Day 1

It's been 10 minutes.  Ten minutes since Mr. Sloth pushed himself out the door on a four day silent retreat. I practically had to make him go.  He's feels guilty for leaving me with the kids for so long.  Fair enough but I really am fine in fact I'm a little excited. Not because he's leaving for four days, that sounds miserable but it gives me an excuse to work on projects that I've been wanting to get done for months now. And I don't really have to stress about having the house clean at 5pm every night. Ha. Like that matters.  I've made a lot of plans and detailed schedules to get me through the next four days. The trickiest time by far will be Sunday Mass. That is by far a two man team. At least. Probably could use more.  I'd say bare minimum  "you're looking at a Bowski, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethros and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever!"*

So here are my plans for today and tomorrow.

Tonight

6pm: Dinner. Trader Joe's Orange Chicken with pot stickers. Gotta go with what they love. I only had 3/4 cup of rice to serve with it and wouldn't you know it like a story out of the Gospel of St. Matthew the kids made 3/4 cup of rice turn into many cups of rice on the floor. Unreal.

At dinner I instituted a method to help kids be respectful and listen that one of my friends suggested
a month ago. I got creative with the concept and made a "Yes, Mama." game. I ask the kids to do something and they say "Yes, Mama." and once they do the task and return to me and say "Mama, I did it, I _________." I then say, "Thank you for_________". I'm putting a piece of candy in your cup. The kids ran with this game and caught on quick. I had them clearing tables, babysitting, sweeping, unloading the dishwasher, returning items to their places around the house. It was beautiful. Just the break I needed. Pax, er, Rooster was so proud of himself every time. I'm sure it was what he needed too since he's had .....some......problems recently. Yeah.

The next part of our evening got tricky. Mr. Sloth usually puts the kids to bed. In all honesty most days I punch the time clock the second my fork hits the plate after dinner. Sometimes I stick around to show good face, but I'm really just counting the minutes until he puts everyone to bed. After dinner one of us usually cleans the kitchen while the other sets out the kids clothes for the next day in our bedroom. Since all our kids wake a different intervals we have their clothes in our room so as not to wake other siblings. Rooster, aptly named, is up at 6am Sometimes earlier. He's our first child to sleep in our bed after they are done nursing because he's so naturally loud he'll wake everyone. Sometimes on purpose. It honestly makes a world of difference in the morning if we have the kids clothes all set out for them ahead of time. Even Demand has requested we set her clothes out, which is a great idea considering her fashion sense. (Yowza)

Once the wheels are in motion for the boys bedtime routine I usually announce that I am taking a bath. With computer, wine, and whatever spa luxuries I have on hand I head into the bathroom with the intention of never coming out.  I watch Netflix on my computer by the way, in case you are creeped out, which you probably still are. Remember when I used to watch "Friends" when I was taking baths and one time I dropped a brownie in the tub? Man. That was when I was pregnant with Demand! And had an awesome tub! Good times. Good times.

So, back to my original point, I am now in charge of bedtime for the next few nights and I have no idea what I am doing. The kids hate when I do bedtime because I am usually so exhausted that I say. "One book. Short. Now Guardian Angel Prayer." Mr. Sloth takes his time. Reads them a few pictures books then a read-a-loud  then asks their feelings about the day.......blah, blah, blah.  Mommy's tired.

I tried to start something new while Daddy is gone. I tried reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's "The Long Winter". We were in the middle of "Little House in the Big Woods" albeit months ago but it seems appropriate for now. Well the kids were wired, unresponsive, talkative and expecting their candy so I shut it down.

We moved upstairs to get jammies on. Now this is an honest question. One that might confirm the weirdness of my family, but does anyone else have children that wander around half or fully naked and swing their clothes CONSTANTLY as they are trying to undress/dress? Soooooo annoying. And we wonder why it takes so long to put on clothes. Not to mention the scatter of dirty clothes throughout the house.  So after wrangling the boys to get dressed and brush their teeth I gather them all in our room for prayers only to have one of them remind me that they didn't get their promised candy.

$&!%

I headed downstairs to retrieve CANDY for the overtired kids, who just brushed their teeth, who are late for bedtime. (Shutter) As they ate their candy we talked about where Dadddy went.  What is a retreat? A silent retreat? How Jesus retreated, etc.  Then we talked about trying to practice being quiet while Daddy was gone when Rooster chimed in that he planned on being louder when Daddy got home. No doubt you will be, Rooster, no doubt.


8:00pm: At this time Happy is sound asleep as is expected. That kid is a sleep champ.  Poor kid got the boot on naps because of logistics but used to take record breaking naps on a regular basis. He still needs them but now that he has a taste for freedom rejects all offers. He is always asleep within minutes and nothing wakes him including his brother who seems straight out of a frat house and his trusty sidekick King. Those two will scream and play and bring the walls down, but Happy is sound asleep. Lucky man, that Happy.

Demand was gracious and played on her own quietly until her bedtime when I tucked her in and allowed her to read chapter books until her hearts content. (Mr. Sloth is currently reading the Hobbit to her right now at bedtimes.)

So that is day one. My plan for tomorrow includes, a mothers-helper in the morning, gym class at noon, naps, cleaning, possible outing, and then I'm hosting a Mother's Night Out for which I .  Can. Not. Wait.  That should get me through until Saturday which is half way done. Yeah!!!


See you on day two. I may be organized enough to have pictures.

* It's an Ocean's 11 quote. If you don't recognize it. It won't be funny. Let it go.