Up and at ‘em

This morning, we were all awakened by the Learning Puppy.  I’d forgotten to turn him off last night, and I could hear his precious high-pitched voice coming in loud and clear over the baby monitor.  Claire had accidentally kicked him in her sleep, which brought him to life.  He started singing the ABC’s and playing Patty-Cake and begging to be hugged.  This morning serenade was quite annoying, to say the least.

Normally, Claire sleeps in, and for that we are very grateful.  Today, this wasn’t to be, and she got up around 7:00.  I know, I know…that’s late to some people, but here?  Here, that’s practically the crack of dawn…especially on a Monday.   

Because she was all energized by her psychotic puppy friend, she was up and raring to go.  What better way to get the blood flowing than by an early morning horsy ride?  I love riding horses in the crisp morning air, and if we actually had horses, this would have been a great plan.

Details, details.  Since when did reality stand in the way of having a good time?

“I wanna ride a horsy RIGHT NOW.  Please, Momma?” she begged.

“Okay, you can ride a horsy.”  I’m such a pushover.  So, she hopped up and we were off. For some reason, when I’d showed Claire this game this weekend, I had altered it from the version I learned as a child to include Claire straddling my midsection as I bounce up and down.  This weekend, we’d ridden horses in the living room and in the bedroom, and it’s much easier on Momma’s back to ride a horsy on the bed.    Claire loved it, and Momma would get a good abs workout out of the deal.  Two birds.  One stone.

So, this morning Claire rode her horsy all over, and we made it back in time for breakfast.

So, even though I got a good night’s sleep last night, why am I so tired this morning?  Oh, that’s right.  I was woken up by the singing and laughing of a magical puppy, and then I was forced to turn into a horse and give my daughter rides all over the countryside.

For real.  What’s so hard to believe about that?