Old Photo, New Post

This picture is from Taiwan, before we met Ben. I forgot my camera and have no new photos to share. We're at the cabin for a week, our last mountain hurrah near the end of our magical summer. No photos, but picture this: I'm in the kitchen on this computer. Zach is in the top bunk in the kids' bedroom. Ben is in the bottom bunk. It's 8:00 p.m. and we've read stories, brushed teeth, eaten dinner, had ice cream, fed dogs, rode bikes, played frisbee, swam in the lake -- all after 5 p.m.

Zach: Ben. Are you asleep?
Ben: No.
Zach: Are you ever going to go to sleep?
Ben: No.
Zach: Never, ever, ever?
Ben: (No answer)
Zach: Ben. Do you want to have a sleep over?
Ben: Sure.
Zach: Mom. Can we have a sleep over?
Mom: Sure. Five minutes.
Zach: Ben. Do you want to come up to my bed?
Ben: No. You come down.
(Zach clamors down.)
Ben: My blanket.
Zach: We SHARE!
Ben: This is my bed.
Zach: But we're having a sleep over.
Ben: No.
Zach: You can come up to my bed.
Ben: Don't like it.
Zach: Mom. We're having a sleep over.
(He's now on the floor next to Ben's bed.)
Zach: Can I climb into bed?
Ben: No.
Zach: Tickle your feet. Tickle, tickle. (He's trying all his moves!)

Ten minutes has passed.

Mom: Two minutes and sleep over ends! Is that a Leapster game machine I hear?
Zach: Ben. Hide it from mommy.
Ben: Okay.
Ben: Mommy. I'm done with the Leapster.
Zach: Mommy. I'm done with the Leapster.