Mommy Dearest

I love these journals. And I love your comments! It's nice to reflect back on the things I've been through the past year, and continue to add to all the drama whenever possible. :)

This past and upcoming week are crazy hectic for me! I got asked by a lady at church (that I'd never met before) to keep her 3 kids for 5 days while her and her husband were in China. Well sure....no problem! An 8-year old and twin 5-year olds. They live in this unbelievably big house on the other side of town....in the midst of a golf course and lake. This was going to be fun! Well...most of it, anyway. It's definitely interesting playing "mom". I get the kids up and ready for school at 6:30am (whew...early!), making sure I get Kaitlyn's hair fixed, all the kids their vitamins, and snacks ready for school before they catch the bus at 7:10. Then I'm free again until the mass chaos begins at 3:00pm. Literally...mass chaos. The second they arrive home, I'm signing homework papers, changing Kaitlyn into her ballet outfit, Hunter into his baseball uniform, and trying to keep poor Cody from starving too death. Then we all jump in the suburban and head to Kaitlyn's ballet recital. The boys don't want to stay and watch her, but we don't have enough time to go to the library or park and head back. It's too far away. So instead we take a video to watch in the car while we wait for Kaitlyn. Minutes into ballet practice being over, clothes are flying in the car as Kaitlyn changes back into regular clothes as we drive to the OTHER side of town for Hunter's baseball game. What about dinner? No...I haven't forgotten! A few hotdogs and snowcones at the baseball field tide us over until we're able to make it home and have a real meal. Here I am...in the baseball stands...cheering for an 8-year old that I didn't know 2 days before....as though he's my own! Meanwhile, trying to keep two 5-year olds in eyesight, so they don't run off without me not noticing. Game is over, and everyone piles into the suburban again. The ride home is full of whining and arguing...as it's past their bedtime. But we still have baths to take. Yippee! Just when I think the night is winding down, an argument begins about who is going to sleep with who. In an attempt to be fair, I create a schedule for the following 5 nights I'm going to be there to appease everyone. Ahhh...quiet, at last. Hunter told me before he went to sleep "The first day went exactly like I thought it would. You did alright, but you'll learn as you go!" Hahaha! Thanks, Hunter!! (pictures of the little darlings to come)

I went immediately from keeping the 3 little munchkins, to house-sitting/teen-sitting for another family at church. The parents went to look for a house in Georgia, and I spent the weekend with their two teenage daughters, 5 pets, and quiet house. Just for the record...all this doesn't mean I took time off of work. I worked every day this weekend, as a matter of fact! But this morning at church was a nice break, and we took some pictures together before heading to service. I've been promising to post pictures of my car....so here you have it! I've been driving it for almost 3 weeks now....it's quite nice. I let the girls have a friend stay the night last night....so here is the 4 of us wasting some time in my car before church (we were a surprising 25 minutes early!). At church, I got asked to teach the 2-4 year old bible class on Wednesday nights for the summer. I gladly accepted...but now hope I'm not taking on too much!!

I work a double tomorrow (11am-10pm), then get the 3 kids again for 3 more days (their grandmother had them over the weekend). Then...HOPEFULLY....my sister will be here on Friday! She's supposed to fly in from Germany with Eric. It sure will be nice to take a break and enjoy their company!