When the day is over and the boys are sleeping so sweetly, it is easier to forget the rough parts of the day and focus on the cuteness that is these three boys.
I took Noah to school this morning with Nate & Hayden in tow, and something happened as we left the van for the school entrance. I don't know what it was, but the twin's moods suddenly changed and before I knew it I was struggling to get Noah into class on time.
Sometimes the twins want to carry a toy or their woobie in with them, and I don't mind. It usually helps keep them happy on their twice daily trip to the school. Today, Hayden brought an airplane. Nate decided to carry five trains in, and that started it for him, because they kept falling out of his arms.
No Momma, don't put them in my pockets and don't try to help me, waaaaaaa!
I almost convinced the two to leave their toys at the front desk with Lynn & Aunt Lisa, they set them on the desk, but then snatched them back and hung on tightly. We slowly made it down the stairs, snowboots stomping. Shhhhhh!
Nate wanted to drive his trains down the long hallway to Noah's cubby & classroom, so he just lay on the floor right at the bottom of the steps. Nate get up please. Fuss, plead. Ok, coat off, boots off, slippers on, lunch box hung up, Noah get in your class, yep, we're late, nope, just sneak in there... follow Ella who just came back from the bathroom, go! Love you, bye!
Ok, Noah is in. Good. Turn around.
Hayden is sitting in an empty cubby that he decided is now a train. Choo Choo! Shhhhhhh! I get him out, call Nate back from the other end of the hall and Hayden lays on the floor to drive his plane. Sigh. Who wants a drink of water from the fountain?, I say... trying to distract & stay calm. Me!! I hear from 2 little tyrants. Thinking I'm such a success, we head for the fountain where they fight over who goes first and try to push each other off of the stepstool. After two drinks, no, don't lick the spout! we start up the stairs. Hold the rail guys! Careful!
Well, as you can imagine, trains started to fall about 3/4 of the way up. Here Nate, here it is. Thankfully a dad (Thank you, Clark!) realizes the reason for Nate's continuing crying and rescues train #5, which I didn't see and Nate was keeping track. A teacher, (Thank you, Evi !) asks if I need help as we teeter 2 steps from the top. Both kids are sprawled out & crying now. Why Hayden? I have no clue, but brother is freaking, so here he goes. She lifts him up to the landing.
We make it up to the lobby, and I sign Noah in while holding Hayden back by the coat, keeping him from bolting for the stairs which he tries twice. I walk Hayden over to Nate who is now walking to the door happily with his armful of trains, and Hayden runs into him knocking him over & then falls on top of him. Nate starts to bawl and yell oweee! Hayden is not going out the door without a fight.
Why? I'd like to know what kids are thinking at these moments...
I pick up Hayden under my arm and carry him kicking and screaming while holding Nate's hand as he cries and walks with me.
We pass one mom on the way out and I just smile & say Where's my coffee?... trying to find the humor in this embarrassing moment. She smiles and I thank her in my head for not dropping her jaw.
We get a few steps out the door, passing a dad & his kids coming in and I laugh nervously. We're fine... haha... Nothing to see here...
A mom passes us in the parking lot, staring. I stop. This is ridiculous.
I put Hayden on his feet and take both boys by the hand and say quietly, "That's enough. When we take Noah to school, we don't act like this." Before they could respond, scream, or run off...
My sister & school co-director, Lisa came running out the door and offered a hand. She said "How can I help?" and I think I squeaked out "Take Hayden." As she carried Hayden to the van ahead of me, I walked slowly with Nate & asked him how his hand was from the fall. He quietly said he was "ok, mama".
As we headed to the van, Clark, train rescuer, calls out jokingly from the parking lot "Lose one?"
I laughed, and said "The administration had to step in... Thank God for sisters!"
Lisa had strapped a crying Hayden into his carseat, I strapped Nate in. I said, I love you boys, and clicked the automatic door button on my keys.
The door shut and it was... quiet. Lisa & I just had to laugh. What else can you do? Well, cry... but then you get a headache.
A Happy Ending
Mommy got a Hot Chai, her favorite drink. No, not the 2008 20 oz., I got the 2009 16 oz. (New Year's Resolution - cut back on the chai addiction apparently triggered by stress?)
The boys apologized. Sorry mama.
Being a softy, I decided to take them to the Aquarium to change the tune of the morning gone wrong. We drove there talking all the way of their favorite aquatic animals. The octopus! The seahorses! The jellies! We walked up to the door, and...
it was locked. They open at 11. It was 10:15. Nate screamed, I WANT TO SEE THE FISHIES! Tears were flying out of his eyes. Sigh. Back in the van... crying 2 yr olds.
We headed for home, my ears ringing and I thought what am I supposed to do? Could I catch a break please?!! We passed my favorite plant nursery Engh Gardens and I felt happy thinking about being inside their really cool store/greenhouse. I've been there a gazillion times buying plants for our yard, and I love that building.
I made a U-turn. I love it there. The kids love it there. There is a lot to see for all of us. It is decorated so nicely with plants, flowers, fountains, paths, birdcages, chandeliers, pots, cards & all sorts of seasonal pretty stuff. The boys had a great time wandering (we had the place to ourselves) and a friendly employee introduced them to 2 cats, Sage & Spooky who get to live there & nap on the soft chairs.
At 11, we left for the Aquarium, and finally checked out the fishies. Happy boys.
The End.
p.s. Bill is picking up Noah tonight...
