Keeping A Tighter Ship (It Is Okay To Make A Course Correction)

I love all of my kiddos dearly.  Love every single one of them immensely!  And I love mothering them; however, there are certain aspects of motherhood that I do not like as much as others.  Sometimes as a mom, it is okay to change up your approach too!

I tend to be a fun loving mom who is strict to some degree too.  It just depends what is involved and what is going on.  I can play and be light-hearted but I can be stern when I need to be as well.   While I desire to have my kids enjoy spending time with me, and I them as well, I do not desire that I have to be their best friend.  I just want to have a good relationship with them.

As a mom, I wear many hats and have to take various approaches on a variety of things, especially when addressing a situation or an obstacle.  Many times, I set out going one direction, but often I have to make a few course corrections to get to the desired destination--a.k.a. outcome.  Sometimes you just can't get stuck in one frame of mind or one means of an approach as a parent, especially when you have a few kiddos like myself.  You have to be willing to change things up a bit, if you are invested in your kids lives.

Don't be stubborn or fool-hearted to change up your parenting style, if what you are doing isn't working.  Take me and homework time for instance.  Just know that my least favorite time of the day, is homework time.  It can be crazy and chaotic around here.  With two girls coming home from school with homework and folders for me to go through while having an energetic and passionate 2-year-old awake and running around with an infant who is not quite on a preferred afternoon nap schedule as of yet, homework time can be a huge undertaking and sometimes overwhelming. 

Before Big Mac arrived, (Yes, he may have two nicknames on here!  The other one being Big Boy!) I approached homework a certain way.  However, as the weeks went by, that old way of doing things wasn't working anymore.  I had to switch it up for every one's sake.  Not only for mine but theirs too.  My yelling wasn't good for anyone, but near chaos wasn't good for the girls academics either.  So I had to switch things up and make things as structured as possible while being forced to be very strict.

Between 3 PM to 3:30 PM, the kids chill and enjoy a snack after school.  At 3:30 most days we start homework time with share and prayer time.  (We take the time to talk about school that day and then we pray for their school.)  After that, as the kids are sitting on the floor in front of me, I review the homework time rules and ask them questions about it.  Each child must raise their hand to be called upon.  Our rules include hands to ourselves, quiet and/or no talking, do not invade another's study space, raising hands when they need me or have a question, and answering me with a "Yes, Mom" when I give them a command or an answer so that I know that they heard me, etc.  And any infraction, like rough housing and wrestling for example, is a mandatory time out.  While in time out, if one of them as much as mutters a word, their time is extended.  I have had to send kids into time out in an instant for longer periods of  time than I ever used to imagine I would.  If someone merely shouts once during homework, they are doomed to the timeout spot without so much as a pause.  I have had to get real strict to make homework time more efficient and effective.  They get the warning at the beginning of homework time, after that I don't give any warnings.  If a rule is broken, they go straight into timeout.  I have no time for the three-strikes-your-out-system anymore, that I often found myself doing.  It wasn't working, so I had to do what it took to make things move more smoothly.

I was forced to keep a tighter ship, but that is okay.  I had to become firm, stern, and a disciplinarian during homework time.  It was sad for me at first, but I am starting to see how my kids are benefiting from it now.  I think they are respecting me more, and hence, will respect other people of authority more in the end too.  And homework time is going much better.  It took the kids about 2 to 3 weeks to get used to my stricter study time, but they have gotten used to it and homework time is going smoother. With as many kids as I have, I don't have time to fool around and handout a bunch of warnings.  They need to do what I say when I say it.  A larger family means a tighter ship with Scot and I at the helm.

Hand Soap

Yes, you read the title to this post correctly!  I am going to write a quick blurb about hand soap and how it pertains to this family.  I still have a slue of other things that I would like to write about, but this one is going to be the quickest at the moment; and I bought new hand soap yesterday morning, which just makes sense to write about it today!

So Scot and I have recently come to a conclusion about hand soap as it pertains to this family.  First, it started about 7 years ago, when Scot and I were young, new parents.  Back in those days, we barely had a dime to our name at the end of each month and after all of our bills had been paid.  We bought cheap hand soap by the bulk to save money.  As the years went by and as more kids entered the picture, we continued to purchase hand soap the same way.  However, I started to desire that someday we could have nice hand soap from Bath and Body Works.  I would go to my sisters' houses and other homes and almost be envious of their soap!  And I thought that their soap was all kinds of fancy!  LOL!  Can you believe that!

Anyways, as the years rolled by, and as Scot worked his arse off and moved up the food chain at his work to help better provide for our family, the dollar bills haven't been as hard to come by anymore.  So just about 6 months ago, I finally bought a slue of hand soap from Bath and Body Works!  Yippee!  A happy and joyous day!  I was beaming with delight!  I had always loved their kind of soap that had the granules in it.  Liked how they felt when I scrubbed my hands.  Therefore, that kind was my obvious choice for my first two sets of purchases of soap in various scents (of course!) that yours truly with her nose sniffed out!  I was on a hand soap high!  Ha Ha!

After several weeks, however, Scot and I realized that the soap with the granules in it, were not the best choice for our household and I will tell you why.  With as many people as we have washing our hands, especially that of the smaller-hand-sized variety, it would just leave all kinds of a mess in our sinks!  The pellets and granules would just stick to the base of our sinks when the kids dripped loads of hand soap all over the place.  I would constantly have to scrub the sink to get the mess left behind from my kids.  When left be, the granules would also just streak bright colors in our sinks when water would hit them as they began to dissolve.  It would just constantly leave an unsightly mess for me to clean.

So I went out yesterday, to Bath and Body Works, with the objective to still purchase my coveted scented hand soap; however, I got the foam kind instead with the hopes that there will be less mess in my sinks to clean up!

What Is Considered New?

This is the time of the year, when I start planning and purchasing clothes for the kids for warmer weather.  A few weeks ago, I started taking inventory of what the kids have to help determine what the kids need, and sometimes, perhaps, what they want.  I do this twice a year.  Once in the late summer to prep for the fall and winter, and once in late winter to help prep for the spring and summer months.  I do this so that I can start purchasing their clothes slowly over several weeks so that our wallet doesn't take a huge hit all at one time with shopping for our four kiddos.

I almost always buy each child brand new swimwear, one brand new first day of school outfit, one brand new Easter outfit as well as about two brand new pairs of shoes each weather season at least.  Everything else, however, is up for anything so to speak.  They can come home brand new from a store, especially when there is a nice deal, or used from a consignment shop (Though I have to say that I have found brand new, with tags still on, apparel from such shops for only a few bucks!), or hand-me-downs from someone else.

This year, the boys are looking like they will be getting mostly new clothes or some from that of consignment shopping.  The girls on the other hand, will becoming from hand-me-downs.  Crazy Paizy will be mostly wearing Sky Baby's old clothes (with exception to some new shoes, Easter dress and swimsuit) while Sky Baby will be pulling out her warm weather clothes from two bags of hand-me-downs that we are blessed to have received. 

This past late summer, however, during the middle of the seasonal clothes shift and school shopping, Sky Baby ended up getting some brand spanking, new outfits from the store, with more coming from a consignment shop.  Crazy Paizy, however, wasn't so lucky.  She was going to use a bunch of Sky Baby's old clothes (FYI--Since then she did get two new pairs of jeans and three sets of leggings because she managed to put holes in Sky Baby's old ones and when we saw an outfit that screamed out Crazy Paizy, we didn't hesitate to get her a new outfit too just because she is the younger sister who deserves not to always wear just her sister's old clothes).

As Sky Baby, however, was going through her new clothes and as I was washing all the various sets of clothes for the kids, poor Crazy Paizy shrugged her shoulders and said sadly, "Why don't I get new clothes?"

"The majority of Sky Baby's clothes are second hand bought at a consignment shop," I replied.  "Meaning that even though most of them came from a shop, most of them were already worn by somebody else."

Crazy Paizy looked at me.

"They are new to her and this household perhaps,  but many of Sky Baby's clothes are either from that store or from family friends." I continued,  "They are clothes that are still in great shape and we don't need to waste perfectly good clothes just for the sake of buying something new, which for us means that it has never before been worn by anyone else," I said.  "When there is a need or something stands out of the clothes rack at the store, we will buy something new; however, for the most part we get and wear what is new to us, especially for you kids who are growing quickly, and who easily spoil clothes."

She smiled.

We don't have to have the best stuff on the largest scale.  With a family of six we are flexible.  We are opened minded about the fact that kids grow fast; kids will be kids in their clothes; and we have gotten healthier financially by not just buying whatever, whenever, and for the sake of brand names.  If it looks good we get it; and it is new to us!  We do what is practical. 

You Can Make Anything A Moment

So after I wrote my last post, I did almost immediately feel bad about neglecting my boys that morning for the most part, especially that of Little Man.  They still got their snacks--all be it whether it was fruit snacks for Little Man or my breast milk for Big Boy!  And I did continue to potty train Little Man, change Big Boy's diapers, and I did get both boys dressed and such; however, I didn't spend much play time with them either that morning.  I didn't give them quiet time with me and my full attention. By the end of the morning, it truly broke my heart. 

There is a fine line between selflessness as a mom and needed my time as a mom; and I continue to struggle to find what that balance is and what it should look like. 

Anyways, right now with all my kiddos being up before the butt-crack-of-dawn lately, which causes me to have to struggle a good chunk of the morning between their needs and my need to just get dressed and presentable, it leaves me with less of a morning to do household chores like laundry and such causing me to have even less time to have one-on-one time with my kids I am afraid.  I am feeling like that there is just not enough of me to go around lately and I hate feeling that way right now.

Again, I feel like Little Man has gotten the worst end of the deal at the moment.  Over the last two years, Little Man has been shuttled to and fro to get his sisters where they have needed to be; and then with his new baby brother around and needing attention from me, I feel like Little Man isn't getting the attention that he deserves.  Scot has reminded me that I have felt this way for each child as a new baby has come along; and in the end, I will probably feel like Big Boy has been slighted when he is being shuttled around here and there, to and fro, at the expense of his siblings and their school demands and extra curricular activities.  I think through out my motherhood, I will always waffle with whom I feel is getting shafted at the time... just cause that is how I feel about things so often...

Anyways, today is about Little Man to a degree and the others in retrospect as well. 

I have come to the realization through parenting recently and trying to find time to have quiet time with Little Man in between the needs of my other children, that you can make anything a moment...

That is right.  You can create a moment of bonding in the midst of other things... anything... and stop limiting yourself to what you think those moments should look like. 

Thankfully, Little Man has a helping spirit.  He loves to help me with a variety of chores in a way that his other siblings never did or enjoyed at his age.  He is a go getter and often takes the initiative to help me.  So our quiet times have often been surrounded by a chore such as laundry and dusting.  Sometimes, I take the opportunity to talk about colors or counting as we fold laundry and such.  He gets a big smile on his face believe it or not! Earlier today, I told him that I was going to make time for him and he asked about us dusting!  Go figure!

One morning, I needed to get soup going in the crockpot; and once again, my morning was fleeting by quickly.  I asked Little Man if he wanted to help make the soup with me.  I did not realize how much he would enjoy making it and how proud he would be to serve it to everyone later on that evening.  He and I had a great experience while making the soup. 

I have found that you can make bonding moments out of anything.  Your bonding times don't have to be over play time, craft time, games or baking cookies.  You can make other times count too. 

With a family as large as mine, this has been an important aspect of parenting all of my kiddos.  I am glad to have come to this realization.  I hope it has helped you too!

Find Your Bubble Bath

A picture of me this morning after I finally got to sport my new hairstyle from five weeks ago!

This morning, I set my alarm for my usual 6 AM time.  I have done this for quite sometime now.  On days that I exercise, I get up earlier; however, that routine has been on the wayside for a bit now!  Anywhoo... I hit the snooze and promptly started to get out of bed.  I try to get up and get going before everyone else does and before everyone else needs me for this and that during the morning rush.  Getting the opportunity to at least shower before getting interrupted is important to me.  I just need a few minutes sometimes to just not get interrupted.  This plan of getting up earlier usually works, but sometimes the idea and hope bombs on me as it did this morning.

As I started to hustle myself to the bathroom through the dark room, I heard not only Big Boy stirring again for the third straight morning, but Little Man was already awake in his room for the third straight morning as well.  He calls out for Scot or myself when he wakes up, but mostly for Scot.  Knowing this and after the last two mornings of trying to get Little Man up while attempting to also take care of myself with Scot snoozing away, I decided to try to jump into the bathroom before Little Man realized I was up, especially due to the fact that lately Little Man just cries for Scot to get him up anyways, for which he usually throws a minor temper tantrum.  The last two mornings, I have left him in his room, telling him that I did not have to be treated that way and it was unacceptable and now he can wait longer to get out of his room. 

Before, I got out of my master bedroom this morning, however, Little Man somehow shouted for his dad loud enough that Scot was alerted immediately and was out of bed in a flash.  Before I realized it though, Scot not only grabbed Little Man but decided that he would just go ahead and wake up the girls too! "NO!" I whispered loudly.  "Leave them be! Their wake up time is 6:30!" I snapped.  I wanted them left be for several reasons.  The main reasons were that I did not think my school aged girls should get up earlier at the expense of their two-year-old brother and causing them less sleep for the school day ahead, and I wanted less noise as well as a greater chance to get my shower in with out interruption.  Scot had other plans though.  "I decided to get the girls up so I can feed them all at the same time.  It's okay.  Go get your shower," he said.  I objected but went on my way because honestly the thing that everyone hears me mumble under my breath in this household is, "Nobody listens to Mommy, not even Daddy." Defeated I went into the bathroom and closed the door. 

As I lathered up my hair, I heard knocking at my locked door.  I raised my voice, "Leave me be!  I can't  do anything while in here [shower]," I pleaded for peace.  What I had feared was now occurring--I was being interrupted. I heard what I believed was Crazy Paizy's squeaky voice at the other side of the door.  I pleaded with her to go get her father.  But wait her father was most likely on his porcelain throne for which is his normal morning routine.  What happens if Paizy needs to use the toilet and her dad is using the other one!  I hopped out of the shower, grabbed my towel and threw it carelessly around sopping, wet me.  I opened the door for which no one was there anymore of course, and whispered rather loudly trying to keep my shouting down as Big Boy was still in his crib for the time being, "The door is unlocked for whomever needed it opened!"

As I jumped back into the shower, I realized how much I would like a larger house with three toilets and my master bathroom being at the farthest corner of the house and from my bedroom door.  We have a realtor now and we are casually looking, but we are still not going to be able to move into a house we would like until another 8 months or a year goes by, unless we find an awesome deal before hand.  With that in mind, I also wondered how were we going to make this small house work a bit longer as everyone seems to hear everyone else as white noise and me trying to tell everyone to keep it down because somebody is sleeping, is simply not enough anymore. Anyways, I felt defeated as I got out of my interrupted shower, knowing that this is most likely how it is going to be for a bit. 

Wondering what was so important that my shower had to be interrupted, I threw my bathrobe on again and piled my white towel on top of my head and marched down the stairs and stopped on the second landing where I saw my family eating breakfast in the dining room. "Who and why was somebody knocking at my door?" I asked while placing my hands upon my hips.

They all looked up at me dumb founded and Crazy Paizy said, "It was me."

"And why?"

"I didn't know where Little Man's underwear was."

Long story but Scot had placed Little Man on the potty and sent Crazy Paizy for his underwear and when she could not find them she decided to ask me instead of Scot.

"I don't get time for me!" I exclaimed.  "I can't sleep by myself.  I can't shower by myself. I can't even poop by myself," I declared.

They all just stared at me.  I muttered it all again and headed up stairs into the bathroom.  I leaned over the sink and placed my face into my hands and thought to myself, I can't go a night with out Big Boy getting up at least twice.  I can't shower or get dressed on my own with out someone trying to come through the door. I can't poop on my own.  I can barely eat breakfast before someone needs me.  I can't even talk on the phone with out someone interrupting me.

Yep, I now understand why my mom used to hide in our garage to talk on the phone when we were growing up, and why she would snap at us when we found her.  She needed somewhere to think and somewhere where it was relatively quiet to just talk on the phone.  My problem, however, is that I don't have a garage!  I can go outside if it isn't freezing cold out, or if the bugs aren't chewing me alive when it is warm out; otherwise, all I can do is hide in my master bedroom or in one of the bathrooms.  One of my children, however, is almost always certainly at my door though.  What some of you all may not know is when a mom is on the phone, that is often a green light for kids to get loud and needy! 

I rushed around this morning trying to get myself dressed and others out the door before my boys needed me.  Even found Scot playing on his cell phone in the midst of it all.  When I entered the kitchen and noticed him, I huffed and puffed, for which he did put his phone down promptly.  I just sometimes feel like its just me and all of them, including my hubby.  I keep it all going.  I have even gotten upset that Scot can come home in the evenings and is able to take 15 minutes in the restroom when I can't even get so much as a minute to do my business with out someone needing me! I don't get time for me!

Today, I was determined to blow dry my hair thoroughly, and I did succeed!  However, it wasn't before I had the realization that it had been five weeks since I got my hair highlighted and had a few layers put in for the first time in a long time.  My hair stylist had given me a new hair-do and I hadn't even sported it once!  Not even once!  It has been five weeks since I have had my hair completely down with out it being pulled back of some kind.  I have been to church with my hair thrown back more times than I have ever done in the past!  Today, was the first time in five weeks I got to style and blow out my new hair-do!

You see, my time just isn't my time anymore and especially right now.  I love ALL of my children dearly, but I have to agree with my dad who had four kiddos of his own--having four children is a lot of work.  Gone are the days of me right now I am afraid.  It can take me days and several interruptions before I can post on one of my blogs.  It can take me 3 days some weeks just to scrap an 8x8 page, if I scrap at my house.  When one kid is quiet, another child needs me.  There is just no me time anymore.  I used to be up and dressed, including bathed, hair done and make-up applied before the kids got up.  Now I am trying to do all that with my kids awake because they are all starting to wake up during my quiet time of the day right now for some reason.  I don't get much time to exercise anymore as sleep is way more important to me and hence to the well-being of my family right now. 

You see, you have to be selfless to be a mom and especially as a mom to as many kids as I have.  Life isn't about you and your needs anymore.  You have to be totally selfless; HOWEVER, it is okay to have some selfish moments where it is about you sometimes.  It is better for you and the relationship with your kids and husband if you can find some of your my time.  Try to find a few minutes here and there to make a few things about you.  You need to and don't feel guilty about it either.  I totally understand my mom's need to have her bubble baths back in the day!  She would go running to have them too!  That was one way she found some down time, and I didn't get it until I became a mom, especially when I became a mom to four kiddos as she has been. 

Scot and I have decided that I need at least a few hours out of the week to have my bubble bath--to blow dry my hair so to speak.  Right now I scrapbook a few hours in the evening with a group of women at a church on Mondays.  I couldn't run out the door fast enough the last two weeks either.  I struggled with feeling guilty about feeling that way at first; however, it is okay to feel that way some times.  I am a mom 24/7 for the most part.  It is for their sake that I should go and enjoy.  We all need a break from each other especially as I am a stay-at-home mom.  And even when this eight week scrap time is over, I think me running to Starbucks and sitting still will be in order. 

Today, I demanded of myself to write this post, and to finally feel good about my hair, and to blow it dry, and to wear it down.  And that was okay to do and it was needed.  I needed a few minutes of my time.  To you moms out there, find your bubble bath.

Table for Six Please!

So I decided that I will share this quick blurb with you all given how I came up with the name for this blog anyways! 

Yes, we are now officially a family of six, but we had been spending quite a bit of time at home and being a table of six at home rather than out and about in the public world known as a restaurant.  We had been avoiding it with a newborn and germs; but we were also avoiding the logistics of taking two adults and four kiddos out for a meal as it did seem a little daunting to Scot and I as well.  Excluding one evening where we ate at a deli type, sandwich shop, we didn't eat out anywhere for weeks after Big Mac our Big Boy was born.  The experience that night wasn't too shabby, but it wasn't like we had a true sit down dinner in its truest form with an actual server or anything.  We still hadn't accomplished that feat and gone out someplace relatively descent just yet.

Well, after hearing the girls desiring to eat out again, and actually hearing Sky Baby blame the lack of meals out on her littlest brother (though I guess in part that was a true assessment on her part; just didn't like hearing her say it), Scot and I realized that the attempt should be made soon and well he and I were looking forward to a dinner out too with no mess to clean up as well.  So about three weeks ago, we ventured out for a family meal out complete with an actual wait staff!

We journeyed to a large store some miles away to shop and we planned to dine in at their relatively descent seafood restaurant.  Scot and I with all our kiddos in tow, headed over to the restaurant entrance and for the very first time I heard Scot say, "Table for six please." Okay, Okay, Okay he didn't quite say it like that, but I just had to type my version because of the name of my blog you know!!  LOL!  Anyways... when Scot was asked how many by the hostess, he replied something to the affect of, "Five and a half," because Big Boy was in his carrier and stroller; and therefore, we didn't need a table that actually sat six.

HOWEVER, they sat us at a table for six anyways!

As we all filed behind the hostess who led us to our table, I could see some eyes staring at us.  I know I shouldn't put thoughts in peoples heads but while some looked like they were thinking what beautiful children we had, others looked like they were thinking that we had a few too many children and that they were worried that my kids were going to ruin their meals and chatter. 

But they didn't need to worry because our kids behaved beautifully.  I mean they really did, and I am not just saying that because I am their mom!  Little Man had a few minutes of a two-year-old attitude, however, Scot took him out to take some merchandise we bought to the minivan and when they returned a short time later, our food was served.  And while we ate, we enjoyed a calm and pleasant meal as did others on our side of the dining room.  I did scarf down my shrimp pasta because Big Boy was due for a feeding at any point by the time we were seated (there was a brief wait time originally as the restaurant was busy); however, Big Boy didn't wake up for some time after we finished our dinner; and therefore, I piled pasta into my mouth quickly for nothing!

It was such a good experience and a wonderful feeling to be out and about as a table of six, officially!  I can't guarantee that calm meals out and about will be common place all of the time as Little Man had a few moments out last night, but I will enjoy the ones that do go well and I will continue to embrace my family of six!  As I type those very words, I look forward to sharing more experiences and the things that we have learned and such as a family of six.  I have so many posts I plan on writing!  If you are interested, be on the look out!

A Watched Pot Never Boils?

 

 

 

 

I preface this by the admittance that many of my posts may be about two or more weeks after the time from which I was either inspired to write, or from the time in which the event(s) occurred, as being a family of six I just have limited time to write in a timely manner anymore much less even proofread; but hopefully you will still enjoy my experiences.

 

Two weeks ago, I embarked on my first full week back in full swing as a mom of four with no meals being supplied by my church family and no actual days off for the Holidays on Scot's part anymore.  The Holidays were over and the meals were done and our regular schedule was back into full swing again.  For the most part, it was a good first week back; however, at differemt points through out a given day, I really did find myself running in circles and circles and circles.  Moments of calm were often followed by moments of absolute craziness and chaotic multi-tasking to say the least.

 

For example, one late morning that week, Little Man wanted to go outside and play in our tiny plot of land we call our backyard.  I thought that it was a perfect idea since colder temps and rain were expected the following day, and as I have learned with my crew and my rather small house, getting them outside to run off energy is VITAL!!  So I got Little Man ready to embark on his adventure outside, but I needed to stay inside with Big Boy to nurse him.  Luckily, our yard is small so I can sit from my glider in the living room and pretty much see our backyard and children with out a problem. 

 

At first, everything was going smoothly.  Little Man was playing and Big Boy was nursing and I was basking in the unsuspected ease of it all.  Then Little Man decided to become a daredevil on our play set, and so I had to quickly had to place Big Boy on the floor and run outside to address that going-ons.  Then I burped Big Boy and proceeded to nurse again when Little Man took a tumble.  I once again had to place Big Boy down and run outside.  I then came inside finished nursing Big Boy and then went to change his diaper.  Then Little Boy had another something go on and I ran back outside to just come back inside where Big Boy spat up all over himself.  Then Little Boy was crying because he couldn't get going on the swing so being a mom who wanted to let her two-year-old know that he wasn't forgotten and to give him attention, I ran back outside to push him on the swing.  As I was out there I realized that it was lunch time and ran inside to retrieve Little Man's lunch.  After I placed his lunch on the table, I cleaned up the yard quickly and retrieved Little Man, washed him up, fed him, and put him down for nap.  Then it was time to feed me and after I quickly threw food down my throat, it was time to feed Big Boy once again!

 

The depiction above was how my first week to two weeks back in the saddle have gone--a whirlwind.  The first week back, Paize's dance classes started up again.  I spent all day gearing up for this crazy outing and planned how I would approach the very busy and crazy parking lot with three kids walking and the fourth in the carrier.  I decided that in order to over come that obstacle, we would leave extra early and planned exactly where I wanted to park.  The plan started off extremely well.  At 5:15 PM, we all huddle into the van (note: our usual departure for her 5:45 PM class has  been usually 5:30 PM mind you) and we all headed down the road.  We pull in and I was able to park the van where I had planned.  We exit the vehicle and all headed to the sidewalk in the manner in which I had planned: Sky Baby and Crazy Paizy holding hands while I carried Big Boy in the carrier with my stronger right arm and held Little Man's hand with my left hand as we journeyed out of the parking lot to the sidewalk.  SPLENDID!  That too went according to plan.  The kiddos and I walked briskly down the sidewalk with Little Man trying to stray here and there from course, which I had anticipated that I would have a few course corrections with him.  We make it to the studio door, and me and my crew headed right on in.  Got Crazy Paizy in her dance shoes and looked at the clock Phew! We had just a few minutes to spare!  And then I kissed her cheek and told her I loved her and began planning our exit when they announce that today was costume fitting day.  COSTUME FITTING DAY!  How did I miss that!

 

Now my mind starts trying to figure out how to proceed on to the unexpected change of plans.  We all huddle into the studio and I quickly fitted Paize in her costume while listening to the instructions that were being given while trying to keep track of Little Man who was meandering around the room and sending Sky Baby on an occasional recognisance mission to retrieve her wondering brother.  Fitting quickly came to an end and I then kissed Paize on her cute cheek, threw her costume into Sky Baby's arms and retrieved both boys and headed out the door.  As we made it to the van, my mind was on the next task--dinner. 

 

My dinner making was now fifteen minutes behind schedule!  We pile in the front door and I start running around to make dinner--a dinner that I thought would be simple.  A dinner for which I had planned earlier in the day.  I grabbed the frozen breaded chicken and threw them in the oven, I got my frozen veggies boiling but I didn't expect Little Man and Sky Baby to be hungry and demanding snack!  I also didn't realize that by being fifteen minutes late to start my dinner meant that I would be starting dinner as Big Boy is whaling for his because he was now due!  I scoop my screaming baby into my arms and proceed to give Little Man and Sky Baby the what for as certainly couldn't they see I was trying to remedy the problem!

 

By this point, I am on mommy overload trying to do this and that with a screaming baby in my arms who needed to eat.  I shove food in a bowl for Little Man and Sky Baby because I just needed  quiet and then I seized my opportunity to feed Big Boy.  It was the perfect opportunity I thought.  I had just started the water and such boiling for my Pasta Roni (Yes, this was a meal of flexibility I had described to you in my last post!) so I grabbed my kitchen bar stool and actually started breastfeeding while sitting upon that with fourteen pound Big Boy in my arms.  If you can imagine, breastfeeding for anyone on a bar stool is not the easiest task much less for an infant the size of Big Boy!

 

I thought that sitting on the bar stool would be perfect because I would be able to feed Big Boy and keep watch over my pot of water on the stove.  However, something went wrong!  You know the saying that a watched pot never boils?  Probably, because you are impatiently waiting for it to boil that it seems forever before that pot of water comes to a boil?  Nope not in my case.  Due to the fact that I just wanted a few minutes to nurse my child and breath, I watched that pot of water come to a rolling boil in what seemed like two to three minutes!  My mouth dropped open!  I wanted more time!  I needed more time.

 

I then got up from the stool with my nursing baby and with one hand I did what I thought would be an easy task--pour the pasta from the box into the pot.  The plan went smoother in my head because the pasta came out in one messy clump.  With my free hand I went for the fork to smash the pasta down into the pot but all I ended up doing was sending dried, broken pieces of pasta into the air!  I placed Big Boy down to tackle the problem and then just started laughing.  I needed that laugh and I kept laughing.  And yes, because of the laughter it brought, I did actually take the extra minute to grab my cell phone and take a picture of the pot!