New approach.

the ratties are finally going to have to learn to listen.
lately whenever they've done something they shouldn't (usually it's just things like going too far in the apartment like the dining room or the hallway) I've picked them up and put them back in the cage.
they go nuts in the cage cause they want to come back out so bad but I can't let them out when I know they're just gonna do it again. in the lack of a better phrase - they are going to make me their bitch if I let them back out now.
so they are just going to have to calm down and then I'll let them out later tonight.
I'm cleaning the cage tonight anyways so no matter what they're still coming out at some point.

I gave them some grapes last night. Garbo went inside of my sleeve and started munching on the grape. they both decided that my sleeve was a fun place to hang out and crawled in there. having a rat in your sleeve on a cold day sure warms a little :D

now I'm gonna go see if they've calmed down a little.