A Blog-Worthy Morning

Hi dusty, forgotten blog! Well, we have had a blog-worthy morning here in the Harris household. So it's spring break and that means lots of quality time with the boys. Or, at least more time for them to tire me out and drive me crazy. Anyway, I had big plans for this lovely, if chilly, Wednesday morning. I was tired since little E thought it was a good idea to wake me up at 5am for some early morning 'Super Why' deconstruction. By about 9 am the boys were racing and chasing each other around the house. So, why not go to an indoor play-place and let them run off this extra energy while I chill on a chair or bench with my chai and my smart-phone? We pulled into the driveway of the Sandbox, a fun little play place, and it's deserted. No other cars in sight. No 'Open' sign flashing in the windown. Shoot. It's Wednesday. It doesn't open until 10 am. Get it together, Mommy. This is an amateur move. But, wait, I spy a playground right next door, and there's only a few left over piles of snow! Go, go, go!!!!

So, the boys fly out of the car all gang-busters and go straight for the huge, steep, scary slide of death that ends right in a pile of snow. They love it, while I sprout countless new gray hairs watching them torpedo down at break-neck speed. I narrowly catch and save Ethan the two times he braves it, regardless of my pleading for him to ride the baby-slide on the other, more age appropriate playground over there. For some reason, he's not interested in that little play-set for his age-range. It's sunny and bright, but the icy wind chill reminds me that we do live just around the corner from Canada and maybe my little adorable sock-less flats were the wrong choice for this kind of adventure. Just then, Andrew steals my gloves because his hands are cold. I would like to check how quickly toes and fingers can get frost-bite, but I'm too scared to take my hands out of my pockets. And wait, where is Ethan? Shoot, running down the hill, of course! Naturally, running down the muddy hill after him in my cute little flats is very exhilarating. Lightbulb!

"Andrew, race you to the car!"

And we're off, 2 little boys and a smug, smart mama. Phew. I get them buckled back in and do a time check. Darn-it. Too early yet for lunch. Library. There's a public library around the block from here. So, we make our way to the Fairport Library. We park in the lot, walk for the elevator and find... the library entrance is all boarded up. Under construction. Of course it is. But wait, the sign says the temporary location is just down the block. So, we find it... and it's one tiny room with two sweet, quiet librarians and a few books. Literally, a few. But it's okay, we can still run around the tiny library like a bunch of banshees and fight over the single stuffed kitty, scaring the daylights out of those two, poor, relocated librarians. I drag the boys out, one under each arm, and say, "Okay. Penfield Library. Then, pizza for lunch?"

"YAY!"

We make it over to the Penfield Library and Andrew is complaining that he is dying of starvation... though it's only 10:45 am. We pull in, park, and I turn around to see that Ethan is passed out. Shoot...

"How about we get the car washed, Andrew?"

"My belly is grumbling. I need pizza."

"I know, but the pizza place won't open until 11:00..."

"No, I don't want to go to the car wash."

"But..."

"NOOOOOOO. I'M HUNGRY!!!!!"

"Okay, okay. Let's go to Wegmans."

One in a stroller, one in my arms still waking up, we trudge into Wegmans. Phew, they are just pulling pizza out of the ovens. Okay. 2 slices. Soda. Banana. Chips. Kids. Stroller. I have enough arms to do this and pay.... and then as soon as I pull out my wallet Ethan BOLTS with his banana and Frunions. Man that kid is fast.

"Excuse me while I go and catch my child."

Sorry, cashier and 3 people behind me in line. (Why are we all eating lunch at 10:50 am, anyway?)

Finally, we pay and find seats, and the boys are calm and happy and eating. And then I realize I didn't get myself lunch. Eh. Eating lunch is over-rated for super-moms like me. But maybe I'll just sneak a bite here and there from their slices, and a sip from the fountain drink. And, I see some people eyeing us as I not so slyly sneak some bites from Ethan's pizza and a sip of Drew's lemonade. What, we all have the same cold anyway. He never eats it all anyway!

And suddenly Ethan is on the ground screaming and crying. I was standing right next to him, but he still managed to somehow fall off of his chair and bump his head. So, if you weren't already watching me swipe my kids' food, you definitely see and hear my screaming kid right now. And you see me wiping pizza sauce and tears from his cheeks, and kissing, kissing, kissing his boo-boo. And he's okay, and so am I.

Kids, coats, leftover drinks and pizza, tired mommy, and kiddos somehow all make it back to the car and then our house. Mommy exhales and there are snuggles, tv, snacks and smiles after our "perfect" morning.