just another manic monday

3:15 pm - pick up Jackson from school.

3:30 pm - arrive home from school. frantically help girls with 5 days worth of missed schoolwork that has to be returned STAT. prepare snacks. change over vacation laundry load 342.

4:30 pm - get everyone prepped to leave. find Jackson's soccer clothes, cleats, shin guards, a size 3 ball that is at least semi-inflated. get Maddie to dress for ballet. have Bella fill up a water bottle for Jackson and grab a snack. wrestle two chairs out of the back of the garage and throw them in the back of the car. change over another load of laundry.

5:02 pm - drop off Jackson at soccer practice that began at 5. leave Bella with him because "parents must remain with preschoolers at all time during practices" and Bella's the closest thing to a parent that we've got available.

5:10 pm - Liam calls from some random kid's cellphone - wondering where I am because I am supposed to pick him up at 5, but no later than 5:15. I say I'm on my way.

5:12 pm - drop off Maddie for ballet class that starts at 5:15.

5:15 pm - pick up Liam from track practice. he announces that he has a band concert (that he just found out about since we were gone the past week in Florida) at 6:30 and he has to be back at school at 6 to prepare.

5:25 pm - run back to Jackson's soccer practice and catch the last few minutes. Jackson has to pee, but there's no time to stop anywhere, so I let him pee under the front of the car, semi-hidden. He thinks it's the best thing he's done all day.

On the drive home, call John - it's too late notice for him to get out of work and get there, so I'm on my own. beg him to pick up something for dinner because my plan to cook has been thwarted by the fact that I won't actually be at home.

5:42 pm - arrive home with Liam, Bella and Jackson. Liam runs in, changes his clothes, puts on deodorant and brushes his teeth (for the love of god and all that's holy), fixes his hair and grabs a snack. everyone pees (except Jackson). walk back out the door.

6 pm - drop off Liam at school.

6:06 pm - pick up Maddie at ballet and break the news that we aren't going back home. call Taj and order carryout. text the man that food has been ordered.

6:10 pm - arrive at Liam's school. schlep the three youngest into the auditorium and find seats. try to keep kids from killing each other and embarrassing me while we wait for the band to go on.

6:30 pm - band goes on. Liam rocks.

6:55 pm - band and choir finish. stumble back out to car with all four kids.

7:15 pm - arrive home at the same time as the husband and the Taj. eat until too full to move. pass out happy.