While you were away

May 2nd, 2007 by Atomictumor

Well, tonight Bos and Eaves are out for a well deserved night away from 3/4ths of their kids. They have used a combination of high powered hypnosis and horrible blackmail material to talk me into watching Lugnut, Spotz, and October (the three oldest).

In the interest in public safety (and alibi creation), I’ll be liveblogging the thing as the night goes on.

4:26 PM:

Bos and Eaves left roughly 30 minutes ago. They are scheduled to return at 6 AM, but I’d kinda be surprised if I ever saw them again.

Approximately 20 minutes after leaving, I walked into my bedroom to find Lugnut sitting in the midst of an overturned jar of antacids. I confirmed zero antacid residue on the boy, and then proceeded to make him clean it up. The boy stonewalled, beginning a fit. I used a calm version of the “authority voice”, which produces results in my children, but got a fuss out of Lug. He got put in “the chair”, while I cleaned up the antacids. He stayed in the chair for the requisite 2 minutes, and promised to be more helpful. The bedroom is now locked.

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Spotz, Pigpen, and Lugnut, just after the antacid incident. Note the relative cleanliness of the playroom. I don’t expect this to last.

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MastaG, October, and unnamed neighborhood kid. At least they’re being quiet.

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Oh crap, they’ve spotted me…

4:34 PM: They are on me for food and drink. I didn’t realize this would be part of the bargain… hmm. My first thought is to make them fight for food and drink, but I don’t see that ending well. Am ordering pizza. Realtorchick came by, a quick thought of all heading over to their (larger) house, where professional babysitter Gamma (or Delta, hell, I never learned greek letters) will be waiting fell through due to the fact that Bos and Eaves left no carseats. They’re smart. They want me to squirm…

4:45 PM:

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The Cemestos kids are militarizing.

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Or at least the older ones are. Lug is still content with Syrup. Pigpen and MastaG are engrossed in a movie. That didn’t take long. Neighborhood kid is still here, I think I might kick him out just to be mean.

5:27 PM:

Didn’t have to kick neighborhood kid out, his sister came to collect them.

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Food. The great pacifier. I may or may not have laced their pizza with a king sized helping of something to put them to sleep.

Damn. I wish I’d thought of that…

5:43 PM:

2 hrs, 17 minutes until bedtime.

We’re all sitting around watching Star Wars. October praised Lugnut on not only eating more food than usual, but also for using his polite words to ask for it.

See? The authority voice works!

While eating, MastaG imparted some yo’ mama jokes, that I’ll share:

Yo mama so fat, she jumped in the ocean, and a blue whale jumped out and started singing:
We are family/
Even tho you’re fatter than me!

also,

You mama so fat, she jumped over to Walmart, missed it, and hit the Target!

Yes, yo’mama jokes. Timeless.

Now they all wanna go outside.

6:50 PM:

1 hr, 10 minutes to bedtime

We’re still outside. The neighborhood kids are around, and everybody that can is riding bikes in the cul-de-sac. I tried to keep up as things were going on by moblogging on my little phone, but Wordpress 2.1.x evidently isn’t mobile friendly, on top of being dumb. Seriously, don’t upgrade past Wordpress 2.0. Just ain’t worth it, son.

Heres Pigpen living up to his name:

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And, Darth Vader.

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There were some issues when Lugnut seized the Darth Vader helmet.

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October paid no mind.

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The boys are now all arrayed around the chess field, with MastaG talking smack. This is the only time I’ve ever seen a chess game sound like a craps game.

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Its now time to start the bedtime train rolling. Woot woot.

Lets see how that goes…

7:36 PM:

24 minutes to go…

Lugnut: Bathed

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Pigpen: Bathing

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Spotz:

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Actually, I’m not too sure where Spotz is. He doesn’t need a bath, and has been hella helpful in setting up his and Lug’s room, so I’m letting him escape my bedtime wrath.

October:

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Sequestered in the boys room, hers for the night. She left instructions through the door that if I need her, just knock. Gee, thanks. So I snuck a picture. That’ll show ‘er…

MastaG:

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He knows the drill. Actually, I yelled at him for bullying (or rather, being a bit of a jerk to) one of the neighborhood kids, so he’s avoiding my bedtime wrath too.

Which, tonight, isn’t too wrathful.

Time to get Pigpen out. Next update SHOULD be with all the kids in their separate rooms and quiet.

8:07 PM:

All children are in bed. Who is the man?

I can’t hear you?

Damn right, Godfather AT is the man. Spotz and Lugnut are in the playroom, both with books. October is in the boy’s room, with a book, and my kids are in the living room with books. Yes, books all around. And what do I do?

Well, I turn on the TV. But with the volume low, so I can hear the little punks when they start to fidget…

8:53 PM:

Watching the 8th episode of Heroes in my bedroom on the ATivo, which is damn near one of my favorite shows. The new Lost’ll come on tonight, but I’ll do like I always do and wait till tomorrow to see it in HD. Cuz I’m like that.

I got up to refill on the water and do a quick ear check, and one of the creatures in the playroom is scuffling around. I think its the one thats in the cage, but it sounds like he’s trying to dig his way out.

6:05 AM:

Bos just picked the kids up. Not a one of em gave me trouble last night.   Those Cemestos kids rock.

I’m sleepy, but logged into work now.  Bleah.

20 Responses to “While you were away”



  1. Judy Says:

    You are one brave, brave man, man.

  2. sumgirl Says:

    hmm, i wanna go out … i’ll be dropping my 4 off at your place shortly. {heehee}

  3. califdudes Says:

    I bet you will be locked in the bathroom crying for help within the next hour or so.

  4. Denette Says:

    Dang AT, I’m sure I would have been hitting the bottle by now. That lugnut is adorable. How you can sit him a corner I don’t know.

  5. Netmom Says:

    You know, I thought about stopping by (with Delta AND Gamma) after dinner to check on you and the crew, but I’m just as glad I didn’t.
    30 minutes until bedtime.

    Bet you’re ready to lobby against Daylight Savings time just about now.

  6. Jane Says:

    Wow!! Spidey ain’t got nuttin’ on you.

    My husband can’t even get my six year old daughter to bed without (him) crying.

    Maybe you should give “authority voice” seminars.

  7. daco Says:

    Gotta hand it to you AT, you are da munchkin managin’ man.

  8. califdudes Says:

    Yo dude, not only are you da man, you are de Godfather man!

    I am impressed. Maybe you should consider a career in child care, heh hehh

  9. Suzanne Says:

    We want to hear the ‘authority voice’.

    p.s.
    You may need to cut the boys’ hair sometime this year.

  10. Atomictumor Says:

    Dude, tell me about it. They both got one about a week or two ago, Pigpen’s is good, but MastaG wouldn’t abide shorter hair. I like it long myself, so its all good.

  11. Joel Says:

    Best. Post. Evah.

    My mom told me 15 years ago (my mom is the mother of five children) that when she had young children, she always felt sorry for people with older children, but now that her children are grown, she feels sorry for people with young children.

    I concur.

  12. pink painter Says:

    You are the man. I bet you could even babysit miss thing. No body else can hardly handle her. Dont worry, I will not ask you to.

  13. realtorchick Says:

    Wonderful job, AT!

  14. Jane Says:

    I am saving up all the Heroes to watch when I am on summer “vacation”. (Actually I’ll be working part of the summer so…meh)

    Can’t wait!

  15. The Bosphorus Says:

    Got the kids home and they’re just finishing up breakfast.

    I don’t think AT slipped in another kid on us…

  16. Mrs Eaves Says:

    You’re the best, AT! Thank you!

  17. Dr. Axel Fudpucker Says:

    Ziss iz a gut indication of your total avilities. You have very gut skillz. Girls luv men viff Skillz.

  18. Suzanne Says:

    But can AT draw a liger?

  19. WCGPOP Says:

    Outrageous post.

    Really thankful you were able to do this and post it up w/ pics. Gives those of us far away a chance to experience some little bit.

    Thanks

  20. Atomictumor Says:

    Hey, glad to see you.