MMM...SLEEP...

In going through old photos on our computer, Merritt discovered the Finch children fall asleep in the strangest places, and positions.

On the couch, sitting up.


At least he's in a bed. Even partly dressed as he is. Notice the one shoe he has on?


Under our computer desk.



Aryka couldn't even wait to finish her lunch.


Rulon on top of all his toys. He had actually made a pile to sleep on.



Merritt remembers this picture. Ben had just left for work and Aryka had been crying at the gate between the living room and hallway. She really wore herself out.


Rulon inside his toybox, on top of his toys.

I know I wish I could sleep anywhere like that...

Dum Dum Dessert

Aryka and Rulon got Dum Dums for dessert tonight and had such a fun time eating them. Rulon chose banana for his and all we heard was CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH! In the time it took to take a few pictures he was completely done with his sucker. He can't savor them like Aryka. He has to bite and crunch until its gone! At least he throws away the stick when he's done.
Aryka, on the other hand, likes to take her time when she gets a sucker. It takes a while for it to be going...going...and then to be gone...
Merritt doesn't like to give the kids suckers because they like to go all over the place and touch everything with their sticky little hands. And then Merritt has to find everywhere they touched and take a clorox wipe to it. But isn't that the way of having kids?

Themed Bedtimes...

Aryka and Rulon all have different bed sets to help differentiate between which bed is there's and to help keep Rulon thinking more like a boy than...well, you know. So our family has decided to give Rulon, Cars and Aryka, Princess.

Rulon has Cars pajamas, pillows, blanket, sheets, AND sippy cup. Aryka has everything Rulon does but in Princess.

But she also has her official blankie. It has to be in bed with her and she has to be touching it at all times or she has a fit. Granted, she's had that blankie all her life and doesn't like being away from it at night. It used to be all day, but has turned into just at night. But if she goes into the bedroom and it's not there she freaks out and starts thinking the world is ending. We have to hurry when we wash it, otherwise she knows it's missing.

So nighty night everyone and sweet dreams...

just a side note:Ben's Aunt Jane made Aryka the blanket and it was given to her when she was about 5 months old. So to her, it has always been with her.

Rockin' Out!

After dinner, Aryka wanted her hair done and when Mommy asked what she wanted done to it, she replied, "Lots and lots of braids!" Unfortunately, her hair is too thin to put tons of little braids in it, so Merritt was able to do at least 5. This was the result:

When Rulon saw what Aryka had, he wanted his hair done too. He actually sat still while Mommy was putting his hair in ponytails. He kep trying to touch it and feel the hair stick up on end. Luckily it ended up like a ponytail mohawk, otherwise Daddy would've been angry at Mommy...

After their hais was all done, they wanted to play Guitar Hero with Daddy and so each had a turn 'playing' the guitar. Rulon got mad when his turn was over and kept trying to take the guitar away from Aryka. Aryka would then give him the stink eye...

All in all, they enjoyed playing with the guitar and having their hair done.

Well, maybe Rulon enjoyed it a little bit more than Aryka...

Gettin' Down with the Dead

Before Merritt's mom left us in early February, we all took a trip to Luxembourg and St. Avold American Cemeteries.The day we went was very cold and all of us were bundled up tight. Aryka kept trying to take off her coat and Merritt kept having to put it back on her. Rulon understood the solemnity of where he was and showed proper respect and decorum. Or... he was really bored. The graves that probably affected our family the most were the unknowns.

At St. Avold, we got there near closing and we were able to help with retiring the flags.
It was the best experience our family has had and we plan on going back soon.

Friends, Romans, Murder!

Last Saturday was an evening filled with good food, Roman attire, and a little murder on the side.

Ben was a Roman Centurion, while Merritt was a (not so quite) Vestal Virgin!

Aryka was a fairy nymph, since the romans believed in them, and her friends were various slaves and royalty alike.

While Rulon was a soldier, just like his daddy!

Everyone had a great time finding out who the real killer was! Especially the boys! The girls had a good time finding out we were all hussies!

All in all, we had a great time with our friends and we're planning to do it again soon!