It's Before 7pm

Everyone,

And ALL the kids are in bed.  Why so early you ask?  We just couldn't take it anymore.  There was crying.  There was whining.  There was yelling.  There was a broom.  It was not pretty.

It all started earlier today when I was trying to shower.  Normally the boys are very good when I shower and just kind of play in my room and pound on the door.  Not today.  By the time I came downstairs all clean and refreshed, they had scattered the dog food and the dog water across the kitchen.  Professor was stuffing as much into his mouth as he could get and Pirate was splashing in the puddles. 

This has been an on going battle for us the past week or so.  I kind of flipped out on them and snatched up Professor and took him to the sink.  I rinsed his mouth out with water and dug at least 5 pieces of kibble out of his cheeks.  He was NOT happy.  Then I stripped off his wet clothes and child gated him out of the kitchen.  I turned on Pirate.  I stripped off his wet clothes and put him crying next to his brother on the other side of the gate. 

Then I swept up soggy kibble from the far reaches of the kitchen and dining room area.  I also did some dishes, laundry, and put dinner in the crock pot.  The whole time the boys are screaming on the other side of the gate.  By now Butterfly is yelling at me because she can't hear her movie.  Mommy needed a time out.  Since I'm almost 30, does that mean I can hang out in my room for half and hour?  Please?!

Lunch time and nap time came early today because I just couldn't take it.  I did some internet research on Christmas presents and then it was all too soon to go to dance class.  Butterfly burst into tears when I came into my room (where she naps because they are all sharing a room right now) and yelled at me because she hasn't had time to sleep!  She had 2 hours of time to sleep.  She just chose to play instead.  So now she's sobbing while getting her dance clothes on.  And the boys are sobbing because they are stuck in their cribs. 

On the way out to the car (we did eventually get outside), I met up with a neighbor.  This neirghbor is old and nice but she talks.  A lot.  And very slowly.  And not all in English.  Any other time and I would have taken some time to say hello but not today.  We were late and I was flustered.  I shoved screaming kids into their car seats while she stood next to the car.  I said goodbye (nicely) and got in and pulled away.  We made it to class on time.  Whew.

I took the boys to the library where we got a ton of M books (it's M week here!) and a book for me to read as well.  By the time dance class was over, the boys had had it.  They wanted out of the their stroller, they wanted to walk.  But when I let them out, they ran in two different directions.  I had now had it.  Back into the stroller they go, screaming.  Butterfly came right out of class and asked for a milkshake.  Uh, no.

Pirate screamed all the way home because he ripped a library book and Butterfly took it away from him.  No one but Juice and I ate dinner tonight because it was "yucky".  If they don't eat, they go right to bed.  I can not deal with tired AND hungry kids.  It is an unspoken rule in our house.  Well, not anymore I guess.

Anyway, I think I'm off to bed myself.  What a long and arduous day.

Safire