There'll be days like this

Today did not go how I had planned.  I knew it was a busy day jam-packed with activities and appointments with all four kids, but I thought I had it.  I packed snacks and drinks for the kids, stocked the diaper bag, and I evenly foolishly packed along a book to read as I thought I'd have some "downtime."  Ha!

I started to load the boys up in the minivan only to realize that Caleb's carseat wasn't in my car, it was in Jon's.  Fail!  I was suppose to be at parent-teacher conferences in 20 minutes and had no way to get there or our many subsequent appointments.  I called Jon in a moment of panic and confirmed that he had gotten all the way to work which is thirty-five minutes away.  He was not going to be able to help me.

I frantically called my girlfriend Yvonne and she came to the rescue bringing me an extra car seat for Caleb to use.  Then we caravan-ed over to the kids' preschool.  We loaded my four boys and her two girls into my car and put on a Dora dvd.  We then took turns heading in and having our conferences while the other stayed in the car and kept the goldfish flowing in the kids' snack bowls.

We headed to Target to help the twins buy birthday presents for a party the next day.  It ended with a tantrum from one of them in the checkout line.  I managed to be firm but keep my cool and get the boys loaded up.

Next stop was the clinic where the twins go for speech therapy.  I was trying to wrestle Caleb into his socks & shoes which he had thrown off during the drive.  When the therapists arrived to the waiting area to pick up the twins, both boys cried that they hadn't gotten to play Angry Birds yet.  Aaron cried because he tripped and fell on the ground and Caleb was screaming the entire time because I wouldn't let him run out the door and into the parking lot.

Yep....all four boys were basically crying/freaking out at the same time.  So much fun.   I said to the therapists and other moms sitting there "Wow..I'm sure you're all pretty jealous of the situation I've got going on right now, huh?"  and then exited as quickly as I could.

I had planned all week to take Aaron & Caleb to a special kids play area/restaurant called Nibbles Play Cafe.  It was a treat as we haven't been here often.  After I fed both of the kids lunch, I thought I'd sit at my table and enjoy the remainder of my salad in peace while I watched the boys play.  I got up to help Caleb with something and on my way back to my table, he apparently managed to escape the building.  He opened two sets of doors and was in the parking lot.  Luckily an employee noticed him and jumped over the counter and ran out for him.  I noticed a commotion by the front door as employees and other moms were running outside, so I investigated.  Yep, that's my not-quite-two year old out in the parking lot being scooped up by an employee.  Perfect!! I went and retrieved him and my "Mom of the Year Award" at the same time.  So much for a relaxing lunch!

I looked up and noticed someone opening the doors of my minivan.  I started to panic and then I realized it was Jon installing Caleb's carseat.  He had driven over on his lunch break to surprise me.  He came in and saw that I was a frazzled mess.  I told him about the morning.  He gave me a hug and took over watching Caleb so I could go to the bathroom.  After the "parking lot incident", I became Caleb's shadow as he was obsessed with trying to get back outside.  He changed Caleb's diaper and loaded him into the van when it was time to go.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur.  Caleb never napped and Aaron hurt his leg jumping off the furniture.  I got all the kids ready for their respective soccer and tball practices and attempted to make myself look somewhat "put together" as I was on my way to the best part of the day:  Girl's Night Out.

Jon met me at soccer practice where I relinquished control of the 4 little guys to him apologizing that they were all a hot mess but I was still going out.

I showed up to Panera where I was meeting a few of my friends and I was still a bit  very stressed from the day.  As we sat around chatting and eating, I noticed myself relaxing.  After dinner, we headed over to the night's big event:  the Bread & Wine book release party. 

We spent the next two hours in a new Lululemon store chatting, bumping into others from church and celebrating the release of this awesome new book.  We got to hear from the author, Shauna Niequist.  We got our books signed.  We chatted some more.

I left with a goody bag of treats in my hand but more importantly, I left with a renewed spirit.  A night out with the girls relaxing, catching up and meeting each other's friends was just what I needed at the end of today. 

In the midst of a chaotic day with what felt like a million fails, I am reminded how lucky I am to have girlfriends in my life.  The girlfriend who hears the panic in my voice and drives out of her way to bring me a carseat.  The girlfriend who invites two of my children over for an afternoon playdate, which gives me a few hours to parent just half my brood.  The girlfriends who pay for babysitters to meet up at Panera for a quick dinner just so we can have a little more time to hang out.  The girlfriends who introduce me to other friends, offer encouragement, and laugh at my crazy stories.  I don't know what I'd do without these friends on days like this.