For the first time in about 10 weeks we didn't spend half of our Saturday at or traveling to and from a football game. Being the obsessive work-aholic that I am, I chose to spend my new found freedom catching up on all those fall projects that have been neglected too long. Per reluctantly joined me in my work-fest and we spent the day steam cleaning carpets, replacing windows (broken by Kyra throwing Jolien's old Lacrosse ball through them), washing fingerprints from walls, packing up Halloween decorations, and shuttling little girls to and from birthday parties (and sitting at the b-day parties for 2 hours because my girls are a little too attached).
When we finally got the 4 little ones (plus one neighbor kid) tucked in for the night, I kicked back with Per (and Anders) to enjoy a movie on AppleTV and then finally fell into bed around midnight.
Today, I am EXHAUSTED. I had a heck of a week at work wrapping up '09 budget reviews and month-end close and I would have been totally justified in sitting around doing absolutely nothing yesterday ... but the filth in this house was too much for me and it had to be obliterated!
I came home from church today with one thing on my mind -
A BIG FAT SUNDAY NAP.
I planned carefully, first filling the children's bellies with soup, fruit smoothies, and Great Harvest Golden Cinnamon Raisin toast (mmmmmmm).
I then set Brynn and Annika up with some Play Doh and cookie cutters while Torby and Per faced off in football - Nintendo style.
Kyra had fallen asleep in the car on the way home from church so I slipped into my bed beside her and settled in for the perfect nap ... followed shortly thereafter by Per (he always cashes-in on my great ideas).
I was rudely awakened a short while later by SHRIEKS of terror and pain. Per went out to confront the chaos and came back with the following debriefing:
- As Annika and Brynn were playing with the Play Doh they began to quarrel over the little plastic scissors (don't worry this doesn't end in bloodshed).
- You see, Brynn had the coveted scissors and she wasn't feeling inclined to share with her siblings.
- Annika thought this over and attempted a civil reconciliation. She looked at Brynn and said "Brynn, Jesus is our King and he doesn't want us to fight" (wow, she must have been listening in Sunday School today).
- Brynn's response ... NO - I'M NOT SHARING.
- Annika now drops her diplomatic approach, grabs the scissors, stares Brynn down and says "then I will snip you with these scissors".
- Brynn's response ... she whacks Annika on the head with the rolling pin (Brynn's story is that she was stretching with rolling pin in hand and ACCIDENTALLY hit Annika - hmmmm).
- Annika bursts into tears.
- Enter Torby - who promptly takes Brynn down in a head lock (his story is that he was just hugging Brynn tightly ... around the head).
- Enter foreign exchange student -likely wondering where this brood's parents were hiding - and he effectively puts a stop to the violence and launches a fact finding mission until Per stumbles onto the scene a few minutes later.
Crazy that one little pair of plastic scissors can lead to a FAMILY MUTINY.
Needless to say, we have some children that are grounded tomorrow. And when you are grounded in this house you get put to work with "mommy projects" which means I'll be getting my baseboards dusted and windows washed tomorrow ;-)
I figure you've got to take these things in stride and keep a sense of humor intact. Everyone is getting along perfectly now ... we're eating the chocolate chip cookies that Per baked up tonight (thanks babe) and heading out to sit in the hot tub. I always sleep well after unwinding in the hot tub first... and I'm in need of a good night's sleep tonight!
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