The twins are in the midst of an all out sleep rebellion.  They've been climbing out of their cribs for months, but have only just recently graduated to climbing out and wandering around the house.

Usually this results in one or both of us waking up with a 30 pound toddler clinging to our heads like a koala, but last night was different. Last night we, or more accurately, Eric, got a lovely wake up call at 2 am in the form of a Windex shower.

Alex had woken up and moseyed into the bathroom where he first found lotion and then scored Windex. Since cleaning products are like crack to the twins, he was in "keen" heaven and was spraying away, much to his hearts delight.

After confiscation, the subsequent clean up, and hysteria that accompanies being put back to the torture chamber we refer to as bed, we were allowed about 2.5 hours more sleep until Aiden discovered a carelessly placed glass of water (my bedside table, what, oh what was I thinking??), which he swiftly and promptly dumped out all over the floor. My little scientist in action...

The biggest problem with this new scenario is (apart from the general destruction) is that once interrupted from their mission they have to be lulled back to sleep with a complex arrangement of crying, singing, blanket throwing, empty threats and rubs, usually resulting in their climbing into bed accompanied by their 18 blankies.

To really visualize the circus party, combine the twins' trapeze acts with a two month old who thinks I'm his nighttime pacifier and a six year old who is suddenly terrified of her closet and insists on sleeping smack dab in the middle of our bed, we've got quite a party going on!

Part of me wants to think there's something precious about waking up smooshed in bed with my 5 kids and husband, but the reality is I JUST WANT TO SLEEP!

Some nights when I'm being kept awake by the pesky lack of circulation in my arm that's being crushed, er,cuddled, by a child, I picture myself crawling into the abandoned crib and drifting off into a blissful, solitary sleep. It’s such a beautiful thought that I almost do it, but before I can shimmy out from my human blanket, someone starts crying and I have to start the process again.

Photo Credit: jurvetson