Bed Time

Last night, there was an unusual amount of activity upstairs after we put the kids to bed.  Doors opening and closing, giggles, and murmurs floated down to us as we sat mostly comatose on the couch after a long day, and watching an episode of Castle.  At about 9:30 Ryan got up the energy to march up the stairs and see what the commotion was about.  Annie and Maddie had their bedroom light on and were playing with dolls.  Ryan told the girls to get back in bed, and unscrewed the light bulbs from their bedroom light fixture.  There was crying and screaming about Daddy ruining the light, and saying how it was too scary to go to bed in the dark.  But rules are rules, and that was the consequence of turning the light on after bedtime.

Tonight Annie and Maddie were still a bit tired from staying up so late the night before.  The light bulbs are still unscrewed, so there was only the light from the hall as we said prayers and tucked the kids in bed.  There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth as we tried to get them settled into their bed for the night.  If they could just stay in bed tonight, Dad would fix the light tomorrow.

After Ryan and I came downstairs, Maddie started hollering (but stayed in her room), "I neeeeeEEEEeeed the light, Daddy."

"Tell you what.  Once you are asleep, I will fix the light," was Daddy's concession.

There was a pause.  Then we heard, "But I am asleep.  I'm sleep talking."

::Quiet snickering of the parents::

"I'll be up in a little while to fix the light, then."