So today it was raining. All day.

It's not that we didn't need the rain. We do need the rain. We really do. It's just that the kids turn into wild children when they can't get outside.

So, by lunch time I was surrounded by four wild, screaming, mini-terrors. It was horrible. I was about ready to scream.

So we made lunch and the munchkins went down for their naps early. Take that tiny terrors!

No, really. They all needed the naps, I think and when it rains they sleep better. So the kids all went to sleep and I came and collapsed on the couch. And I sat here for awhile and watched a couple of episodes of the Waltons. I felt much better.

And the afternoon was much better.

The Television

So, a couple of weeks ago I made a decision to turn off the TV. So, I set a time limit of one hour of TV per day, and Mom picks the programs. I did this for a couple of reasons. First, because the little monkeys weren't really actually watching the programs. The TV was on and it was noise and it was only contributing to the noise that the kids were creating. Second, because I realized that there were better ways to spend that time.

We have been sticking to the schedule pretty well. They get to watch one hour of PBS kids every afternoon. They actually sit and watch the shows. So it's quiet. I also initiated a rule that if they get up and start playing or running around the TV goes off. They've done pretty good.

But, my little turkey DD4 was sneaking up to the toy room and watching videos very quietly while DD6 and I were still working on schoolwork. So, I had to unplug the VCR. HA! Mommy wins!

Anyway, I plan to keep it up. It's working. The girls spend more time reading than vegging. And that's a good thing!