Jeff had to go back to the office for a while tonight so I sat with Dana, Will, Nick, and Josh while they ate. Tonight's dinner consisted of milk, dinner roll, green beans and beef ravioli. What promised to be a "messy" night turned out to be "really messy!" Oh SprayNWash, SprayNWash, how do you work so well?? Anyway, we were having a lot of fun and so dinner ran late. Even though I did my best to get the ravioli stains off our children's faces, legs, arms, bellies, it seems as those Chef BoyArdee won the battle! (These are older pictures of the big kids after ravioli. As you can imagine, I did not have time tonight to take pictures and post them.)
So upstairs all four went. Dana, then Will, then Josh, then Nick (usual order). I don't know why Nick has the "lollygag" gene, but it can be so nerve wracking when all I want to do is get upstairs, do diapers, brush teeth, and get them to bed!! So finally we're upstairs, we all go in different directions. I'm looking for matching pajamas for the big kids. Will is searching for the remote in the loft. Dana is on the couch looking outside and repeatedly announcing "Tim" (the neighbor)! Nick is running up and down the hallway laughing and talking to anyone who will listen. He is also opening doors and playing peek-a-boo with the shower curtain. I'm quite certain that even though he has DWJ, that Nick also has imaginary friends. When he goes down for naps, he's always the last one to fall asleep and he's always talking to someone/something. Back to my bedtime story, Josh is crawling around going from room to room with a curious look on his face. I don't know if he's looking for DWN or if he's looking for a way out of the house! I finally gather all the pajamas and diapers and tooth brushes and ask the kids to "come here" which is the spot right in the middle of the hallway. Now, everyone is closer but they know that its almost bedtime and they'll do what they can to extend the time. So they all start running in different directions but luckily I am able to grab one and start the nighttime process. When I do, the remaining will come close and laugh as if to say "Ha Ha, Mom you weren't able to catch me!" Then they scatter again. Done. One down, three to go. What time is it?? More running. More laughter (including from me...I love this! It reminds me of the time my family got together to watch fireworks at Nick's office. Kristen, was chasing Carson around the room and Carson was giggling and trying to get away from her!) I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief at 8pm when I gave DWN kisses and tucked them in. Now, just Josh and Momma! I don't get much one-on-one time with any of them but with Josh, I'm able to get a little more because he goes to bed an hour later. I love my one-on-one time with this little guy. He's so yummy! He's so content and just happy to be his own little person. After he ate some cereal and tackled another bottle, we stepped outside to admire our beautiful landscaping in our fenced-in backyard. Josh waved night-night to a neighbor and then I took him upstairs and tucked him in bed.
I am grateful for so many things. Above all, I am grateful to God that he has blessed me with a wonderful husband and four sweet babies. Life is rich!
