So this morning I was really bringing my A game. I got lunch packed, soccer gear together and Connor out the door for soccer camp. I got the other 5 ready to go, gathered up a pile of library books, ran upstairs and changed out of my jammies (was thrilled to find a clean shirt), put my hair in a quick ponytail, and got to Regan's orthodontist appointment with one minute to spare.

So while she is getting her braces tweaked I am in the waiting room reading books to the kids off of the summer reading list. Thinking smugly to myself how well the morning is going so far. When I notice a string hanging on the hem of my shirt. Actually, a lot of strings. Because it wasn't a hem, so much as it was a SEAM. Because the shirt was inside out. And wouldn't you know it, when I turned the shirt right side out it was dirty on the other side!

Then after we got home my 7 year old, Lauren, walked over to me and put her hand gently on my arm and solemnly said "That's okay mom, I think I can fix your hair for you." "Fix my hair? Is something wrong with it?" "Oh mom. It's kind of, you know. Woah." And this is coming from a child who wears her shoes on the wrong feet most days.

So while I am getting my makeover, which involved 3 braids and purple lip gloss, my other 7 year old, Devin is in the front yard building a tree fort. An enterprise which entailed using the pruners to cut several limbs off of the tree, and then spilling a box of nails while trying to nail them back on in a fort like formation. And Declan, the 3 year old, is in the office with a box of neon band aids which he had stuck all over himself.

Later in the afternoon, our two cousins (boys) came for a visit, in addition to 2 neighborhood friends (girls). This is where things really deteriorated. For some reason boys and girls just can't play together without trouble brewing. Fighting, name calling. Atone point two boys called two of the girls "idiots". When they were questioned about this behavior one of these boys said, "She's an idiot! But she knows I wasn't being mean, she's not dumb!" There's some logic for you to ponder!

Right now it is 10 minutes to bedtime. Yippee! And it starts all over again tomorrow.