Story In...Words (The Summer Bucket List Has Begun)

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe"
Well, I wouldn't say I'm really OLD, but when I wake up on days after a night like last night I certainly FEEL old.  And it seems as though I'm always finding shoes to pick up because let's face it, every pair of feet need to change their apparel at least 7 times a day.

"She had so many children she didn't know what to do"
Every once in a while I look at my Colony and wonder how in the world we are going to make it through the day, but with 5 creative minds between them they always seem to come up with a solution...like spending hours preparing their tent (the trampoline) for a night of fun under the stars.  And how can a mom and dad say "no" to a request like sleeping outside on the trampoline after such hard work:)  Besides we're tracked out AND it's been absolutely gorgeous outside!  To their amazement we said "YES" (you should have heard Rainy's sweet prayer of thanksgiving for "having the BEST PARENTS IN THE WORLD"), believing that it would only be a matter of time before they came sauntering into their nice warm beds like last time.

"She gave them some broth without any bread"
So we gave them so dinner (and of course we didn't have bread because we all know that sides just don't really play an important role.  Not by choice, might I add.)  But we did have some roast with oranges and quinoa, and then Josh made his famous homemade cookies, so that should count for something.

"and whipped them all soundly and put them to bed"
It was a night to remember!  No whipping was had.  In fact, Josh and I listened to their silly conversations and giggling, just a few feet away from the couch in the living room, until the sounds faded away into the night.  They actually ALL miraculously fell asleep outside...which left Josh and I in a predicament.  Neither one of us was mentally prepared for a night under the stars, because we thought for SURE they wouldn't make it all night.  Yup, we had some decisions to make.  We couldn't wake them.  They would be crushed!  And I certainly wasn't going to go sleep outside (I have a love affair with my squooshy, comfy, warm bed).  So we did what any mom and dad would do in this situation...we stared each other down, waiting for the other one to break, ha!  I've had way too many not-so-good-mama moments lately than I'd like to admit, and my heart was totally in this with the Colony kids so I proudly went to lather up my feet in lavender oil (I'd need all the help I could get), layer up the warm clothes, load up my covers and pillows and head to the great outdoors backyard.  I made myself a cocoon inside my blankets and set my mind for success!

Alethia made it until about 1:15.
Cai was in his bed by 1:45.
After what seemed like an hour of shivery tossing and turning by the little Rainy bundle next to me, I rolled over and told her she did a FANTASTIC job and that it was okay if we head in to finish out the evening inside.  She reluctantly decided that yes, it would be alright.  So by 2:45 the last two climbed into their beds and this mama's heart was full.

We all survived the treacherous night in the wilderness, and not ONE of us got eaten up by the wild animals (ie foxes and deer).