gone horribly wrong in our parenting. And then he does something so sweet, like sneaking into my room after he's been tucked in bed for the night to sing me a lullaby about my day. Then I smile, wipe my tears and think we've done ok by him after all.

Lullaby and goodnight
You are so very sleepy
You had a long day
You stayed home 
While me and Felix went to school.
We played outside
You came to get us
We came home and played with daddy
You went out for a meeting
and now it's time for sleep.
(to the tune of Braham's Lullaby)

My sweet, smiley boy.

~~

I’m posting this to enter a contest for a $500 apple gift card, offered by Cashier Live, a point of sale software company, at Indie Biz Chicks. Enter to win here. But don't... 'cause I wanna win! How awesome would this be for school?

Houdini

Through a haze, she heard the bell ring. Expecting a parcel, she figured they'd just leave it on the step and rolled back over. A second ticked by, then two. Sleep was now elusive. Easing out of the bed so as not to wake the sleeping three year old, she tiptoed to the window. No delivery truck in sight. The laughter of children floated up from the street, a warm breeze fluttered the curtains.

The clock showed that less than 45 minutes had passed. She heard a voice from downstairs - had the 5 year old opened the door? The door alarm hadn't beeped, the screen door hadn't shrieked. Why was he down there, anyway? He was to be colouring or reading in his room. It was quiet time, that was the rule. Walking quickly, but clumsily, brushing sleep from her eyes, she pulled open the unlocked baby gate at the top of the stairs and went down.

He had let someone in! And they'd gotten so far as the kitchen, with the dirty dishes everywhere. How had that happened. A woman was calling hello. Rubber boots and a pair of natty old mittens on a string were cast off in the middle of the floor, amidst dish towels and scraps of paper.

"My name is Michelle. I live on the next street. I found this little boy walking by my house."

She sat down with a hard thump onto the kitchen stool and hugged him tightly, eyes wide. There were several conversations happening at once but the main focus was there, in her arms. Words were exchanged, images painted, exclamations made. Complete disbelief.

Michelle let herself out of the back door, through the gate, into the driveway and on with her day.

Alternating between a crushing hug, tears and admonishments, the story came out. He was bored reading. He didn't know where she was. At yoga? Had he gone looking for her? Maybe. He just wanted to go for a walk around the block. (Again) In costume. The front door was locked and so was the back door, but he opened it. But don't worry, he hadn't crossed any streets. He stopped when the lady backed out of her driveway. He led her back to his house, the long way around. He wouldn't do it again, not until he was at least 8 or 9.

There was praise for being smart enough to find his way home, to be safe, to stay on the sidewalk. And wetly whispered fears that she might have lost him forever. Reminders of never, ever going out without a parent, not even to the backyard without telling a parent.

And once alone, she shuddered and sobbed, breath coming in tight bursts, because it really can be that quick, that easy, that fragile.

She will never nap again.

Five down.

Where did that one go??? Speedy little thing.

We spent last weekend recovering from my week away with the boys. We'd thought about going on a family camping trip, maybe going to the zoo or wildlife park or to the farm. But it was just too much effort. We did some walking trails close to home, hit a few playgrounds, filled the wading pool in the backyard. Sunday night there were fireworks, so we kept the boys up stupid late and went downtown for a low-level display. They loved it!

Felix looks like E.T.

Monday was a holiday, so hubby was home, which was awesome. We puttered around the house, then participated in the annual Bridge Walk for the first time. One of the 2 bridges spanning the harbour was shut down for the day and between 2-4, they opened it to foot traffic. The boys were so excited about walking on the actual road. (We've walked the bridge before, but only on the sidewalk.) But all the late nights and no naps caught up with Elliot pretty quickly and Mr. Crankypants fell asleep before we got there... and didn't wake up until we were almost home again. Man oh man, was he angry!!

Tuesday there was a fantastic thunder and lightening storm. I have no recollection of anything else we did that day. I'm sure it involved lots of TV.

Wednesday we ran errands - I had a chiropractic appointment that they were semi-well behaved for. Then we got groceries and donated all the old diapers and Pull-ups to the daycare. There was lunch. And the discovery (ok, more like admitting) of sick fishies. And probably more TV.

Thursday. Let's see. I put in a work out DVD in the morning. They did the first few minutes with me, then tried to trip me and brain me with the handweights. They also spent a good chunk of time climbing on me while I did the floor parts. I then tried a yoga DVD but had to turn it off within 5 minutes as they decided to run circles around the house, nipping and biting at my arms while I did downward dog. So then I made bread. And someone might have napped after lunch, it's a blur. I know we watched Cars in the afternoon.

Friday we got our shit together and met a friend, her son and the little girl she watches at a park we haven't been to in a long while. Brought the boys' bikes, they rode around in the parking lot before lunch. Add in a playground and throwing rocks in the ocean and then cue nap-related breakdown. Home we went where NO ONE NAPPED!!! Oh. Em. Gee. I was ready to slaughter them. Hubby and I stayed up stupid late on Thursday watching a Sandra Bullock flick and I was exhausted. We watched another movie that afternoon, too. And hubby didn't come home from work until after midnight. Ugh.

Felix said superheroes loved to swing

Elliot wouldn't take his helmet off.

This weekend we finally took the boys camping. I loved it. It was so much like the many, many trips I took as a girl. The boys were excited and too hyper to be well-behaved, but it was fun. Hotdogs and marshmallows roasted over an open fire. Beans cooked in their can in the coals. Hubby didn't have as pleasant a time. Lack of sleep and a headache plus sleeping on the ground made things difficult. I'm game to go again soon. He needs more recovery. So I'm actually considering taking the boys by myself. The only thing holding me back is my anxiety that we'll be killed by a serial murderer. Or snakes.

Hotdogs. Several were sacrificed.

S'mores!!

My moose-y boys.

We came home yesterday to discover that one of the fish was no more. Good bye, Cha-Cha. And then this morning, Rita went up to fishy heaven, too. Or somewhere. All drains lead to the ocean, and all that. The boys don't know, but I don't think they'll miss them. We're not going to make a big deal. It's sad, but we didn't ask for these fish and knew nothing about taking care of them. They were fine up until last week. There was either something wrong with them or their water. My money's on the time that Cha-Cha hit the kitchen floor in a failed escape attempt. Probably brought back tons of fresh, fish-eating bacteria. Poor things. Never stood a chance in this house. I'm kinda surprised the cats have lasted this long, nevermind the kids!

So, here we have week 6 ahead of us, which brings us that much closer to the end of summer and start of school. Don't know how I feel about that. Three weeks left to reflect, I guess.

Missed every little detail of our summer vacation so far? Well catch up, already! Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Friday's follies

Taking the kids with me to the employment insurance office probably wasn't the brightest of moves. Not only did it showcase that I wasn't, in fact, ready and able to work that day, but they were rather disruptive. To put it mildly.

First there was the running away and down the corridor, peaking in on other meetings in session. They were quickly called back and harnessed into the stroller and fed snacks, but the damage was done. They had tasted freedom and nothing else would soothe those savage beasts. I had my conversation with a sweet little french-accented girl, er young woman. She told me (in between me snapping at the kids to "Eat it and be quiet and keep your hands on your own side!") that my weekly payments of negative eleventy five cents would just have to stop once my course starts in September, since I wouldn't be ready and willing and able to work anymore. Duh.

But there's another program I may qualify for, one which I thought I was going to talk to them about today. But no, it's run by an affiliated company down the street. I asked for their phone number, so I could set up a time, and the cheery lady at the front desk told me I should just pop in, it was so close! I motioned to the boys and might have muttered something about poo flinging, and she just smiled.

So we decided to stop in anyway.

The man at the desk called us all over, told the boys to pull up a chair, they happily obliged and I was cautiously optimistic that things would go well. So I chatted and went over a few questions and key points and was setting up a time when the chaos erupted. Complete with spinning chairs and battle cries. Another caseworker came out to shush them just as I turned around, eyes shooting laser beams into their little brains and they fell silent. Until it was time to leave and Felix didn't want to vacate his spaceship. And enter screaming pterodactyl boy. I actually crammed my hand in his mouth to stifle him as we fled.

Knowing they needed to burn off more energy, we stopped at a little green space on the way home and they ran, ran, ran and climbed trees. And fell out of trees. There was crying. And running away. The usual.

Home again home again jiggity jig... we packed a snack on the fly, had a potty party and hustled out to the car for a trip out to Nanny's house. I'd hopped they'd doze off,  but nope. Arrived, helped build a rock warning edge around the sheer cliff that ends their back lawn, then went swimming. Or rock picking. It was a combo, really. The waterfront at mom's is beautiful but rocky and slippy sharp. So we dug out a little pool for the kids to play in, heaving rocks to form a wall.  Elliot wouldn't go any deeper than his hips and Felix, who wasn't in a life jacket, launched himself in up to his face, fearlessly lapping at the salt water. Next time, I'll re-think the flotation device distribution. (We only had the one, since I'd forgotten ours at home. Bummer.)

Rocky pool

Water baby

Popsicle boy

They both napped on the way home, briefly. Hopefully there's an easy bedtime tonight. And if I wasn't already 447 over my calorie count today, I'd be prying open a bottle of wine. I may, yet. Mmmmm. Should probably hop on the treadmill first. 'Cause I've learned the hard way not to do it the other way around.

Cheers!

They've got rhythm!

I've had headaches for the past month. Weird ones, like a combination of caffeine withdrawal and a sinus infection. But, since I haven't had any caffeine in an impressively long time - beyond infrequent decaf coffees, that I suppose could have been switched out on me by mistake, that and ok, frequent chocolate  - and there's been no sinus congestion or even a runny nose, I'm stumped. I thought maybe it was dehydration and upped my water intake. Had 2 pain free days, then yesterday happened.

There is something extremely heavy taking great pleasure in crushing one side of my face. My nose, teeth, eye socket, chin and even the top of my skull throb with every breath, with every pulse through my veins. I look in the mirror and am surprised my eyeball isn't bulging or leaking blood. I'm taking extra strength ibuprofen with minimal relief.  Sleep gives me more relief - until I get up again, that is. So no sleep during the day, as these goofballs keep needing my attention!

Since it came on so quickly, I'm channeling Arnie and declaring it not a tumor. And since it's lasting so long, I'm going to declare it not an aneurysm, either. (Though I did some research this morning. Apparently they can start slow. *Backs away from Dr. Google*) There's minimal sinus congestion or leakage, but I'm using my cursed neti pot anyway. There does seem to be a blockage on the painful side. Maybe there's a growth in there. Or a dinky car? Crayon? Play dough?

Since I'm such a sharing person, I wanted to really let you experience what I'm going through. Please, turn your speakers up loud and press your face right up against the screen.  Enjoy! (Direct link)

Waterfront Wednesday

Pirates say Arrrrrr!!! Or at least, "You stink, I hate you."

Dwarfed under the wave

Splashing good time!

Zonked. Note the now cut off pants. It was that hot.

Beachin'

Our city holds a yearly Curbside Giveaway, where you can drag all your unwanted crap treasures out to the curb for anyone to find and claim. We participated last year, cleaned out a bunch of crap treasures and yes, brought some new crap treasures into the house - Felix's big boy bed, for example, was being given away by one of his daycare teachers.

This year, the day was bright and sunny. We piled the curb high with crap treasure - old monitors, printers, piles and piles of books, toys the boys no longer wanted played with (and that I didn't think the daycare wanted, either - they received a large bag from us last week!), Christmas decorations, old picture frames, candles, a legacy toy box that just took up too much space...

Then we hopped in the car and went down to the Farmer's Market. (Where I stocked up on soap for the boys' latest obsession with lathering themselves in the tub, and Rawthentic chocolates... o.m.g. I need willpower. Too tasty.) Each time we bring the boys we swear we'll never do it again without short pieces of rope to tie them to us. And muzzles. Maybe straitjackets. They go everywhere, touching everything, and smashing into everyone. All at once and usually in different directions. We have talks with them in advance, reminding them of rules and personal space and putting their listening ears on. But it's always a madhouse. I grew up in Farmer's Markets... I don't remember mom tearing out her hair or threatening to thrash us. But those were different times. It wasn't as crowded in our little town. And we were a bit older. Or I have a selective memory. (Note to self: call mom.)

We made it out of the Market alive but not quite sane and herded the feral cats boys to a nearby park with a play structure and some shade for a picnic. When we could finally peel them off the slides, we went for a looooong drive so they would just nap already.

We drove fairly aimlessly... 30 minutes in one direction, then back and veering off and circling around. We went down roads we hadn't been on in years. Followed one until it ended at a golf course on the ocean. When I started muttering, Elliot piped up from the back seat, "All roads have to end somewhere, mama!". Sage little creature. We meandered around until we ended up at a beach. And then the chaos fun really began! We were unprepared, so made due with rolled up pants... until those got soaked. You know you've had a wild time when you have salt lines on your thighs!

He promises me he was saving Felix, not getting ready to toss him!

Felix was challenged by the tides. He would splash out to meet them and run shrieking and laughing in with them. Then the water would rush out, sucking sand and rocks out from under our feet, knocking us off balance... I had to run interference so Felix didn't get swept away. Every time.

The tides were coming in, quickly. My boys made a wall to buy themselves some time. It was a valiant effort. But, predictably, an epic fail. There might have also been some burying of a small child in the sand, necessitating a speedy save when the area was flooded.

Had a gourmet supper of hotdogs and fries on a boardwalk and then came home, wiped. And saw that most of our crap treasures had been re-homed! Hooray for cleaning out the corners of our dangerously full basement and closets. And by that I mean barely denting the heap. Honestly, we may be about 3 piles and a candlestick away from falling under the hoarder classification.

We sure soaked up the sun, and I'll sleep good tonight. (You hear that boys - stay in your own freaking rooms, ok!) And hopefully we can do it all again real soon.

Mmmmmm pie.

Felix is turning into such a character. I love watching him play - making his stuffed animals or dinky cars or figurines or whatever have conversations and sing and hug. It's adorable. And it's a phase I mostly missed with Elliot, as I was dealing with a new baby at the time.

The power of the Felix compels you...

He has this way of laughing at himself when he knows he's done something cute or silly. It's a self-aware titter, a high pitched nervous giggle that makes me melt. He's always moving, bouncing, dancing, singing, something.  They both are, really, but Elliot has more down time. He's a reader, like me. And he's so incredibly smart. Reading and doing math already. He's going to blow them away at school in the fall.

Self-portrait

It's been hard spending so much of this past week at work. Over 50 hours. I've never been apart from them for so long before. I haven't even worked than many hours since before Felix was born. It was 2 months from now, 3 years ago, when I ended up on bedrest because I pushed myself too hard during the last trimester of his pregnancy. I think I had at least a 45 hour week then, too. Then my water broke 10 weeks early, forcing me to slow the hell down.

My body is taking a beating right now, too. I'm exhausted and bleary eyed. I'm getting sick - a rattling cough that so far isn't settled deep into my chest. I have tomorrow off and then I'm jumping back into another 50 hour week. After that, things should slow down again. I hope. They have to, otherwise I may just have a nervous break down.

I love that I'm so busy at work. This tax season seems to be spectacularly busier than the previous 3 I've worked. I'm senior staff at a brand new location that's already surpassing managements projections for client flow. (And we finally have heat! Sort of. At least when I increase the desired temperature on the thermostat, the room gauge eventually goes up to match - even though it still feels frigid.) I have a lot of prior clients who are making a point of only coming back to see me this year, and they've tracked me down. I think it's actually pissing off my office leader, because whenever he answers a call for me or someone comes in looking for me, he exclaims "Oh, she's soooooo popular!" in a drippy, fake voice. Today, he actually nabbed two of my clients - granted, I don't think they requested me, but they did see me there and got very chatty, until he ushered them into his office and told me to take the other client. Whatever.

So I'm busy, popular and tired. And I'm secretly happy to see that the house is starting to fall into a slight decline again. Hubby hasn't been as on top of the dishes and other house crap as before. I come home late and there are still toys spread from one end of the house to the next. I know how hard it is to wrangle our two feral monkeys and still have energy to clean. Or shower. But it's reassuring to see that he's having difficulty juggling it all, too.

He is trying out a bunch of new meals. Going to the grocery store multiple times per week, so we're always well stocked, which is nice. But I'm having a hard time letting go of the meal & grocery planning. I need to learn to trust that he can make good judgments and will make healthy choices about the family's eating habits.

Banana Brigade

I do miss my boys. But the fatigue is (as always) making it hard for me to enjoy coming home to them. I want to sleep or lose myself in a book for a few hours after working all day. Not pry apart wrestling children or play another round of word bingo or bathe slippery, protesting boys. But it's a different kind of energy suck this time around, not the same sense of being completely drained as I was when my iron levels were low. They've stabilized, but I hope I don't shoot them down to hell by working myself too hard. It's a body fatigue right now, not a mental one. Not as much, anyway!

I need to find balance. The scale is always tipped heavily to one side, no matter what I'm trying to do. Maybe I need a pie chart. Mmmmmmm. Pie.

Or maybe just more sleep. Sleep makes the world function.

Birthday flowers. They make me feel good.

Naps Happen

A while ago I stumbled upon a great blog called Naps Happen. It's a hilarious collection of photos of the blogger's children in a full on nap attack, no matter where they were or what they were up to.

It's gotten me thinking about the boys' naps. They've generally been pretty good about napping, but that was one of the areas we were kinda anal about when they were smaller - we were slaves to the nap routine and made sure we were home - or somewhere else accommodating - at nap or bed time. But I was still able to find some adorable pictures of the boys. Aren't sleeping kids just the most precious things? So peaceful. So calm. Makes me wish it were legal to drug them into this state.

Merry Christmas 2006. And Elliot snoozes.

This lovey was forever named Nap Giraffe.

He's actually touching the cat - a rare occurrence, since she's such a beast.

This one breaks my heart a bit. We were attempting the CIO training method and he finally wore out, clutching the bars of his cell, waiting for me to come back.

This was a rough day.

An impression of Felix's ear after a nap in my arms - pretty much where he spent the first 7 months of his life.

There are numerous pictures like this. Note that even in sleep, he maintains the dino death grip.

Elliot went through a phase where he'd throw all his bedding on the floor and sleep there.

Felix wasn't really asleep. But he was pretending to be!

Double stroller nap - score!

Felix is such a ... boy.

Elliot got tired of waiting for me to get off the computer and come help him build (yet again) his new train track. And now he's a guest napper over at Naps Happen!

I wanna get in on the nap action, too! Of course, I usually have a cat on me. As also seen here. And here.

Sweet dreams, everyone! And stay warm - seems like there are major blizzards hitting all over the place today and forecast for the rest of the week. I wonder where you'll end up napping it out?