A really REAL day

Why was this such a real day? Because although it was as fun as the other days it was more like what I had envisioned when Aisy asked me to come watch the kids....busy. It was probably a more typical example of what a single mother of three would regularly experience.Today started at 4a.m. Eden was up for 30 minutes and then I got her back to bed. Finn and Ashton were up and dressed at 5:30a.m. (It's as though they knew it was Mardi Gras and were psychically connected to their kid counterparts in New Oreleans). There was definately some sort of barametric shift through the night and I felt it. My eyes and body were truly not having it. E and I have been warding off a cold that finally caught us. (I've taken lots of vitamins and greens trying to keep up with these guys which probably helped but darn nonetheless). We got up and after a toy tussle between Finn and Eden, I saw 3 hours of inside "playing" looming in front of us and I shuttered. Since everyone was dressed (Eden and I having slept in our clothes) we all loaded up and went to Starbucks with some cereal bars, fruit and oatmeal and had breakfast there. Ah...my constant constant caffiene and kid-friendly haven. Having been a patron since the late nineties and being a former barista, I knew I would only find friendly, smiling faces and a warm mocha in my immediate future. Making coffee to wake up seemed an impossiblity. My early morning day dream was soon a reality. Of course, there was the usual spilled milk, kiddie chatter over who gets to push the highchair back, Finn announcing that he was leaving the building putting one foot out of the door and then bringing it back in with a smile, etc. It was at that point I realized how having Eden in a sling makes life so much easier.Overall it was a suprise to all of us to have this little hiadus so early in the morn. Eden and I grocery shopped and she took a little nap while I watched a movie and peeled our veg for dinner....what joy! Later, Finn passed out in the car after school. I carried him inside to his bed and then Ashton, Eden and I read books after a snack. The DVD player did not even come on all night!!!!!!!!!!! Usually, that is the first thing they are interested in....the change of pace was awesome. The dynamic of two kiddos was totally different than all three of them together. We definately found our evening mellow. Ashton, E and I ate together (Canned All Star Pasta and a mix of roasted root vegetables--keepin' the balance right?). Then I woke Finn up who was "hungry" but definately NOT interested in potatoes and did not want Eden to look at him. He ate none of the same stuff. Cereal was more his speed, although he also accepted Keifer, grapes and strawberries. He had a hard day, was tired, and definately was missing his mommy and daddy. In fact the night prior I had to massage the worries and lonesomeness right out of his head. He looked so peaceful to just let it all go and drift to sleep. He even told me that, "his mom is smarter than me" to which I fully agree. He had been tearful at the drop of a hat and my heart went out to him. I would have given him just about anything he wanted to eat to make him smile to which he made good choices and smiled anyway. It was pretty cool to have dinner one on one with both of these guys (of course Eden was in my lap...she dined twice in her up down style. Finn and Ashton both seemed pleased with the arrangement). Ashton fell asleep on the back of the couch while we were eating dinner so I carried her to bed. Everything was going great until, with me in the kitchen, Eden and Finn in the living room, she smacked him on the head with her kleen Kanteen sippy cup. Oh man, that sucked, had it been two days ago I am sure it would not have fazed him--I mean I watched him fall running and even have a little wreck on Ashton's bike without a wimper. Today on the other hand, if anyone looked at him "mean" he would tear. When this went down, I just took my husband's advice and focused on him rather than Eden and held him and rocked him. She got it....she watched and looked like she got it. Time to wind down, Finn picked out a movie (not too interested in books after all after a bonk). He was okay in seconds. What a little cuddler--it doesn't take much lap time with hugs and kisses to set his world right again. Five minutes later he was passed out on the couch...Eden too. Up and down the stairs....funny how they all seem pretty weightless or similar in weight anyhow. Let this be my reminder that healthy knees are essential to parenting--and, I imagine, good grandparenting--especially if you have stairs in the house between the living room and the kids bedrooms. I am going to have to spiral mine into better shape =). Oh, with such a full day, I forgot to call my buddy Beckie to tell her happy birthday. So.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....I love ya.