Monday Monday

Well I did very little stitching this weekend, since I was working on Sam's birthday party invitations.  I still haven't finished those either -- for the first time in a long time, I am unmotivated to stamp!  I wanted to stitch so badly but wanted to try to work on the invites, and ended up getting little of either accomplished.  Ah well.  Last night the boys would NOT stay in their beds!  Bryan spent most of the evening putting them back in bed, and trying to make them stay there -- reading to them, laying down with them -- I don't know what all else he tried.  Normally they listen to him better than me (he spanks harder than Mama) -- but no spankings were doled out last night anyway.  I did go in once and try myself to get them to sleep; I used just plain intimidation ("you WILL stay in bed, you know how to go to sleep by yourself!").  But I am not very intimidating, so it didn't work.  Sam obeyed!  But Ben did not.  He decided that he didn't like the fan ("it's making a CLICKING noise!") and it scared him.  I cannot tell if he makes this stuff up as a stall tactic, or if he really is afraid.  Bryan later went in and turned off the fan, and I don't remember what he did to get Ben to sleep.  I just know that it was 10:30 p.m. before he WAS asleep!

I cannot wait until those boys will just get into their beds and fall asleep on their own.  I enjoy reading them stories, talking with them, singing songs, and praying with them -- but it's ridiculous to "have" to lay down with them in order for them to go to sleep.  They never used to be this way and I cannot figure out exactly why they are doing it now.  Hopefully it is just some phase.  It may be the newness of sharing a room and having new beds, and also just returning from the grandparents', where at least for Ben, Grandma stayed with him until he fell asleep.  Ben and Grandma enjoy one another so much that it's difficult to not allow them to do this - I think Ben will have special memories of his Grandma when he is older - so we do allow this, but we sure do have a difficult time with him at bedtime after we are home.  I know that he gets older, it will not be this way.  ("This too shall pass!")

These younger years are so difficult!  I think I will enjoy my kids so much more after they will actually SLEEP consistently and independently.  While I love certain aspects of the baby and toddler stages, I think I will enjoy the elementary-school-age much more.  I love hearing what thoughts Ben has at 3 1/2 years old -- can't wait to hear what he'll be thinking of at age 6 too!  And to hear what thoughts are going through little Sam's mind!  That will be fun.  I also look forward to seeing the pictures they will draw.  Will they draw dinosaurs like their daddy did as a boy?  If Daddy draws with them, they might!

Currently they are outside playing in their wading pool.  I've got laundry started and dishes done...still in my PJ's though!  Coffee is cold and teeth need to be brushed.  Ah Monday, Monday.  We are all on what I call "Daddy detox" -- we had him home with us for three whole days and now we are all kid of lagging about the house while he has returned to work.  Mondays are hard. 

Thank goodness for water play, Elmo, cinnamon toast and coffee.  And microwaves that reheat the coffee.  Mondays are not so bad with these things.  Oh, and fun laptops that husbands buy for their grateful wives.  And monster truck toys and foam blocks.  And air-conditioned malls.  Maybe we'll head back to the mall today.  They sell coffee there!