Days #3 & #4

Day #3

Bad. Bad. Bad.

Very Bad.

Oh! The messes these boys can concoct! As I write this down, I'm just struck by the shear ingenius-ness (not really a word, but go with me on it...) of these boys for finding combinations of everyday household products that equal to gargantuan messes.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Hardwood Floors + Soda Pop + Laundry Soap = A sticky mess unlike any other...

Playdough + Yogurt + Carpet = YUCK

Window + Yogurt + Fingers = Art (according to my boys) But NOT the kind of art I LIKE.

It was just "a day".

And, I did not handle it well. Did I mention that?!

I yelled. I cried. But ultimately, at the end of the day, I had a lot ot show for all my efforts.

*A clean house. Kids' rooms cleaned. Bathrooms cleaned. Downstairs cleaned.

*Kids asleep by 7:34 pm and officially back on schedule - because they DID NOT nap. :)

*I finally took a bath, relaxed for about an hour, read a book and went to bed by 10:30 pm. (THIS was therapeutic....and I totally "got" why they had those "Calgon, take me away!" TV ads when I was a kid....)

It was difficult, but I did it. :)

Day #4

It was like all the planets aligned and I had an awesome day!!! :) About time, too!

I woke up, saw the sunshine, and knew I had to get out and enjoy the day outside.... I really wanted to go to the beach....but I knew no one would be able to go with me.... :(

I ran through my mental checklist of who I could ask to either A) go to the beach OR B) find something to do outside.

I knew Mel had a doctors appointment to check on the baby - and she'd be driving back and forth between Hillsboro & Beaverton...I also knew Mindy works on Thursdays.....I also knew Aimee wouldn't be able to go - with Curt working and Emily in school and no one to get her after school.....But I knew Rachel MIGHT be able to go....?

So I called Rachel - sure enough - she could go!!! :)

We were all ready within the hour - and what a great day for the zoo!! We all packed lunches, wore shorts and enjoyed a beautiful, sunny & DRY Oregon day!

The animals even cooperated! Elephants were doing tricks with their trainers....we got up close and personal to a screech owl, and other birds IN the Aviary - I had bought a cup of nectar and they were landing all over the place - ME. The boys liked that too! We got to see the new Lion's exhibit.....tigers, monkeys....they even got up close to a crocodile (thru the glass!) and count all his teeth! The polar bear was super playful - playing with a ball & a floating box....the boys thought that was awesome. :) The penguins were playful and jumping into the water and zooming by the glass..... AND they got to see the giraffe through a window - and they were ecstatic - seeing the animals up close.

I've never seen the animals so interactive at the Zoo. It was great!!! :) Five hours later, we made it home safe and sound, and then brought dinner to Grammy Hammies. :) She'd had surgery on Tuesday - and we wanted to make sure she was okay. (And she was).

It was great. Seriously great. And it sooooo made up for Day #3.

I love that!!!

If I can just make it to Tuesday with more days like this....It will have been worth all the hassle!

AND....I'm thinking if the weather holds....I'm filling my tank and heading to the beach to make some more great memories!!!