Two babies, one swing? No problem.

Stitches

A few weeks ago, Girlie was dancing in the shower, because hey, why not?
 

Then she slipped and fell, but it was okay, because her chin and the shower step broke her fall. 

Yeah, there was blood everywhere.  

Once I calmed her down and peered at her chin, I knew we were spending the next few hours at the ER.  

Mission Viejo CHOC ER is FABULOUS.  I mean, if you HAVE to go to the ER.  I wouldn't recommend it for a Saturday night date or anything. 

They had a sick waiting room and a well child waiting room for Peds.  Each room was filled with books and toys and everything a six year old girl needs to forget that there is blood gushing from her chin.  The ER rooms were actual rooms with TVs and DVD players -- no rolling beds with a curtain pulled around you.  And they have a CHOC employee who's ONLY job is to talk to the kids and keep them entertained so they aren't afraid.  

Girlie loved it.  Not the blood gushing from the chin part, but all the attention.  And not having to battle her brother for the cool remote that "is attached to the bed, Mommy!"  

One Jungle Book movie, two Fancy Nancy Books, 3 hours and 4 stitches later, we were home.  

Oh, and the doctor had to ask Girlie to stop chattering so he could stitch her chin.

One of those days....

I forget sometime that I have 4 children.  (No, I don't mean that I forget children or how many I have.  I mean I forget the craziness that 4 children can be.)

I also forget that the hours between 6 and 8 pm can be rough for my kiddos. 

I forgot both of these things a few weeks ago. 

Tom was out with his friends for a guy night and I didn't feel like cooking dinner.  I did, however, realize that I needed to feed my children.  

Did I do something as simple as driving through McDonald's?  

No.  That would have been smart.  

I decided to take my kids out to dinner.  

At a restaurant.  

ALL of them.  

By myself.  

And did we just go to dinner?  

Oh no.  

We were at the mall.  

I dragged them into about 10 stores first.

So they were not in the best mood when we finally got to Ruby's.  

And as soon as we were seated, BabyGirlie decided that would be an EXCELLENT time to through a temper tantrum. 

As I was dying due to mortification (we had just ordered and I couldn't leave), everyone around us helped me out.  

The lady at the table next to us helped my kids set up their paper cars to color. 

The gentleman at the table across from us played peek a boy with BabyBug. 

I was able to calm BabyGirlie down quickly because I didn't have to worry about the other 3.  

My server brought BabyGirlie crackers to shut her up and sent the Balloon Lady over STAT.  

And as I was teary eyed, apologizing to everyone, all of them told me to stop it.

That they had been there.

That it was a family restaurant.  

That it was okay.  

My server comped two of the kids' meals.  (Sarah at Ruby's in Mission Viejo.  She's fabulous.)

As the elderly lady next to us was leaving she came over and complimented me on my children's behavior and my parenting:  "Your kids were great.  I didn't hear a peep out of them.  And kudos to you for bringing them out to dinner and making them mind."  

Maybe I'll brave a restaurant again.  

In 5-10 years. 

Wordless Wednesday: Hi-we-ing.

I Would Be Ashamed Of Myself, But....

Yeah, we all ready saw Santa.  

We wrote our letters, cut out the toys we wanted, and away we went.

 

 

Best part?  NO ONE was there.  My kids got to talk to Santa for about 25 minutes.  Girlie had a list of everything her brother has done wrong.  Boyo responded tattling on her to Santa.  And the babies would only go see him if I was in the picture too.

I'm Not Going To Be Your Brother!

The other night, Boyo and BabyGirlie were getting into it the way that only they can. 

Finally, Boyo had enough and attempted to end the argument by shouting, "I'm not going to be your brother anymore!"

At that point, I felt I had to intervene. 

They can scream at each other and hit each other with foam swords without my batting an eye, but disinheriting one another? 

Yeah, I'm not going to stand for that.

"Nope," I said firmly.  "You don't get to do that.  You two are stuck with each other."

"Fine," Boyo snapped, turning purple with rage.  "Then she doesn't get to be Anakin Skywalker anymore!"

Wordless Wednesday: My Girlie Tomboy

Happy Veteran's Day

Boyo's Map

Boyo's got plans... big plans.  

This is his map from our house to Auntie Katie and Uncle Kyle's, where - according to him -- all the kids are going to spend the night.  

He even drew a short cut. 

And him sleeping in Auntie Katie and Uncle Kyle's bed when he has a bad dream.  

And then he drew a map from Auntie Katie and Uncle Kyles to Costa Rica... because he has decided that is the next place he is going to have a sleepover with them:

At their wedding.

 

Wordless Wednesday: Sometime You Need Alone Time. In A Hamper.

Took A Day

Remember here when I said I had taken on a lot?

Well, Holy Mother of God, it all came to a head last week.

I had a crisis or situation or problem or task to deal with in every single job, task, and volunteerism that I do.

Could just one thing go right for me?

No.

And then we all got sick.

And Halloween was on Thursday.

It was not my finest week. 

How I made it though without drinking heavily, I still don't know.

So on Friday, I took a day.

Those of you who know me well know that I rarely take a day.

Sure, I'll take a day off work, but then I cram my day so full of kiddo activities, so it's not a true day.

Or I will get a sitter come in, and then sit down at my computer and work for 12 hours straight.  That is certainly not a day.

But Friday, I took a day.  It was glorious.

No work.

No playdates.

No school.

The computer went on for only a few matters that I had to clean up.

Only vital texts were sent and returned -- and the most important texts were to my husband, telling him that we loved him.

The kids and I stayed in our pajamas all day.  And we had fun.  We built.  We created.  We giggled.  We vegged in front of the TV.  We read.  We just were. 

And I realized that as much as I needed this -- they needed it more.  They needed the reminder that they are what is important -- that our family is the most important thing to me and all the other crap is secondary (hell, some of it doesn't even make the top 10, so I'm not even sure why I have to deal with it... )

So WE took a day.

We made jelly rolls for breakfast.

We made monster hats - pipe cleaners and colanders.

We colored.

We made marshmallow structures.

We ate marshmallows.

We just hung out together.  Awesome day.  Awesome.

Happy Halloween from Our Patch To Yours!