A day in the life...

This is a story I sent to a friend with 3 kids that are on the mission field, I thought "my girls" would appreciate it to!!

I had a story to tell you that happened to Z and I, and with your three kids and everywhere you have traveled you will appreciate it. It was hilarious-- I will probably lose some of this in the written translation.... It was Saturday morning --S had been at a spend the night party and had not slept ( and was getting sick, but we didn't know it) M was fussy and E was just in a mood-- going 90 to nothing and then some! After picking S up we had several stops to make, including Sam's. The melt downs started at Sam's with S, E and M followed suit. By this time it was 12:30 and the kids were hungry to add to the mix. Much to my advice that we not go in a restaurant, Z was determined --he wanted to try this hamburger place--(don't come between and man and his hamburger.) The place was small and crowded--so the A family made our entrance-- ( I know you have been there where everyone looks and you and is thinking --don't come sit over here) We squeezed our crew into a small table and Z goes to order. In the mean time the kids get drink cups and do havoc on the soda fountain trying to get ice and drinks by themselves while I am nearby trying to keep M from falling out of the high chair-, determined that she is going to drink out of the cup with the straw sitting dangerously close to her on the table. The food arrives and you would have thought this was the first meal the kids had had in weeks. S and E would have been westling on the floor over the dividing of the french fries had Z and I not intervened. Then as I am sure you are familiar came it inevitable " I have to go to the bathroom" So S and I head to the bathroom. (of course the bathroom is on the other side of the restaurant) After we skillfully go in between and beside all of the tables as not to disturb anyone, E decides he needs to go and announces to everyone in the restaurant that he has to go too. He darts around the tables yelling wait for me, wait for me. After an eternity in bathroom, I return to the table with S and E and try to quickly inhale the cold fries and burger, before we are formally ask to leave the store. Then Z announces that his stomach is bothering him so he heads to the bathroom. At that time E decides he needs to go back to the bathroom--with "lightening fast mother instinct," I grab his shirt and tell him that he cannot go with His daddy that he had just been to the bathroom and to sit down and eat.
As all this was going on, the nice couple that was unfortunate enough to have to sit by us had been smiling politely. Even picking up a cup that M would throw off her tray from time to time. It was one of those days that every child was having a personal worst in behavior--rare, but it happens -- but not quite as rare as when every child is having a personal best in behavior. People smile at you with those sympathy smiles , but they are really thinking-- I am glad that is not me. As I was trying decide when the best time to make a run for car, before M dumped everything off her tray, or before S and E began chasing each other around the table, the nice man (without any children) looked up at me and genuinely in a grave voice asked---"Is it always this hectic?" of course it was too loud at my table to hear him so I ask him what he said "I mean with the three, is it always this hectic?" At that point I blubbered something about the kids being really tired and hungry and that they were usually not that wild. I can honestly say I have never been ask that. I have had the usual "my, you have your hands full" comment, but never has anyone ask me so dismally ? "is your life always in this chaos?" I hope we didn't turn the couple off of having kids completely, but I can almost bet they will never have 3!!! When Z returned from the bathroom, the couple had left. (that seems to be a common trend among couples that sit near us) I told him what had happened. We laughed so hard, we almost cried-- the kids had absolutely no idea what we were laughing at. (because as you know, when you are in that situation, you just have to laugh, what else can you do) What the couple didn't know, was that we wouldn't trade this "chaos" for the world!!!!--After another spilt drink-- this time by me -- we managed to make our way out of the restaurant-- I am sure much to the owners delight!!
Now every time things get a little tense with the kids Z or I will ask the other with the most serious of expressions--Is it always this hectic??? and we remember our nice couple at the restaurant that will probably never have kids thanks to us. HA!! I know this lost some in the translation, but I thought you would appreciate this story and I know you have all been there!!!!
Love yall, miss yall