Sweet Dreams

I was reminded tonight of what I imagined tucking my children in would be like ... long before I had children. I held Audrey bundled up in my arms after reading some story books, gently set her in her crib and wished her sweet dreams, tip-toed into Cole's room to find him sweetly sleeping. I pulled the covers up, gave him a kiss and turned the light off. This was pure joy and, as anyone who has put Cole and Audrey to bed knows, almost never happens so I'm reveling in it.

This miraculous feat was made possible by exhaustion not skill. Normally we'd be starting the bedtime ritual (bath, pajamas, books, snuggles) around 7 PM but last night we were playing in the snow and tonight we were petting an alligator at 8 PM. You can't keep kids from being excited about snow and who would want to. I didn't see any harm in shoveling snow and throwing snow balls even if it meant the kids weren't asleep until 10 PM. As for the alligator, Cole was spun over a thrilling assembly today at school. We went to the family event held in the evening though my first instinct was to say no (too late!). The Reptile Man brought a cobra, black mamba, alligator, rattlesnake, boa and other reptiles out of rubbermaid bins and paraded them in front of a packed house. He was an entertaining, informative speaker and captivated the kids and adults alike. At one point he talked up the Black Mamba as being the most deadly snake in the world - only a 10% survival rate from a bite - then solemnly asked the children to stay behind the orange cones because the snake is so quick and hard to handle. Kids were excited and parents were scared. A woman standing behind me looked horrified and held her toddler close while backing away. He reached into the plastic tub and appeared to be struggling with the snake and BAM out flew some spring loaded "snakes". I screamed. He then admonished the adults for causing our children to fear snakes through modeling. Guilty as charged, add spiders to that list. Cole touched the albino burmese python and the alligator. Audrey touched the alligator and didn't seem scared at all.



A show of hands for volunteers to hold the boa?


The lucky winner.

The one disappointment of the evening was that Cole really, really, really wanted a picture with the boa. To raise money for the "reptile zoo" children were offered the opportunity to have their picture taken with either the alligator or the boa for $5. No cash in my wallet. Cole asked for a pet alligator as well. I told him, yes, he could after he grew up and had his own house. He started bawling and said he never wanted to leave (hence could not have a pet alligator).