How Many Pans in the Fire?

I take a photo of this because I do it to myself all the time. I am bathing Quinn, dressing Wilson, feeding James in the background, cooking pancakes for the girls and trying to do the dishes all at the same time. It's like, if I think about it, I have to make myself do it. Am I gonna have alzheimer's when I get old because I sure hope so...

Wilson Flirts with the Line

This is Wilson, no one's exit from the room has been so highly anticipated

Wilson has spent far too long flirting with the bedroom/kitchen divide

He finally makes it out! Here comes the welcoming committee. We are all thrilled!

Welcoming committee horns in on the moment

The reason Quinny missed the welcoming committee is that she was a little tied up. That cannot be comfortable. She is caught trying to crawl through the dining room chairs, her knees are jacked up into the bars, oh poor Q

No Charge for the Donuts

It was Thursday, last week. My kids and I are driving home from picking up Hazel and CC from dance class. I feel like I want them to have a little treat. So I pull up to the Delipan, (mexican bakery a block from our home, I hear the donuts are a little dry, but to a kid- a treat is a treat!). Take up four stalls parking right in front of the door, that's okay it's never busy. Two little mexican ladies run the shop so I feel safe with what I am about to do.

It would be a major pain to take all the babies in to get Hazel and CC donuts so I give Hazel my debit card. She is a 9 year old stuck in a 4 years old's body anyway.  I tell her to ask the lady at the counter for help choosing one donut each. Then she is to pay for the donuts by giving them my card and bringing me the receipt.

Within a minute, the girls were out again with a lumpy paper bag each and huge grins. Hazel hands me the debit card.

I get out of the car to thank the ladies. Both mamasitas are standing at the store window watching the advent of two giggly little girls in tights and tutus bubble into the back of the limo.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Mirror, Mirror on the wall who is the most drawn and haggard of them all?

Nathan and I had a special evening a few weeks ago. Our neighbor Jeff got 4 front row tickets from some of the big wigs at his work -to the Toronto Raptors vs. The Jazz at the ESA. At the last minute and amazingly, I found a few friends willing to look after the children for the night. Jeff once told me he would never take anyone to a Jazz game that didn't know the starting line up so I had stalwartly memorized it for just such an occasion. 

Included in the front row ticket was a dinner beforehand and during halftime, snack food. (I got a thing for nachos) We arrived at the ESA early for the Jazz 100 Club luxurious dinner. Lighting was low, mirrors dotted the walls all around us and delicate displays of food were laid out. It was amazing and most of it was gluten free so I could actually eat! There were shrimp cocktails, a seafood bar, roast beef, salmon, desserts, fruits, exotic cheeses, you name it. I was ready to stay up there and eat all night long but Jeff said we had to watch the game.

While I was mingling with guests and getting food, I looked around at all the patrons. They were the Jazz 100 Club members or knew someone that was. I looked at the women, some were wearing pearls and other were wearing jeans some were dressed like teenagers and some were distinguished. I wondered about what their lives were like, what sort of worries they had. I believe that what we live or how we live shows up in our eyes. I think that is how like, finds like. Sort of how birds of a feather find each other. I am not saying I can classify and label every person by a casual flip of the eyelid but sometimes you can get a feel for people.

I wonder if those people watched me as I watched them, what did they think of me? I tried to dress nice for the occasion. I felt fancy. But when I looked at myself in the mirror, I had a look on my eye, I looked haggard and tired as though I was running out of time or places to hid. It was as though I were hunted.

I was here to enjoy the game, taking a reprieve for the evening but come tomorrow morning, the hunt resumed again- with me as the prey, not keeping up, never enough, not on time, not getting it done fast enough or soon enough. This was my rest before I had to begin hiding from the hunter again. In the mirror, I didn't look rested and comfortable in my surroundings, I looked cagy and nervous. Yikes! Who is that lady staring back at me?

I know that they say that things get easier with the babies. Sometimes I feel I am churning with barely controlled nervous and energetic hysteria- you just can't keep that from the mirror. Will that pass too? Will I ever look at myself in the mirror at a public function to see myself as a distinguished and pleasant woman?

The evening progressed. It was lovely. Thanks to Jeff for shcmoozing with the big wigs and inviting us to a once in a lifetime.

Behind Bell, Amandas smiling face and the in the corner, my lovely mug- Look mom I was on TV!

Jeff and Nathan sing their hearts out to no avail, the Jazz up and quit on us

What a great evening