"Thing 1 and Thing 2"

Last night bedtime didn't exactly go to plan. For some strange reason (maybe the 'be-bops' during bathtime?) last night was the night that the monsters decided to 'dismantle' their bedroom. Having thought about it afterward, I realised that it may not have been such a great idea to let them watch "The Cat In The Hat" movie the other day, especially when they expressed such absolute delight for 'Thing 1' and 'Thing 2' - the naughty troublemakers who trash the family home.

They must have hopped out of bed moments after I left the room, and began by unplugging every single electrical device they could find - glow balls, night lights, lamps, etc.  They then ingeniously hung these devices over the bannister, meaning that when I next ventured upstairs I had to manoever past various dangling objects.  

A stern word, followed by tucking them both back in bed, then I retreated for what I thought would be the last time.  Wrongo...they had several more tricks up their sleeve.  Unfortunately I was otherwise engaged for the next hour or so, and it wasn't until Auntie Mo came downstairs looking rather pale and anxious that I registered the problem.

"Uh, I think you better go upstairs" my sister said looking worried.  I could hear loud stomping and various crashes coming from above.

"Can you just tell them to get back in bed?" I asked absentmindedly.

"Um...no I think you better have a look.  Seriously."  She stood there immovable, staring pointedly at me (or maybe glaring) and so I sighed, got up and trundled upstairs to see what was going on.

Giggles and whoops of glee could be heard from the first floor landing.  I purposely stomped upstairs to scare them back into bed, but they were having so much fun that they didn't even register my presence.  I pushed open the bedroom door, and for a moment my brain couldn't decide what to focus on.  I was momentarily transported to that scene in the Dr. Suess movie where the babysitter walks in and faints in horror.  

Mattresses were off beds, pillows and bedding scattered everywhere.   Wet wipes had been flung around the room, covering the floor like giant confetti.  Chairs had been stacked high atop each other, and I think i walked in just as they were getting ready to launch Dumpie off the top of the structure.  Their bookshelf appeared to have been dismantled and all of their lovely storybooks were lying about as if a bomb had gone off in a library...

It was so distressing that I had to take a picture.  They posed proudly by the chair tower even as I was telling them off, and swerved out of reach as I tried to chase them to put them back in bed.

I spent the next several minutes cleaning up the worst of it while they jumped on their beds cheering me on.  I then put on a soothing lullaby cd, backing out of their room, shattered, while making whispered threats as to what would happen if they dared get out of bed again.

They did.  I lost it.  Went to bed a broken woman.