Instead, this post will chronicle the one thing my kids have never done.
I've heard that other kids do it, but have never seen it with my own eyes.
I've been waiting for this day.
I'm writing it down in the baby book. (Which doesn't exist, but this is monumental enough to start one. Today. Right NOW.)
I even took a picture to record the event, because those who know my girls would never believe it otherwise.
Addie fell asleep playing. (Do you hear angels singing the Hallelujah chorus? I did when I saw her!)
Here's what happened: I was working in the kitchen while Emma and Addie were playing "Kitty-Cat." Addie put her kitty, Emma, down for a nap in the corner of the dining room while she went into the other room to make lunch for the kitty. Well, after about 10 minutes of quiet, I peeked in to see Emma still taking her pretend nap in the corner. (I was first amazed that she could be still - and quiet- for that long.) About then, she started calling Addie's name. We all get a little nervous when it's quiet and we don't know where Addie is (it usually means something is being destroyed), but for some reason, I thought I'd see how it played out instead of frantically searching for her. A few minutes later, Emma came to me and said, "Mommy, Addie's not moving."
PANIC. Those are not words you want to hear.
Since you've seen the picture, you know there was no need to worry. Emma ran to the other room to show me where Addie was, and by the time I got there, she was lifting Addie's limp arm up and letting it drop to show me how asleep she was. I laughed so hard! Emma said, "I even used her hand and made her hit herself, but she won't wake up!" (How tender.)
Well, Addie is an expert at faking sleep, so I gave her the true test. "Hey Emma," I said. "Let's go eat a bunch of Oreos!" Addie didn't flinch, so I knew she really was slumbering away.
I think Emma made it to the kitchen to scarf down Oreos in 2.1 seconds.
By the way...
I don't think I ever fell asleep playing when I was little. My sister did once, while we were playing Monopoly. I continued to play the game anyway, and took her turns for her. Can you believe she fell asleep and still beat me? I don't know if that makes me really honest or really dumb.
I'm going with honest. Honest and kind. And loving. Because after she won, I quietly put the game away and then gently and lovingly moved her to her bed where I kissed her sweetly on the cheek and wished her the happiest of dreams, as any caring big sister would. I tucked her in carefully, making sure that she was warm and cozy so that she'd get the proper sleep she needed. Then I tiptoed silently out of the room, taking care to shut her door with the softest of touches, so as not to disturb her as she dreamed away. I went to my own room, tired, but feeling fulfilled in my role as big sister.
I bet she never knew that part of the story. Wow, I can't believe I've held that in for so long.