Tonight, I’m on my own as Mommy is off learning how to save people’s lives. I manage to corral them up the stairs and we begin the process of putting on PJ’s, brushing teeth, reading stories and, ultimately, going to bed.

As I pause at the top of the stairs to contemplate my game plan, the twins go scattering towards the toys in our loft. TheMonk drags out his Fisher Price tape recorder and Swee’Pea scrambles to find something to occupy herself because she knows that Daddy will be coming.

I turn to TheMonk as he is trying to untangle the microphones and ask, “Are you ready to go get your PJ’s on, Buddy?”

“No.” he replies. “Swee’Pea’s turn.”

Since I don’t care who I start with, as long as both of them are in PJ’s in the near future, I turn to Swee’Pea and ask, “Is it your turn to get ready for bed, Swee’Pea?”

“No.” she replies. “TheMonk’s turn.” As she says this she is crawling under a chair and scrunching herself into a little ball. “I’m hiding.” she says.

I make a game of it and “find” Swee’Pea hiding and drag her out upside down and I swing her like a pendulum down the hall towards her bedroom. Before we know it, I’ve changed her into her PJ’s and I go hunt down TheMonk.

TheMonk gives in easily and before I know it we have both toddlers clad in their PJ’s and their teeth are brushed.

We sit down to read a couple of books. Before you know it, we’re done and ready to go to bed.

“Monk, are you ready to go to bed?” I ask.

“No. Swee’Pea’s turn.” he replies.