We arrived. It was expected to be an incredible week, but one never can tell how events will turn out. After getting the kids out of the car, after two and a half hours, and allowing them to relieve themselves I promptly took to arranging sleeping quarters for everyone. This should be an easy task, given that we were limiting ourselves to two rooms four beds, although I did not take into consideration that Thing1 would only sleep with Thing3, but Thing3 only wanted to sleep with Thing4 and Thing2 wanted to sleep with no one. Our guest, who will be referred to as Jack, is a friend of Thing1 and he was happy to sleep anywhere as long as it was on his own, and rightfully so. After all my kids don't sleep straight, they use the whole bed not caring who gets in their way in the night.
While trying to figure out sleeping arrangements and making beds I decided to send the kids to explore the cottage and show Jack around, buying me plenty of time to finish. After completing the beds and preparing a late night meal I went in search of the kids, following the voices. With all the places to explore and see, all the kids had chosen one room and then pulled every toy out and played with it, or at least moved it around a little. Thing4 was mad because nobody would share, Thing3 was mad because nobody would let him play with them and the other two Things were mad at Thing3 for being a bully. Jack in the meantime did not appear mad, upset, concerned, distraught or anything else. In fact I think he was a little amused at what was happening around him. The stories he will have to tell when he gets home.
So with hands washed, butts in seats, I presented them with their late night meal, which took me four and a half minutes to prepare thanks to a food fairy that left it for us, chicken and noodles. "I don't like this chicken" was the first response from Thing4, followed by "whats for dessert" by the same person. I would have had greater success if I had just given in and gave them all the treats left by the food fairy, although that would have meant another two hours of running around, and it was already 9:30.
After playing for fifteen minutes we all sat down for a little calm down time before going to bed. There is nothing like Franklin the Turtle to help soothe the wild beast, unless of course the networks have redone the animation of the show and the kids don't like it, then you have a whole new controversy to deal with. We agreed the new Franklin is not very good, or as they wanted to say, but didn't, "it sucks", and then headed off to bed. After everyone was tucked in I agreed to read the first chapter of a new mystery book, that takes place in Disney World, as long as everyone was quiet. The two oldest boys were asleep before I finished, with other two not far behind. Of course there always has to be one person that rocks the boat and this time it was the only girl in the cottage, Thing4. She said she was not tired, until I lied her in my bed where she promptly fell asleep.
So here I sit, with everyone asleep, debating what I should do. A good movie, a cold beer, a light workout in the fitness room, write a short blog to allow the parents of our guest to know what has transpired in day one, or go to bed. I have finished the blog, it's too late to workout, the beer is still cold and I think my wife packed some snacks, so I guess I know where I am off to. Goodnight all, tomorrow is a full day and expected to rain.
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