Meet My Night Owls

The Nerd and I have a little habit of "checking in" on the kids in their rooms one last time before we go to bed each night. Mostly it is so we can stand there and say, "Oh, aren't they so cute when they are sleeping?" or something to that effect. Often it is so we can transfer a heavy, snoring child from floor to bed, and occasionally it is to catch that last about-to-explode diaper.

A few nights ago, we called it a night at 11:30 pm and started to turn off lights, clean up, etc. The kids' rooms had been quiet for hours. The Nerd went down the hall to check on the boys. He opened the door and found both boys standing there, wide awake, and asking "can we have a drink pleeease?" It completely startled him, as he thought the boys were sound asleep in their beds. From my spot in the kitchen, I could hear the Spud chanting, "drink, drink, drink!"

I just cracked up even though I knew the next morning would be tough with such late-nighters! I wish i had taken a picture - two little guys, standing patiently at their bedroom door, grinning at Daddy and begging for a drink.

Of course we complied - who wouldn't?

The Battleground

There are some days that I don't feel like a mother at all.

A soldier perhaps. General maybe. Referee most definitely.

Why does it feel that my house is always a war zone?

Two areas in particular have seen some heavy battle lately - breakfast and bedtime. It seems no matter what I serve these kids for breakfast, they whine and complain about it and refuse to eat it. I have tried pancakes, cereal, toast, oatmeal, you name it, but they always want the item I don't have. Naturally. The Spud is my only good eater and will cheerfully eat whatever I put in front of him.

Today the Drama Queen and Beast begged for oatmeal with brown sugar and cinnamon. I obliged, but of course both of them refused to eat any of it after it was made. "Yucky", "Too hot", and "too cold" were some of their responses.

Bedtime is worse. I can't even count the number of times I went into the boys' room last night, telling them to quiet down and get back in their beds. Last night, they collectively figured out how to get the heat vent off and had managed to stuff several of their little animal friends into the heating duct. It was 11:00 pm before the Beast finally settled down and fell asleep. The Drama Queen keeps popping out of her room to "go to the bathroom" or "see what we're watching on TV" or "report a funny noise in her room."

I am pretty sure that these battlefields are related. It is taking so long for the kids to fall asleep at night that they are super cranky in the morning and therefore completely obstinate to any breakfast choices laid before them.

I am tired of fighting these battles. Tired of being starting off the day on a bad note and ending it the same way. Can't I just get to be a mom for once?

Anyone have any breakfast/bedtime suggestions?

LIttle Drawer Bed

A few weeks ago, I came home from music practice to hear reports of the Spud falling out of his crib. As with the other children, we knew it was then time to move him to his "big boy" bed.

The Spud has been a little resistant to the "big boy" bed idea. The freedom is too much for him, and he roams the bedroom until he finally crashes out somewhere - the floor, sister's bed, brother's bed, etc.

Last night I found him here:

Hmmm, why didn't I think of that? We could save a lot of space by just using one of the drawers under the Drama Queen's bed as his bed. Doesn't it look oh so comfy?

The kid is going to be a natural when it comes to yoga. . .