oh em geez, I'm tired.

I just looked at the clock in Ro's nursery as I was putting her down for the night. It said 7:06 and I thought for sure it was wrong... It must be hours off. It cannot only be 7 pm. But I've checked several others since and it really truly is. oh boy. it's been a doozy and Aaron won't be home for a few more hours. But overall, it's been a good kind of exhausting day.

I woke up with an empty tank of gas. The school is only 7 miles away and I could probably make it there, but I didn't want to be stuck on the side of the road with a van full of kids. I texted Kate to see if she could switch carpool with me. She's cool like that. The boys wanted to ride their scooters to the "bus stop". There is a busy road to cross so I followed them there to make sure they made it safely. I laughed the whole way because I was sure I looked like a predator in my passenger van.. going 3 miles an hour on the side of the road, stalking three little boys.

After spending $105 in gas and getting our pantry stocked with cereal, I spent the afternoon organizing a bunch of junk. My house is full of random things everywhere and I feel like I am drowning in the chaos. But today I helped dig myself out of the majority of the mess. Amazing that it's only takes a couple of hours to turn your life around.. but for me, a couple of quiet hours don't usually come consecutively.

I picked up carpool and there's no downside to driving out to Blue Diamond. It's beautiful, wild donkeys and all. Jane and her mom were there hanging out at the park too. Jane's mom is named Bev and she reminds me of my sweet mom named Bev. I love me some good grandma/mom talk! I am getting anxious to see my own mom!!! After playing at the park for a bit and getting candy at the post office, I filled my van with 14 hot & sweaty kids. Not a single free seat belt. I have to turn up the music LOUD to stay in a good mood for the entire drive home.

We went to the library after school and on the way in, an older lady stopped to ask me if I was voting for Obama. We had a short conversation and when I was finished, I looked at my older boys and saw they each had these scary/demon-like grins on their faces. I busted up laughing and asked them what was going on. We have a vacation countdown chain where each day we do an "activity".. it's basically some kind of chore to get ready for our trip. Today the link said, "Smile at a stranger" (I had a hard time coming up with enough things to do, okay?) Anyway, they all made sure to SMILE at this poor old lady outside the library... still laughing about their psycho grins.. I need to get a picture of Zack's snarl. that kid.

The boys set the table for dinner, but before it was ready, they had a few minutes to kill. So, they had a dance party in the living room with their shirts over their heads. I was giggling because they couldn't see each other.. and also, the television was pulled out (I found our missing library CD underneath it, but didn't have the strength to push it back in it's place. I will put Aaron to work the minute he walks through the door.) The vacuum was also out because I made the boys suck up all the dirt and dust behind the TV. I took a video to capture the chaos... baby covered in broccoli screaming in her high chair + Simon hitting everyone with a balloon + sweet dance moves by the boys = my reality. We know how to Get Jiggy Wit It.

During dinner, I cracked open our first bottle of canned peaches. They tasted better than dessert. Ben was gobbling them down and Luke turned to him and said, "I know they are delicious and all, but could you please stop making those noises while you eat them?" Funniest comment of the night, for sure. Ben literally groans and moans when he's eating/drinking... especially if it tastes good. Hilarious.

Simon and I had a good conversation earlier too-- (copied from my facebook status)

Me: why are you putting your socks in the freezer?
Simon: Cuz they gots to get freezed.
Me: No. The freezer is only for food.
Simon: but mom! They are making my feet too hot!

He is such a bossypants lately. After dinner, he was ready to get out of the bath/kitchen sink and said, "Get me a towel! I am really, really, really naked." I told him I would get a towel if he would talk nicer to me and he said, "Well, I AM super, super wet." not just wet. super, super wet. I should discipline him for being so direct all the time, but I can't. I admire it and basically think he's awesome.

** had to take a break to read to the boys and put them to bed. I need to shut this thing off and get my beauty rest while I can. I am not just tired, I am super, super tired. It's 9 PM and in exhausted mom hours, 9 PM is equivalent to 3 AM in the single, carefree world.

Keep on keepin' on.