Dear Malone College Roommate assigner of 1997
Thanks.
Love, Heather, Sarah, Ryan and Ben and 8 crazy kids
This past spring my college roommate Sarah, her husband and her adorable kids came to visit the Battles clan (I'm just now getting around to posting about it). It isn't the first time they have come--they are stellar travelers despite having young kids--but the first time I have taken the time to blog about it--which is kind of shocking because it's ripe for the blogging--and of course in 10 years we will forget the hilarities and I am here to make sure that they are typed up in black and white for decades to come.
Between the two of us we have:
One 9 year old
Three 6 year olds
Two 4 year olds
One 3 year old
One 2 year old
to top it all off, 5 of the 8 are boys!
Where do I start? with fighting in the "save the gorillas" wishing well? nail polish on the white carpet? kiddie sword fights? shirtless kids at the zoo rolling around in puddles? Did I mention it pretty much rained all day every day?
So they arrived Tuesday evening just in time for a raucous dinner. We shoved the 8 kids in the dining room while the adults attempted to eat at our little kitchen table (which really meant popping up every 30 seconds to help kids with this or that) but eventually Jack stole the show with his original knock knock joke bit which surprisingly brought down the house and gave us at least a 3-5 minute respite. It was Jack's first attempt at stand up (actually sit down strapped in high chair ) comedy and I think he was overall pleased with his performance. Once the stand up gig was over the kids were off and running.
Literally.
We were sitting around the kitchen table finishing our dinner and trying to catch up in the true style of parents socializing with their kids around which means highly, highly fragmented and interrupted conversation. Yeah, you all know what I mean. Kind of like this
Parent 1: Oh, yes, that is so great to hear about . . . BEN GET OFF THE BANISTER, IT IS NOT A TOY!!!
Parent 2: Yes, so last week it was so funny when . . . {Insert deafening noise of a Tonka dump truck being rocketed through the kitchen by wild boy which subsequently drowned out the parent--lips moving--no sound } . . . isn't that hilarious?
Parent 3: So, tell me about . . . YOU NEED TO QUIT JUMPING ON THE FURNITURE--WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THE URGENT CARE!
Parent 4: Yes, we had a really good time at . . . IF YOU HIT HIM WITH THAT SWORD ONE MORE TIME--SERIOUSLY--GIVE ME THAT SWORD!
Definitely some "get off the shed moments" which if you don't know what that means google Will Ferrell, and 'get off the shed' (ignore the swear words, focus on the hilarity of what we all experience on a daily basis with our kids--'get off the shed' will soon become an adjective in your house).
The four oldest had a sleepover with Ben yelling his displeasure at having to be in his own room through the wall (Ben CANNOT be trusted for sleepovers--we've tried).
They all slept well miraculously even when the four year old wandered up from the basement to the sleepover room at 5:30am looking for his parents who were actually in the guest bedroom 5 feet away from his sleeping bag. His sweet sister quietly sent him back down to safety and all was well.
Around 7 I started to hear some giggles and activity down the hall at sleepover central (which Ben had joined once he woke up) I laid in bed enjoying the sounds of joviality and then was brought out of my reverie when I heard "underwear party!". Now, we are pretty relaxed parents so I thought--oh well, I think that's probably ok--and then I heard "Naked party! Ben take your clothes off!" I bolted out of bed and stumbled down the hall to find stark naked Ben shakin' what his momma gave him and a roomful of kids in their undies. So, underwear AND naked parties were banned (it's just too fine of a line really)and the jammies were donned once again.
We invaded Northstar--literally --and enjoyed a morning herding the crew around Easton.
Rain was predicted all week but we checked Thursdays weather and the morning looked clear with rain coming in the afternoon. So we packed our snacks, got some bagels, stoked up on starbucks and were off.
The weather man was wrong.
We made it to the aquarium before the rain hit then zipped over to the manatee nearby and then the skies opened up and we were literally trapped with a manatee. Manatees are cool and all but entertaining they are not. After a few minutes of watching matilda the manatee float around we tried to entertain them in the gift shop and I think the gift shop lady was wishing she brought her anxiety meds with her to work that day. In our defense, who stocks a gift shop at a zoo with a million things a kid could break?? Then the gift shop was flooding, lunch was approaching and we were still trapped with a manatee who, by the way was happily munching her lettuce with a satisfied look on her chubby face while we looked forlornly at the 'NO EATING' signs all around us while clutching our bag o'bagels. Well, we showed that manatee a thing or two and circumvented the rules by scrunching them all in the vestibule between the double sets of doors as you enter (no signs here!), put their skinny butts on the 6 inch metal frame of the window, and chucked bagels, bananas and squeezie applesauces at them like the fish guy at the market. Problem solved.
The deluge eventually subsided and we were able to make our way to a few other things, and were finishing up our time at the gorilla exhibit when the thunder started to rumble again. We did NOT want to be trapped in the stinky gorilla house! We already had created enough mayhem there---Lydia tried to reach her arm into the cylindrical wishing well (you know--the kind that the coin goes round and round and round until it drops into a funnel at the bottom ) to TAKE money from the gorilla foundation--nearly getting her hand stuck in the process, and two others got into a brawl in the same wishing well and had to be dragged out kicking and screaming. I swear the gorillas were doing some judgy head shaking at us and we had to get out of there. I checked my radar and we made a run for it.
Then the thunder really got loud and we had to sprint--slogging the kids and a giant stroller through puddles--some laughing--most crying--dodging lightning bolts as our children held tightly to umbrellas pointed towards the sky. At one point, K, who is 6, yelled "NOBODY PANIC!!"
We finally made it to a food court and took shelter for a few. We handed out the last of our rations of bagels and bananas and then they started to mutiny. Crying, whining, chairs falling. You'd think we hadn't fed them in year! Lydia whined "I told you we shouldn't have gone to the zoo today!" We were 3 against 8 (Ryan missed this adventurous outing) and I feared they were going to best us.
We decided to cal lit quits and started making our way towards the entrance--and the rain started to pitter patter around our brood once again. We booked it to the zoo tunnel thinking we'd be trapped yet again in this concrete tunnel
and then we just decided quit trying--to keep dry that is.
the thunder and lighting were gone and it was just rain, pouring rain. So we let the kids just go crazy.
They splashed, ran, hooted and hollered, and just flat out rolled around in big puddles that were quite likely tainted with kangaroo poop--but we no longer cared and you know what? they had the time of their life!
It quickly changed our day from a failure to--and I quote-- "the best day ever"
We walked our shirtless, drenched, shoeless, dirty gaggle to the car just as the sun came out and my kids rode home in their undies (ben actually decided to wriggle out of his undies halfway home and rode home completely in the buff--needless to say I drove impeccably all the way home)
Later that night we left them all with a sitter (yes, we have an amazing sitter!) and went out for some interruption free adult time. It was like old times complete with the four of us singing along with Journey at the top of our lungs like we were in college again.
The weekend was rounded out by a trip to the conservatory with the moms and girls while the boys stayed home and had impromptu manicures compliments of Benson (I mean what is guy time without mani-pedis?) so he raided my nail polish stash and proceeded to smear polish all over his beige carpet.
The dads were not amused when this little activity was discovered but thankfully it came out with nail polish remover and a good steam cleaning (with our oh so useful steam cleaner that Ryan bought in another emergency involving dog poop, toddlers and carpet).
All in all it was an amazingly fun weekend and I couldn't help but try to capture just a little glimpse of what it's like when we get or clans together. We are thankful for such great friends and it is a gift to raise our little ones together.
So, roommate matcher--you definitely made a good call.
Thanks again.
Thanks.
Love, Heather, Sarah, Ryan and Ben and 8 crazy kids
This past spring my college roommate Sarah, her husband and her adorable kids came to visit the Battles clan (I'm just now getting around to posting about it). It isn't the first time they have come--they are stellar travelers despite having young kids--but the first time I have taken the time to blog about it--which is kind of shocking because it's ripe for the blogging--and of course in 10 years we will forget the hilarities and I am here to make sure that they are typed up in black and white for decades to come.
Between the two of us we have:
One 9 year old
Three 6 year olds
Two 4 year olds
One 3 year old
One 2 year old
to top it all off, 5 of the 8 are boys!
Where do I start? with fighting in the "save the gorillas" wishing well? nail polish on the white carpet? kiddie sword fights? shirtless kids at the zoo rolling around in puddles? Did I mention it pretty much rained all day every day?
So they arrived Tuesday evening just in time for a raucous dinner. We shoved the 8 kids in the dining room while the adults attempted to eat at our little kitchen table (which really meant popping up every 30 seconds to help kids with this or that) but eventually Jack stole the show with his original knock knock joke bit which surprisingly brought down the house and gave us at least a 3-5 minute respite. It was Jack's first attempt at stand up (actually sit down strapped in high chair ) comedy and I think he was overall pleased with his performance. Once the stand up gig was over the kids were off and running.
Literally.
We were sitting around the kitchen table finishing our dinner and trying to catch up in the true style of parents socializing with their kids around which means highly, highly fragmented and interrupted conversation. Yeah, you all know what I mean. Kind of like this
Parent 1: Oh, yes, that is so great to hear about . . . BEN GET OFF THE BANISTER, IT IS NOT A TOY!!!
Parent 2: Yes, so last week it was so funny when . . . {Insert deafening noise of a Tonka dump truck being rocketed through the kitchen by wild boy which subsequently drowned out the parent--lips moving--no sound } . . . isn't that hilarious?
Parent 3: So, tell me about . . . YOU NEED TO QUIT JUMPING ON THE FURNITURE--WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THE URGENT CARE!
Parent 4: Yes, we had a really good time at . . . IF YOU HIT HIM WITH THAT SWORD ONE MORE TIME--SERIOUSLY--GIVE ME THAT SWORD!
Definitely some "get off the shed moments" which if you don't know what that means google Will Ferrell, and 'get off the shed' (ignore the swear words, focus on the hilarity of what we all experience on a daily basis with our kids--'get off the shed' will soon become an adjective in your house).
The four oldest had a sleepover with Ben yelling his displeasure at having to be in his own room through the wall (Ben CANNOT be trusted for sleepovers--we've tried).
They all slept well miraculously even when the four year old wandered up from the basement to the sleepover room at 5:30am looking for his parents who were actually in the guest bedroom 5 feet away from his sleeping bag. His sweet sister quietly sent him back down to safety and all was well.
Around 7 I started to hear some giggles and activity down the hall at sleepover central (which Ben had joined once he woke up) I laid in bed enjoying the sounds of joviality and then was brought out of my reverie when I heard "underwear party!". Now, we are pretty relaxed parents so I thought--oh well, I think that's probably ok--and then I heard "Naked party! Ben take your clothes off!" I bolted out of bed and stumbled down the hall to find stark naked Ben shakin' what his momma gave him and a roomful of kids in their undies. So, underwear AND naked parties were banned (it's just too fine of a line really)and the jammies were donned once again.
We invaded Northstar--literally --and enjoyed a morning herding the crew around Easton.
Rain was predicted all week but we checked Thursdays weather and the morning looked clear with rain coming in the afternoon. So we packed our snacks, got some bagels, stoked up on starbucks and were off.
The weather man was wrong.
We made it to the aquarium before the rain hit then zipped over to the manatee nearby and then the skies opened up and we were literally trapped with a manatee. Manatees are cool and all but entertaining they are not. After a few minutes of watching matilda the manatee float around we tried to entertain them in the gift shop and I think the gift shop lady was wishing she brought her anxiety meds with her to work that day. In our defense, who stocks a gift shop at a zoo with a million things a kid could break?? Then the gift shop was flooding, lunch was approaching and we were still trapped with a manatee who, by the way was happily munching her lettuce with a satisfied look on her chubby face while we looked forlornly at the 'NO EATING' signs all around us while clutching our bag o'bagels. Well, we showed that manatee a thing or two and circumvented the rules by scrunching them all in the vestibule between the double sets of doors as you enter (no signs here!), put their skinny butts on the 6 inch metal frame of the window, and chucked bagels, bananas and squeezie applesauces at them like the fish guy at the market. Problem solved.
The deluge eventually subsided and we were able to make our way to a few other things, and were finishing up our time at the gorilla exhibit when the thunder started to rumble again. We did NOT want to be trapped in the stinky gorilla house! We already had created enough mayhem there---Lydia tried to reach her arm into the cylindrical wishing well (you know--the kind that the coin goes round and round and round until it drops into a funnel at the bottom ) to TAKE money from the gorilla foundation--nearly getting her hand stuck in the process, and two others got into a brawl in the same wishing well and had to be dragged out kicking and screaming. I swear the gorillas were doing some judgy head shaking at us and we had to get out of there. I checked my radar and we made a run for it.
Then the thunder really got loud and we had to sprint--slogging the kids and a giant stroller through puddles--some laughing--most crying--dodging lightning bolts as our children held tightly to umbrellas pointed towards the sky. At one point, K, who is 6, yelled "NOBODY PANIC!!"
We finally made it to a food court and took shelter for a few. We handed out the last of our rations of bagels and bananas and then they started to mutiny. Crying, whining, chairs falling. You'd think we hadn't fed them in year! Lydia whined "I told you we shouldn't have gone to the zoo today!" We were 3 against 8 (Ryan missed this adventurous outing) and I feared they were going to best us.
We decided to cal lit quits and started making our way towards the entrance--and the rain started to pitter patter around our brood once again. We booked it to the zoo tunnel thinking we'd be trapped yet again in this concrete tunnel
and then we just decided quit trying--to keep dry that is.
the thunder and lighting were gone and it was just rain, pouring rain. So we let the kids just go crazy.
They splashed, ran, hooted and hollered, and just flat out rolled around in big puddles that were quite likely tainted with kangaroo poop--but we no longer cared and you know what? they had the time of their life!
It quickly changed our day from a failure to--and I quote-- "the best day ever"
We walked our shirtless, drenched, shoeless, dirty gaggle to the car just as the sun came out and my kids rode home in their undies (ben actually decided to wriggle out of his undies halfway home and rode home completely in the buff--needless to say I drove impeccably all the way home)
Later that night we left them all with a sitter (yes, we have an amazing sitter!) and went out for some interruption free adult time. It was like old times complete with the four of us singing along with Journey at the top of our lungs like we were in college again.
The weekend was rounded out by a trip to the conservatory with the moms and girls while the boys stayed home and had impromptu manicures compliments of Benson (I mean what is guy time without mani-pedis?) so he raided my nail polish stash and proceeded to smear polish all over his beige carpet.
The dads were not amused when this little activity was discovered but thankfully it came out with nail polish remover and a good steam cleaning (with our oh so useful steam cleaner that Ryan bought in another emergency involving dog poop, toddlers and carpet).
All in all it was an amazingly fun weekend and I couldn't help but try to capture just a little glimpse of what it's like when we get or clans together. We are thankful for such great friends and it is a gift to raise our little ones together.
So, roommate matcher--you definitely made a good call.
Thanks again.
