This is a little tradition we began when Hezekiah was a baby. WARNING: If your children are standing over your shoulder reading this blog, as mine often do, you may want to send them away :)
So what exactly is a pajama ride? Well, luckily for you, I documented one last night. Its really very simple actually. First, you put your children to bed, just like you would any other night. Tuck them in, say good night, all that. Wait about five minutes, then run into the room, flick on the light, and yell, "Pajama Ride!"
As you can see, our children know exactly what those two words mean. Just look at that smile!
Adalia tripped and fell in her excitment, but wasn't bothered a bit.
Tilly came running back in for something she forgot.
As you can see, there is a fair amount of chaos with a pajama ride, but its joyful chaos!
And oh so worth the smiles!
So, why would we do something like this? Why not just take the children out for ice cream before bed? Why go through the trouble? Why have them get to be an hour late once we are finally home again?
We do this for one reason. Its just plain fun and what a memory we're giving our children. Imagine being a child and going to bed knowing, that with no warning, your parents might actually come get you up, and take you out for ice cream! We want so much for our home to be a fun place. The best place. A place our children are proud to bring their friends, and a place they don't want to leave.
And what did this little adventure cost us? I know some of you are wondering :) $12.77 for ten kids cones (swirl) one chocolate dipped cone, and one Blizzard (we don't take orders for ice cream, they all get the same kids cone).
So there you have it. A fun, cheap way to brighten your child's day (or night).
What an wonderful family tradition!
Posted by: Lynn | October 17, 2007 at 07:22 AM
That is such an awesome idea that I hope to remember when I have kids. I don't think that will so much work for the kids I nanny for. (I just switched jobs again.)
Posted by: Jessica | October 17, 2007 at 07:31 AM
That's awesome. I love it.
Posted by: Hilary | October 17, 2007 at 07:52 AM
brought a smile to MY face :) Love it!
Posted by: Lauren | October 17, 2007 at 08:33 AM
So fun!! I am going to tell Derek about that and hopefully have a Pajama Ride soon. So fun!! You are my idol. ;)
Posted by: Cool Canadian | October 17, 2007 at 08:41 AM
THAT IS SOOOO AWESOME!!! I totally have to steal this wonderful idea. What a terrific memory. :0) Thanks for sharing. Angel
Posted by: Angel | October 17, 2007 at 09:35 AM
We are SO going to do this. My husband's gonna love this idea. Not to mention the kids.
You guys are so much fun!
~Stacy
Posted by: Stacy | October 17, 2007 at 11:57 AM
You give me such great ideas of fun things to do that are inexpensive. I always look forward to reading your blog.
Posted by: Celena | October 17, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Great idea. We've done things like this before but never thought to give it a 'name'. That certainly makes it more fun!
Posted by: Trina | October 17, 2007 at 01:09 PM
A friend of mine told me about your blog on Monday night and I was excited to read about your family adventures from that moment on. I work at a smoothie shop in Puyallup and with the amazing overcast weather we have had lately... smoothies are not what everyone seems to have in mind this week. So my days are long! Thankfully I have my laptop to entertain me. And it took me two days worth of eight hour shifts and a couple dozen interruptions from customers (the nerve!... just kidding! :) ) to finish reading your blog from January til present! I am so excited to hear that the kids are coming home tomorrow! I lived in Ghana, West Africa for 2 1/2 months back in 2001 (YWAM DTS outreach)so I have a heart for all things Africa and dream of one day adopting children from around the world. I just want to thank you for sharing your experience of life with all of us and let you know that the past two days have been a delight to get to know your family! I am praying for the homecoming of your three beautiful children and will keep you and each member of your family in my prayers. Be blessed sister! The Lord is doing great things in you... just look at each one of those beautiful children... each one is a testimony of all the time and energy and love you put in. May the Lord continue to bless you as a mom so you can continue to bless your little ones!
ps. I am a fellow scrapbooker... you have helped motivate me to get a couple albums finished! Thanks!
Posted by: jamijanelle | October 17, 2007 at 01:44 PM
We have also done 'pajama rides' -- a family tradition my parents started with 10 kids in a station wagon in the 1960's to the local City Dairy in Saginaw, MI!! I still remember the fun, and so we have continued that tradition with our kids. But your way is even MORE fun . . . we haven't ever gotten them out of bed to do it. Maybe next summer . . . !!
I do admit to over the years having totally junk-food dinners once or twice a year -- like finishing up Thanksgiving pies and ice cream. You know, pumpkin is VERY nutritious, and ice cream is DAIRY!! The kids are always like, "No - you're kidding -- REALLY!?!?" We so rarely have junk food or soda in the house, I figure -- like Renee said -- I just want things to be fun around here sometimes!!
Posted by: Ellen | October 17, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Best idea ever, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kari | October 17, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Super cool idea!!! Totally gonna steal it!! hehehe:)
Posted by: Tabitha | October 17, 2007 at 05:15 PM
I love it!! We will definitely be making some of our own PAJAMA RIDE memories!
Blessings,
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | October 17, 2007 at 06:10 PM
SO great! I can't wait to do this...
Posted by: Karyn Norris | October 17, 2007 at 08:11 PM
I would love to start a fun tradition like this! It is so much more exciting than a pizzza picnic in the playroom! (I know, I'm boring!) I'll have to think of an alternative - our sidewalks roll up after 5 pm around here. I guess slushies at the gas station? But it's not about the food, is it?
You really are lots of fun!
Posted by: Bobbie-Jo | October 18, 2007 at 12:00 PM
That's so much fun! I'm going to try to remember that one.
Posted by: Anna Quigley | October 19, 2007 at 08:26 PM
Renee, We have been praying for you constantly and just so excited for your new additions and Can't wait to meet them. Erik said "I am only used to the black Mordecai not the other black people" so I guess we will have to tell him that Avi is black too =) I am nervous and excited for you. God Bless your Family. Carolynn
Posted by: Carolynn Slocum | October 20, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Great idea, we will definitely do this next week! Last summer we got the tail end of a hurricane from America (we live in Ireland) and so at 10 o clock at night we got Sean (9) out of bed, put on boots and dressing gown and took him out to Blackrock (small fishing village) to watch the huge waves beat against the wall!!! We had a fantastic night pushing against the wind, counting the fallen trees and branches on the road etc. The wind was wild but warm and we didn't get back to bed until almost 12. I even met two of my brothers out there... That's the cool thing about home schooling, you can have a lie in whenever you want!!!
Posted by: Ruth MacCarthaigh | November 24, 2007 at 11:29 AM