Reality

I spend most days in a blur of movement. I am able to keep reality and it’s vicious bite at bay. But, some days the reality of daily life grabs me by the shoulders, shakes me and screams,”LOOK me in the eyes! I will NOT be ignored”! Today seemed like one of those days. It wasn’t a bad day. Nothing terrible or extraordinary happened. It’s just that I wasn’t able to stay in the fog of moving faster than reality (it could have something to do with me cutting my caffeine intake from 6 or so cups a day to 1). This morning I was woken by a phone call. I was glad to get it because I was having a disturbing dream. But, the phone also woke the 2 little ones. Usually I can get up ahead of them and put myself together and make coffee or something to get the day going before they wake up and need attention. I don’t know about everyone else’s kiddos, but mine need attention immediately upon waking. Later in the morning, Kateri drove me to pick up a mini van that we will be using for a little while, during my friend’s vacation. The wonderful thing about this vehicle is that my friend is a genius and bought an extra bench seat for it that can be switched out with the captain’s chairs to get 8 people seated instead of 7. This is PERFECT for me! However, Kateri and I needed to switch the seats out before I left with the vehicle. You should have seen the show! It would have made GREAT reality TV! Lucy and Ethel, Lavern and Shirley or even Laurel and Hardy could not have done it better! Finally, sweaty and exhausted I drove it home. Then we began the Dance of the Children (I am rather fond of this title). 1) Clean, dry and Fabreeze the mini van because Gabi began the day with an accident. 2) Take overdue movies back to Blockbuster. 3) Get gas. 4) Get Mariah to volleyball. 5) Take remaining children to the mall to pick up soccer equipment for Tristan’s first practice this afternoon. 6) Stop at ATM, give JJ money and send him to the gaming store, while I shop. 7) Send Maddi to ice skate while I shop. 8) Navigate Sports Chalet with 4 little ones and find equipment. 9) Take children to the train for being good in the store. 10) Get that, much needed, cup of coffee. 11) Leave JJ and Maddi at mall for 1 extra hour while we pick up Mariah. 12) Pick JJ and Maddi up from mall and head home. 13) Get Tristan dressed for soccer practice, thank Maddi for being willing to stay home and make dinner, thank Ted for getting Tristan to practice. Then load 3 youngest children, along with Mariah, and head to her JRP class and audition. 14) QUICKLY clean Gabi and rinse her “big girl” pants in the toilet before throwing them away because it was hopeless. 15) Spend an hour in traffic on the way home. 16) Eat Maddi’s wonderful dinner. 17) Leave to pick up Mariah and assign younger children to older children for care. 18) Watch Mariah’s audition (beautiful!). 19) Stop at Whole Foods for essential salad items for baby shower salad. 20) Get home, look around in horror at the devastation (though, I should mention that the baby was in bed, asleep). 21) Set timer for 15 minutes and demand that the 3 oldest children that were here clean up while I brush the teeth of the little ones. 22) Get little ones to bed. 23) Share my day.
So, see, it wasn’t awful, just very much set in reality. However, tomorrow, I hope the fog sets in. By the way, the socks pictured above are available for folding! :-) Good night~