when do things get easier? why does one need to repeat the same command over and over again to get results? no wonder I lose my cool and then scream like the crazy neighbor lady we all had who used to yell at her kids from the porch. When do you not have to remind or ask 5 year olds to use the bathroom before leaving the house? I guess not for awhile.   When do you have to ask them IF they washed their hands after using the bathroom.  I guess not for awhile. 

Getting from the garage to inside of the house requires me to say "come inside" about 17 times.  We were watching the movie "Date Night" with Steve Carrell.  It is very average but has a few minor laughs.  One thing that was funny was when Steve Carrell asked his wife Tina Fey if she fanatisezed about being with other men.  She quickly responded that she only fantized about being alone to eat her lunch alone in a quiet room and quietly drink a diet sprite.  Well said!

my fantasies include shopping alone at Target and clean laundry.

first day of KG

i thought i was ready for the first day of KG.  I am not "that mom" who cries at things.  I guess I thought I was not that mom.  But when we walked up to the school and said a sign that said "Welcome Class of 2019"  I got immediately teared up.  I was lucky to have my oversized Target sunglasses on today!  I went into the classroom with Emma and Jack went into a different classroom with our son Jack.  This was done strategically because we knew that Jack would be getting upset when it was time to say goodbye.  Jack does not handle transition well.  I keep saying that Emma had already written her speech for KG class president while I knew Jack would cry.  Sure enough, after I said good bye to emma I went into jack's room.  When it was time to leave he immediately burst into tears and clung to me.  He cried and cried and begged me not to leave him there.  He also wanted to know when I would be returning.  He is going to have a very long first day....they are there all day for the first time.  Emma was great....she did hug me extra long when I said goodbye but she did not get teary.

Our version of Ground Zero

Ah the modern Mudroom......a supposed sanctuary of order and calm.  A place where everything has its place and order prevails....right?   WRONG. 

I have to tell my kids to put their shoes in their cubbies a minimum of 5 times. 

We all decend on the mudroom while trying to get out of the house.  So you can imagine the scene.....we are typically running late.  I am trying to brush someone's hair and yell at them to put socks on at the same time.  We keep toothbrushes and hairbrushes in this room for last minute grooming.....Martha Stewart I am not.  So we are all crammed in there and the kids can't keep their hands off of each other.   Someone is always pushing, teasing or crying.  So this of course gets my blood pressure boiling and I start yelling.  When we finally spill out of the door onto our side entrance we are almost always greeted by the sight of the neighbors whose side door also faces ours.  This couple is the nicest.....very calm, quiet and church going.  you know the type....It is the antithist of our family.  We are the "LOUD" Family not the Francis Family.  So undoubtedly they have heard all of our screaming from the closed door and then the continued screaming as the door opens.

Things I have to say about 19 times a day to each child:

Did you flush?
Did you wash your hands?
sit back down and finish your food.
stop being mean to your brother.
no Electronics at the table.
Go get dressed.
Go get dressed.
GO GET DRESSED!
Can you turn the volume down

all hell breaks loose in our mudroom.  It is the epicenter of our home .  Fights erupt, hair is pulled, siblings are teased and mom screams.