Wheeeeere is Bryce?

I'm afraid that question is asked too often at our house
and it's usually me doing the asking.
Not that any of the children are known to secretly stash him away in a closet,
but I usually count on their 5 pairs of eyes, and that many feet to find him out
and report.
I think the perks of being sixth-born are highly underrated!

Oh the things you can get away with.

Before I even thought to ask that question late morning today,
I spied him here.
In the midst of the school-day busyness and mayhem he was here just as you now see him
(only, both hands IN the bowl of oatmeal) and since this was all taking place below my belly
(so rather out of my sight), he had been able to enjoy his freedom
for a pleasant uninterrupted while.

What makes this picture so hilarious to me is the story behind the enterprise.

You see, Bryce and I have been waring for dominance
over the past several weeks.

At breakfast I ask him, "Are you hungry?" 
"Yah!" he replies with gusto.
"Here. I have your breakfast; say Bite Please?"
and from this point forward we find he is more determined than he is hungry
because he absolutely   will.  not.  say.  "Bite Please"

He can.
He used to.
He'll say "Bite"
And he'll say "Please"
but just so you know it's not in compliance with request,
you won't hear those two words together.

In case you wonder, I don't require this performance at every meal.
I hope I am a bit wiser after 6.  Yikes!

In any case, Bryce took matters into his own capable and chubby hands this morning
when no one was on guard.  He just helped himself to that bowl of cold left-overs
sitting on the table (apparently within reach) and moved them to a more convenient
(and inconspicuous) location.
Where I found him - caught red-handed.

You can see how he trembled at my discovery.

I guess it's not so scary to be caught by a barefoot pregnant lady
who laughs and grabs the camera, hoping you'll stick your hands back in the bowl
just because she wants to turn your naughtiness into a photo shoot.

We're not sure who won the battle today,
but one thing is becoming apparently clear...

It can really pay to be a little fish in a big pond.
HA!