The Overnight Guest

We had an overnight guest this past weekend. A 4 year old friend of Rex's. His parents are long time friends of ours and we offered to take him while they enjoyed themselves at a wedding.

Within 10 minutes (his dad was still here hanging out with Turbo) I was feeling great sympathy for any person with twins or more than 3 children. I think the energy level in our house was immediately multiplied by 1000 and it seemed there were crazy children everywhere I turned. Really, bona fide kiddie lunatics.

It was obvious I needed a plan to get through the weekend with my kids plus OG. But I didn't have one and I had to improvise.

So I put them in bathing suits and threw them outside.

They came back in 20 minutes later, hungry.

So I made snacks. And I learned that OG hates food. All food, except apples. He didn't want the burgers he asked Turbo for on Wednesday, didn't like strawberries even though I saw him eating them by the handful at his house the week before, hates cheese and crackers. I eventually got him to eat bananas and scrambled eggs and toast. Success.

Then they played inside and got bored even quicker.

So we made mozzarella sticks. Which OG hates. But he did like to 'paint' the wrappers and roll them in crumbs. Success.

Then they played the Wii and the batteries died because they weren't charged last time.

So we drew pictures on t-shirts with a bleach pen. Rex did a skeleton, OG did a car. Success.

Then they played outside and it started to rain.

So we came in and watched some SpongeBob. And they had a pillow fight with the huge pillows I made and OG asked if he could have one, but I said no and offered to make him his own as long as he stuffed it himself. He was happy to pick out the fabric and stuff his new pillow. Success.

Then more friends came over and we had dinner (OG ate strawberries by the handful again) and a bonfire and smores and we played outside until everyone was tired and dirty.

So we came inside, took showers, got on pj's, made popcorn, watched Cars, and went to sleep. Success.

The next morning we made blueberry pancakes and sausage. OG ate his entire plate. Success.

Then Rex & OG helped me make chocolate chip cookies. Success.

Then we played outside. Success.

Then his mom came to get him. And I laughed with her about all of the food he hates, and the pillow and the t-shirt and the cookies and all the stuff we did so I didn't go nuts. And I told her OG was missing a pair of underwear that I couldn't find anywhere, but would return when they resurfaced.

So they got all of his stuff together and OG went to the bathroom before the ride home. But he couldn't get his pants back on because he was wearing two pairs of underwear and his jeans didn't fit over them very well.

And his mom and I laughed and laughed and laughed. And she said thanks and I told her it was lots of fun and OG is welcome anytime and the entire weekend was a great success.

'Cause it was.