Boys Gone Wild

Almost always, our bedtime routine goes something like this:
8:00 p.m. (or sometime before 8:15)- pee on the potty, brush teeth, strip down to undies that double as pj's.
Choose books for Daddy to read.
Climb in Jacob's bed to listen to Daddy read. Or, read the books to Daddy.
Give hugs and kisses and snuggle under the covers of their own bed.
Then, ask for a cup of water.
Lights out and goodnight.

Usually, it's a very calm, routine affair.

But things don't always go as planned. Sometimes, there's a trickle of energy left that just has to get out. And one night recently, I walked into a room where bedtime looked a little something like this:

A book on Daddy's head and a little boy on Daddy's back.




Standing on Jeff's back is Alex's trick. But Jacob thought it looked like fun.


As you can see, Jeff wasn't discouraging their wildness. Doesn't every child need to touch the ceiling before bed? Surely that will soothe them into a restful slumber.



And laugh deliriously as their Daddy tickles them?



Believe it or not, after all of that craziness, they fell asleep just fine. And probably giggled in their sleep.

It's not anywhere near as uncommon for this type of wildness to occur during the day. And last Saturday morning, the little boys weren't the only ones feeling rambunctious.





How about spinning on Daddy's shoulders?
Jacob loved Daddy's idea. (And Daddy did too until he was watching the room spin later.)




Alex, on the other hand, clung to Jeff's arm and got scared. Can't say I blame him- I'd have been terrified too.


Relieved to be disembarking from the spinning shoulders.


And decided to get dizzy (why is that so fun when you're little?) on his own in a much less scary way.


Dizzy Alex:


Dizzy Jacob:


Jacob the Human Wheelbarrow:


And, Jacob the...Vacuum?


Of course Will had to get wild too. It's hard to tell, but Jacob is finding it hysterical that Will is walking on his face.


Blurry smiles on Daddy and Will, but it's clear how much Alex is enjoying Wild Will.


And then it was time for some wildness during one of his current favorite activities: the Jumperoo.




After all of the wild activity, everyone was ready for a break.
I held Will.
The boys guzzled milk and sat down to watch a TV show.
And Jeff sprawled out on the couch, holding his head and feeling nauseous. But it was worth it.
No matter what your age, it's fun to be wild every now and then.