Husband Amazing

I am in awe of my husband tonight. Tonight we had 9 kids over at our house (it was our turn in our Friday night babysitting swap) . . . and I usually like to plan bunches of activites . . . and this day was just one of those where I seriously was home for 1 hour the whole day (which incidently was the hour I had visiting teachers over) and just had no time to plan. On a side note - I think I'm a little bit of an over-planner. I feel far more comfortable planning way too much than just keeping things simple and going with the flow. I don't get how to just 'go-with-the-flow'. That's a little bit weird huh? I need to just chill. A friend of mine does vinyl lettering - and I went to her open house this last weekend and found the saying 'Enjoy this moment, for this moment is your life'. I thought yes! I do need to enjoy this moment. (I bought the wall hanging and it is now on my kitchen wall - the place where I most need to remember to enjoy the moment). Anyway - what was I talking about . . . oh yes - my tendency to over-plan. I am trying to develop more 'Mary-like' qualities since the Martha ones come more naturally to me.

So . . . back to tonight . . . we had 9 kids over at our house - they were to arrive at 6:00 - and we pulled into the driveway at 5:56. I was thinking on our way home from picking up the car at the shop (it broke down yesterday) - that we could make cookies, and I could print out some Thanksgiving coloring pages, and we could play some Thanksgiving games Carrie sent me, and do pictionary and watch a movie. I had a plan! Well my wonderful husband complements (thank goodness) my over-planning and being a bit high-strung tendencies perfectly. And he is so good with kids! While I was trying to get everyone to understand the turkey hunt game . . . and wasn't very successful - Anthony just took over and had the kids captivated. He had them playing this turkey hunt game - all together - for a full 15 minutes! Yes - 15 minutes! He had 5 of the kids around the kitchen table making cookies . . . each one stirring 5 times before passing the bowl. Had them each choose 2 cookie cutter shapes . . . one for themselves and one to trade with someone else. Had them practice saying 'salmonella' when they asked to eat the cookie dough, then took the boys downstairs to do pictionary. Meanwhile - I cleaned the house. Yes - while Anthony kept 9 kids busy . . . I was able to clean. So while I had anticipated the house to be a wreck tonight . . . by the time the parents came to pick their kids up - the dishes were done, Alli's clothes in her room were hung up nicely in the closet, the floor was picked up. It was great! We ended the night with movie and popcorn. Anthony went over the rules of movie watching - had all the kids repeat the rules - and I had 9 kids whispering to me when they wanted more popcorn or needed more water. Anthony just has a magic way with kids - and taking any situation - and making it great! He truly can 'go-with-the-flow' and make everyone feel at ease. Thanks hun!