When I was little I was pretty daring for a girl...I played with the boys climbing trees, trekking through the woods, digging forts. I did some fairly sneaky things just to see what would happen, like pouring bleach in our neighbors washing machine, disguising cooled grease as mashed potatoes and making someone eat it, stealing candy from the "general store" at our Gospel Bill vacation Bible school...oh! and I put sugar water in a skin-so-soft spray bottle and told the boys it was bug repellent. I don't know why I did any of those things, but fun was had, punishment was given, and lessons were learned. I was a bit fearless though even as I got older, wanting to take on the biggest roller coaster or free-fall contraption, and I know I would have jumped out of a plane if I had the opportunity. But after a few decades of reason and common sense I would not be so quick to take on the sky, entrusting my life to a device harnessed around my body.
Nope, instead I have chosen the adventurous life of mommy-hood!
So, yesterday I endeavored to take my 3 under 5 out for the day. We have done this before, but the difference this day was I was attempting to take them for professional pictures. If you're a mom, you know what this means...everything that could have spilled or messed up before leaving the house--DID. Once we left the house we had an errand on the way which directed us through the Chic Fil A drive-thru. I was clever enough to NOT request sauce of any kind, however the chocolate milk (what was I thinking?!) ended up on Abby's white & tan shirt she was to wear in the pictures. The chocolate milk blended rather nicely into Abby's shirt--thank God! Katie's outfit I got the night before didn't fit, so we were also going by Old Navy to exchange for something else. Mind you this stop involved getting the stroller out & into the vehicle with all 3 children in tow.
Once we got to the studio, I had to feed Wesley while the girls waited patiently. Pictures went very well but took forever! I had to feed Wesley again before leaving. (I will post some of my favorites once the grandparents have seen them)
Next stop was Babies R' Us for a quick merchandise return before a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. We were too early for the party, so the kids and I browsed through the baby store for a little bit until I heard crackling thunder and a torrential downpour coming from outside!! We have been in the middle of a drought for like a month, and the sky breaks loose while I'm in a store right across the parking lot from where we need to be like, now! We waited...and waited...but it wasn't letting up. This was supposed to be a quick trip into the store, so all I had was my purse and Wesley is perched in his carseat on the shopping cart. So, we took off our shoes and I kept the girls close to the buggy as we quickly pushed Wesley toward the car...but not before Abby falls and scrapes her little foot. Ugh! Keep running I told her...and she's crying the whole way to the car. I dried off the kids and we drove over to Chuck E Cheese across the lot.
Here we hovered in the back of the van waiting for a break in the rain, but we had to make another run for it. I changed Wesley and strapped him to me in his carrier. We searched the car and found a broken kiddie umbrella--sweet! We're good to go...and we ran/walked quickly indoors...to the calm & serene atmosphere of...Chuck E Cheese!! (note sarcasm) The party was fun and I'm blessed with great kids: Wesley didn't cry or whimper one time, and the girls had a blast. We got home to daddy (who if you were wondering was at work and class all day while we were on this adventure) around 9pm and everyone crashed!
All in all it was a crazy busy day, and days like these are thankfully few and far between, but fun was had, punishment was giver, and lessons were learned. I am glad that I have a bit of an adventurous spirit somewhere deep inside, or we would never have survived our crazy day. And I am so very thankful that I have children who listen and obey (for the most part), which makes days like that a little easier to manage.
We had a community yard sale on Saturday. Our girls got very excited about having their own lemonade stand. I told them they could keep whatever money they made. They LOVED that idea! I said you can save it or use it for something you've been wanting. Abigail said well, we need to give "Jesus money" too. (That's what they call tithe at Faith Kidz at our church). I was so proud! :) So I said yes, you and Katie can give "Jesus money" and you can save the rest. I asked what she would want to save it to get. She responded quickly "DISNEY WORLD!". More excitement followed. Oh dear...well, this is something Jessie and I have discussed for a while, but their enthusiasm prompted us to start a savings specifically for Disney World. :) 
cups in the pantry, so there was no cost involved in this venture. So the girls got busy making a sign! They each drew their own versions of Minnie & Mickey Mouse on their sign. Abby proceeded to decorate a lipstick shaped bank with a smaller sign which says "Disney World Fund". They do know that it will take a while to save the money for Disney World, but we figure they will enjoy the journey saving and appreciate the trip even more when we get there, since we as a family worked on it altogether. Oh, and I should add, they sold their lemonade for .50 cents and made $15.00 in pure profit! 
