behind the scenes

sometimes the days are all fun and games and belting out songs...

or telling jokes.

"get it? get it?"

"c'mon, lets hear some laughter!"

sometimes, it's all about keeping my cool, as the celery snacks smeared with peanut butter are half eaten, then thrown aside after all the PB has been crunched off.

sometimes, it's forgetting all about boring old chores to do in the disastrous house,

and taking time to do really important things.

like playing catch with these munchkins.

sometimes, it's reveling in the wonderful feeling of knowing that my words of "be kind" and "love one another" aren't falling on deaf ears.

and sometimes,

i'm yanked back to reality that it doesn't always last.

and we're just going to have to keep working at it.

sometimes, it's realizing i've made a huge mistake in taking those 5 minutes to go to the bathroom.

i'm going to have to speed things up if i'm going to prevent things like oatmeal baby, here.

sometimes, it's all about being the bad guy and putting a stop to the oatmeal mural on the floor.

sometimes, it's as simple as watching this little mimzy 24/7 so she doesn't slice her toe, or break her bones, or run away.

sometimes, it's all about going through the torture that is cooking day, all because these kids love it...

...but it's mostly because mama needs a treat to ease her nerves after all that "it's MY turn" and "that's not fair!" business.

sometimes, it's as simple and lovely as jumping on the trampoline with these babies i love so dang much...

and being pleasantly surprised that some of sam's irish genes are making themselves known through the few specks of glinting red on this little boy's head.

sometimes, it's watching cupcake cups used as weapons against baby brothers.

...and just sitting there taking pictures as he's tormented.

get used to it, pal.

sometimes, it's simply enduring through the taunts, because no matter how much you tell them to stop teasing, they still do it behind your back...or theirs.

"ha ha! i got da ba-all!"

sometimes, it's making healthy meals, or not so healthy meals, and escaping to the living room to eat in peace and quiet.

and most times, when i stop and take a look, things are happy. very happy.

and in the midst of all the caffuffle, chaos, tearing my hear out, the shouts and cries, the slobbery kisses, the movie cuddling, the bedtime cuddling, the hugs and "i love yous," all i know is, 

being these crazy kids' mama is the best job in the world.

the end.