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Bunks, Thugs and Harmony

January 14, 2008 by Kathryn

Bunkbeds at Costco were ripe for the picking and who am I to argue with purchasing furniture when it’s in season? About a year ago they had them in stock and I wasn’t QUITE quick enough snatching one up. When I went back they were gone and we haven’t found a set as nice for as reasonable a price since so I’ve been laying in wait, checking back every week or so for the past 12 months, comforting myself for the fruitless trips by purchasing books and artichoke dip.

Dan brought home the impossibly large boxes and stashed them in the garage while I made the rounds of every store in the known universe looking for twin mattresses. I settled on some basic foam mattresses from IKEA because I’d like to keep our retirement savings intact and also eat Swedish meatballs at least once a year. I could not BELIEVE how much most stores were charging for basic twin mattresses. In this case “basic” means spring mattresses where you can practically see the springs poking through the thin layer of foam and plastic on top. You can certainly feel them if you make the mistake of laying down on one of those torture devices. For that price I could get two comfortable, if less than durable, foam mattresses and several meatballs WITH SAUCE at IKEA! The “spring” mattresses at ye olde mattress warehouse may have been durable but I’m pretty sure the kids would be praying for them to self destruct after the first five minutes so I decided to go with my “durable crap is still crap” philosophy and purchase the less durable, less crappy crap.

They’re actually quite comfortable.

After we got the beds up, visions of blissful childish room sharing danced in my head and I couldn’t help letting them try sleeping in them together the first night. We told Magoo that if he got out of bed, he’d have to go back to the crib in his room. Five minutes went by before we heard footsteps running down the hall. We found him spinning in circles around the living room with his head thrown back in the heady winds of freedom, a maniacal laugh escaping his lips. The laughing stopped when we tossed him back in the brig.

The second night he kept mumbling to himself about, “I no get out of m’bunk bed. I stay in m’bunk bed.” And he did. For hours he laid in bed talking to himself. We eventually found him sound asleep with Laylee spooning up next to him, a blanket covering them both. My heart nearly exploded. There’s nothing I love more than to see my kids be sweet to each other.

m'bunk beds


When I asked her about it in the morning, Laylee said that it was lonely way up there on the top bunk and each night this week she’s waited for Magoo to drift off before sneaking down the ladder, adjusting his blankets so he’ll be warm enough and climbing in for a snuggly sleep. This is why I became a mom.

Of course they’ve also been waking up earlier than usual and when one wakes up, they both get up and wreak havoc. Dan found them yesterday morning camped out on the kitchen floor with spray whip cream, chocolate chips and a whole package of sandwich cookies from which the frosting had mysteriously been licked. Some of the frosting was found on Dan’s computer and the doll house was full of chocolate chips. The two of them argued over which kid had thought of which little bit of naughtiness and luckily Dan got mad at them so I didn’t have to. I could focus my energy on the sweetness of their bonding.

I told him how much I love that they’re becoming best friends. “They do everything together now,” I grinned.

“Yes,” Dan smiled dryly, “Sort of like a gang.”

Filed Under: Parenting

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wendy says

    January 14, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    Awwwww, that’s so cute. Just remember that when she starts doing aerial tricks from off the top bunk! (only ‘cuz I assume she’d be like mine…..)

  2. Kimberly (sassy piggy) says

    January 14, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    “naughty” is so much more fun with a friend. Or accomplice. Whatever. IKEA just sometimes is the best option…plus it’s fun. I admit it, I’m sucked in by their cleverness and efficiency. I also grew up about 1 mile from the SouthCenter area IKEA in Seattle. I’ll be there this weekend!

  3. Awesome Mom says

    January 14, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    That is too cute! It is so nice when they do stuff together even if it is naughty.

  4. Veronica Mitchell says

    January 15, 2008 at 5:09 am

    Adorable picture.

    The best thing about bunk beds? They discourage jumping.

  5. Farm Wife says

    January 15, 2008 at 5:51 am

    Bunk Beds are our planned tax refund purchase & I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. The boys need them, but with their penchant for leaping off furniture I’m having visions of early morning ER trips, stitches, impalement and the like.

    But if it makes them as sweet as Laylee & Magoo, I’m all for it! Precious…and at least if they form a gang it will be a cute one.

  6. Gift of Green says

    January 15, 2008 at 6:00 am

    Pip has been jonesing for bunk bed too – for him and Sprout. What is it with the resurgence in bunk beds? 🙂 I’m thinking of getting the twin on top with the full on the bottom – all the better for when they end up sleeping together.

    Ikea mattresses are the best. Little hard, but that builds character.

  7. Sketchy says

    January 15, 2008 at 7:07 am

    When my 2 oldest kids were little I just gave up and pushed the two beds together. So sweet!

    They still like to have “sleepovers” and one will drag a sleeping bag into the other ones room for the night. Such joy!

  8. grammyelin says

    January 15, 2008 at 7:12 am

    Now that’s a little Gang that I really, really love. The picture is priceless. And you’re right, these are the mothering moments that make it all worthwhile.

    Don’t you just love when they mumble little instructions to themselves? I could just see him doing it and it made my day!

  9. Rebecca says

    January 15, 2008 at 7:28 am

    Aw! That is SO sweet!

    We keep up the ol’ baby gate to prevent The Baby from escaping.

  10. chilihead says

    January 15, 2008 at 8:02 am

    My kids also sleep in bunk beds. Wild Thing on top, Max on bottom. I have noticed that since they started doing this (about six months ago, on their own) they HAVE been more in sync and nicer and play together more. I swear it’s hormones or something. Like when women live together…

  11. JP's Mom says

    January 15, 2008 at 8:02 am

    Gotta love IKEA…the closest one to me is 9 hours!

    But I still find time to make an annual pilgrimmage to the mega store!

  12. Beth says

    January 15, 2008 at 8:05 am

    OHHHHHHHH! This post gave me warm fuzzies! I love it too when my kids are loving to each other. My girls adore one another and frequently snuggle. It makes my heart swell!

  13. Angela says

    January 15, 2008 at 8:19 am

    Awww! That really is sweet and terrorizing all at the same time!

  14. Dixiechick says

    January 15, 2008 at 8:52 am

    I hope to purchase a set of bunk beds for my two younger ones this year as well…unfortunately, I don’t have a Costco or IKEA in my area…..lucky girl! Yes, your children, although they are naughty little accomplices are actually angels in disguise…that picture is precious!

  15. Looney says

    January 15, 2008 at 8:55 am

    I used to sleep in my big sister’s bed whenever I was scared/lonely/excited. And sometimes we’d sneak into our biggest sister’s room for a “sister sleepover”…makes me want to have lots and lots of babies so they can have the same!

  16. Melissa says

    January 15, 2008 at 9:30 am

    Dan’s comment cracks me up!! And kids are kind of like a gang… they unite their forces in battle… and it just gets worse as they get older!

  17. Liz says

    January 15, 2008 at 9:48 am

    Bunk beds are the best – I can’t wait to buy a set of our own! 🙂

  18. Marian says

    January 15, 2008 at 10:21 am

    It’s so sweet that she likes a good snuggle with her brother. Take lots and lots of pictures!

    I have 3 boys sharing a room/ bunk configuration. Gang, indeed. More like World War III. “I can’t sleep with that light on!” “I can’t get to sleep WITHOUT that light on!” “I want to listen to Odyssey.” “I want music!” “I can’t get to sleep unless it’s quiet!” “THEY”RE STILL TALKING AND I CAN’T GET TO SLEEP!!” “THEY WON’T BE QUIIII -ET!” And, yeah, the earliest riser sets the schedule.

  19. Not the Queen says

    January 15, 2008 at 10:21 am

    So sweet! We bought our twin mattresses at Ikea (and the bunk beds) and they really are very comfortable. Good choice! Great value!

  20. Heidi says

    January 15, 2008 at 10:53 am

    Just wait until they start jumping from the top bunk. That’s what me and my siblings thought was the best thing about bunk beds.

    Well, that, and my brother would scratch any limb that hung down from the upper bunk. We obviously weren’t as loving as your kids . . .

  21. KYouell says

    January 15, 2008 at 11:10 am

    We aren’t brave enough to get bunkbeds (yet), but I’m glad to hear that IKEA mattresses are comfy. Part of our move north includes a real bed for The Biscuit.

  22. Amy says

    January 15, 2008 at 11:26 am

    We have bunkbeds in each of the kiddos rooms, and they often have “sleepovers.” I agree, it is just too adorable! My daughter’s bunks have IKEA foam mattresses. She’s been sleeping on them for about 2 1/2 years, and her little 40 lb body has yet to even make a dent in them…

  23. Millie says

    January 15, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    Those times when they get along THIS well, make every other bit of parental crap so worth it.

  24. Alissa says

    January 15, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    1. We also purchased a foam IKEA mattress… It’s not too shabby!
    2. Every. Single. Morning. I wake up dreading to find out what the kids got into. It’s never something “healthy”.

  25. michal says

    January 15, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    lol over the chocolate chip/whipped cream/oreo debacle!
    my two oldest boys cuddle up together most nights, no matter how many times we tell them to stay in their own beds. and i have to admit that i think it’s adorable. it does mean that they both wake up when the early riser does. i just try to be up before them whenever possible.

  26. kittyhox says

    January 15, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    My heart is breaking from sweetness. I can’t wait to add another little person to our family of three!

  27. MaryLu says

    January 15, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Ah, life was so much easier when there was only one “gang member” No quibbling over who did that and who started the fight.

  28. Caryn says

    January 15, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    That picture is precious. It’s wonderful that they are bonding like this. Laylee is so sweet. My brother and I are 13 months apart. Growing up we alternated between being best friends and bitterest enemies. This friendship phase that Laylee and Magoo are going through may not last, but neither should the fights, either.

  29. sweet mama entropy says

    January 15, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    Hilarious. And oh so cute. And the gang comment. Oh. Yes. My two are currently recruiting their younger brother. Yikes!

  30. phyllis says

    January 15, 2008 at 7:07 pm

    the season for furniture….lol! i love costco and appreciate when they remind me what i need by putting it up for sale!

    adorable post – love the snuggling!

  31. Kara Brickel says

    January 15, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    I’m new to your blog, it’s really cute. Loved the story about the bunkbeds and your husbands comment at the end was very funny.

  32. Lazy Organizer says

    January 15, 2008 at 11:07 pm

    Oh so cute! And I love it when my husband gets mad at their little “bits of naughtiness” so I don’t have to. I love pretending like I am the patient loving parent for the moment.

  33. Surcie says

    January 16, 2008 at 7:45 am

    Such sweet angel faces! And I love what they did with the sweet stuff.

  34. DaMomma says

    January 16, 2008 at 9:44 am

    The SAME THING happened to us with bunk beds! The girls just snuggle in the bottom one together. Pure bliss.

  35. jane says

    January 16, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    I saw that bunk bed set at Costco and I love it! I need to wait another year or two though… hopefully they’ll be coming around then!

  36. craftycarole says

    January 17, 2008 at 6:17 pm

    I found your blog through the tipnut entry.. but had to laugh at your description of your kids.. my 2 youngest will soon be sharing their own room and I expect real havoc… they’re already buds and partners in crime so I could totally relate to the morning story I’d love to see a pic of the bunk… we’re looking for an L shape one for the boys

  37. Elaine says

    January 17, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    What sweetness. I love the look of sleeping children. Beautiful – and great story too…

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