Good morning!

Mornings are so predictable around here.  They go the same way and in the same order pretty much every single day.  These little details are among the precious things I never want to forget as the years go on.  I want to remember that when the kids were 7, 5, 4, and 1, they...

Layla: the first to arise every morning.  She quietly goes to the living room or dining room and typically colors or reads.  She is very quiet, never waking us.  From 7:15-7:45, she watches the clock like crazy.  She is very concerned about getting to school on time and always is the first to be dressed and have her backpack ready.  [to be totally honest, for as "free spirited" as she is, her responsibility this year has taken me by great surprise.  good job, layla!]  Layla wakes up so pleasantly.

Charlie: is the next one up for the day.  We know he is awake, however, as every.single.morning he opens the door and yells a resounding, "Ta Da!"  This is no joke.  He is smiling ear to ear and ready for the day. He first looks to see if Daddy is home, then straight to his tractors.  He, on the other hand, takes forreevveer to get dressed.  The boy has work to do.  He wakes up happy.

Maleah: has to be awoken from a deep slumber every morning around 7:00/7:05/7:10/ya know.  She likes to hold my hand down the stairs [I'll take it.], then plops on the couch.  Then plops on the kitchen chair.  Then plops to the potty.  Then plops back to the couch.  After about five minutes of plopping, she gets ready.  Maleah wakes up groggy [and sometimes a bit owly].

The three are dressed [usually] and sit down to eat breakfast about 7:20.  I sit with them and we have good conversation and I read them "Jesus Calling" for children devotions.  At 7:30, the girls head upstairs to brush their teeth.  [Not real sure how much Charlie brushes his teeth.  Ha!  Dallas says he was the same. Hilarious!]  After they brush their teeth, Maleah gets...

Ruby: sometimes is up for an hour in her crib while other times Maleah picks her up in a dead sleep. The little peach just enjoys her morning time in her crib, talking and singing.  There are times she is awake for over an hour, but never fusses, yells for me, or even stands up.  Even when she is sleeping so hard and Maleah goes in her room to bring her down, she wakes up with an instant smile.  I am thankful for her joy.

And Saturdays?  Yeah, we all sleep in, stay in our jammies, eat breakfast at 9:00, and love it.