This weekend was one of only two weekends this entire summer that the kiddos will get to have friends up - and it was a big one - Joel's future wife, Laurel and her family. And it was awesome and time to focus on friends for the little guys - but also fun time for parents too as we love Laurel's whole fam! This was the first weekend with kiddos because I was late in the game in inviting people up, and we had a lot going on with my job being so July-focused, so this is the best we could do for the little guys. They have not seemed to mind usually though and are really excited for just general lake and family time.
However, it was nice to have a change and to have friends up for the weekend. Two things we have yet to figure out though - no matter how much fun we have during the day, and it is a ton… - is how to get the bigger kids to include James as well as how to get everyone to go to bed, when it is time to go to bed.
The first thing, super sad for the little guy. We had friends up for the day a few weeks ago and noticed the same thing. The older kids, generally 5-8, would completely ignore James, and then when he got annoying they started to be mean. Like really mean, like running away from him and calling him a monster. And Joel Andrew would participate! Horrible! The little guy James, poor guy, would then run after them screaming: "I am not a monster guys, play with me." So cute and so sad. What probably didn't make it better was me soothing James to no end. Poor Kid. We are all pretty sure that in a few years he will run the show, but until them it breaks my heart!
The second thing wears on me. Some people seem to think it is funny when the kids do not go to bed when it is bedtime. They think this is part of youth, and it is fun that the buddies hang out. I HATE it. I have freaked out about it with company before. I don't really get it actually… They (all the kids) have had a huge full day of fun, tubing, swimming, laking, walking, frogging, hot tubbing, eating, boating, more and more. Shouldn't they be tired? Shouldn't they pass out? NO THEY DON'T. And why? Because we let them gab and talk and come downstairs to tell us they were fighting over something small and then they are immediately over tired and then they cannot go to bed. Namely, my husband is the one that likes to play this game over and over while I just want to separate them and they go to sleep and we have adult time and that is that. Hopefully we have all learned our lesson for the last weekend, and for next year too!
So it was a good time for all, and we love, love our guests who also happen to be our neighbors (and future inlaws)! But, I am looking forward to some time this weekend sans kiddos… Nana and Pa, are you excited to take them for the day on Friday?
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