Yesterday

Ya'll, I had so much to do yesterday. I had a list about a mile long, mosly consisting of cleaning things. But also on the list were going to the gym and to the grocery store. We had just come back in from out of town the day before so, of course, there was a large pile of laundry lovingingly whispering my name.  First on my agenda for the day was to take Abby back to the after-hours clinic and have the staples removed from the top of her head.

Oh yes. As if one hospitalization, one minor surgery, several small illnesses and one unexplained rash weren't enough for my children to put me through, last week Abby tangled herself in a lamp cord which caused the heavy lamp to tumble down from the bureau and break into pieces on top of her sweet head. I will spare you the gory details, but it was a small cut (thankfully) that only required a few staples just as a precautionary measure.

I would prefer not to relive the precious memories of that evening. However, it was pretty traumatic for her (mostly the thought of someone stapling into her head, I think),

so here we were, about a week later, and I was taking her first thing in the morning to have the staples removed.

And they promised, ya'll. They PROMISED it wouldn't hurt to get those staples removed. So I planned to stop by, get those bad boys popped out, head to the gym, head to the grocery store and be home by lunch and nap time.

Well, suffice it to say that it hurt. It hurt bad. Abby was hollering as her head began to bleed again and the doctor worked paaaiinnnffuuulllyy slllooooowww to pry the staples out.  A dose of antiobiotic ointment later, and the top of Abby's head looked bloody AND gooey. Poor child!

Poor me!

The gym was out because I reasoned the childwatch workers would not let Abby in the room with blood and goo in her hair. The store was out because I had not yet made a list...which I had planned to do after a run on the treadmill. 

My plans were shot through. But after a series of suggestions and pleadings by Abby (Chuck E Cheese and the movies were nixed), she asked if we could go to the zoo.  That sounded the most reasonable and doable of all the suggestions so far, so of we went on a impromptu zoo trip!

And you know what? I am so glad we did. The girls ended up having a great time, despite the heat. I still got some exercise pushing that heavy stroller and 2 heavy children up and down hills. {At one point I had to change Audrey Kate's clothes and only had this flowery dress. I laughed because she kind of looks ready for church.  Abby, on the other hand, looks ready to do the Rumba or Salsa dance or something.}

They ran and played and ran some more.

The camels were out and begging to be fed.

After one initial pet, Audrey Kate just stood back and stared at them, wide-eyed. "That can-i-mal is BIG, momma!"

"That can-i-mal is stinky, momma!!

I love that she called them can-i-mals and she was still talking about those can-i-mals at bed time last night.

My girls loved the butterfly garden.

But mostly they just enjoyed playing.

It was truly a good morning, and I'm glad that I didn't get anything done on my list. Sometimes its more important to spend time with people and relax and just enjoy life. I do not do that NEARLY enough.

Nap time didn't go well, though, since I am assuming the girls were just wired from all the fun and playing and heat. I got a few things done in the hour that Audrey Kate slept, but once she was up it was close to dinner time. Joe called and said he wanted me to come see a car he was looking at buying for me.

Buying a car = boring, stressful, meticulous (If you are Joe Grant)

This car-buying process is something we've been doing for a couple of weeks. Mostly, I've stayed out of the way save give my opinion on color and style. I have also found out from several weeks of taking the girls to various car lots that car lots are NOT kid-friendly. And they make me very tired.

So last night, AFTER dinner, AFTER a long day, AFTER not getting much done on my to-do list, I found myself at a car lot corralling two busy, busy children while Joe negotiated and bargained and stipulated and made important deals.

The girls climbed in and out and through every car we looked at. They spilled water and spilled coffee and used all my quarters on candy from the machines. They ran in circles and danced in the lobby and flung their shoes off and ran up stairs to important offices and drank from the water fountain. They sang and twirled and jumped and begged for more quarters.

2 and 1/2 hours later, I had given up. They were delerious with tiredness (or was that me??). I sat on a bench and videod it all from my Iphone because I was so surprised they were still going after all that time. {One of the nice salesmen came up and said, "Oh, they can't hurt anything." To which I replied, "Yeah, well, you don't know them!")

                            

It was late when we got home and all of us, including me, went straight to bed.

This morning, when I woke up, I was afraid to leave my room. I knew what awaited me beyond the bedroom doors.

A mess. A big mess.  It looked like the aftermath of a big frat-party, minus the beer bottles.

So, I guess you know what I will be doing today.

That's right, cleaning up from the wild party that was yesterday.

Well, once I get off the computer, that is.