The Aftermath

So, letting your children stay up late because you invited some friends (and their children) over for the SuperBowl has its pros and cons.

Cons:

• grumpy children in the morning after still being awake at 9:50pm. (Madeleine went down around her usual time but got transfered from the pack and play to her crib when the others went to bed around 9pm. Not a happy baby.)
• children with extreme loss of self control when they are either hungry or tired or things don't quite go their way.
• lots of whining voices. (mine included, to be honest.)
• way too many opportunities for a Mommy to exercise patience. (good practice, I guess.)

Pros:

Exhaustion ultimately leads to sleep.

Despite the 1-2 hours it took for all three to fall asleep (overtired!), once they did, they slept hard for 2-3 hours. All at the same time. Bliss.

They slept through our crazy loud printer. Slept through me opening their doors and taking these pictures. Slept through lights being turned on...music played..."white noise" fans turned off...all in a quiet effort to wake them up "naturally" which we've learned is far better than waking them with a gentle nudge.

So yesterday, I enjoyed a quiet afternoon and an evening with three much happier, more cheerful children. (And a more cheerful Mommy too.)

Not quite as quiet today...but that is okay. Memories of yesterday linger. :)