There were three in the bed and the biggest one said. . .

GET OUT!!!!

Arianna, and on occasion Emma as well, has been a regular visitor in our bed for the last couple of months. Well, no more. Kenneth has had enough.

It all started a few months ago when Arianna was waking in the night and refused to go back in her bed. It has generally been a rule around here that the children sleep in their beds and we sleep in our bed- alone. But, when the night-waking Arianna was screaming and thrashing and kicking and WOULD NOT go back in her own bed I had had enough. She would wake up the other two children with her shenanigans and I didn't know what else to do so I resorted to putting her in the garage until she could stop screaming. (Don't worry, we live in the most beautiful climate in the world, so it was neither too hot nor too cold out there) This, of course, meant that I was sitting on the other side of the door, also not getting any sleep. (I tried once bringing a blanket into the kitchen to try to sleep, but linoleum isn't really conducive to sleep.) Arianna also learned that when she was out there that meant that mom wasn't getting to sleep either and I think she secretly liked the idea. Yes, a three year old can be that manipulative. I was turning into a monster in the night trying to deal with her and it wasn't worth it. So, I let her come sleep with me. I stopped fightin' with her in the night and started snugglin'.

At first it was hard for me to sleep with her there, but after a while I just got used to it slept great! I could even sleep pretty well with both the girls with me. It certainly was better than actually having to wake up completely and get out of bed to deal with a 30 pound ball of craziness! But poor Kenneth was pushed over to the far side of the bed cold and alone. He dealt with it for a couple of months, but then sat the girls down and had a talk with them. He told them that he was having a hard time sleeping and asked them what we should do. Without a moment's hesitation, Arianna said, "We'll just push you off on to the floor, Dad!!" (Isn't she sweet?!)

So, here we are a week and a half or so since 'the talk'. Now, I don't have any girls in my bed, but I do have to tread lightly if I have to get up in the night because chances are there is an Arianna on my floor. Dear girl. I guess it's better than in my bed. And- she isn't really bothering me in the night, just plopping down on my floor.

Here are the 2 angels sleeping in our bed (before 'the talk'). The two peas in a pod decided they couldn't fall asleep in their own beds and this is how we found them when we were ready to go to bed. They transfer well, thank heavens.

And just because it is a sleeping picture and we are talking about sleep, here is Arianna napping one day on the couch with Panda. She doesn't usually nap, but some days she will zonk out during reading time. She really is adorable in this state.