Most kids have a rough spot in their day. Usually, it’s the dinner/bath/bed hour in which they simultaneously move like molasses and collapse from exhaustion/overstimulation. Sissy and Piper have grown beyond that. They’re older. They party like rock stars these days. We have to end their nightly fun and beg them to sleep.

Mornings, however, can be trying. They don’t want to wake up. Then they want to linger over their hot cups of tea for an hour. The mad dash for the door happens in about 3 minutes. Clothes/teeth brushing/hair combing/backpacks in 90 seconds or less. We have no valid excuse for the morning crazy. School doesn’t even begin until 9:15 a.m. Wouldn’t you love hours like that? Our mornings would probably be more efficient if we weren’t pausing to crack up at a piperism every few minutes. Here’s a run down of why we were late this morning. Again.

7:40 a.m. “Mom, I had a dream last night! I was being chased by chipmunks. And I was completely naked. Except for my tiara, of course.”

8:10 a.m. “This tea tastes like sunshine in a cup. A cup of love. But I think it gives me gas, too.”

8:14 a.m. (calling through the open door from the bathroom) “Yep. It gave me gas. I’m going number 3 in here. That’s when you peefartpoop all at once!”

8:32 a.m. “I love that John Lennon song. You know, Imagine. The one Sissy learned on the piano for your birthday last year. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world WILL BE MINE.”

8:38 a.m. “My breakfast is cold now. Would someone heat it up for me?”

8:44 a.m. “Sissy! I’m getting dressed in here. All by myself. It’s a hoot. I’m going to need some accessories. Some bling. You can’t go to school with anything less than three accessories, you know.”

8:52 a.m. “How am I supposed to decide which of my favorite stuffed animals to sneak into my backpack when everyone’s yelling about being late to school? Geez.”

Then, we stumble toward the door. Sissy and Piper are mostly fed, somewhat organized, almost completely groomed, usually happy.