Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn (that you went to bed tonight smelling like pee).

There's always tomorrow for baths, and then more pee opportunities anyway, right?

I have these blog entries swirling in my head, covering the ins and outs of our homeschool decision and action plan, as well as something or other about grocery bills and finances and the market, oh my.  But alas, my three chidren woke at 5:46am today and wouldn't you know it's Turn Off The TV week for KJ's school, making for a loooong day.  (Seriously, the kid gets a Dairy Queen Blizzard if he clocks no minutes of television in the next five days.  Dare I offer to buy him two blizzards if I can just get one hour of quiet?)

Also something terrible happened to our baby swing early last week, which translates to It No Longer Goes, and therefore my daughter has decided that her only happiness shall henceforth be my arms, swinging her like a worn out mama ape all the livelong day.  And night.

 

We finally made it into nice weather last week, which brought opportunities for a couple outdoor playdates as well as a trip to (say it with me) the zoooo.  Those be my children, absolutely mortified of the roaring Brontosaurus in the background there, as if I don't have to remind them to stop talking about Bionicles and Transformers blasting each others' heads off every five minutes at home.  Needless to say we steered clear of the life sized T-Rex exhibit.

We do well with downed trees, though.

Quick! (Before they dump her!) Baby's first slide!

I keep wondering, with each fun Spring day we conquer, if I will continue to be this tired at the end of each outing.  Running around with three young children is much like the longest roller coaster ride of your life.  Thrilling! Exciting! Totally fun! Sometimes makes you vomit! Aaaaaaand okay that's enough let's take a break from this ride, no?  Everybody wants to go upside down again?  Really?  Eh.

I honestly wouldn't have it any other way, in that being out, happy and free is our way, for sure, but most days the work that goes into occupying, teaching, feeding, bathing and constantly corralling three children continues to slay me.  I have learned to let go of luxuries such as commenting on blogs, leaving the house in spit-up-free clothing and keeping up with housework on floors that are not the main level...for now.  So they'll have the same sets of sheets on their beds until they are twelve, nine and six.  At least they're matchy, no? 

Also, I am learning to let them move at their individual paces during the day, which is how this happens...

The boy woke up twenty minutes into dinner, peed head to toe (and managed to pee on two! stairs,) went straight into pajamas, no bath, but happily ate a pound of broccoli.  Lose, win, yes?  His sister also pooped something fierce moments after the soaking scene, hearing that I didn't really care to eat anyway.  Ask me why I haven't dieted in a month, and why peanut butter slathered kaiser rolls are my late-night companion. 

Rounding out the week, Kevin took KJ and Jack to the annual Notre Dame Blue and Gold Game on Saturday (as well as for a drive into Michigan and then an impromptu trip to the beach, where Jack announced that the best part of the whole day was The Pop! that he drank back at the stadium.) 

This?  Gave Marin and I the day to slip away, ourselves -- for baby day with our Indianapolis pals.

Kara and Marin, sixteen and seven months respectively, are a laugh a minute together.  They squealed at each other, happily rolled around on the floor all afternoon and showed sure signs for being future BFF's. 

I also got in good quality snuggle time with my sweet little godson Nathan, who was both confused and nervous about all of the high-pitched squealing, giggling and baby tackling.  Where were the Bionicle Brothers, he wondered.  (Drinking pop, that's where.)

Spit-up covered roller coaster ride indeed.  But crazy fun, no?

Comments

[Jen L.]

Great post! I'm so glad you got to go visit Frema. Kara and Marin looks so sweet playing together. Girl, I don't know how you do it. It takes me 3 or 4 tries to leave the house with ONE child most days. I don't know if I'd ever actually make it to the car with three! Glad you're getting to enjoy the lovely springtime.

[Laylabean]

Dan and I are always kind of stupidly proud when we can get one of the kids so tired they fall asleep in random locations like Jack did. It makes us feel like we're winning...at least for a little while.

[Frema]

Crazy, indeed! We had so much fun with the Lost A Sock girls. Kara and Marin can be BFFs and Marin and Nathan can get married. You do know it's tradition for the bride's family to pay for the wedding, right? :)

[Amy W]

I really, really want to hear about homeschooling!

And I am now on week number 6 of spending $75 or less at the grocery store. WAHOO!

[AJU5's Mom]

I am also impressed with you getting out so much with three kids. One is hard enough these days!

Marin and Kara are very cute. And I have to laugh at Frema's comment. She is a smart woman :)

[H]

Oh the kids are all so adorable, but doesn't Marin have this amazing little wise look about her? She knows the secrets of life, I tell you...what a cutie!

[rkmama]

I have selfishly tried to get my kids to pass out from exhaustion so I can get those ridiculously cute pictures but they just end up turning on me, in a scary sort of way- like I'm gonna lay you in your bed and ever so slowly back out of the room now...
Oh that last picture- so many babies! You gals are making my ovaries flare up again. Knock it off.

[HollowSquirrel]

Oooh I loved this post and the pictures and the ridiculous amount of cute. CUTECUTECUTE. ACK the cute.