The Big Bed

Friday night was a night not unlike other Friday nights.  It was simply sweet....

In what started long ago as a treat allowed for special occasions, Aden LOVES cuddling up in our bed with us for the night. It has become an entire event... 

First....  he asks permission...  Excited, jumping up and down, possibly with some variation of begging.  "IT IS A HOME DAY TOMORROW, SO CAN I SLEEP IN THE BIG BED???!!!!"  An affirmative response elicits waves of giggles and clapping.  The request/permission is waived when Aden uses the coupons he received from us last Christmas...  (We came up with 10 big bed night coupons and a variety of other special things - he was so excited about them!)  When he uses the coupons he has milked out for months, the conversations go something like this:  "I can't sleep in the big bed, you say???  YES I CAN!!!  HERE'S MY COUPON!!!  AND IT IS EVEN A SCHOOL NIGHT!!!!"

Next, Aden begins the campaign of convincing at least one of us to go to bed at the same time as him.  This is fun for so many reasons.  Typically, it's me, so we turn out the light and nestle down in all the soft covers, prompting lots of silly talking and plans to trick Dave into thinking that Aden is not actually there when he arrives in bed.  This is the time where Aden tells me all the things I asked about earlier in the day, but he refrained from mentioning...  The play-by-play of the field trip, remembered conversations with other boys, details about school....  Friday night included a round of truth or dare... 

TRUTH
Me:  "Did you cheat during our board game, earlier?"
Aden:  "Maybe once."
Aden:  "Do you like Quade or Bobcat better?"

Soon Dave arrives, and, tricks aside, we go around telling our best parts of the day.  Then we are getting sleepy.  The cats wander in and claim all the open spaces on the bed, meaning that just about every square inch of our king size bed is occupied.  We begin to doze off to the sound of purring and Aden's contented sighs.  My last thoughts are that I know just where everybody is, and that they are safe and warm and happy, and it is sweet sleep (minus a few jabs in the back!).