Slumber Party 101

Scott just had his first slumber party. We invited 5 of his closest friends from school, only 4 could make it. From left to right: Arianna, Mariah, Eamon, Jared and Scott.

{12-12:30pm} We started off the slumber party with lunch. Each child got to choose an animal they wanted from zoo pal plates and zoo pal cups. We offered only two choices for lunch, grilled hot dogs or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with strawberries. Then came the junk food — choice of cheetos, sour cream potato chips and cheese popcorn.

{1:30pm} We painted ceramic piggy banks. Again we offered a choice of the snowman or gingerbread house. The kids really enjoyed this and took their time painting. A couple finished early and made marker drawings while waiting for the others to finish up.

{2:30pm} Kids are running around the house playing hide and seek, while I clean up the painting mess they left behind. Kids slowly starting to whine about being hungry for a snack. I start making nestle toll house cookies.

{3:00pm} Kids are having warm cookies with a choice of juice or milk. Kids wants another project, I told them to finish eating.

{3:15pm} I pull out the wooden popsicle sticks; natural and colored sticks in assorted sizes. We are making picture frames, dinosaurs and stars. Afterwards they got to squirt gold and silver glitter glue over the sticks.

{4:00pm} Kids are off playing hide and seek again, while I clean up the gluey mess.

{4:30pm} Kids are complaining of being bored. I teach them a game of catching and throwing balls in the house. (I don't recommend this to anyone.) I split the kids into teams, girls against boys. I have the girls start at the top of the stairs. I made them shut all the doors so the balls won't have anywhere to go. The boys are down at the foot of the stairs. The balls doesn't really have a place to go as well and I don't keep anything in the foyer that is breakable. It's sort of like dodge ball but no one gets out.

{5:30pm} I start dinner and a movie, Goonies, a wonderful classic from the 80's. I tell the kids to quiet it down before dinner and to put on their pajamas.

{6:00pm} I serve pizza while the kids watch the movie.

{7:00pm} Movie isn't lasting long, some kids are off playing in another room.

{7:30pm} Down to only one child wanting to finish watching the movie. The rest are off playing or drawing, at least they are quiet so I can finish feeding Amanda her dinner. Movie is over, I tell them to play quietly while I give Amanda a bath and put her to bed.

{8:30pm} Only three interruptions from the girls while giving Amanda her bath. While reading Amanda a book, four more interruptions. I told the kids no more interruptions while I put Amanda to bed. Amanda asked to go to her crib. My little girl is a trooper.

{9:00pm} I tell the kids to brush their teeth and get ready for bed. Arianna needs more light to sleep. I go off finding night lights to plug into the outlets. I even moved one of my christmas candle light into the bathroom so the kids can find the bathroom at night.

{9:15pm} Arianna is crying for her mommy. I call Sandra to see if she wants to come get Arianna. Arianna is mumbling and whining to her mom on the phone about needing her colored lamp from home. I am on the phone again with Sandra, Arianna wants to stay, but has a tough time getting to bed. I told Arianna that if she continues with this behavior she is going home. I told Arianna I don't want her keeping the other kids up at night. Arianna is being a drama queen. I give her one last warning or I am calling her mom. Her whining stops and she runs off to bed.

{9:30pm} Lights out, I finish cleaning up the kitchen. Dan and I get ready for bed.

{10:00pm} Watching the news in bed, we hear thumping and talking getting louder. I go downstairs to give a warning about going to bed and to stop the chit chatting or I will separate them and will rearrange the sleeping order.

{10:15pm} Someone coming up the stairs, Dan goes out to the hall to meet them. It's Arianna, Dan tells her to get back to bed or she is not staying for the night. I hear her running back downstairs and Dan is walking back into the bedroom shaking his head.

{10:20pm} I go back downstairs and give them one last threat. I told them I am going to bed and I better not hear anymore talking or this slumber party is over, that I will be forced to call their parents.

{10:30pm} Dan turns off the lights. It's finally quiet downstairs, I fall asleep.

......

{5:30am} Amanda had a bad dream, I gave her a pacifier and retuck her back into bed. I need more sleep.

{7:00am} I hear the kids laughing and thumping around downstairs. Amanda is awake. I take her back to bed to snuggle with us. {7:30am} The three of us goes downstairs to get breakfast ready.

{8:00am} Kids are having chocolate chip pancakes. I told them to put on clothes and brush their teeth when they are done eating. {8:40am} Sandra is at the door to pick up Arianna. {9:20am} Steve and Kalena is at the door to pick up Mariah and Eamon. {9:30am} I drop Amanda off at school. {10:30am} Dan and Scott drop Jared off at home.

{11:00am} The sound of silence...