Chris is away until a week from Saturday night (a nine-day business trip to Las Vegas and a three-hour time difference). He has requested daily updates on The Big Piece of Cake. Probably because every conversation we have goes like this:
Kate: Hello?
Chris: Hi – how’s it going?
Kate: What?! I’m sorry – George is screaming.
Chris: I just wanted to say hi and check in.
Kate: Oh hi! Everything’s fine except for Oliver almost decapitating Eleanor with the cabinet door. But other than that, everything’s been great.
Chris: I miss you guys.
Kate: What?! I’m sorry – George is still screaming.
George: [screams like a baby girl]
Kate: Eleanor do you want to say hi to Daddy?
Eleanor: NO!
Kate: Say “no THANK YOU.”
Eleanor: [sullenly] No tank you.
Kate: Oliver, do you want to day hi to Daddy?
Oliver: HI DADDY!
Chris: Hi buddy! I miss you. What are you doing?
Kate: Yeah – it’s me again, he’s busy watching Blues Clues.
Chris: Okay – I just wanted to say hi and tell you I miss you.
Kate: George! Stop it! What? I’m sorry – George is still screaming because Eleanor took his Matchbox car.
Chris: I’ll let you go I just…
Kate: OLIVER! Get off the counter!
Chris: …wanted to check in.
Kate: Okaybye!
So. Here are some highlights for Chris:
I woke up at around 7 a.m. and heard the twins awake but talking to each other and playing. Then I was able to doze in bed for another 45 minutes (Dream. Come. True.) until I heard Eleanor calling, “Mommy! Where are you?” Oliver wandered in around 7:50 and I had to get up.
The rest of the day was a blur with the exception of the following:
We went to the At Play Cafe around the corner for the first time since it opened months ago.
Everyone loved it. And they played happily with only periodic visits to tell me that they bumped their head, wanted to say hi or just wondered where I was (our theme song is “Mommy! Where are you?”).
We will be there every day until they go back to daycare on Wednesday.
We came home for lunch and I made some “break and bake” Valentine cookies as a treat. Oliver still calls hearts “I wuv yous” (swoon).
George and Eleanor took crazy long (three hour) afternoon naps. Thank you At Play Cafe!
Oliver and I watched the Mary Poppins chimney sweeps scene twelve times.
Eleanor insists on dragging me to see everything she does, “C’mon Mommy – I show you!” And George clings to me like a baby koala bear, no matter what I’m doing (letting Eleanor “show me” things, washing dishes, going to the bathroom…)
All three kids played in the basement while I cleaned up the mess that grows weekly (as Chris continues to tell me that he’ll pick up while he’s watching TV…never happens).
Everyone refused to take a bath. I said, “fine.”
Everyone ate far too many snacks. I said, “fine.”
Everyone was content to play while I read Us Weekly. Unprecedented!
All in all – it was a long day, but a good day. That’s a red letter day when it comes to Hood family weekends.
Oh – and I watched I Am Legend after the kids went to bed, and it was kind of horrifying. I really hope that nothing like that actually happens. Because even if I was immune to the virus, I know nothing about artillery and have no idea how one goes about installing those iron shutters on windows. At the very least, I would hope that Chris wouldn’t be out of town when it happened. He has far better survival skills. And at the very least, he’d figure out how to shoot a deer for dinner before locking the zombies out for the night.
I echo: “World’s best mom!” Well done for managing them like a disciplined trooper, and turning a blind eye to the things that it’s possible to turn a blind eye to!
This was awesome! I can relate to so many of your descriptions and my Chris and I have the exact same conversation, or have over the years.
You’re doing great Mom! One day down, eight more to go. You can do it!
PS: You’re lucky your kids take naps. Mine NEVER did, and they’ve been bad sleepers. Toddler Child (3) was up five times last night. NOT kidding.
That phone call sounds a lot like what phone calls with my husband on business trips is like.
Sounds like you really had a good day! You can put a big S on your chest now. You know, for “SuperMom,” not “Slut.” :)
Isn’t it great to know that there are moms all over that KNOW what it’s like? You quoted word for word so many conversations of mine and my husbands’ (of course we have to change the names and add two more) but it’s so funny! You’ll make it, Mega Mom! (That’s one of my superhero names)
You are my hero! You deserve a medal!I once made Dad come home for a weekend in the middle of a 2 week business trip to Hawaii because I was going crazy and I only had 2 little ones What a wimp! Of course that’s when our hillbilly neighbor was giving our little Matt rides on his motorcycle (helmets? of course not) and handing the kids lighted firecrackers to throw up in the air. I’ll say it again – you are the best Mom ever!
Sounds fantastic! I have come to actually enjoy my husband’s frequent business trips. I let the kids spread out a blanket and we watch TV while we eat pizza and I drink wine. No one messes with my routines. My in-laws are always available to take one or two off my hands, so I am not completely left alone.
That phone call had my laughing out loud. SO familiar. Enjoy the rest of your single motherhood.
This sounds like every conversation I have with my friends who have young children at home! Hysterical!!
Oh my god Kate! The telephone scene made me laugh, my husband’s just got back from a 9 day trip and the moment he called chaos occurred. One day he even put the phone down on my son because I had walked away and my son got mesmerized by Little Einsteins and didn’t talk to him.
Doesn’t it make you feel for single mums who do this every day of their lives.
By the way I am Legend, creeped me out.
That actually sounds like a pretty good day!!! Good job.
I feel bad because I recommended I Am Legend….I thought it was a great movie but it is TOTALLY creepy.
I hope you liked it a little at least.
Sounds like a good day! Well done Kate!
OMG, that place rocks. Too bad its so far from me! You are doing a great job by the way!
Oh how I can relate to this conversation. Especially when my husband travels for work (every other week) We try to talk during the day and it just doesn’t happen. You’re so funny, lady!
Loving this. Now I’m going to read how the rest of your week went…
I Am Legend is a great movie but it is kinda upsetting, isn’t it?
my hubby is away for 8 days as well. maybe you should come by for dinner, colorado isn’t too far of a drive is it? LOL!
I feel you!