What a day!

"You still love me, Right?"

Kannon started teaching class again this week. That means he is gone 2 nights of the week. Two nights where it's just me and the kids. And, remember, it's just me and the kids all day every day. Now, we're adding in some night time, too. I know a lot of mom's do this everyday, all day AND night. I've done this off and on for the past 9 years, too. It's doable, just not easy.

Joshua has been a different sort of kid the last few weeks. Sleeping easier (like falling asleep at church!) and wanting to be held a lot, picky about food and not wanting to go to the gym. I wondered if he wasn't feeling well, or going through a growth.....something! Well, the old Joshua was back in full force today, and I'm not sure he had been missed.

The first half of the day went fine. It was the second half that threw me for a loop.

Now, I have to say that I've been in a kind of "funk" - the kind that doesn't let me do any work around here. I've kept up on the laundry and the dishes haven't been to bad, but you should (not) see my floors! Instead of getting the broom out this morning, I put my shoes on! Granted, it did rain yesterday. AND, the weather's been nicer, so the kids are in and out a lot more. And Joshua is in and out and in and out, with shoes on and then off! I've been "blessed" with excuses for not getting the floors cleaned. Tuesday, I had to get Sarah from school because she didn't feel well. Then I took her back to school because it was just gas. Wednesday, I had to take Ben his inhaler because he was having bronchial spasms. I stopped there on my way to doing some grocery shopping that had to be done and I stopped again on my way back home. Today, I thought, for sure the floors will be getting cleaned. I put Joshua in front of the Backyardigans and started on the dishes. Then a phone call from a needing friend. "Can you watch my 2 boys?" Sure! What better excuse, than that there were 3 little boys running in and out and in and out all day! Which is exactly what happened. Oh well, the floors will still be there tomorrow.

And where was I? Oh, right here at the computer.....blogging of course (and checking email, facebook, and pinterest!) But, that was okay. The boys were all great. Sarah even got in on the fun when she came home from school. I did have to bring Joshua in one time for a quick shower, though. What? A shower in the middle of the day? -Of course, don't you do that, too? No? Well, how about when they find a wheelbarrow full of muddy water? Oh yeah.

We had to pick up Ben for dance at 4 pm. I took the boys back to their house after that. I was back home by 4:30. Joshua went to bed at 7:30. After all, he didn't get a nap, what with those fun boys being here. (I really am glad he got to have so much fun with those boys.)

In those three hours he got into the ice cream (which is for Ben's ice cream cake!) - TWICE!

I peeled an egg for him. He got another egg, peeled it, and added that second yolk to the yolk from the first egg - smashed all over my couch.

He ate 2 cheese sticks. A couple handfuls of fritos. And then when I sat him down for dinner of waffles (yes, that's how I roll when my husband isn't home) he wasn't really hungry. Go figure. He threw one bite on the floor and I ended up taking the plate away and sending him off for a bath. Now, Kannon won't give him baths. He always makes a mess. But, he's 2 and he prefers baths over showers. I decided to let him have a bath. Sigh. He throws the non-slip mat on the floor. He finds a cup and pours water out of the tub, onto the floor. He throws toys on the floor - they're full of water, too. So, out he goes. Soon, I find him at the table eating peanut butter with a spoon. Seriously?

It's only been a few hours, but I can no longer remember the exact "straw" that "broke the camel's back". I just remember grabbing him and saying, "that's IT! You're going to bed, NOW!" I got him his milk, his blanket. I lay in his bed with him and stroked his face while I sang, "I kneel to Pray", and I adored his beautiful little boy face. His long eyelashes, his full lips, even the smudges under his nose and around his lips. Peanut butter? Maybe. Doesn't really matter. He'll be dreaming of dirt, scooters, friends and food......all......night......long. And tomorrow we'll start all over again. And that's okay. Sometimes it's good to be a mom.
No, sometimes it's Great!