3...2...1...

I think the months August through November will always be some of my favorites. They are the months where the kids' ages line up perfectly by year. Since the move I've been questioned constantly how old they all are... and it sounds really bizarre to say "3, 2 & 1" and I love it. At least I can say there is no "0" in the mix yet. I knew you were thinking it - I was right, wasn't I?

These 3 do keep our hands full lest you think we're super parents or something. For example, on Sunday we went to our new ward. The Bishop has a "welcome to the ward" meeting every Sunday in his office. We were 2 of 6 newbies if that gives you any indication about this kind of military ward's constant rotation. Anyway, we're in there with all adults and Mallie and 2 minutes into the meeting someone pops their head in and informs me that the little girl in the yellow dress is still freaking out in nursery. Yes, that's mine. So my brother Ben goes to grab her and she comes back in covered in tears and snot. So now David and I each have a girl on our lap in this tiny little office trying to pay attention while they're trying desperately to crawl off of us. Even suckers didn't help the cause. And then we look at each other and think... do we really have everything under control? Nope, not today.

Then yesterday we ran into Lowes. We have one out in the middle of nowhere can you believe it?? So David and I went our separate ways. He took Ashton and I took the girls. Why oh why did my gender multiply first? This girls vs boys things better even out soon. Back to the store... I came prepared with pretzels b/c that's what any smart Mom does before she tries to stick her kids in a cart for longer than 10 minutes. Hannah kept dropping them through the holes in the cart and crying and Mallie was showing off her great escape efforts. Yep, she crawled straight through the buckle and stood up. Then I stopped a worker and asked where the hooks were and Hannah proceeds to start choking. This is normal in our house our kiddos are fast eaters and apparently see little to no reason for actually chewing. But their gag reflexes are also stellar so I always think it could be worse. So I proceed to start pounding her back nonchalantly while pushing Mallie back down in her seat as he tries to direct me to aisle 5. I say "uh-huh, uh-huh" pretending my very best not to waste this nice man's time. Hannah's near death experience traumatized the heck out of her and she sobbed as loudly as possible for the next 10 minutes until I could find David and the keys to take her to the car. Madness.

My Dad always says when the house erupts in noise and chaos "Let's have more children!" to which I always reply "You started it!"

But our hard days don't stop us. This sounds like an announcement or something. But really it's my reminder that life is real. Some days are hard, really hard and and I'm sure if those poor observers at Lowes could see them all tucked into bed with their blankies saying "I love you" they'd understand it too.