Inked.

I ask my mom if she can watch the kids for a quick minute, as I need to make a phone call outside (it's the only place for safe cell phone reception). She says, "Sure!"

I place my call, conclude my call, and come back inside. It seems quiet.

I go to the kitchen and see all the mail spread on the table. I turn around and head to the front of the house, there I see the three boys playing the foyer--Eli running around, Isaac with LEGOs, and Titus... Titus at the piano bench with black drool down his front!

I look closer and see the black smeared on the bench, but I'm unable to comprehend what it means. "Mom! Mom!" I call out, but I don't get an answer. Then I see it. The felt top to a large poster marker. Titus is chewing and sucking on it like it is the yummiest find ever! I pick him up, and take him to the blue bathroom.

I see my mom. There she is, in the laundry room, bent over the comforter that belongs to the guest bedroom, scrubbing it away.

"Mom," I say, "Titus got into the markers, and he is covered in ink--as is the piano bench and floor underneath."

She replies, "Oh, actually Eli got into the poster markers and colored all over the comforter."

How long was I gone again? 4 minutes at most? Wow, mayhem sure can take hold quickly in a house full of little ones.

My mom says she has learned an important lesson: if children are quiet it probably means they are getting into something... for the better or for the worse!

Master Eli, 10 minutes after the coloring incident, destroying a LEGO creation.

And Titus, loving his inked mouth.

Oh, and the comforter? Every bit of ink came out! It's a summer miracle! Titus drooled purple/black for a good hour afterwards, but he too became "un-inked" after a bit. We just made sure to dress him in dark blue so that his drool wouldn't do too much damage to his small wardrobe.