Family

Yep, that’s right, there is no Day 13.

I thought about back dating one like I did two already. Except, here’s the thing. This is supposed to get me back in the habit of writing. God bless you for hanging in there.

And I did say 28 days.

And February does have 29 days.

This is very nearly the exact halfway mark. So I am giving Day 13 as my free pass.

We had a blast last night. I worked and then I came home and then we went on our monthly family fun SURPRISE night.

I’m trying to build in one surprise night a month. We don’t need one in March because we have 8 days of Spring Break. But this month, we went to TopGolf.

A family of non-golfers at TopGolf. A blast. Hysterically funny evening. Snacks and terrible golfing. Good family fun.

Today, I took almost no pictures. We did morning Valentine’s treats. Little bit got a little Simply Southern shirt and the boys got ear buds I found on Amazon for $20 that had decent ratings. They don’t need perfect sound. They just periodically want to listen to songs that we don’t all want to listen to at the same time.

Bray and I worked.

The kids stayed with my mom first and then with the nanny.

Stanley, the evil dog that eats our house, got shots and a bath at the vet, and then we picked him up.

Then I picked up salmon and a steak on a whim that I planned to serve with yummy olive bread and grilled corn.

Until.

I set the grill on fire.

Apparently, the grease trap was too full. And it set my entire gas grill into flames. I may have screamed. And Bray threw corn meal on it which did not help, but the hose did eventually put out the fire (right next to our garage).

We salvaged the food but it may not have been the best we’ve ever served.

The kids did a very weird post-dinner play for us.

And now they are showering and we’re going to read Harry Potter.

This is what Valentine’s Day looks like when you have two working parents and 10 year old triplets. Little bit set the table to make it “special.”

And it was.

I’m tired. And I’ve had two glasses of Pinot Noir that was nicer than the usual $12 bottle we have as a nightcap. So I’m going to sign off. And thank you for checking in here.

Sorry Day 13, I was living life and didn’t have time to write.

The baby threw up in class yesterday.

That’s a first for us.

So it was coin toss time to see who got today’s stay-home duty. We both had meetings, but Bray’s were big meetings in the office and mine was a continuing learning class downtown, so I drew the short straw.

But it turned out not to be a terribly short straw.

The baby had been sort of rotten Sunday and Monday so he’d spent a fair amount of time in his room. (Now I wonder if it was just the crud coming on.)

So we got some one on one time. As you know, unless it’s a mommy and me trip, there’s not a lot of one on one time in our house. I got work done I wouldn’t have otherwise had I been at the conference. I got to cook dinner early so everyone could eat before little bit’s basketball practice.

We both got to SLOW DOWN. We rested and chatted.

Then Bray got home in time for me to run to the endodontist to find out that my 20 year old root canal wasn’t faring so well and get my gums packed with antibiotics. Fun times. Next up, a crown. The kids should really become dentists.

But because I was neck deep in parenting today, not a lot of time to write. More tomorrow. Because, you know, 28 days…

The alarm sounds.

Your favorite song or an annoying siren or a duck’s quack. 

Regardless, it’s 5:30 am.  And that’s a late morning. 

You smack the alarm.  Silence.  Your mind is already spinning with what has to get done today.  So you force yourself out of bed even though you were up in the middle of the night with a coughing child. 

You walk to the bathroom.  Cold tile floor.  Only one dim light because no one needs to see that wrinkled slobber-stained face in the bright lights first thing in the morning. 

You drink a big glass of water.  A few years ago it was your health nod to hydration, precariously perched between your evening glass of wine and morning tumbler of coffee. 

List making starts. 

Lunches?  Hubby on deck, check. 

Ugh, Valentines?  You had the best of intentions to do really cute Shutterfly cards like you did that one year when they were four and you must have had supernatural energy, but you didn’t get around to it and now it meant an after work run to Target to get the dregs of the well picked over supply.  Other moms were already done and your crew hadn’t even started the V-day addressing.  Oh.  That means you need to mail grandparents goodies too.  When?  Maybe tomorrow, after the conference.

Dinner? Do we have stuff for dinner?  Yes, yes, that quick mozzarella chicken pasta recipe you found on 16 minute meals last night (who are they kidding – nothing takes only 16 minutes). Okay, so granted you were going to really try to cut carbs but pasta cooks quickly and the kids love it.  You did make a spinach salad – that must count for some sort of mom-healthy-points. 

Shower? Yes, now, hurry, you have to take someone to school early for a new activity.  Finish shower.  Dry your hair. 

Is she awake yet?  No. Go gently nudge her so as not to be the annoying parent screaming, not to mention two others get another 20 minutes of sleep.  Which they need.  Because there’s a math test today.  Oh crap, there’s a math test today.  You didn’t review them anymore last night.  Oh Lord please let their in-class math review have been enough…

In class?  Oh right, you have to get those supplies for the homeless bags they’re making.  You did the curbside Wal-Mart pick up but they were out of peanut butter crackers.  Maybe you can just stop by Randall’s and get the rest? 

Randall’s?  Oh yes, you should stop by.  Buy some flowers for the teachers.  They’re saints.  Seriously, saints with all those emotional fourth graders. 

Saints?  Remember that book you’re reading by The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu about joy?  Well, they say you are supposed to still your mind in the morning.  Quiet, focus, stillness.  And Shauna Niequist said in her book you’re reading you should start your day by going outside.  Crap, you forgot to still your mind and walk outside this morning.  Well, the dog must need to pee.  Walk out back with him and breathe in the air to squeeze it in. Grab the dog, get jumped on all the way to the back door, step outside, sheesh it’s cold and rainy. 

Oh no, it was 75 yesterday and 45 today – do the kids have clean pullovers?  Go look.  Is the laundry dry?  It’s not in there.  Maybe it’s in their room.  Ugh, the boys room smells.  Thank heavens for the maids.  Yep, there’s at least one. You don’t want them to catch cold. 

Oh mercy, everyone IS catching a cold. They need to take their cold medicine.  Do you still have cold medicine?  Yep, there it is in the kitchen cupboard.  Why is it in the kitchen cupboard?  Where is the lid?  Why is it next to the colander and why does the colander have stains on it in the cupboard? 

Is that the TIME?  The oven clock says 6:25.  HOW???  Get dressed, dry your hair, see if little one need her hair fixed.  Walk into closet.  Man that light is bright.  Stare at racks and racks of clothes.  Nothing fits.  You need to go on a diet.  Look at those cute heels.  You really don’t have the energy for heels today.  Navy flats.  What pants can you wear with navy flats that will button?  These will work.  Not cute but perfectly appropriate work pants.  Did you mention, your pants would be far more enticing if you dropped 20 pounds. 

Dressed.  Make up on.  Coffee poured.  Kids you’re leaving behind are kissed and kid you are taking is loaded.  Load the car.  Run back inside for coffee.  Say goodbye to husband. 

Drop kid.  Drive to work.  Did she pack a snack?  Did you leave the Wal-Mart supplies in the trunk?  Did you remember to take the tags off his new helmet? 

Drat. You forgot to still your mind.