First Day of School!

Getting ready to go this morning. He helped pack his lunch and we put erasers on his pencils.

Evelyn, of course, had to pack her lunch too. We ate it at home after we dropped Finley off.

We aren't so sure about this sending Brother off to school business!

The Kindergarten parents and kids all met in the gym first and had a bit of an orientation. I think it was designed to make parting easier. Instead of us all going to their classrooms the kids were sorted out to which class they were in and then they got in line with their teachers and filed out to their classes and then parents were invited to come have coffee and muffins and meet each other and sign up for PTA of course! I went back in to see how Finley was doing and I wanted to see his classroom since we missed Kindergarten Roundup last May. He was having a tough time and so was I! We both settled down and he went off with the boys for their tour of the washroom and where to wash their hands and get a drink in the classroom. While he was busy with this, Evelyn and I left. She cried all the way home, asking "Finley? Finley?" I only broke down a few times during the day, but I sure watched the clock a lot.

It was much more fun to go pick him up than drop him off. Even though I know the staff are very caring and wonderful people it was a very emotional day! There was another little boy who was having a worse time than Finley and his mother and I formed our own little support group! I learned later when I picked him up that Finley had had a melt down after I'd left in the morning for about 1o minutes and then he was fine the rest of the day. He never mentioned this to me and said he really liked Kindergarten and told me all the fun things they did. He was exhausted though and so am I!

Evelyn's face says it all. These precious little people, all so nervous and excited but not sure about everything. Thank goodness there were lots of caring staff to help out. Stay tuned for more adventures with Kindergarten! Evelyn starts her pre-school class on Friday but we get to go together. Much more fun!

Finley Going to School Tomorrow

Tonight is Finley's last night before he goes to school! Wow. I didn't think I'd have such a hard time with this. I'm so excited for him but also fearful of the unknown myself. It has been a bit more anxiety ridden with the Kent School District teachers's strike. We support the teachers but we don't have any information about Finley's class, who his teacher is, bus riding information, etc. I guess we'll know everything tomorrow!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Todd and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary today. It has gone by so fast. A few moments here and there seemed longer... :) Todd planned a picnic dinner tomorrow evening without the kids so we can have a little date. I remember one of our first dates was a picnic dinner at one of the Woodland Park Zoo Concerts. I hardly remember the music because we were too much into our own groove...

My Poor Neglected Blog...

Wow. Has it really been that long? Well, you all have enough other stuff to read in your life anyway, right? So much has happened and yet so much the same. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates:

Finley's happy last days in preschool
A new nephew!
My friend Jan's 60th birthday party in West Seattle, Lincoln Park
Spontaneous trip to Woodland Park Zoo
First harvest of radishes from our garden
Spring and early summer pics of our perennial garden
Brother Peter's birthday party at Volunteer Park
Saturday farmer's market in Issaquah
Weekend at Lake Quinault Lodge and Neilton WA
Fun outdoor model railroad in Renton on Father's Day
Trip to Science Center with friend Grace and Aunt Erica
Independence Day at Samish Island at Grandma Cleo's and family
Visit with Mark and Penny at Samish
Whistler B.C. with my old friends Leah, Chris and Colleen and Nathan and Benjamin
Playing music at the Issaquah Train Depot
Chapman family reunion at Crow Butte on the Columbia River in wine country
Riding the Yakima trolley

So that's what we've been doing all summer! Thank goodness for cameras and a diary. It's all a blur sometimes...

Finley Goes Fishing for the First Time

Having fun at "Bill's Fishing Hole" in Orting, Washington. Last week we went with Finley's pre-school class on a field trip where he caught his first fish! The kids each got to catch two each, rainbow trout. I had left my camera in the car so I missed the actual fishing, but friends took pictures for me. I only have hard copies of those so I will see if I can get them digitally soon. I always have mixed feelings about fishing. Fun, but also not so fun to kill something. Sorry, all you hunter types. I just don't see the thrill. If I'm going to eat it, sure. I'll do what has to be done. Finley was fascinated and repulsed at the same time. By the second try he was really into it though. He even learned how to do a nice casting with the rod. I was impressed! He liked everything but the fish blood when they took the hooks out. Fortunately, he didn't have to see them gutted! We went home with eight trout on ice! We grilled some up last week and they were very tasty! Evelyn thought it was all really interesting too! She enjoyed looking at all the other animals roaming around; goats and peacocks and cats and rabbits. There was even a gentle horse that was shod while we watched. Fun day!

Growing Things

Happy Birthday Todd!

We celebrated Todd's birthday in late April. Finley helped me decide to get an icecream cake instead of trying to bake one at home. Maybe next year I'll get one baked in time!

Seedlings Emerge!

I was amazed to go out to our veggie patch this morning and see that the radishes, carrots and lettuces have already sprouted! We had two nice warm days and then some cool rain today in the morning; just what they needed apparently.

Sabbath

Today we played hookie from church and caught up on the house and yard and each other. Todd got to work on his train, I did some more garden planning and wrote out our grocery list. The kids played out on the back deck while I folded laundry and cleaned up the kitchen. We went for a lovely walk this evening at Lake Wilderness and the trail that goes up to the Episcopal church's labyrinth park. (It is part of the Cedar River Trail). It was just a really great day to take a breath, take stock of the past week and gear up for the next couple weeks which will be hectic and busy. We have two retreats at Samish Island coming up: Fine Arts Retreat is next week and then the following weekend is actually the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Samish Island Campgrounds. I am really looking forward to both of these events but also dreading the prep! I'm doing children's crafts at the Fine Arts Retreat and also co-leading the Sunday morning celebration service. Then the next weekend, I'm doing a few things for the 50th celebration. I'll be really ready for a break on Mother's Day weekend!

Cousin Kaleb's First Birthday Party!

The birthday boy!

Kaleb liked watching the kids in the bouncer but he wasn't so sure about it when he actually got in there. Too squishy under the feet!

Makayla and Evelyn having fun on the bouncer.

"I like to move it, move it!"

Folks enjoying food, sunshine and each other.

Evelyn leans out to smile at Lauren and Jade's new puppy, Tucker. He is an adorable Chihuahua mix. So sweet with all the kids and totally worn out at the end of the party!

The mad dash for candy after the pinata broke open!

Jade, the keeper of the pinata!

Our friend, Jake, takes a swing!

Waiting (sort of patiently!) for their turn to hit the pinata.

Evelyn discovers four wheel drive! She had so much fun with this push button automated ride on. It was just her size! Too bad she never learned to steer!

Kaleb's big sister, Makayla, with Finley and their friend, MacKenzie, in the pink pants. It was really hard to get all of them in the shot when they are jumping!

On Saturday, after our gardening bit, we headed over to a birthday party for my niece, Lauren's, son's first birthday party! I can't believe he's one already! It was really fun, the weather was perfect and the food was excellent. Lauren's mother-in-law is from the Phillipines, and boy howdy, can she cook! I don't even know what each dish was called but it was all so yummy. They also had a roasted pig! Lauren had all sorts of fun activities for the little kids set up; a bouncer, sandbox and sandtoys, a big tent with a place for the babies to get out of the sun and play with toys in a clean setting and a pinata! It was a construction theme, all very cute! Lauren also made fun t-shirts for all the grandparents with a picture of Kaleb on the front.

Raised Beds and Raising Kids!

Filling our first raised bed on Saturday. This is our first attempt to really grow food. We've had strawberries and tomatoes in containers and had fun with them. This time we are going for carrots, corn, cabbage, peas, chives, basil, cilantro, mixed meslcun lettuces, bush beans, scarlet runner beans and pumpkins! In fact, we have decided to not only plant in these two raised beds, but also are going to take out a good section of lawn next to them and add more garden space. We may be too ambitious but it has been so fun so far. I've been reading as much as I can and asking people for vegetable growing advice based on their experiences with gardening in this area. It is amazing to tap into the passion and knowledge that surrounds vegetable gardening. People become very ingenious at raising temperatures around their gardens when they are told something won't grow in our climate. It is like a personal challenge to prove the gardening zoning books wrong. Some people even have hardy figs and banana trees in their gardens!

Evelyn playing in the backyard.

Finley jumping into the raised bed before we filled them up with dirt.

We put pea gravel on the bottom and then a layer of landscaping cloth to keep weeds down and improve drainage. Then we filled them up with the four way mix of topsoil from Palmer Coking Coal Company out in Black Diamond. They used to be a mining company and now they provide all sorts of landscaping materials and soils and gravels. I learned that they have the exclusive contract with Safeco Field for their ball field materials needs! In anycase, its good rich dirt with lots of compost mixed in. We also added veggie food, too. I can see that I will also need to put straw or some kind of mulching on top to keep the soil from compacting from the rain, too.

Todd testing out the beds! Little did he know just how much he'd need a bed after he got finished loading all that dirt in, one wheelbarrowful at a time! Nothing like hard, physical labor to make you appreciate what our ancestors must have gone through just to grow enough food to survive. And, gulp, what many people in the world still have to go through with subsistence farming. They don't have any one to bring in loads of good topsoil!

Finley's Special Day Back in February

Finley and Teacher Cindy on his day to be the Very Important Person, February 27, 2009.

When it is your turn to be the V.I.P. we sing a special song and you get to fill the Teddy Bear's belly full of little bits of information about yourself. As in your favorite color, what your favorite food is, what games do you like to play, are you afraid of anything, etc.

Finley's friends sitting and listening as the teacher read Finley's information cards. Teacher Barbara in the back. (Kids are Hamant, Trace, Gavin, Emily, Kyra, Ayden, Logan, Sidney and Jaedon.)

I forgot to get these pics on here in February. In Finley's pre-school each child got to have a day when they were the "Very Important Person." They got to wear a crown, write down some things about themselves to share with the class, be the line leader and have a favorite story read by a parent in class. When it was Finley's turn the teacher asked Todd and I to bring in our instruments to play for the kids. It was really fun! We played a few tunes and then let the kids take turns "playing" the instruments. I was a little apprehensive about having my violin in this situation, but we had the kids line up and they were all so gentle and respectful of the instruments. We actually held the instruments while the kids strummed or held the bow. We had the upright string bass, my violin, Todd's banjo and my guitar. Finley has a great time being the Very Important Person! It was a great exercise for the kids to learn about empathy as they listened to what was shared about the special person and then the teacher asked them what they remembered. They always remember everything the special person shared, like what vegetables they don't like to eat, or that they like to ride their bike, or play games, etc. I was amazed at how they have been such good listeners all year. So many times it seems like they are not paying attention at all but then they surprise me!

Has Spring Truly Arrived?????

Hippy Chick Evelyn, in her brother's rainboots, his old t-shirt and fun jeans from Auntie April!

I loved this Dagali design t-shirt. The company was so great at incorporating First Nations art (they were in British Columbia) into fun wearable art. (They went out of business a couple years ago. They actually made their t-shirts in North America and they couldn't compete with the Made In China label.) Finley had so many great memories in this shirt. I can't wait to see what Evelyn does in it!

Todd made this wonderful raised bed for me to grow some vegetables! He has one completed and we will do the other one this weekend. We placed it on the nice warm south side of our house. The shiny aluminum siding should help raise the temperatures a bit with its reflective surface too. I'm really excited! I've been reading a ton of information about growing vegetables in the Northwest. Seems like there is a wave of new veggie gardeners on the way. Lots of people are going back to growing their own produce. We'll give it a shot too!

Dirt arrived today for our raised beds. Very exciting! An early Mother's Day gift from Todd. Who knew dirt could be so romantic?????

What We Do When It's Still Snowing In April

It snowed at our house on April 1. A Fools Day Storm! The weather has been so cold and un-spring like and I'm itching to get gardening and be out in the yard. One evening we went down to the new Home Depot just to relieve the cabin fever. We walked around and dreamed about more projects. The kids like to ride in the fun Nascar shopping carts.
Hmmm. I'll take two shovels and an edger!

Field Trip to the Puyallup Fair Educational Fair

Finley's pre-school class went to the Puyallup Fair's Education Fair on March 31. I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids or the parents! I could read about farming and look at all the different chickens and livestock for hours! Mom watched Evelyn, so Finley and I were able to have some one on one time.





Learning about apiaries and bee keepers outfits!


Farming Propaganda! :)


Of course, Finley's favorite part of the whole day was playing with John Deere tractors!


Finley and Charlie, looking at vegetable magnets. There were several stations for the kids to learn about produce and where it comes from.


Finley and his friend, Trace, sorting animals at one of the educational stations at the Puyallup Education Fair, March 31.


Fiberglass draft horse and a Holstein cow were fun to look at for the kids.

My Third Sibling Turns 50!

We celebrated my brother David's, 50th birthday, on March 14th. Very fun! Such a great time connecting with everyone. I was wrangling kids most of it but still made some time for chatting and connecting with family.

Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Sam and my cousins, Becky and Debbie, came up from Vancouver, WA, to surprise David. It was so great to catch up with them!




Finley took this one, can you tell? The Birthday Boy, wearing his newspaper carrying bag. A flashback to all the years he had paper routes growing up.

Mom, her sister, Charlotte and husband, Sam. We had such a great time celebrating with David.

Brandon, my nephew, sporting a Seattle Times newspaper carrying bag to commemorate his dad, David's many paper routes in his life!

An Abbreviated Version of March

This could be, "Leave me alone!" or "That's mine!", or "I wanted to do it myself!" or "Give me that NOW!" or "I'm tired and my pants are wet!"

Fun in the sumac tree!

March 12, four days after it snowed, Finley is out enjoying the sunshine.

Poor little boy out in the snow!

Finley in the snow, again! March 8th

Finley's snowman creation on our back deck on March 8th.


Snow on March 8th at our house. I can't remember a winter when it snowed so many times!

Getting her helmet on with Daddy's help.


Going for a ride in the bike trailer. Todd was just testing the tires out in our driveway.


Having fun at home. Evelyn loves to have us all get under blankets with her.

Where Does the Time Go?

Sorry folks. I've been really distracted lately! I'm going to attempt to catch up on the past two months with a couple quick blogs.

Evelyn and the Potty

Just a quick note to celebrate Evelyn starting to use the potty! Not consistently, but at least once a day, we actually make it there in time for her to use it instead of her diaper. We aren't making a big deal out of it since I don't want to make it too stressful when she doesn't get there in time. She is showing most the signs of potty training readiness so I am hoping this isn't a "false start". Finley wasn't completely out of pull ups until a month or so after Evelyn was born and by that time he had turned four. I know it can be a long process and kids are ready when they're ready. I just want to do my part though, so I don't hold her up if she's really ready!

An interesting side note is that Finley is not sure he wants his sister to grow up! He told me he doesn't want her to learn to talk or use the toilet. He likes her as a baby, he says. :) The past few days though, they've had so much fun playing together that I imagine he's rethinking that sentiment.

Light As A Feather

December 31, 2005, Finley in the bathtub. Looks like someone else we know?

Finley, just past two-years-old, January 2006.

Finley in November 2005, a brand new two-year-old, holding his new Bob the Builder character, "Roley", a gift from Aunt Erica.

Todd and Finley, November 2005.

A little feeling of bitter sweetness hovered over us this weekend. Too busy, too obligated, too scattered to get what we really wanted out of our three days together. Doesn't three days sound like a long time? Enough to have some relaxation and some fun, despite a list of chores to do? What is that Buddhist principal? Mindfulness? I was lacking that for sure! Sunday evenings have been hard for me as an adult. I dread them since I tend to get melancholy. I guess its because I feel like my list of to dos is never done and then, here we are again, at the end of a weekend. That infernal, eternal list still remaining with hardly a dent in it.

I look back at these pictures of Finley, only a little older than Evelyn is now and I can hardly remember it all. And that's when it really hits me; the pining away for something else while I miss out on what is so precious and fleeting in front of me...

I just read about an old Jewish folktale about "picking up feathers". Like many tales that have been around a while, it has many versions. The gist of it is that there is a man or woman who has done something wrong to someone, usually gossip or slander. They feel badly so they go to their rabbi to see what it is that they need to do for forgiveness. The rabbi forgives them but requests that they bring him a feather pillow. When they do so the rabbi orders them to cut it open and scatter the feathers in the wind. After they do this, they ask what needs to be done now. The rabbi says, "Now, go and gather every feather and put it back into the pillow." Of course, this is impossible and the guilty person sees how their deeds have done untold damage in ways they cannot even imagine or contain.

I was moved by this story. It isn't just a story about slanderous words, but also about all those wasted moments that we can never reclaim. All those worries and frets that eat away at the quality of our life and detract from the joy we feel in our loved ones' presence. I think of how much time I have wasted, gathering feathers.

I have been working with a life coach, professional organizer which has been truly transformational. A gratitude journal is part of my homework these days. After forgetting that I was supposed to be writing in it for the first week, I finally remembered on Friday and got it out. (At least I knew where it was! That is progress, right?) Part of each day's entry includes a place to list what you're grateful for. To be listed just in a free association mode, as many as you can think of in a few minutes' time.

I worked one summer at our church's campgrounds in the San Juans at a little bookstore on the grounds. Each day I woke early and prayed. I mean full on meditation, on my knees, mindful and present kind of prayer. I was truly happy that summer. I filled myself with well wishes and hopes for other people. Asked to be an instrument of peace and God's love and compassion for each life I encountered. Focused on the needs of others, thanked God profusely and faithfully for all the gifts and blessings in my life. It all flowed, usually with tears of joy and happiness at being so filled with light. I think I glowed that summer, not only from my out of doors tan, but from that lack of misdirected ego and self pity that has accompanied me on so many occasions since that "summer of love."

I think about this now as I poise my pen each day over my gratitude journal. I feel like the tin woodsman; rusty, slow of speech and desperate to let my arm down from carrying that heavy weight of an ax. That ax, which is my heart so out of practice in the ways of joy. Inarticulate in the ways of innocence and unpreoccupied attention to what is best and loveliest and pure. Of course, my theology has "evolved" since then. My views of church and politics and culture are that of a 40-year-old and not a 19-year-old. I am doing hard inner work in this journal now. Waking up my dulled senses and exercising my letting go muscles. How hard it is for me to let go of judgment, negative ego and pessimism! This is hard work but good work that makes me feel more alive and connected with what I truly value. I want to feel that lightness again. That easiness and unencumbered cheerfulness, even if crossed with anxiety at times. What I would do for just a taste of that!

A Visit With Family, Cameron & Brittany's Visit

Last Sunday, February 15th, we had a family get together up at my nephew Ian, and his wife, Karolyn's new home in Kenmore. They have a new baby son, Caiyan, about 6 months now? We had never met him so it was fun to get to connect with them. Unfortunately, I only have one blurry picture of him, but will get more! My other nephew, Cameron and his wife, Brittany were out visiting from Iowa. It was just a great time getting to see everyone!

A festive table and beautiful tulips. We did a potluck style taco and burrito meal.

An impromptu fam shot by Brittany!

Portrait of Mommy in the Car, by Finley.

Birthday folk, Brittany and Dad! She had German chocolate and Dad had his own personal apple pie with two different kinds of apples, Golden and Red Delicious.

My lovely niece, Lauren, and her son, Kaleb.

My lovely sister, Emily!

Dad and my cousin Sharon's hubby, Dean. Finley took this photo, too!

My cousin Sharon and her husband, Dean came over too, from Issaquah. It was great to get to catch up with them too.

Finley took some pictures of his cool Hotwheel toy.

Todd, Brittany and Emily. Brittany! Didn't you get the memo about wearing burgundy? :)

Finley, Emily and Makayla enjoying some time together. Emily and Mom were great help with getting the kids fed and watching them while Todd and I got some food, too.

Finley and Makayla wore themselves out chasing each other and playing all evening. Lauren and Kaleb in the background.

Brittany holding Caiyan, Ian and Karolyn's little guy. I'll get more pictures of him later.

Finley and Dad.

My niece, Jennifer, happened to be up from California where she's going to Santa Clara University. It was great to see her!

Cougar Mountain Zoo

Finley and Evelyn are off this week from their co-op pre-school so we decided to visit the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah. I hadn't been their since my nieces were little and they are grown women now! Needless to say, some things had changed. I was really impressed with how much they have done. It is a very small zoo but there are lots of fun statuary to play on and the interaction with the animals is amazing since you can get so close to the cages.
They had very cool sculptures throughout the park, most of which were available for sale.





These were amazing Bengel tigers. I learned that Bengels are the only tigers that can come in different shades and variations of color. It is hard to tell here, but one almost looks like a white tiger and the other one , was creamy orange and white, like a big tabby! They are getting a new habitat soon.


Evelyn! Get out from behind that rhino!
A nice lady offered to take our picture so we accepted her offer!

When I asked Finley what his favorite animal at the zoo was, he replied, "The tyrannasaurus rex, Mom."

They had some wonderful macaws and these large parrots, of which I've forgotten their name. There were also beautiful black and white lemurs, mountain lions, reindeer, alpacas, deer, crested cranes, wallabys, emus, and the two wonderful Bengel tigers.

Having fun on the "ginormous" tortoise!

Evelyn was having so much fun running from statue to statue. The kids had a lot of fun buying feed for the animals from the zoo's vending machines with quarters I'd brought.


I took this picture just as Finley was losing his footing and falling off the tortoise!

Santa's sleigh! At Christmas time they have Santa pictures with real reindeer!



And a self portrait of Finley!

Happy Late Birthday Dad! (It was the 12th)

Evelyn's Blessing

Yummy cake for the kids' blessing.

Evelyn and me on Sunday, January 11th at the Renton Community of Christ at the reception after the blessing.

The Dahlquist family were there to support and celebrate with us!

Lauren, Makayla, Kaleb and Jade with the cake the congregation had for us. I can't believe how the time goes so fast! It seems just yesterday that I was baptizing Lauren as a little girl!

Some of my favorite people: Janet, our co-pastor, Peter, my brother, and Bruce, Janet's husband and Todd's Xbox buddy!

Grandpa Jim (my dad), Uncle Mark and Grandpa Burt holding Evelyn as my dad gives the blessing prayer.


Sorry the pictures are so dark! Evelyn was blessed at our congregation in Renton, January 11th, along with her two little cousins, Makayla and Kaleb, my niece Lauren and her husband Jade's, kids. Usually this is a baby blessing, not a toddler blessing so Lauren and I were both a little nervous to see how this would go! Makayla had a hard time but it was a new setting and a lot of new people she didn't recognize. Evelyn just kind of chilled out in Grandpa Burt's arms, and Kaleb just beamed the whole time during his!

In our denomination, Community of Christ, a baby blessing is just that. A blessing and show of support by the congregation. It is a sacrament that represents Jesus' blessing of the children and holding them up as the example of the purity and joy of the kingdom of heaven. This isn't a theology lesson, but I do like that our tradition inclues this wonderful ritual of recognizing that children don't need "saving", but rather that parents do need support and children thrive in communities that love, empower and protect them. It feels really healthy to me.

My brother David played his guitar, including an orignal piece he composed. It was absolutely beautiful. Dad gave the blessing prayers for all three, with Grandpa Burt assisting with Evelyn's. He did a really great job, keeping the short but eloquent and meaningful. Not an easy task! My older brother Mark, gave the sermon and did an equally wonderful job. He talked about the "stories" we tell ourselves about our lives and how those stories are powerful and important and we need to pay attention to them. What kind of stories are we helping our children tell about their lives? How do we incorporate the stories of each other's lives and piece together our experiences as a community to create a meaningful, loving and supportive body. It was really good stuff!

Catching up with growing kids...

Finley's preschool class had a "drive-in movie theater" the other day. Each child brought in a big cardboard box to decorate like a car. Then on the Friday of that week, they got to watch a movie and eat popcorn in their "cars." They had so much fun! The other boy is one of Finley's favorite friends, Max.

It has been so long since I've updated my blog that I thought I'd just take some pictures of the kids to show how they've grown. We hadn't been to Evelyn's little one year old class at the pre-school in so long and we finally made it this week. It was class picture day on Wednesday and I figured we better show up for that to prove we were actually in the class!

These pictures were actually from February 12th, as we were gettting ready to go get Finley's hair cut. They are getting so used to each other as brother and sister. MOST of the time, they are very loving to each other and that, of course, warms a mother's heart. When Finley is impatient with her or she is learning how fun it is to bug him or mess up his toys, I feel like pulling my hair out. Fortunately, those moments are outweighed by more fun and gentleness.

We've moved Evelyn into her own room now. While she loves having all her "stuff" in one room and having a new area to play in, it has disrupted all our sleep habits. She has been waking up a lot so I end up sleeping in her bed with her and then, Finley has started coming in to join us every night about 2:00 a.m! Maybe not so conventional, but we get a lot more sleep that way and everyone wakes up happy to be together. (Okay. I'd rather be in my own bed with Todd, but from past experience, I know this is just a phase and won't last too long. I should have them sleeping through the night in their own beds by the time they're 13 right?) :)