Shhhhhh.....!

Each morning at about 6 a.m., I'm plucked by precious finger tips out of the heaviest part of my slumber. They reach up over my side of the bed, looking for purchase to pull the sweetest-smelling pot-bellied cherub up for another hour of dozing snuggles. Without fail, 15 minutes before 7 a.m. those same finger tips start dancing across my face. A perky lip-smacking smooch is planted on the apple of my cheek just before the faintest wisper of "outside?" bores into my ear cannals. Damn.

Put just this way, how can anyone refuse?

The monster is insatiable when it comes to the great outdoors. Whatever may be on the docket to get done, the entire day's events is punctuated by multiple sweet requests and throw-down tantrum screams to be out from under any roof. Whether it's playing in sand, walking down the road, climbing on numerous objects - from the lawn tractor to bolders to tree stumps to playstructures, feeding the horses, refereeing the dogs... it could go on and on. Invariably, I'm ready for our nap before 1o a.m. Dad seems to be better at this sort of thing, often leading the charge of mayhem as I stumble over my own feet to keep up.