Bath Time

Bath time is our favorite time of day- hands down!  The girls love it & I need it!  From the hours of 4-8pm I feel like I am constantly going without a break.  Our evenings usually go a little like this:

The girls wake up from naps and need some mommy entertainment which means I GET to drop everything I was rushing to complete during the precious nap time. We eventually go on a walk to grab the mail which means I chase the girls around for 30 mins when it should only take a mere 7 minutes to retrieve the mail and come home.  We usually end up running around the complex, running around the sand at the pool, & THEN slowly make our way towards the apartment. I finally corral the girls in the house and think about what I should make for dinner- I feel like this takes most of my energy some days. Like seriously, didn't I JUST make lunch and clean up from that like 20 minutes ago????

So I figure out the meal & I start to cook.  Oh wait, it's not that easy.  As I start to chop up vegetables or boil the noodles, Seryn sounds like she's getting strangled in the other room so I rush to find out what Sailor is doing to her...again.  But nope, false alarm! Seryn just can't figure out how to get her shoe on, so I hurry to help her and rush back.

I pick up the knife to start chopping again and then realize Sailor is quiet, too quiet, which means I am on a mission to find out what kind of trouble she is getting into.  I put the knife down and search to find her sitting in the corner of her room attempting to open a piece of her Halloween candy that she somehow retrieved from way up high in our pantry.  After we set eyes upon each other she hands it to me and says, "Look, I found a candy.  Can I eat it?"

After I explain to her that she can have it after we eat dinner, I take it and head back to the kitchen.  This time I get to the kitchen and see the pot of boiling water, and it's boiling over...AGAIN. For the thousandth time I think, "Ugghh, why do I keep using this small pot. I need to use the BIGGER pot next time!!!"

Then another scream.  It's Seryn again.  This time Sailor is smothering her because she's trying to "ride her like a horsey." After recovering from that debacle...

I return to the kitchen and pick up the knife for the last time.  I chop, chop, chop hurrying to get the job done.  After 2 minutes in the kitchen, both Sailor and Seryn are at my legs whining for some milk or water, or anything else you could come up with: "help me go potty.....I want to color....mom, will you come look at something.....I want to go outside....can I wash my hands?..." Chase gets home at this point and I am able to point them in daddy's direction and finish dinner.  Whew. A little bit of patience is regained at this point.

Dinner time! We pray & everyone is eating...for 1 good minute. Then Seryn needs more food, Sailor spills her cup,  I am shoveling my food in my mouth as I balance Seryn on the chair next to me because she won't sit down.  Chase and I try to talk and have a conversation during this time but can't hear or focus on each other very well because we are trying to talk over the girls who at this point are crying for some more water or more noodles....

 {As I sit here I am emotionally drained just playing it all back in mind as I type.}

As plates begin to clear I immediately think of the best phrase in the english language, "BATH TIME"!  Without hesitation I start the bath water, remove the girls' clothing, & plop them in there.

...awwww. This is when I take a breathe. 

I'm reminded of the phrase, "when mom isn't happy no one is happy" and I think that it's pretty spot on. BUT whoever came up with the phrase must not have had young kids around or chose not to see why 'mom' may not be happy. I think the phrase should be revised to this: "when the kids aren't happy, mom isn't happy, which means no one is happy until the kids get happy." :)

So, the lesson learned here?

If you ever need to drop by & tell us some not so good news, between the hours of 6:30-7 would not be the ideal time to do that.  You can count on EVERY one of us being happy and content ALL at the same time (so, please,  let us enjoy the rare occasion). :)

 .....well, at least for a moment we are ALL happy. :)

  Ok, in all seriousness- we are a VERY happy family! :)  I know I sounded a tad ungrateful & a bit of a pessimist through out this post, but I'd be lying if I said it is easy. It takes all the patience I can muster some days. It can get crazy at home (and life in general), but I know I wouldn't be a happier person without my incredible husband and beautiful girls and the help of my Heavenly Father.

 "If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't be Hard," is a title of one of Sheri Dew's books. I just love that clever line! At least for me it's a reminder that life shouldn't be easy all the time.

...And I'm ok with that! ;)