Night time.

I would like to quickly dedicate this post to the late-night adventures that, as a Houghton, I have come to love and cherish.  Now, I know that in D&C 88:124, we are told that we're supposed to be in bed early, and that we'll be blessed by doing this, and by rising early.  Well, we've got half of that.  During the school year, Tess, Marta, Luke, Mom, and Dad all rise at 5:00 a.m.!  Seminary starts at 5:55, so we actually leave the house while it's still dark outside, every morning.  We usually get home after dark too, around 7-8 o'clock.  Do you have any idea how depressing it is to only see one's house in daylight for 2 days a week?  Enough about the teenagers though.  The rest of the house is bustling as soon as the sun goes down.

Homework is a popular occupation for the evenings these days, and Mom and Dad know that between Facebook and online course-work, the kids will demand priority on the computers from about 8-11.  Usually, the house is quiet by about 11, but occasionally the homework festivities continue past midnight.  It's surprising how much sleep you can live without!  Mom shows us all up by making breakfast and lunches every morning, with a smile on her face (although the bags under her eyes give away her tiredness).  Most of us kids are a bit grouchy by the end of the week, and it takes all of Mom's peace-making skills to keep us from biting each other's heads off at the breakfast table.  Of course, the morning is the hardest part of the day.

One of the traditions that I hope will always remain in the Houghton family, is that of Sunday family games and activities!  Usually, we convene for Family Council on Sundays at about 8.  All of the kids complain, and we all wind up sitting around the living room discussing the week ahead.  Every week, Dad starts the meeting off with "alright, we've got another really busy week ahead of us..." the kids respond "yes Dad, every week is really busy."  After much discussion (about who's giving who rides, and where so-and-so needs to be on which day, and who's got what meetings and where, and who's going to be too busy to help with dinner on one night, etc) we usually beg some dessert from Mom and Dad.  They give in, and then we're all wound up, so we have family games!!!!  In the past we have had family ping-pong tournaments, rounds of The Great Dalmuti, hide-and-go-seek in the dark, star gazing/family wrestling time, run-up-and-down-the-stairs-chasing-each-other-around-the-house-time, family chat time, etc.  It's pretty much amazing.  All of it.  I think some of my favorite memories with the whole family have been these times when it's dark outside, and we are inside talking and laughing and singing and tackling and just having a really good time.

So basically the "after-hours" at the Houghton house are the best.  I love my family, and whether we're helping do dishes, or frantically doing homework, or grouching at each other in the morning, we have a blast when it's dark outside.

Love, Marta

P.S. it's 11:00