August 26, 2007

Quiet

Living room on a summer morning

All summer the kids have been staying up late and sleeping late. They've been playing Ultimate Frisbee until dark, jamming for a couple of hours, and then playing card games into the early hours of the morning. With-a-Why has stayed up as late as the gang of college kids, even when he had to struggle to keep his eyes open. In the morning, I'd find either the living room or the boys' room filled with sleeping bodies, kids rolled up in blankets, taking up every bit of floor space.

Now that the college kids have left, the house is quieter, and we are shifting the younger kids away from that nocturnal schedule. With-a-Why didn't say anything about missing his older siblings, but the first night after Boy in Black moved out, I heard a tapping on our bedroom door in the middle of the night. With-a-Why walked in silently, climbed into bed with us, and fell back to sleep between me and my husband. In the morning, he slept late, catching up on much needed sleep, alone in the bed with only a cat to keep him company.

Asleep

24 comments:

Linda said...

Is it the same cat in both pictures? Looks like she and W-a-W feel the same.

jo(e) said...

Yes, it's the same cat. We call her Gretel because she was dumped in the woods and found her way to us. She is the one who likes to be around people, so she creeps into a lot of my photos.

susan said...

Your Gretel looks a lot like our Brennan.

W-a-W doesn't look nearly so grown up when he's sleeping: none of them do.

kathy a. said...

the slumber party shot is very sweet. do you keep futons or pads around for extras on sleepovers? i love how gretel is standing guard. and how she snuggles by with a why in the other shot. susan is right, they all look like our babies when they are asleep.

Teri said...

how did YOU sleep in the bed with him?

flutter said...

heh look at all the BODIES, goodness, what a warm house

jo(e) said...

kathy a: No, we have a pile of blankets and pillows in the boys' room, and usually each person just gets a blanket and a pillow. Everyone is pretty much comfortable sleeping on the carpet. (In this photo, now that I look at it, First Extra is on a mattress, but I don't remember why the mattress was down in the living room -- some kind of game, I'm guessing.)

Teri: Yeah, that's the thing. He's still a little boy but he's getting tall fast and he sprawls out and kicks those long legs around.

I do love how young and innocent kids always look when they are asleep, like babies. And I can take photos without the teenager eye rolling.

Sarah Sometimes said...

both great pics. especially in counterpoint to each other.

Kyla said...

I guess With-a-Why isn't all grown yet. It must be nice to get a few more cuddles before he hits the full-blown teenage years, especially when you know it is coming so quickly.

Marie said...

Great God, the kid's a contortionist! What warm, wonderful pictures. I love how your messy bed looks just like the ones in commercials or movies. All matching and full of pillows.

BeachMama said...

Must be so quiet around your place. Enjoy your first day of classes!

Yankee T said...

So familiar, except our bodies are always female.

I found Younger Daughter on the family room couch with a dog yesterday morning. Strictly forbidden and totally understandable.

Magpie said...

So, they never stop climbing into bed with you?

Minoa said...

What an angle! I had to twist my head around a couple of times to figure out how he did that!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos of your kids--how tall is With- a- Why?

sam said...

Great photos. My oldest is about a year younger than With-a-Why. I hope when he's a teen his friends will find our house as comfortable and welcoming as yours is.

Rana said...

*laughs*

I swear, kids, teenagers, and cats are able to sleep in the strangest positions!

Liz Miller said...

What they all said. I love how cozy both those shots are in their separate ways. Gretel is a big part of why they both look so cozy.

gwoertendyke said...

you are my role model. i hope to be this kind of mom when my kids are older.

Unknown said...

Best photo and meaning. :) You have such a vibrant family.

Anonymous said...

Your home seems so happy. And what a great photo that last one is.

Ella said...

The thing about sleeping together is that it is needed in order to survive. Nature kicks in, many children come to sleep with their parents. But why? What makes them think its okay to walk in and take a spot next to you? Ever notice how coffins are built for one. I really think sleeping alone is linked to SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

jo(e) said...

Ella: I have seen studies that link co-sleeping to a decrease in instances of SIDS. Your theory makes sense.

miami air conditioning said...

This is my favorite activitie inthe world very nice t just looks so cozy to see tthem sleeping so comfortable like this.