A Little Slice of Heaven Called Naptime

How do I get any time to myself with four kids under the age of four? And, how do I even think about blogging??

It's called.... naptime!!!

I consider it an art form. Maybe, someday, when I actually go back out into the world and find a paying job (that seems lifetimes from now), I can teach a course on how to get all of your kids down for a nap at the same time. There will be a few different tactics taught in this class, including but not limited to brainwashing and bribery. I didn't say this would be the most politically correct class!

For you lucky few who are reading this, I'll share my tactics now, and you can say you knew me when...

First of all, as for the brainwashing? Megan, almost 4, always takes a nap, for at least two hours, and usually three. She doesn't have any idea that most of the kids in her class don't take one anymore, or that most kids hate to nap. As far as she's concerned, naps are just part of the day, and not at all optional. She is our best napper, even with a yappy sister wanting to talk in the bunk below her. I am not looking forward to the end of her napping, and more importantly, the end to my little break in the day.

Back to our little routine:

When 1pm rolls around every day, I'm pretty spent, but I begin by corralling everyone in the big girls' room. #1 (Megan) goes #1 to ensure no early wake-ups for that reason. And, #2 (Bridget) gets her "sleepy diaper" on, which is a wrestling match in itself, since she believes that she shouldn't ever have to wear diapers. Once they're settled in their bunks, with their menagerie of dolls and blankets, and while the babies are pulling books off shelves and trying to climb the bunk bed ladder, I not-so-subtly drive home my bribery:

Me: "Okay, girls, who can tell me what happens if we go right to sleep?"

#1 and #2: "We get to watch a cartoon when we wake up and we get our juice and milk."

Me: "And, if you don't go right to sleep? If I have to come back in here even once, you get no cartoon, no juice and no milk!!"

I've only had to follow through on this threat one time. Luckily, they like their cartoons :)

Next, I pick up one baby under each arm and head out of the girls room, after hugs and kisses are given to each baby by each big girl, of course! With my 20-lb. barbells under each arm, I close the girls' door with my foot and head down the hall to the babies' room to begin phase 2. I change each baby, put them in their sleep sacks, get all of us settled in the big chair in their room, and and then nurse both babies until they're pretty much asleep. Then, I carefully stand up with both of them still in my arms, and deposit them in their cribs.

Woohoo!!!

With all four down, I get to the fun stuff I do at naptime. And, I have to do it in the first 30 minutes of this precious time, or I risk waking the babies. As fast as I can, I:

• change the laundry
• wipe down two high chairs and two booster seats
• clean the dining room floor
• wash lunch dishes (have I mentioned that we don't have a dishwasher?)
• prep dinner if possible
• clean up a small tornado of toys/sippy cups/art projects in the living room
• take a shower if I'm lucky

and

• sit down and eat my own lunch

At this point, I could have as little as 10 minutes or as much as two hours left to my own devices. Lately, I've been using this time to play Words with Friends on my iPhone. Extremely productive. If you want to (or dare to!) play me, my "handle" is sfshawna. You'll just have to excuse any long delays on my turn. It probably means naptime is over :(

Our napping angels at naptime yesterday: