Sleep Outs and Incentives

What to title this entry.......having boys, I don't think I say "slumber parties", so I will coin the term "sleep outs" instead. Note to self: must remember to share that term with them in the morning.

However, looks more like a "sleep in" here in new mummy sleeping bags bought today at Sam's Club. The sleeping bags are actually new for Mommy and Daddy since the boys have adopted the two we already owned. Although we seldom get the chance, we love to go camping in the wild outdoors, and knew this spring we'd need to be getting two new sleeping bags to have enough to go around. We, quite unexpectantly, found these wonderful sleeping bags while shopping today. The boys couldn't wait to get home and use them tonight!

Within the last week, they've taken to "sleep outs" in the toy room on the weekends. It all innocently started as a ploy to get Dellen to lay down without his mommy or daddy. So, one week ago the boys were excited to go to bed together and earn a whole row of stickers for their behavior chart. The next night, knowing Dellen was able to manage on his own, we told him we weren't going to lay down with him anymore. The week that followed, has had its sad moments for the two of us, Mommy and child, as we weaned away from another childhood tradition. But, we have come through these later days on a rather successful note.

And about that behavior chart, as major incentive for them to cooperate and have a win-win situation for their sleeping efforts, they filled it in quite quickly and were able to be treated to a family outing to Chuck E Cheese's Pizza in Oklahoma City today. No time limits and 150 tokens to use at their leisure! What pleasure for a six and three year old!

I am exhausted this evening. But, it was a most wonderful day with my beloved family!