A Morning Scene

I needed to regain my strength so opted to read all last night and this morning. I finished two books and I have no complaints. I turned on my lamp beside my bed and started reading as soon as I woke up. About 30 minutes into it, Seth came down with a pretty fierce cough (so did Sammy but he's faking it so he can get some cherry cough syrup). I asked him if he felt well enough to go to school and replied that he thought so but then continued to hack away for about 10 minutes. I decided that I didn't want him spreading the love to everyone at school and told him he was going to stay home with Sam, Henry and me. He was disappointed about missing out on wearing red, white and blue (veterans day celebration) but found solace in the fact that he would be able to work in his math workbook and earn more gold stars (I'm not sure where he came from).

I called the school to notify them of Seth's absence and then sort of shifted into half speed. There was no rush for breakfast or making lunch. No rush to get dressed. We were all in our pajamas at 8:15 when Chad's truck pulled into the driveway to drop off Abbie. There I am....hair all matted sticking out everywhere, purple pajamas and no bra. Like a gazelle, I flew down the stairs to put on a cardigan and pull my hair up. I had forgotten that Abbie was coming over to get on the bus with Seth. Seth immediately started dancing around and behaving in a completely irrational way so I asked him if he thought he could go to school. He responded, "ya, ya...me want to go to skool!" while pumping his fists in the air.

Leisure turned into frantic motions of pulling on jeans, socks, an appropriate red, white and blue top and getting the double loop on his shoes just right. Teeth brushed, hair combed, lunch made, snack packed, backpack zipped but no coat to be found. It was actually snowing so I put on his sweatshirt and a windbreaker, a warm winter hat and ski gloves. Got him out the door and Abbie reloaded with her goods by 8:35 to catch the bus.

With an audible heavy sigh, I finish feeding Henry who is in an absolute frenzy now after being ignored in the middle of his breakfast and go downstairs to get on the computer. At 9:05, Seth and Abbie walk back inside saying the bus never came. In disbelief, I asked them if the other kids at the bus stop were still there and they said yes and I start planning my angry phone call to the bus company, tell them to get in the van and tell the other kids to get in the van (We were going to do some fancy, illegal double buckling) and start gathering Henry and Sam. But as Seth is telling the other kids, he remembers that it's late day! Late day! Which means that the bus comes at 9:10 and that I had unnecessarily sent two six-year olds out into the snowy morning for a half an hour.

Calm restored once more, I get back onto the computer and the phone rings at about 9:25 with caller ID showing it's Sammy's preschool. Realizing I had forgotten about preschool, I thought for a moment whether or not to pick up the phone. After all, I rationalized that they could determine his attendance by the fact that he was not there! But, perhaps they had an important message. I picked up and they asked about Sammy and I said that he was staying home and then they reminded me that it was his snack day. Which I have on my calendar but somehow completely blocked out. Sammy was still in his pajamas (including his wet pull up which I cannot fathom how he can stand it) so we switched back into crazy lady mode and I pull off his pajamas. He just stinks to me so I throw him in the shower while I try to find an appropriate snack for 21 preschoolers. I find an upopened box of Ritz crackers and I actually have exactly 21 string cheeses in my refrigerator so I throw both of those in a grocery sack and add a container of Koolaid. Next, I get Sammy dressed and off we go! I did put on a pair of jeans and a bra but my hair is still pulled in its quick updo. Sammy gets to school and I hesitate to switch back to leisure mode. But I really feel like finishing my book, so I put Henry down for his nap and start reading again. I'm almost done when I have to go pick up Sammy and I vow that I'll finish right after I get home. Which I do. Then I get a call from someone I promised I'd teach the alto part of the Hallelujah Chorus. She was calling to say that she didn't know how to get to my house. Crap, crap, crap! Why is my brain turned off? This is someone who doesn't have any kids and I don't want to scare her that my house and my hair is what happens when those kids come along (which is actually true but I wanted her to stay in blissful ignorance). Right on cue, crazy lady hat gets put on and I finally vacuum up all of those goldfish and pretzels from yesterday along with the added color of fruit loops from breakfast! That done and she's still not here I unload and load the dishwasher quickly. Still not here, I wipe down all of the coutnertops. Really it's amazing how efficient I can be when I absolutely have to be. When she comes, my house is a bit cluttered but not disgusting-pigsty dirty so there is no shame. I have kids, afterall. We work on the part, record it so she can sing along at home and then she leaves.

I feel normal again. I just needed to veg out for awhile. Which catches you up to my present. I did get two books read which you can find out about in my previous post.