When the Dads Are Away...

This weekend, the dads loaded up the ranger, the grill, food, grubby clothes and all hit the road for a few days at the ranch. This left us girls will all 7 kiddos, trying to balance what we wanted to do and finding ways to bribe them with things they wanted to do!

Friday after school, the boys got haircuts. It was time! They were looking a little rough around the hairlines and a little Beetle-ish. They like is long, but it was time for a good trim. While we were up at the salon getting cuts, Roen got to spend some time with one of his favorite Lindsay Knights!







That evening, we settled in with take-out, we sent the kids upstairs with ipads and promises of a giant sleepover while we cozied up downstairs, with wine a good movie. Wishful thinking, because before we could even finish our movie, the kids were so riled up in their togetherness, that the party got cut short and we took the kids home.




Saturday, we really had one thing on our mind- shopping! There is just something about all the men being gone that makes the shopping fever run rampant! However, shopping with my boys is so very miserable that I never take them- like seroiusly, I know better. They start running around, hiding in clothes, fighting, taking things off shelves, asking to buy anything that seems less boring that shopping... it is like bring a herd of gorillas! But, we had no choice. So, we promised the kids that if they were good, we would take them over to Shully's where they could zip line and do the ropes course. I also promised mine they could pick out a new ornament for their tree if they behaved. Miraculously, they were awesome! We got in Hobby Lobby and Target- the duo of perfection, and then as promised, they were rewarded with their own little outing and had a blast!








We got home Saturday evening with suburbans so full we had Christmas pillows and trees shoved any place we could cram them and some pretty worn out kiddos. I took the four boys, because at this point, they just hadn't spent enough time together-ha! They were happy they finally got their sleepover! We all survived with the men out, but come Sunday, we were all ready for them to get home!