Those unexpected moments...

So today we have a field trip to the Firestation with Bubba’s class. BW was so excited. Field trips could include siblings and BW loved the firetrucks and helicopters. My boys are not the crack of dawn risers, they prefer 7:30/8am time frame. It’s now dark in the mornings, throw in an early start time and we have a hard time moving on school mornings. I slowly creep into BW’s room this morning and get his clothes out..he rolls over, looks up at me and then immediately jumps up. “Today is firestation day, right mom?” “That’s right,” I say. Up he flies…so excited to get going, dresses in seconds he's downstairs in a flash.

Fast forward to the firestation. So here we are at the firestation. We are the first ones here…20 mins early with my sister, nephew and my 2 boys sitting in the car drooling over the rather large red firetruck parked in front. Out of nowhere I hear from the back row, “Mom, I have to go the bathroom.” The dreaded sentence when you are out, especially when you are no where near an easy restroom. “Didn’t you just go at home?” I ask. “Yes, but I have to go the other. “ Oh, that’s great. What to do? “Mom”…a little more urgently. “Alright…let’s see if we can find a fireman to help.” Never thought I would flag a fireman down for that request. A friendly fireman, seeing my young man’s contorted face quickly ushes us into the bunk house. As we step inside, he says, “Everyone dressed?” Oh great, I think…this is more tour than I’m prepared for. He ushes us into the back and points to the bathroom. I thank him we step inside. BW and I peer into the toliet…hmmm..it’s been used. “Let’s see, flush first?” Quickly the toliet bowl fills. “Oh great…that’s not good.” “Let’s get outta here,” panics my son. We step back in the bunk room. “Excuse me, excuse me”…I quickly call out. That nice fireman is gone and to our surprise so is everyone else. That’s just great…now they are going to think we did that.

Okay, back to present problem, son still has to go potty and we are up in the mountains not too close to anything other than this firestation. I remember I have a travel potty in the car that we have never used. Back to the car we go. BW won’t go outside on the potty because he doesn’t want anyone to see him. A few people have pulled up by now since we strayed from the car. My sister suggests putting it in the back row and letting him go there. “Okay. While he is doing that,” I ask her "should I sign us in?” “Great idea,” she says. I leave BW in the back and the other 2 are still strapped into the middle seat carseats and my sister is upfront. I go sign in and of course start talking. A few mins later my sister comes running back…”We need you. Help.” I come running..”What happened?” I know what’s going through your minds….pooping in the car is probably not the best idea. “It’s the smell…we are dying in here." My poor family… I left them strapped in their seats tortured by what BW was creating in the back. Everyone quickly abandons ship. My sister grabs the toddlers and makes a beeline for the car behind us. I’m quickly thinking I would like to run too. Instead I bravely climb in the back to very quickly help BW dress and dispose of the bag. Never a more grosser moment in my mommyhood. I’m sure it won’t be my last gross moment. So lucky are we …a trash can right across the way. Hopefully the rest of the day will go much better. Hopefully, that nice fireman won’t use the bathroom until after we leave. Gotta love those unexpected moments.

Dining with Dogs

I love being outside and one of the things I love about our new house is we finally have a patio table set. I'm not sure why I waited so many years to buy a patio table set. It's great to be able to sit outside. The kids have discovered eating outdoors and they ask at every meal..."Can we eat outside?" The weather has been so great so of course I say "YES!"

We recently enjoyed eating dinner outside and the photo below just cracks me up. When we sit down at the table to eat there is the four of us but if you look under the table you will find our 3 dogs. Every meal, there they are..waiting. Our dogs...they are like sharks circling their prey...or more like laying sharks. They patiently camp out their spot around the kids and wait for them to accidently miss a bite that falls to the floor and whatever dog is laying closest reaches his/her nose out and gets the bite. It really is too funny because they are the ultimate couch potato dogs...just patiently waiting, quietly nearby. I never have to clean up..inside or out they lick the floor clean. I miss them when we eat out at a restaurant because I have to clean up the mess, and I'm always shocked at how messy my boys can be.

So thank you my dogs, my first 3 kids for helping me clean up after the boys...all three of them! And if I could squeeze you all into my overflowing diaper bag I would bring you with me everytime we ate out too.