I can't show you the hand gestures, but envision the subway commercial :"Five dollar foot longs.... " Yes, I had five of my daughter's friends sleep over last night. Wow. It really sums it up.
Girl #1 hits the door. She is a giant. She is eleven and is about a head taller than myself and outweighs me by oooohhhhh twenty pounds. I thought it was a mom. Her shoes are bigger than mine. She is eleven. Anyway, she waltzes in and they begin to giggle.
Girl#2 shows with movies in hand. I see Twilight. My daughter and I had discussed this. It was not to be seen until I saw it first. Maddie quickly ushers her gal pal down the steps. I chat with a real mom for a moment and then went back to prepping dinner. The giggling gets louder.
Girl#3 wanders into the yard. She is from next door and has always been one of my "Back porch kids" (She's allowed to come in through the back door: everyone else? You are a guest....therefore through the front.) There is the first scream followed by peels of laughter.
Girls #4&5 pull in at the same time. With everyone here the volume explodes and there are scurrying "tweens" EVERYWHERE!
"Can I go in your hot tub?"
"No."
"We're hyper!" '
"Nooooooo way. Really?"
"Ahhhhhhhh! WHEEEEEE!"
I stash anything that contains caffeine or sugar. It's for my own good and sanity.
In and out of the house. On and off of their cell phones. To and from the pond. I didn't move from the kitchen or try to keep an eye on them because they were like an army of screaming ambulances...or anything really with a screeching siren. They played kickball, baseball, smash the little brother, tag....all with an energy and zest that I found hilarious. And then it happened. While out in the grass someone stepped in a "landmine". Wanna talk about VOLUME? Those girls shrieked and laughed until there was no sound left. I think someone peed their pants. No one could bring themselves to wipe it off. They thought about swishing in my hot tub but when they reached for the door. I simply boomed:
"NOT a good idea.....think of something else Ladies."
They stopped and looked around as if it were Divine intervention since they couldn't see me, and settled on using up an entire roll of paper towels. They were crying and laughing so hard they could barely move except to take pictures of it with their phones. It took them half an hour with the typical observations:
"You stink!"
"Shut up! You pick your nose....I see you all the time in class!"
"SO? You have dog crap smashed in your toes!"
"EWWWWWWW~hahahahahahaha!"
"SHUT UP! and HELP ME GET IT OFF"
"No way! You STINK!"
"I get it. Now get it OFF!"
"For ten dollars."
"WHAT?"
"Okay, do my spelling homework for a week."
"NO WAY!"
"Okay, then stink."
Ewwwwww HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA~
The night was long and they had fun. They pranked the first one to fall asleep by smearing some rude concoction on her arm that included glue and paint. Someone got their bra frozen. She doesn't know it yet because they forgot about it in my freezer. I found this tiny little frozen tank bra tucked underneath my peas. (*YES I went to the store! Peas for EVERYONE!) They were up and down the stairs all night, looking for straws, sneaking junk food and watching the forbidden Twilight. All of course thinking I was none the wiser.
Morning came and I got out the cake. (who doesn't want cake for breakfast after a party?) They frumped up the stairs. Now it was MY turn to be "hyper" lalalalalalalala It's almost ten O'clock! Time to get up! Get dressed and GET OUT! lalalalalalaaaaaaaah~
They were mid bite when I asked. "How was Twilight?"
I heard the cake get stuck and turn to dust.
"fine" they muttered. Maddie turned...vampire white.
"Good. No one got scared?"
"Not til now" Maddie said and swallowed hard.
I smiled and kissed her head. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Matt~you are sooooo dead." the giant whispered.
I smiled. Lalalalala. "Maddie Grace?"
"Yeeeeees?" she closed her eyes waiting for it.
"Next time." And I looked over my glasses at her. That said enough. She nodded and took another bite.
They packed up their stuff. They had had enough of each other:
"Get my bag."
"Get your own bag"
"You pranked me."
"You fell asleep"
"Help me."
"No. Do it yourself."
"It's heavy."
"So? Okay..here carry mine."
"WAIT! Yours is heavier! Give me mine."
"Nope. Too bad."
Ahhhhh young friendship.
Ben weathered the storm wonderfully. He spied and took notes on the girls. He went down and woke them up by scaring them half to death: more screams and giggles. He rolled his eyes and always made sure he got to eat first and of course, the most. We made ice cream sundaes and watched Spiderwick together. He held my hand at the sad part. What a gentle man he will be. I love dat boy!
Now the house is restored or at least the volume. The kids are sleepy and it's a rainy Sunday. Time for popcorn, movies, and blankets all around. And for some reason? I feel like Subway for dinner. Why? Because I survived "Five....Five....Five sleepin ovah.....".
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a nice day, what ever you do.
