Wow! I knew it had been a long time since my last post but I have been so busy with the last week(s) of school that I really had no idea it was this long until I saw the date of my last post. Wow. Anyhow, I have one more day of school, which involves no kids in the classroom, just a day of completing grades (done - yeah!) and cleaning my classroom (never done). Oh well. That being said, I am really looking forward to this summer of having more time to do the things I really love - spending time with my family, reading, blogging, and being outside in warm weather. Some where in there I will be delighted to have my 4th and final child and watch everyone adapt to that change.

Mike and I have been talking about how very anxious we are to have this baby. We just can't wait to see what the little guy is going to look like. He kicks and squirms so much more than any of the other babies - it is like he already has a very distinct personality and we are both already just enamored of the little guy. Hopefully the three other children will be as happy about his arrival - Karl and Abby will be just fine - it is that spoiled spunky red-head we are worried about.

Well, yesterday was one of those days. I had high hopes for a glorious family experience. Those plans were a bit off to begin with b/c Mike had to work, but I thought the kids and I would just have this wonderful day and make memories and laugh and share and enjoy each other - well, I guess some of that happened - but so did so much more...

The plan was to wait for Karl to get home from his friend's house (he stayed overnight for a sleepover) drive to the campground my parents had their trailer parked at, spend the day with them fishing, paddle boating, grilling, playing outside games, and just relax. At 5pm I was to go back home to attend an open house, eat dinner, and head home tired and happy. I was excited about all the activity at the campground, excited that I didn't have to cook a single meal (grilling for lunch - open house food -the best kind- for dinner) and excited that the kids would be so tired when they got home from all the running that they would crash as soon as their happy little heads hit the pillows.

The reality was, we did GO to all the places I was planning on but not everything I was hoping to have happen did.

We had the car loaded and ready to go before Karl got home from the party. The girls were very excited and helped carry stuff to the car for mommy. As soon as Karl arrived, the first red flag appeared. He was TIRED, very tired. They were up until about 2am and then up early this morning as well. Karl is not very kind or cooperative when he is tired - in fact - he is downright whinny. He whined we had to drive all the way to grandma and grandpa's, whined that I couldn't go fishing with them (need to renew my license) whined that he was so thirsty and if I didn't stop soon he was going to die of dehydration (I told him I was going to take a chance on it and pray he lived through the thirty minute drive), whined when Abby spoke, Aine laughed, and basically whined about everything except his breathing.

Abby, who was in a great mood, quickly got tired of listening to her brother figured if she couldn't play with him - she may as well antagonize him. She began pushing all his buttons (siblings know just the right ones to push). By the time I got to the campsite, I was ready to be done. Grandma and Grandpa were happy to see us. We ate lunch right away and went fishing. The older two came with me and their grandpa and Aine stayed with Grandma. We paddle boated out to a couple spots and everyone (except me - no license remember) caught a fish. Karl, who usually tends to hold off on the whining around grandpa, began whining when we would move the paddle boat b/c apparently, moving the paddle boat causes him to loose his fish. Crazy how he always had a nibble or catch just when we moved and then - goodness gracious- he would loose it...hmmm... If you ask Karl how many fish he caught, the answer would be, "one but would have had about seven if they wouldn't keep moving around." Yeah. Abby caught her third fish ever but it really was her first non-assisted catch. It was awesome to see the look of joy on her face when she reeled it in and held it up. Ahhh...that alone made the day worthwhile (OK, no it didn't but it was a bright moment amidst many dark segments) We went back and the kids went with grandpa to clean the fish (they both caught one keeper) The entire time we were here, Abby continued the button pushing - she even got Grandpa fed up and a rare occurrence of grandpa yelling at his grand daughter occurred (I think she was pretty scared - grandpa is a big guy with a booming voice) As soon as it was time to go to the open house, Karl resumed his whining. He must have asked me a dozen times if he could NOT go - he even went as far as saying he would rather be going to hell then an open house. That did it. Not only was I tired of his whines but his dramatics AND the use of that word really sent me over the top...so...we loaded up the kids - Aine threw a good fight getting into her car seat but I won (imagine that). I chewed those kids out like I never have before. Even Aine was silenced (which anyone who knows her would be quite amazed). The older two were silent for basically the entire ride, Aine was quiet too and I was really certain she finally understood when to just be quiet until I looked back and found she was sound asleep. Sadly, that lasted until I had to slam on my brakes for traffic. She was up and the following thirty minutes of the ride involved her screaming, Karl crying, and Abby sitting silently in the back. I wasn't going to even go to the open house but this was one of my "special" students (any teacher who says they don't have favorites is a liar - we all do - you just can't treat those "favorites" differently in the classroom or with grades or you have problems) so I HAD to go. I stopped at home, got the card, did a quick change into something semi-clean, got back in the car, and was on my way again with Aine screaming and shouting. Got to the open house and literally walked up to my student, gave her a hug, told her I couldn't' stay, she wanted to see the kids (she also babysits for us) took her back to the car (mother-of-the-year left them in the car) (she lives on a farm so they were safely surrounded by barns and animals) she said hi to the kids (Aine was still screaming) I gave her another hug and we were on our way back home.
I guess in a way, I did get what I was hoping for - a day at the camp out, fishing, open house, exhausted kids crashing as their heads hit their pillows - I just didn't get all the "happy memories" parts as much as I was hoping and I didn't plan on me being more exhausted then them.

Oh well...I have good kids...but even like good parents...they can have really crappy days. I am just glad that the crappy days are the exception...at least I think they are...