Just One of Those Days

I know all you moms have all had "just one of those days." Well, I had one yesterday. It started in the morning when I decided I'd be a really nice mom by taking my kids to the free summer movie at Lakeline Mall Theaters at 10:00. This week the movie was Shrek the Third. Before we left I had the kids help me pack water and their favorite snacks, but of course, as soon as we get there and sit down they start whining for popcorn because all the other kids have some. After we got through that argument, without buying popcorn, Karina starts begging for a booster seat. I told her they don't have those at movie theaters. Boy, was I wrong and she let me know it. She loudly proved her point by telling me and pointing at all these other kids that sure enough were sitting on booster seats. So I went outstide the theater in search of booster seats. Just as I got to where they were, another mom grabbed the very last one. Defeated, I went back into the theater to be the bearer of bad news. After that drama moment, Luke decided that he didn't like the seats because he kept slipping back in the crack so he moved over to my lap as the movie began to start. Within about 20 minutes Karina was cold and couldn't see really well so she too, sat on my lap and that's how we watched the entire movie: 2 kids on my lap, all the while getting snacks and water in and out of my bag and the kids wanting to wiggle every 2 seconds to get comfortable.

After the movie we stopped at Office Max. I needed to get 50 copies made (front and back) for work on nice, heavy cardstock. Normally, something like this takes anywhere from 5-15 minutes. For some reason though the genius at the copy station said she could have it ready for me on Friday. What? It's Tuesday! Why on earth would it take days rather than minutes to punch in "50" on the copy machine and push start? Even though I didn't want to, I told her I'd take care of it at the self serve copy machine. So, with my 2 kids that just love to be stuck in a shopping cart, I began the 10-15 minute project of copying. Luke was out of control!! I grabbed a bag of M&M's from the checkout counter and gave them to him to keep quite. That worked for about 3 minutes. So I took out some animal figures I had in my bag. That worked for about 2 mintues. I took him out of the cart (BAD MOVE) and after 1 minute he was back in kicking and screaming. I finally called Nana Wagner (thanks Mom!) and she kept him and Karina occupied on the phone for the last 5-10 minutes so I could finish the job, grab a few office supplies, and get checked out.

Then, I got loaded up and headed toward home (it's about 12:40). I had visiting teaching at 1:00 and still had to grab the message at home. I ran into the house, grabbed the message and a few snacks for the kids to tide them over until lunch and lectured them the whole way to my ladies' house about having good behavior. We got unloaded out of the car, knocked at the front door, waited...waited, knocked again, waited, called my companion. "Did you get my message earlier?" she asked. "No, but I haven't been home today" I replied. "Oh, cancelled. That's no big deal" I said and loaded my kids back into the car as I wanted to kill something. I wasn't mad at anyone-It wasn't their fault that I didn't check my message this morning. Still, a pain. I had told them earlier if they were really good at this house I'd take them to eat lunch somewhere. I just didn't have it in me now and since we didn't actually go in I wasn't lying to them right? Of course that didn't sit well with Karina so we compromised with having a friend come over and play instead.

With a friend over and Luke ready for a nap I finally had time to....work (I was planning on resting but some emails came in that needed to be addressed, and it turned into a couple hours at the computer.)

Karina came in and said "It was an accident. I really tried to clean it up" I went into the kitchen and found red and purple paint all over my wall and a few washcloths on the table covered in multi-colored paint. She did try to clean it up but instead just made a mess. Thank heavens it was washable. I just had to be careful to not take my paint off the wall as I wiped. Mission accomplished.

Dinner time. I went all out: Mac & Cheese and Chicken nuggets. Hurry kids! Swim lessons for Karina start in a half hour. We rushed out the door with swimsuits on both kids (Luke plays in the kiddie pool while she has lessons) and headed to the pool. The pool is empty, doors are locked. I'm confused. I called the community center "Cancelled" I said. "Yes, we must have done a poor job of notifying all the parents" they said. Yes, they did because at least 6 moms pulled up for swim class. I have voice mail at home so they could have left a message if they called but they just didn't even call. I'm sure all they did was notify the lifeguards and called it good. What a pain!!

Thankfully, we came home (after a stop off at a friends for a quick cupcake party for a 1 year old birthday girl) to a totally clean home! Brandon had picked up the house, including the kids' rooms, started some laundry and the dishwasher. I love you Brandon!!! Thank you, I really needed that.