I’m in Houston for the weekend, watching my niece (5) and two nephews (6 and 7)* while my brother and his wife are away for the weekend at a military ball — a much deserved and needed weekend without the kids for them.

Meanwhile, I’m having a blast playing video games with my nephews (my wife won’t let me have a game console at home) and ordering pizza for dinner (something my wife and I haven’t done in more than a year).

I started getting them ready for bed around 9:00 p.m. — after three baths, 3 tuck-ins, 3 “Uncle Robbie, I’m thirsty’s”, and one asthma treatment — I finally got them all down around 10:30. I  can’t remember the last time I was this exhausted.

My brother and sister-in-law will be home in the morning, and I get to head to Reliant Stadium to watch the Houston Texans beat the Buffalo Bills.

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*Step-ladder children are a common thing in our family (1 child per year). My brothers and sisters’ current ages: Myra (40), Rita (39), me (38), Randy (37), and Marty (36).

My mom is one of 12 children, all of whom were born in a 12 year period (the first two were twins).