How to Break That Leaving the House Inertia

The other day, a Saturday, we couldn't figure out what to do. We were all sort of restively wandering around the house--starting projects with blocks and legos (the children) folding laundry, (me). Doing something in the kitchen (my husband.)
Finally we decided we had to get out of the house, at which point we all fell into that leaving the house confusion/inertia that always seems to set in the second we make a decision. Liam picked up a book and began to read. I couldn't find my glasses. Tommy decided it looked like rain and he needed to put a tarp over something. Dawson had the devil in him, and was just wandering around pulling things off shelves.
"Okay," I said. "That's it. Everyone get into the car, now, I don't care what you're wearing or if we forget the library books. Just go."
"I don't have shoes," said Liam.
"Go upstairs and find them," I said.
Liam went upstairs. Five minutes went by. When I went upstairs, Liam was making a cat trap out of blocks.
"Liam!" I said. "Put on your shoes!"
Dawson, who had come up the stairs with me, went into my room where he found a shoebox under my dresser full of stockings that he began throwing over his shoulder as fast as he could.

“What the??!” I said. “Oh my God! Dawson, what are you doing? What has gotten into you?"
“That’s a dollar,” my husband said.
“What?” I said.
“Every time the kids say oh my God I make them pay me a dollar,” Tommy said. "Plus you swore earlier, so that's two dollars."
“I am not giving you a dollar,” I said. “Did you see what Dawson just did? He was like a crazy person.”
“Two dollars,” said my husband.
“Ooooh,” said Liam. “Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Mommy owes Daddy two dollars. You need to give me two dollars, too, Mommy!”
“Yay!” said Dawson. “Give us all your money!”
“I am not giving anyone any goddamn money,” I said.
“That’s three dollars,” said my husband, calmly holding out his hand. I gave him three dollars.
“I’ll get you for this,” I said under my breath.
“Guess you won’t have enough for a cappuccino tomorrow,” he said happily, putting his wallet in his pocket. Then they all went out to the car and buckled themselves in, easy as you please.

This is the trouble with having rules in the house--I keep breaking them. Like pick up after yourself or don’t watch more than an hour of TV a day. No sneaking peaks at True Blood in the afternoon, when you should be writing. Don't swear.

But at least now we know what to do next time we're having a hard time leaving the house. Get Mommy to swear. Then everyone has a little money to buy ice cream.