Asleep? I don't think so.

My kids love messing around when they are supposed to be in bed. You might agree if you remember our decorated toilet paper roll. So tonight, long after bedtime, the kids come out to show us what they caught. A giant fly. It was creepy and sitting in the palm of J's hand. They tracked the fly by sound. And when they found it, they cornered it. Previously, they had gotten the water spray bottles out of the bathrooms and were armed and ready. Then the kids sprayed and sprayed. The fly was so saturated with water it couldn't fly anymore. Then, they picked it up and showed it to us. We of course are such proud parents. Who could ask for more creative kids? Who could expect a greater gift than a wet fly? I guess if bedtime is stretched out occasionally, we'll be okay. And, now you know that if you get enough kids with water bottles spraying the same fly, the kids will win the battle.

You can do it

I am passing on a thought that helps me when I have problems. It helps to think, "Someday this challenge might help me help someone else." I was talking to a mom of twins. I asked her what it was like. Even though her twins are now grown, she started crying telling me how difficult it was. She also said one day she was at the store and saw a mother of young twins; she went over and said, "I have twins too (now grown) and I remember how hard this was; can I help you?" She offered a hand to the mom who was struggling to keep the children happy. That young mother then started crying, grateful to this lady who had experienced her trial. As I get ready to move, again, I think, "Man, this bites." I really don't enjoy moving. But, I had an experience to help someone once who was moving. I gave her a few things to help her move day go smoother. She asked, "Thanks, this is perfect, how did you know?" And of course the answer is, "Been there before." So, hopefully whatever you are dealing with now, you can take it better knowing someday you can help someone else and say, "Been there before" when they ask, "How did you know?"

Girls night out

Help me out. I have the hardest time leaving my kids at home with my husband for many reasons. Let me know what you think of all these. One, I feel guilty unless I really have to be somewhere. Two, I hate that the kids only eat junk while I'm gone and I spend a ton of time cleaning up whatever mess was made. Three, I never know who to call. I feel that I don't have a good reason calling someone just to say hey lets go hang out. Four, something else I will think of later I'm sure. So, all poor excuses. Right? Do all of you have friend time, without the kids, or husband? When, how? How often? What do you do?