Now that the boys are in a bunk bed, bedtime is a little easier. It is a lot more fun now. For some reason they both get pretty wound up right before bed, but reading a book with them can usually get them to settle down. While the top bunk officially started out as Gavin's, they take turns being up there. I still end up falling asleep with a book on my face on the bottom bunk with Garrett most nights.

Every now and then Gavin will have a nightmare and walk through the house looking for me, and if I'm in the bunk already, he just crawls in. He's been having more nightmares lately, and I think it could be just stress from school. He doesn't have the ability to tell me about his dreams in great detail, but I can make a few intuitive assumptions. It isn't "Where the Wild Things Are". Thank God he's over that one. He has a lot of stress in his Kindergarten life, being a child with autism in a class of 26 "neuro-typical" (normal) kids.

They are both great at sleeping. I would bet a large sum that they could sleep through a category 5 hurricane! Unlike the baby, Bodie. He wakes up at the slightest squeaky door hinge or cat meow. When he is taking a nap, the house has to be in deep silence mode - ringers off, t.v. muted, etc. When he is awake, nothing gets accomplished around here. All productivity occurs at naptime and very early morning!

I took this picture the other morning when I woke the boys up for school. I thought it was so sweet. Apparently Gavin had one of his nightmares and just crawled into the bottom bunk with his little brother during the night. Garrett doesn't realize it yet, but he'll probably be his big brother's protector throughout their lives. Gavin is lucky Garrett was born with a compassionate soul, a comforting aura, and an optimistic attitude. 

Brett makes these rolls, they are his specialty. They are absolutely delicious and really not very time consuming at all. Flaky on the outside and soft on the inside with a wonderful buttery flavor. You've got to try them!

Crescent Dinner Rolls

Yield: 8 pieces

Ingredients:
1/2 cup warm water, (110ºF)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 oz. packet active dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions:
Place the water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of a bread machine in that order (or order recommended by the manufacturer). Select the dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle (may be all in one). Press start.

When the cycle finishes, turn the dough out onto a very lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a 12" circle. Spread the 1/4 cup of softened butter over each round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges with a pizza cutter or knife. Roll the wedges - starting at the wide end; rolling gently but tightly. Place the crescents point-side down on an ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.

Bake at 400℉ for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden.

A favorite at our house. Quick, easy... and oh so good! :)

Tomato Toast

Yield: 8 pieces

Ingredients:
8 slices square white bread
8 slices deli american cheese, fairly thick
8 slices ripe tomato
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
Dust the tomato slices very lightly with the salt. Line the bread on a baking pan. Put a slice of cheese on each piece and top with a tomato slice. Bake at 35℉ for 25 minutes. Serve hot.