Dear Dave,
We are all set to arrive today. We are looking forward to spending time with you.
We are bringing a crib for John and will need to set it up before he goes to bed around 8:15. Sometimes he has trouble going down so it might be as late as 9:30, but as long as the house is completely silent (no TV or radio or talking), it shouldn’t take too long.
Grace is pretty easy to deal with. We read her a book and then she goes to sleep. Usually, she only gets up for a drink of water 10 or 11 times before exhaustion gets the better of her.
We won’t need an alarm clock. Number one, we’re on vacation and number two, John hasn’t awakened after 6 am since his birth. He usually is ready to go around 5:45 am. He’ll need breakfast (so will Gracie), but it isn’t complicated. Just make some cereal or toast and they will be just fine. Try to have it ready by 6:05 sharp. They get a little cranky if it isn’t on time. We’ll probably be down around 7:45, but we’ll make our own breakfast.
I hope you remember our phone conversation and have removed anything breakable from a height less than three feet from the floor from the entire house. Also, John likes to take a wooden spoon (or equivalent object) and hit things repeatedly. He’s pretty strong. (I still have a bruise on my ankle.) Did you get the shin guards I suggested?
Actually, John is pretty docile as long as you let him do anything he wants. We follow him around and most of the time we can get to him before he breaks something. It isn’t that hard. In fact, he’s pretty predictable.
One of the nights we are there, we’d like everyone to go out to dinner on us. Just bring back a receipt and remember to take bibs for the kids. Also, John had a Blooming Onion the other night (with a reaction you might expect) so try to not order anything really spicy for him.
We can’t wait to get there!
