John and I readily agreed to let Rose have three friends spend the night. What were we thinking? I love all the friends she invited. I really enjoy having play dates with them. But three? overnight? Giggles, pushing, pillow smashing, shushing David, and spilling water on the sofa, that's what we should have been thinking.

Last week we made Rose and David clean the house in preparation. They fought over who got to dust the really dusty parts. Today, we made them clean the bathrooms again. They didn't get a chance to fight because Emma came early and helped. Then there was much running around, shouting, and coloring.

We had pizza, homemade blondies, and I think a game of Harry Potter, but I'm not sure. Then at 7:30 (note that David's bedtime routine normally starts at 7:40) we started Annie. I had assumed that was going to be my time off. Nope. I was in charge of popcorn, water, more popcorn, keeping David from kicking his sister, keeping Rose from pushing her brother, and keeping Jasper from dancing on the edge of the sofa.

Annie ended at 8:50 at which point the kids were more out of control then I'd ever seen them. Rose was dancing around naked kicking her legs in the air. When I told them all to put their hands on their heads, Amelia played opposite day and grabbed her feet. Once they were jammied, brushed, and in their sleeping bags, I turned off the lights and told them they had a half an hour to chat; after that, I was coming in and staying in until they were all asleep. And by Jove it worked. At 10:00 all five children (don't forget poor David whom we had to haul upstairs away from the gang) were asleep.

Stay tuned for underslept overexcited children in part II.