One person's couch is another person's...

We're into phase 2 of our trip to Milwaukee: staying at Gma's house. We've got a nice room all to ourselves, and Mags and I have been sharing a very comfortable and warm bed the past few nights. But you know what she keeps asking for? She keeps wanting to go back to Goose's house so we can sleep on their couch. Or maybe more correctly: their fold-out bed.

Oh yes, the magical and mysterious fold-out bed. We've got one at home, so she's not completely new to the concept (most recently we used it when Diamond Lil stayed at our house, and she'd never seen one before. As I unfolded the mattress, Lil's eyes got bigger and bigger, until she finally whispered, "Oh my goodness!")
Normally we use ours when its movie time; snuggled up with pillows and blankets in the dark living room, peppering the sheets with popcorn. And when the movie is over, Mags reminds us to put the bed away.

But who knew the bed had so many other uses? A trampoline! I for one am amazed by the amount of air a toddler (or two or three) can get on one of those things. I couldn't help watching the mattress worked over by the kids and thinking, man, if that was a piece of meat it would be CRAZY tender by now! (but I think it was getting close to lunch then, too...) It also makes a great crash pad for catching you after your leap of faith off the back of the couch, a hot rod car clenched in each hand, wearing nothing but a diaper. Hey, where did Mags go? Why, she's under the bed in the 'cave', dodging exposed springs triggered by another crazed toddler. And if you've got a handful of high-back chairs lying about, as well as a bag of clothespins and some sheets -- voila! You've got the base for a fanTAbulous fort!

Whew! All of this jumping and playing has really got me tired. Wait, what's that you say? I can actually sleep on it, too?!? Now that's just crazy talk! Going to bed has never been so much fun. We'd crawl into bed together - no, Mama, that's my Thomas the Train pillow - read some books, and off to sleep we go (well, except for the last night. She didn't fall asleep until 10:45. I think the goldfish was keeping her up, or something else just as ridiculous.) Really, the novelty of waking up and being in the living room was just the be-all-end-all. And like the evil mama I am, I now force her to sleep in a bed. In her room. Quick. Call CPS (yawn.)

I'm guessing she'll live, and we'll all survive this trip and make it back home in one piece. Who knows where she'll want to sleep when we get there, though. Saaay, the couch is far away from our bed, the big bed, the bed she's recently taken to sleeping in all the time, the bed where Husband and I never get alone time together. I'm thinking it may be time to brush off the popcorn and break out the old Thomas pillow for Mags...