Kid-tastrophe

We have this wonderful finished basement (done before we got here) which is now mainly the boys play room. When they're down there, they pretty much occupy themselves, and I take the opportunity to take care of other stuff (i.e. I don't hang out down there with them).

Today (as I was preparing to mop the kitchen floor), Quinn came up covered in marker. I wasn't initially worried, b/c he likes to color on himself. When I asked if he'd colored on anything else, he tossed the markers to me and ran away. I called down to Jacob & asked if Quinn had colored on anything else ... to which I hear "Yeah mom. He colored on EVERYTHING. The walls, the t.v. the door ..."

I bolt downstairs, to find that Jacob was not exaggerating. He colored on EVERYTHING. This kid is 3 1/2 ... he knows better. I made them both help clean it up -- Jacob should have reported it, IMO. They aren't allowed in the playroom for the rest of the day (more punishment for me than them ...) The worst part is ... it won't all come off. Even with the "magic eraser". The green marker came off, but not the purple. DH is out of town until Saturday afternoon, and I'm trying to figure out if I can get the whole basement painted before he comes home.

[Sheherezade]

Call Kris. :> She's the painter round here.

That is so awful. Another lesson in "when they are quiet....something is wrong!". Good luck with cleaning it up.

[PrincessFiona]

Call Kris. :> She's the painter round here.

ummm, yah...call ME because I'm the expert around here



But speaking from personal experience, I'd say that if the magic eraser didn't do it you have to take the cleaning to...the next level....yep...goo gone or one of it's associates like goof off.

If that doesn't do the trick, I'll come help you paint..or..maybe you'd be better off having your boys do the painting! :>

kris

[Stella]

Try Oxi-Clean!

[ellie]

Wow, Jenn...I wish there was some magic cleaning solution I could send your way. We've also had trouble cleaning up purple marker in the past, too. It seems like purple has a higher saturation or something.

Just keep remembering, "you're the most beautifuler mama in all the galaxy."

Oh dear, that really stinks. Once the Magic Eraser doesn't work, I'm stumped.

Kris, looks like you have a painting gig!

Just keep remembering, "you're the most beautifuler mama in all the galaxy."

I second that!

Ahhh ... reminding me of the "beautifuler mama" line helped (even though it was the other kid that said it).

I just found more.

I asked Quinn why he colored on the walls, and he said it was b/c he wanted to "paint our house a different color" so I'm holding Kris personally responsible.

Thank God he didn't try to "re-paint" one of the rooms we just paid to have painted.

I'll check the crayola site. Thanks for the reminder.

[Meenah]

Oh my!! You really must write a book.

[MissCrabette]

Oh Jenn, these are stories you'll be able to tell people for years to come. Life would be too boring without them. You should make a note to disclose all these cute little stories to your sons' SOs one day.

nope. still trying to choose a paint color.

[KCwife]

You could always leave DH with the kids when he gets back...and come home SHOCKED that HE would allow the kids to use markers unattended.