Her First Sleep Over!

My oldest daughter Grace has a friend over tonight for her (and our) first sleep over. They are friends at school, and even take skating lessons together. My wife and I were really nervous in a way. Not in the "Is everything going to be ok?" kind of way, but more like "The in-laws are coming over for the first time and I want dinner to be just right!" kind of way.

We cleaned the house from top to bottom. We clean often, don't get me wrong, but this was just days after Hurricane Boxes and Bows, and the lute piles that ensue after tsunamis of oohs and ahhs. Not to mention that Grace's birthday was also three days after Christmas. Yes, this is coming off a high time in our family. Did I mention that my sister's son was born on Grace's birthday too? And that my birthday is three days before Christmas? And that my mother's birthday is on January 3rd, and my wife's on the 5th? Deeeep breath, heart rate back down...

Now. The sleep over. It's going so well! Her friend showed up at 5 o'clock. Her friend's little sister and her mother came in to chat for a while when they arrived. She commented on how clean the house was (YES!) and that her daughter was so excited. We asked enough questions about food preferences, allergies, likes, dislikes and phobias that the mother commented that she'd never thought to ask all of those questions of people staying at her house before. She said it was the "Teacher" in us.

I failed to mention that my wife and I are both teachers at the school that my daughter and her friend go to. In fact Grace and her friend are in the second grade class directly across the hall from the second grade class I teach, and in the same building where my wife teaches first grade special education.

We talked to our guest's mom for a while, and after she left, I headed out to pick up pizza and boneless (of course) wings. My second oldest daughter Morgan was my assistant pizza fetcher for this trip. In my mind, this day was going to be just as much about keeping the little sisters "feeling special" as it was about having a friend over for the eldest of the princesses. She felt important, and was proud to bring home the bacon..'er..pizza...anywhoo..

We ate dinner, and shortly after, my wife took the twins, Lily and Emma up for baths, and to tuck them in tight, thereby securing "big" kid time for the rest of the evening. My wife had the best idea- she...can I just stop and tell you who she is for a second here...

Cindy. Formally Cynthia, but goes by Cindy, and more often,Hun, Hunny, Sweetheart, Babe, Mom, Mommy, and even sometimes MOOOOOMMYYYYYYYA! She. Completes. Me. (Don't ya hate it when people say that!?- ME TOO) But it's true. I don't know what I'd do or be without her. She's a wonderful mother, and an incredible life companion. She understands me most of the time, and this could be her extensive background in special education, but I'd like to believe it's just us growing closer, and wiser, and weaving tighter, our bond. Day by day.

So her idea- pillowcases! Yeah, yeah, I know-DUH it's a sleep over BUT, she bought new ones, and also bought fabric pens so the kids could decorate their own pillowcases, and keep them to remember the sleep over by. Isn't she somethin? So the kids decorated their pillow cases, while I transformed the living room into a movie theatre, moving the couch (a sleeper-I'll feel that tomorrow), chairs, and coffee and end tables so that it resembled, well, a living room, but with everything closer to the TV.

Cindy made popcorn, and when the girls were finished, they came in to watch Beezus and Ramona (Highly recommended- AND rated G!). It didn't occur to us until after we'd started the movie that is was going on 9 o'clock and our girls are usually in bed by 8 o'clock at the latest. We just shrugged, and let 'em go and have fun. What could it hurt. By about half past 9, Morgan was asleep in a chair. Grace and her friend stayed awake for the whole movie, and with bloodshot eyes, just came in to say good night. They really had a good time! I'm off to bed now because we're making pancakes in the morning, and I'm going to have to get the coffee in me early. Or at least before five girls' worth of stampeding and screaming in hunger come crashing down the stairs. I've tried to think of a good "signing off" quote to end all of these posts with, but as for now I can't think of one, and I'm kind of tired. So how's...until next time? Yeah, that's good. I didn't forget to explain the sleeping conditions for this sleep over- I'll do that tomorrow. I'm too excited to even talk about them right now. I'm tired and I've got the guest bedroom all to myself tonight!! I'll just give you a hint- for once, my snoring "problem" came in handy- at least for me ha ha ha!