Excerpts from a recent Fri­day at our house, illus­trat­ing life with four boys:

“Ok, Daddy, come on and let me spank you. Bend over.”

“My word! River, no! You don’t throw cereal on the floor!” (A few sec­onds later) “Tris! Don’t stomp on that cereal!”

“Mom, on my birth­day can it be movie day and com­puter day?”

“Riv went poopoo in the potty chair? Can I see?”

“You two sit down in the mid­dle of the floor, hold hands, and look at each other. Don’t get up ’til I tell you to.”

“All hands on deck! I for­got it was Fri­day, and the lawn guys are here! Rock and toy pickup in the yard, now!”

“Hon, it’s time for lunch.”

“Great!” I walk out to the din­ing room, where there is no lunch to be seen. Ari is lay­ing on the couch.“Is there food ready for me?”

“I was hop­ing you’d make it.”