I actually did it.

I gave my boys a bath.

If you have been a long-time reader of my blog, you will know that this is not something I am a big fan of. We switched to showers ages ago....(click there to see why we switched and how much the boys have grown since their first shower!)

But Kathy's sweet post and pictures of bathtime with her 3 boys totally inspired me.....and I must say, bath time was much different this time than it was the last time I tried it (many months ago)!

Ethan didn't need any help to stay above water *grin*, and they all played and shared tub toys very well together. We bathed in the new bathroom that has a tub with glass doors to keep all of that splashing water in--and there was tons of it, let me just tell you!

While the boys played to their heart's content, I kept a careful eye on them and did a few minor chores (closeby, of course) around the house. I must say--It was actually enjoyable for me! Naturally, the boys loved it too.

We may will have to do bathtime more often!

448 reasons to love shower time

1 shower

3 naked bottoms

1 child who went pee-pee in the potty

1 child who went pee-pee in the shower

1 child who, when freed from his diaper, made

4 puddles of pee-pee on the floor

7 paper towels and

5 shots of Anti-Bacterial Fantastic to clean it up

6 dirty knees

10 frightfully loud minutes

3 shampooed heads

52 teeth brushed

3 bodies washed

87 shouts of glee

6 clean ears

30 clean fingers/toes

196 splashes

1 soaking wet Mommy with

2 aching knees

1 sopping wet towel

5 minutes of 'lotioning'

3 sets of PJ's

3 smiling boys

15 minutes 'till bedtime.....

2 HAPPY parents!

It gets the dirt off

For this, you may possibly think I am a bad mother:

I really do not enjoy giving my sons baths.

I always hear about people having these wonderfully serene routines at night with their children, and most of the time, the routines sound something like this: "I cook dinner and we eat together as a family, then we play together for a while, then I give them a bath, brush their teeth, read them a book or two, and then it is lights out!"

I do all of that, too. I cook dinner almost every night, and we sit down together to eat as a family. It is usually eventful, and always loud. But, we manage to fill our bellies and enjoy each other all at the same time, which is the ultimate goal. Shane and I usually play or take a bike ride with the boys (or something else they find fun) after dinner, and then the child cleanup portion of the evening begins. Cameron eats at least three meals a day, and generally after every meal, he looks something like this:

That was lunch, which ended with chocolate pudding. Yes, he feeds himself.



Colin is nowhere near as bad (see above), and neither is Ethan, but between all of the events of the day, they all usually need a good end-of-the-day hose down.

Maybe it is because I have boys, and they are ultra rowdy in the tub. I end up wearing 3/4 of the bath water by the time I have managed to thoroughly clean all three boys. I always feel like I am never letting them have any fun in the tub, and I know the tub should be a fun place for them....but I can't help it. Here is a sampling of one minute of giving them a bath:

"Colin, please don't pour water over Cameron's head. Cami, don't splash so hard, please! Watch out for Ethan, guys. Cami, please don't splash SO HARD! Colin, stand up so I can wash you." Colin: "But Mommy, I am cold!" Me: "I know you are cold, just stand up for just a second so I can wash you really quickly, and then you can sit down in the warm water again. Guys, watch out for Ethan! Cameron, STOP splashing so hard!! The water is going all over the floor! Here, Colin, let me rinse you. Okay, sit down and let me wash Cameron. Cami, please stand up so Mommy can wash you.......stand up, Cameron........Cameron, stand up!!! Okay, now hold still a second. Colin, please don't splash Ethan! Cameron, don't sit yet, you aren't clean! Okay, all clean, let me rinse you. Okay, sit down, all done! Your turn again, Colin, let me wash your hair please....I know you are cold, you can get back under the water in a second. Cameron--if you don't stop splashing so hard you are in big trouble!!"

All the while, trying to make sure Ethan isn't going under the water. And this is just one minute of the 20 or so. *sigh*

So....

We have turned to showers instead. I know it may seem funny to give such little ones a shower, but it really works for us and keeps me MUCH drier, and more importantly, MUCH saner.

Here are a few shots from last night's shower--and miraculously, NONE of them are R-Rated!

Ethan loves this ducky

See?

They really do enjoy the showers......more importantly, SO do I!! I finally enjoy the end of the night clean up time again. It is so cute to watch all three of them playing under the running water. Thank the Lord for those wonderful glass doors that keep all of that water inside the tub and not on the floor--splash all you want, boys!!!