if you didn't know i volunteered to keep my friends 4 kiddos while they got a way for the first time in a long time (maybe 10 years?) with no kids... I love them. I pray they are refreshed and renewed as they get some alone time. I praythat i survive:), feel free to pray that as well!!!
...all accounts of this story are true. Some details have been left out to protect my personal character (i have that right!)... the names have NOT been changed to protect the innocent,though i do resort to calling them by #'s as needed!
Despres head out to Hobby airport right on time (wanted to be on the road by 11, we left at 12!) Due to a slight glitch Sawyer and I got to take them...He kissed me 3x enroute...you should be jealous! He kinda smells like a cross between a pickle and a puppy, its an odor I am getting used to though. At first whiff you dont fall in love, but it grows on you in a strange (lovey) way!
{side note*As we get to airport Sawyer is determined that my iphone should have the game his dad's iphone has...so even though ALL their info to check in is on Dad's phone we(Sawyer and I) decided that this is an absolute neccesity and make adjustments to load my phone which requires Greg's p hone for the duration of check in...Despres P's (Greg/ally)adjust and figure outother ways to check in with out this info!}
We load the phone, say goodbye, and head off to start the afternoon schedule for the rest of the kids! I have a brief conversation with a friend with only 4, "Can i have your phone to play my game Ms. Penny" interruptions. I quickly hang up and realize boys + electronics = moment of peace. NOT SO FAST....he likes the volume up..LOUD...he really, "cant play the same when it's quiet!" I begin to consider that a margarita may be my best hope. It is Cinco de Mayo after all!
Upon entering our beloved community, we decide (Sawyer and I-brilliant planners i might add!) to go to my house, then back to their house, to wait for kids to land.
at 2:55 kid #1 walks in door,
"Hi Seth, how was your day?" w/out stopping walks straight to kitchen and gives a grunt of some sort, I try again, "are you ok?, did something happen at school?" (which is code for - if someone hurt your feelings i may not be your mother but i am a mother and i am not beyond kicking some *&#@)!!) he turns, looks at me and says, "im gonna heat up some pizza." This is like weirdness for me. 90% of the time when my girls walk in b4 i can finsh the phrase "how was your day?" they are already on to, "...and then you will not believe what she did...."
Sean and Sophie quickly enter. Soph has words. I like her. She makes me feel normal. except for her hair...but i'll get to that later...
i look at clock we have 30 minutes for #4 to be at swim lessons, which #2 will ride bikes with him to get there, but #2 is on couch not moving...i dont think he even knows yet that i am not his mother. I ask if he is taking #4 to which he replies, "imhgydlssss"
i dont know what that means but i determine that its a yes. Im scared to ask more questions at this point, Im 0-2 in communications with boys over 9yrs old. this concerns me?
I ask them all to get their overnight bag (#1 says, "whats that?" sigh...boys.)and just get some clothes for tomorrow since they are staying at my house tonight. Soph is on it. I like her. I cling to her and determine we will be friends. I see potential here for both of us. She speaks boy-ees, and I speak girly-girl. forging friendship with her is my first priority, my survival!!
after 2 more times of passing "non-information" the boys finally inform me their ready! whew! BTW - did i mention 2 other boys are here?, again, do these creatures not speak in syllables audible to my ears? I swear they just appeared (upstairs) im like, "hi!", i get the grunt again. weird. im really gonna get on my friend about locking her doors, its scary around here!
I ask the boys to check their bags to make sure everything is packed. #2 hands me a pair of shorts. no panties, socks, pj's, shirt. Im like..."uhm, do you have other parts to this outfit?" he shrugs, #1 has stuff...but it's not all clean. that'll never work. #3 (bless her "suurounded by boys" heart) had given me the most mixed up set of clothing you could ever imagine (long sleeves -uhm, it's 90 degrees girl, you'll die!!!) #4-well, i just take his stack and smell it. No go. Plan B.
I pack all clothes. I pick them, (which this part is facinating to me) as they dont even look when i ask them if they are ok with what i pick!!!! my girls would NEVER allow this! wow! i quickly load them (kids)up and realize we need swim suits. its a real iffy moment here...if i getthem all out a take a great chance that I will never get them back. but it seems that they all "know" where the suits are....sigh...what to do, what to do???... 10 minutes later, suits on, towels in hand, goggles on #4 (as he rides his bike!! love it!) we are off...and we are late!! AUGH!!! I was so gonna be better at this!
we get to pool (i of course follow them in car with #3, and #1 has ridden direct to my house...i hope!) #2 doesnt reply when i yell out window, "you ok? You want me to just drive you? it's really hot!?" nada. nothing. just bikes on...#3 says, "he may not want you to yell out the window at him." duly noted. Im reminded yet again that i like this girl. we run home to make sure #1 is there, which he is, Thank you Lord!. then head back to take #3 to swim, and pick #4 up and get#2 to friends for church tonite, in this moment i realize #1 is supposed to be dressed and ready to go in 5 minutes to baseball game with pre-arranged ride. 2 problems:
1 - i have his baseball bag
2-ride picking up at their home
i find # for ride, frantically explain i'm new at this, tell her where i live. she is like ultra calm. she has a boy...its genetic, this calmness, i think. race to house. #1 is up moving (very quickly, im super impressed!) dressed. i make him a snack bag - pb crackers, beef jerky, 1 gallon water, gatorade. he's starting to talk to me at this point. Food will be my in with him. If you catch me wearing beef jerky on my sleeves in the next several days, just cut me some slack ok? im desperate. and he's talking. yea! win#1 for me!!)
horn honks boy#1 gone! (BTW - carpool lady was calm, had make up on, looking all cute, family in tow, i would later walk by a mirror and see mascara under my eyes, chip clip on my shoulder-i totally forgot i put it there!-nice!)
i breathe in...and realize ive left #3 at pool, race back to get her, realizing#4 in my pool - thank you lord for Cherylynn being here!- see #2 at pool, load him up to head to church peeps, drop him, head back for#3, and THIS is where my purpose begins....my call....the reason I am doing this for a week with no prior training...:
me - "so when we get home lets get your HW done, eat some din din (girl talk for dinner!), and grab a bath."
#3 -"well, i normally/dont/always take a bath on swim days." (*note - she swims 6 days a week!)
me - "well what about your hair?"
#3 - "well the pool really keeps it pretty clean." (proud!)
me - "well, (trying another approach since cleanliness is next to Godliness around here) when was the last time you washed your hair, like uhm, with shampoo?"
#3 - "hmmm....(long pause)...you know, ....i really cant remember!(BIG GRIN)"
me -(as calmy as I could) "hmmm, #3, I am going to run you a bath when we get home, i will pull out all my bath fizzies, bubble bath, specialty soaps, expensive yummy smelling shampoo's and YOU, my friend, are going to find out what being a gir is all about!!"
#3 -(THINKING! no expression-is she morphing into boy before my eyes??)
me- (formulating new approach) " do you like pop rocks?" (she has all brothers! Surely she does!!)
#3 - Yes!!
me -"i have these amazing bath things that are lilke pop rocks n your tub...they fizz they smell like watermelon, cherry, you name it!, and you can use them all over the next 8 days!! How great is that?"
#3 -"ok, ill do it!"
me -(BIG GRIN! i morphed her back!!!)
let me just say this:
I know her mother. I know for a fact she has not been too long without shampoo'd hair! her mother loves these kind of things. but i can see that living with boys would make you wonder if these things are neccesary. they smell like pickles/puppies. you hate it at first but then you find yourself making excuses to get close to them for a lil whiff. i see the draw. it makes me a little weepy. I would have loved boys i think. but maybe i was just designed for girls. nonetheless, i will breath deeply of puupies and pickles for the next 7.1 days, while soaking my girls in sweet smelling suds...the blessings of both worlds.
Thanks for sharing D's.
rest well. as will I. after all DAY 2 awaits me!...
note from author: all kids made home safely, were showerd, ate again, and in bed by 8,9 or so.
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