Lucky 12 and Lucky 13

We're back in the swing with Respite Care again.  I like it for the short stints, but I don't like it cos the stints are short.  Can't win.  Just keep swimming.

Twelfth Kid?  Same as TenthKid.  Rad.  Still smooth, which is cute of course.  How can you get mad at the cute?

Thirteenth Kid?  Rad.  Our first girl since.... June, maybe?  And she was twelve.  Just a baby.  It's interesting how different 12 is from 14 (the typical age of our kiddos).  We played baby dolls and watched cartoons and ate chicken strips.  She told me she didn't like PG-13 movies cos she "didn't get them."  Awww, more cute!

I don't know if we're going to have kids in the next two weeks, but in mid-February we're set to have a 17-year-old for a whole two weeks.  She has different privileges, so it'll be interesting to be able to have a bit more freedom with her care.  Can't wait!

Sunday Night, or, I TOLD YOU SO

These kids. 

Sunday night always seems to be the night of "I guess you were right, Jo." 

Sometimes it's because I know the right way to position the fans to keep their room cool. 
Sometimes it's because they end up liking a book or a show I thought they'd like. 
Sometimes it's a new food I wanted them to try. 
Sometimes my house is not as boring as they'd first thought. 
Sometimes I'm just straight-up NICE. 

But they figure it out... on the last day.... that I'm on their side....

Tenth Kid?  Rad.  Funny, sweet, and omigosh this kid is SMOOTH.  Wow.  WOW.  He is going to be breaking hearts, if he hasn't been already.  But this is not a story about that.

We just got a PS2.  I don't like video games so we didn't have them before, but we were begged -- by every single kid -- to get a system.  This PS2 was kindly donated by a co-worker, and another co-worker donated more games.

DW and I decided, however, that there is a catch.  For every 30 minutes of video games, they need to log 15 minutes of reading.  And yes, graphic novels count as reading.  Even books about serial killers.  I don't care, as long as you're reading.

We offered this up to TenthKid, and he said, "NOPE.  Not worth it."

Huh.  Okay, then.  Your choice, kiddo.

Tonight, right before lights-out, he sits in front of the bookcase and starts looking through books.  And he finds something he likes.  And when I go in for lights-out, he says, "I guess you were right, Jo.  I like this book."

Poop

I went in to the room to turn off the light after eighth kid had fallen asleep with it on.

Me: Gah!  The whole room smells like poop!

DW: Welcome to child-rearing.