Friday morning, my kids were getting ready for school and my son was faced with the horrible, unjust task of... having to go and get some clean pants out of the dryer for school as there were no "acceptable" options hanging in his closet. He responded to this travesty with this comment, "MOM, why don't you have my pants hanging up IN MY CLOSET???!!!?!"

Then he demanded that I heat up some pozole for him for breakfast. Let me just tell you that this involves heating up the soup, chopping up onions and cabbage to throw in, and cutting up some limes for flavor. I was TIRED and not feeling tip-top due to the comsumption of various cocktails the night before (NO, I have not broken my New Year's resolution, but I did come dangerously close).

I told my son that he would have to make due with eating cereal for breakfast. I heard him say something to his sister to the effect of, "get your things," or something like that, but I was too groggy to follow what was happening.

Then Lily came in and said, "Mom, Joaquin wants me to pack up my things, because we are going to run away." She had a carton of chocolate milk, some clothing, and something else indiscernable in her arms, as if she had been trying to figure out exactly what to pack for this 'adventure'.

I started to laugh. "Where exactly are you guys planning on going?" I asked.

"The backyard," she replied.

I have to give them credit for making me smile.