Some like to sleep, We like to play

I hear a loud bang and a small, high pitched giggle right before the sound of four tiny little feet running across the wooden floor. The door flies open and they come running in climbing up on the bed, Riley crawling straight up to me and throwing himself into my chest for cuddles and Bandit stopping at the end to turn the bed into her own personal trampoline. "B you're going to fall and get hurt please stop that" I say and she completely ignores me and keeps bouncing letting out tiny little giggles. "Bandit Lee I am serious" I say in a more stern tone and she stops her bouncing knowing she's in trouble before crawling her way up and into Gerard's waiting arms. I look over to Gerard and share a slow morning kiss as we cuddle our children before pulling away and I plant a soft kiss to Riley's forehead as he lays against my chest playing with a button on the front of my shirt. When I look back over Bandit is standing in Gerard's lap playing with his face and giggling to herself. She is definitely the problem child in our family. Every time something gets knocked over or broken she will usually be seen fleeing the scene of the crime.
I turn my attention back to Riley and gently stroke his back as I say "And how are you this morning baby boy?" He looks up at me smiling before saying one word "Hungwee." My kids pronunciation of certain words makes me smile and I know they will eventually grow out of it but I secretly wish they wouldn't because it just makes them more adorable in my eyes. "Well that's no good. Who wants pancakes for breakfast?" I ask and Riley nods his head violently as Bandit squeals like a teenage girl at a boy band concert, bouncing in Gerard's lap and adding "Choco chip mommy." Before thinking and adding "Pwease." I smile and say "Well since you were such a good girl and used your manners I can do that."
Riley claps his little hands in excitement and I tell them
to go get ready to wash their hands. They bounce off the bed and run out of the room as I drag myself out and look back at Gerard. "I'll be out in a minute beautiful" he tells me so I lean over for one more kiss before standing up and walking out of the room.
Once all our hands are washed and dried and there is an "accidental" liquid soap spill by Bandit we make our way into the kitchen and I get out all the ingredients for pancakes. Gerard comes into the room and Bandit asks him if she can watch "toons" and gives him her best puppy dog eyes so he scoops her up and carries her to the living room while she giggles and squeals. Riley smacks his little hands against my leg and when I look down he is holding his arms up to me so I bend down and pick him up sitting him against my hip. "What's up Ry?" I ask and he says "Hewp" so I pull a chair over to the bench and stand him on it before getting him a wooden spoon. Once all the ingredients are in the bowl I mix them before Riley digs his spoon in banging it around trying to imitate the mixing I've just done. Little flecks of batter go all over the bench but I smile and say "Good job Ry" before planting another kiss on top of his head. He beams up at me and I grab a baby wipe and clean off his hands again before setting him on the floor and saying "Why don't you go watch toons with B and daddy?" He lets out a little "hee" before running out of the room in the direction of the living room. A few seconds later as I am heating the pan I hear his excited little voice saying "Hewped mommy wit pancakes" and Gerard telling him "Good boy Ry." I smile the whole time I cook thinking about how amazing my babies have grown to be.

After breakfast it is bath time again. Bath time is usually right before bed time but Bandit decided it would be a nice idea to stick her hand in the small amount of low sugar syrup I allowed her to have and then rub it in her brothers hair. Once B and Ry are bathed and dressed we go into their room for some play time and Gerard heads off to work. Gerard graduated from art school about six months ago and was lucky enough to land a high paying job at a major art gallery meaning I can afford to take more time away from the restaurant.
Bandit pulls the big tub of building blocks from their place in the corner and pushes it over tipping the contents all over the floor. I shake my head at the sight of the mess she's made and how familiar that sight is when it comes to her before she stands in the middle of the mess picking up a block in each hand and throwing them into the air screaming out "Yay" like its a party. "B don't throw the blocks you might hurt someone" I tell her and she says "Sowwy mommy" before flopping onto her butt and picking up blocks attempting to stick them together. Riley crosses the room and points up to a set of plastic drawers on a shelf where they can't reach while looking over at me and I cross the room to open them getting out a box of crayons and a few sheets of paper. "You wanna draw baby boy?" I ask and he nods his head as I walk to the little table and chairs in the corner and put them down. He sits in one of the tiny chairs and starts to scribble colours all over the page. I make my way back to the rocking chair and just watch my babies play and have fun. After a while Riley comes over and hands me the paper which I take before exclaiming "Wow Ry it's beautiful. This is the best picture I've ever seen and I think it might have to go on the fridge." He beams up at me before reaching his arms out so I sit the drawing aside and help him climb into my lap. He snuggles into my chest and lets out a loud yawn. I look over at Bandit and she is still going strong with the blocks so I pull Riley closer into my chest and gently stroke his hair and back rocking in the chair lightly until his breathing evens out and he falls asleep in my lap.
Once Riley's asleep I carry him to his bed before turning and asking B to come help me. She runs over and I ask her to pull the blanket back for me so she does and I lay Riley in his bed before Bandit helps me tuck him in. I turn back to her and ask what she wants to do now and she thinks before she says "Ride ponies" so I quietly chuckle at her before scooping her into my arms and turning to walk from the room so we don't wake Riley. "Kisses mommy" Bandit says before nearly throwing herself out of my arms towards her brother. I lean down close and she kisses Riley on the head before wrapping her arms around my neck and smashing her lips into my cheek. I stand up again and leave the room as Bandit babbles to me about ponies.

Notes

First chapter of the sequel. Hope you guys enjoy it : )