Mr. Sneaky

[by Zach]

Normally something like this isn't really blog worthy, but I honestly believe this is Declan's first real attempt at defiance and trickery, so...I'll share.

Over the holiday season we were reminded once again how much little boys like cookies. Any time one would see the light of day, Declan would devour it and use his super human strength to locate and consume more....as if he were Galactus and each cookie was an insignificant little planet.

On the way home one evening, Declan had a cookie as a snack...no big deal. He was told that he could have no more cookies...I was witness to that. The Swarrmobile pulls in the driveway and we all pour out of the car with bags of new gifts. If my memory serves me, I got waylaid coming to the house, I think by taking trash out or something, and Maribeth was tasked with finding temporary homes for the big bags of stuff once inside.

After a few minutes I finish my duties and walk in the back door. Then I hear it...the distinct sound of a 3 year 10 month old male...crying. It's one of those sad cries; not the angry or mad cry or the sobbing/can't catch my breath cry, but just a real honest to goodness sad cry.

I go upstairs and find Lil Man laying in bed crying and Maribeth standing over him with her arms crossed. The look on her face: stern and stony-like with a hint of something I can't quite figure out. I look at her and mouth, "What happened?"

I get the sideways head jerk which I correctly interpreted as "Go into the other room with me and I'll tell you what happened." We go to the other room and she starts laughing.

The story came out that Declan lost one of his three bedtime stories because...when we got home, Mommy and Daddy weren't around and little man took a cookie off of the tray in the kitchen. And not only did he decide to eat it without permission, he decided to go upstairs and eat it so we wouldn't catch him.

For shame, Little Man....but good attempt nevertheless.

But know this....we will always know your tricks...always.

p.s. Given the lighter nature of the offense, Declan was given the opportunity to regain his third bedtime story if he was well behaved and listened while getting ready for bed. He did.