A couple of weeks ago when our friends were visiting, Deborah and I took the kids to a local park with an amphitheater. While we were there, we suggested they put on a show for us. Annalie had a prima donna moment, she threw in some trills and spins and curtsies, and she even did an encore. Usually when she’s being hilarious and cute I don’t even have the camera out, or I have it on the wrong setting or something. Aren’t you glad the stars aligned this time and I got a movie of it?

Annalie the alphabet diva from bethany actually on Vimeo.

When we were at my aunt’s house this week, I knew my mom would disown me (not really, but she would have been disappointed) if I didn’t get a photo of Annalie and my cousin Bob’s kids together. So on our last day there I posed them on the patio swing with their popsicles and asked them to smile.

“C’mon guys, smile! Please?”

Hmm, what can I say to make a 10-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl, and a 4-year-old girl smile all at the same time?

“I sure hope nobody farts.”

Bingo! You’re welcome, Mom.

Update: As Karen commented below, great minds think alike!

Yesterday afternoon I was sitting on the floor in a darkened bedroom at my Aunt Julie’s house, leaning uncomfortably against the side of a recliner. Annalie was lying on the bed on the other side of the chair. I wanted her to nap and had done everything I could think of to encourage her to drift off. She did not want to nap and was doing everything in her meager power to prevent herself from falling asleep. We had reached an impasse.

Now that Annalie is four years old she can get by without a nap most days. But there are still times when she needs the extra sleep, or when I need a break. Usually when I declare it to be a Nap Day, Annalie cooperates willingly enough. She might make some noise about not being tired but once we’ve read stories and I’ve tucked her in, she closes her eyes and goes to sleep.

Then there are days like yesterday. She was tired and really did need a nap, but we were at my aunt’s house and when we’re not at home it’s easier for Annalie to resist sleep. She was extra giggly and hyper and was yawning and rubbing her eyes when she wasn’t singing or flopping around on the bed. She did everything short of tap-dancing on the walls to keep herself awake.

Then there was the fact that yesterday I was tired. I desperately wanted to nap too but Annalie would not go to sleep. With every passing minute I grew more impatient and frustrated. And that’s how I ended up sitting on the floor on the other side of the recliner taking deep breaths. I was so close to losing my temper or crying or possibly running for the hills. I hate that feeling.

The stupid thing was—and I knew this even at the time—if I hadn’t been so tired I would have just read to her, sung her a song, and then left her alone with some books to look at and she probably would have been asleep in ten minutes. But when I’m tired I don’t think straight.

After an hour of epic struggle I declared a truce. I set up my laptop so she could watch the new Veggie Tales DVD and gave her strict instructions to watch quietly while I took a quick nap. Then my aunt came to the rescue (bless her!) and watched the movie with Annalie in another room so I could sleep.

Last night was more of the same. We did the usual away-from-home bedtime routine, and when Annalie hadn’t fallen asleep after I’d laid in bed with her for ten or fifteen minutes, I left the room hoping that would do the trick. But in the end, it took Annalie over an hour and a half to fall asleep in the dark bedroom with me sitting in the recliner with my laptop screen dimmed. I guess she just takes after me.

Yesterday’s sleep struggles are really just a blip on the radar. Usually Annalie goes to bed for naps and at night with much less drama, and in general Annalie and I have been having a great time lately spending time with friends and enjoying summer. I am laughing and rolling my eyes about the whole thing now. But yesterday, I was completely and utterly frustrated.

What’s frustrating you right now?