Chores

We had a bunch of stuff on the docket this weekend--and yet.... Well, it was just a weird weekend!

Friday night was Keith's Cub Scout picnic--where I missed half of his moving up ceremony as I was outside trying to explain to the eldest why she had to ALSO watch her brother instead of building a volcano in the sand. *sigh* (I least I finally got to eat a cookie!)

Saturday was opening day. Unlike horrible opening day experiences from the past, the weather cooperated, and we had a beautiful day. I managed to get myself and the kids up and ready in an almost timely manner. (HOWEVER, I did not realize that a 7-year old could have a 15 minute temper tantrum over the popping of a free balloon from the hair cut place. ...Now I know.) So...we arrived at the parade just as it started. John ran Mary back to her softball team (who was in the back) while I waited with Keith and Izzy for Keith's team to walk by. They did--Keith got shoved in line--and we all got to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the rest of the parade.

Keith's first game was immediately following the opening ceremony. He played well out in the field, but he didn't get a hit off the pitching machine. That's OK, no one else on his team got a hit, either! Still, it was a nice day to be out enjoying the sun and the game. Until the game was over, and Izzy threw a temper tantrum when we had to pull her off the playground. She screamed, "I WANT TO PLAY!!" all the way to the mini-van. I used to cringe when a kid would do that. But now I notice that I get a lot more looks of sympathy rather than criticism as I drag my wailing child by. Know your audience, people! And...these folks had ALL been there; done that!

The rest of the weekend we spent cleaning the house (me + the kids) and doing yardwork (John). And either because Sunday was a really, really long day or because the new chore chart I put together actually worked, we all got a LOT done. And when I saw it was only 3:00, and almost everything was done, I couldn't believe my luck. I gathered up my purse and my eldest daughter to make a run to the beauty parlor for much-needed pedicures--only to be reminded by John that Mary had practice at 4:00. Ah crap. Mary threw a fit that could teach Keith and Izzy a thing or two. I didn't blame her--it was all my fault, and she had a right to be angry! I calmed her down and offered her a cookie (see--those things work miracles!) and promised her I'd paint her toenails myself later on. And Mary went to her practice and had a good night.

I'm not sure what was in the air to create all these emotional explosions from the kids (and myself when Izzy pulled a dinger of one Saturday night, too). It was such a strange weekend of great and fun things peppered with these little minefields of erratic behavior! Too much fun; too much nice weather; not enough sleep. Perhaps.