While The Cat's Away...

Sunday night is date night at our house. Hubby and I don't always go out, but we do set that evening aside to do something together ... even if it's reading in bed and going to sleep early. Which really is heavenly.

But last night, we went out. Like, to a movie and everything! Like grown-ups do! And because we have a 16yo, we didn't even have to get a sitter. Woo-hoo! Life is goooood.

Note to self: When leaving a 16yo boy in charge of two additional boys, be specific in your instructions. Be very specific in your instructions.




Our instructions:
1. There are leftovers in the fridge. Make sure to eat dinner and please include a fruit or vegetable.
2. Jordan needs to finish painting his canoe for a school project.
3. Lights out at 8pm. After all, it's a school night.

What actually happened...

1. They ate, but I hesitate to call it dinner. As best I can tell from looking at the trash and the dirty dishes, for dinner they had:

• Popcorn
• Ice cream
• Thin Mints
• Chocolate milk
• Veggie Chips (According to 9yo, this fulfilled the "vegetable" requirement. Honestly, I think the popcorn did a better job of that.)

2. The canoe was painted with tempera paint (poster paint). Shame on us for forgetting to leave the correct paint out and kudos to them for at least finding something to use.

3. They watched March Madness. Until what time, I don't really know. What I do know is that 9yo's light was on in his bedroom until the garage door went up, when it very quickly flicked off. That was at about 9:30. And when Herb went upstairs to ask 8yo if he wanted another coat with the correct paint, he was also wide awake.

So ... was it worth saving $30-$40 on a "real" sitter?

Heck yeah!

I'm in favor of more brother bonding time, even if it means less nutrition and sleep. This is the stuff that memories are made of.

But the 16yo will be vacuuming all the chips out of the living room carpet today. Lesson learned.

Ciao!
DDD