Because this sounded to interesting to pass up… I am going for it. This was my last week because it was bound to be way more interesting than this week!
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The week and morning started off with M's birthday and pumpkin muffins. I usually make breakfast on special occasions and I knew M would love the muffins. Thanks Trader Joes, we are hooked. I also sent some in for a treat at snack.
Speaking of birthdays… After breakfast the girls had to color a card for their cousin's birthday. They colored it so much I think the words were barely readable. E specifically used black over them… Go figure. I'm sure there were some screams throughout this process followed by some threats from me that it would be taken away whether it was finished or not.
Yes the girls are wearing matching shirts. They love to match each other. And it is easier when R cannot decide was to wear… Whatever E is wearing is a super easy 'suggestion'
E attempted to color out the pink cupcakes because boys don't like pink. See why I love my kids?
I got my nails done for a work trip… not their normal state
Okay, I'm not going to gloss over the 'real' stuff. And maybe I'll hear it from Lee over the next week but here's the real deal messy parts of my motherhood. Everyone has different messes… No need to be ashamed of them. Just embrace them and try and tidy them up... eventually.
That would be 4 winter coats - it is cold when we leave for preschool and warmish when I pick them up; 2 tote bags, a book bag and a show-and-tell item. It's a good day when all this stuff is:
1. Unloaded from the van
2. Cups and containers are put in dishwasher
3. Bags and coats are hung up
E is unhappy about not having a 'booster' seat like her friends...
The van.. crumbs, books, soccer cones, hangers… The works
The birthday girl!
Here's another self-proclaimed thing that would make my life easier at lunchtime:
1. Dishwasher unloaded - Papa usually does this but he was out of town (more on that tomorrow)
2. Breakfast dishes off table and table wiped off
3. Breakfast dishes in dishwasher (I jest, I know!)
Yeah… A stitch in time? I need improvement
Indeed...
New birthday gifts everyone is enjoying {litters the floor}
Oh the lunchtime crunch time. We get home late (for toddlers/preschoolers) to eat lunch so people are usually tired and whiney and complainy… And if I'm hungry, I am too. Cheese sticks pacify many...
90 seconds later… Lunch
I usually peddle around the house… Usually cleaning up and putting stuff away while lunch is happening. I do enjoying sitting down occasionally but usually someone needs a refill or more Honey Mustard or their fruit or this or that - then it is usually NOT WORTH IT!
On this day I emptied the trunk - of Lee's project courtesy of my boss who is a serious gardener and is sharing the wealth of his yard!
R and M go down for a rest… Finally. It is one of the better moments of the afternoon because a lot of the noise has been cut. I didn't get around to all my wash and M's clothes had to be washed so I broke with my rule and ran her clothes because I thought she needed pjs. Turns out Grammy had washed the 2 pairs that went to her house the week before and since I hadn't unloaded that bag, I had a stash I found at bedtime. Hence M's clothes lived in the dryer for at least 2 days.
E wants to FaceTime Papa who just arrived in Ohio… but that didn't he couldn't : (
Little girls asleep? E gets her markers and workbook or in this case she did her homework. Which consisted of writing a letter upper and lowercase several times.
Oh and the school papers. I could use a good organizational system for them. I'll take pictures of their art once a week but each day there is a plethora of papers.
Home office? Oh yeah I did I mention I work from home in the afternoons.. Yeah. This is it people.
Checking on the sweet sleepers is interrupted by a call from work...
After rest we race to get ready for soccer practice. Daylight savings messed our schedule up so we were practicing early and M had to come because Papa wasn't home… Yes they are matching again.
See I was there too...
It was cold but M was distracted enough by a kind mom who kept feeding her puffs and bananas.
Against my better judgement we hit up the playground for a moment. The girls had fun so I do take that into account when making decisions like "Should we go because we have not eaten in 5 hrs or should we stay for a few minutes and play?" I kinda paid for it. But listening to them cackle was worth it.
Fun times in the swing
R still likes the bebe swing
Melting down on the way to the car...
But I stopped to enjoy the colorful sky...
As soon as we get home, everyone was hungry and whiney. I have found that when there is whining and screaming, I tend to get flustered and yell and have a short(er) temper. Though I have significantly cut my yelling down but there is always room to improve. It is just interesting in retrospect… I can almost tell when I am going to get upset by what else is going on in the house.
ANYWAYS… I've got the best husband. He cooks. He cooks ALOT. I cook out of necessity. What kind of husband do you know who will cook an entire extra meal (on top of the birthday one he was cooking at the same time for M's party yesterday) for when he's not going to be home for dinner?Congratulations… You can meet one. MINE!
After dinner it was the dreaded bath night. Lee and I are very grateful for non-bath nights. But bath night alone - it's comical. Well here's how it goes…
E finishes dinner so I turn on the shower for her and she gets going. R is lingering finishing dinner and eventually dessert. M and I head to the laundry sink because - 3rd children over the age of 1 routinely get bathed in the sink still, right? R finishes and demands to get down. M is in her room having finished her bath. R goes into the bathroom for a shower (sticky, dirty fingers and all). Get M dressed enough to get by because the shower is calling. Plop her in big girls room with Legos because… Well you know that's how we do.
E and R finally get showered… Baths take entirely too long and there are way more interesting things to do than take baths, so showers it usually is unless we are looking to kill time. At one point before all pajamas were on, all the girls were screaming over something... but I took a deep breathe and held it together.
Story time in Mama and Papa's bed. All is well. The sunglasses? Yeah I have no idea...
This is what awaits me at 7:40 after books have been read, prayers have been said, and squeezes have been given. It's kind of a bummer but then I think of all the single parents or tag-team parents who do nights like this all the time. Whining stopped.
Yes the muffin tray has still not been washed since this morning. I have a method for cleaning the kitchen. Load dishwasher as I go. Take time to stake out where other items that are out will go. Clean off table - because at least I can see the progress. Completely load dishwasher with anything that can be fit. Wash anything that could not be utterly squeezed into dishwasher - Lee thinks I'm crazy. Spray surfaces. Clean slate for the morning.
E camped out in our bed because R was losing it over something or she was screaming for some reason - which is uncommon. Usually there is choir practice or reading or something going on between the sisters for a good time before they drift off... Daylights saving is messing with their minds!
Then I crank out a birthday post for M because even 3rd children deserve a 1st birthday post : )
That's all I have for that day.
Welcome to my world
