Friday Fun

I actually had a pretty good night sleep last night. Baby J slept from 11-3... a long time for him. So when I woke up today to make Daddy Piper's lunch, I just stayed up instead of going back to sleep like I normally do. This made for a very productive morning!! We were all dressed, had breakfast, a load of laundry done, schoolwork done and dishes done by 8:30 - WOOHOO!

So it was off to the mall to take Baby J's one month pictures. I should have just stayed home. It was so much work. Let me back up a minute. I started out doing monthly pics with L and continued this with S (only missing one month with S, not too bad). Now - it's so much work! Let me recount how the whole process went:

1. Loaded up the kids in the van and left the house.
2. Got to the mall 30 minutes later.
3. Unloaded said kids, realized that the piece to hold the carseat on the stroller was missing so put Baby J directly in the stroller - he's a bit too small but we made it work.
4. Got everyone inside and down the elevator to the photo place.
5. Filled out paperwork while older 2 ran around and played like wild animals.
6. Started pictures - had to explain and set up the photos how I wanted (why can't these photo places actually train their photographers. It's true that you get what you pay for.)
7. Got done taking the pictures - figured they would be okay - not great but okay.
8. Now they make you wait 15 minutes while they process the digital photos.
9. Go get coffee and sample of raspberry smoothie stuff to pass the time.
10. Remember I forgot to order decaf so toss the $3 coffee - WAHHH!
11. Get everyone back to the photo place to review pics.
12. They put a ton of options (read: expensive) together for my review.
    
13. While reviewing, L has to go potty.
14. Take L (and S and Baby J) up the elevator and back to the potty.
    
15. Make everyone go so we don't have to come back in 5 minutes.
16. Come back to review pics. Decide to use my coupon and only spend $20 (yea for me!!).
17. Off to ride the carousal.
18. Pass chicken place handing out samples. Now must eat their chicken for lunch. (good advertising!)
19. Get the tokens for carousal.
20. Get in line.
21. Get the older 2 on the carousal and on their requisite animals (while trying to fight off the only other rider from grabbing L's animal) all while trying to watch Baby J in his stroller down below.
    
22. Run down and grab him and run back on the carousal since the older 2 aren't big enough to ride alone.
23. Get dizzy riding said carousal (getting old sucks!)
24. Off carousal and to get the above mentioned chicken.
25. Order chicken and wait while they cook it.
26. Just before the order is ready, S has to potty.
    
27. Load all kids back up and find the bathroom,
28. Again make everyone go so we aren't repeating this in 5 minutes.
29. Grab order and sit kids down to eat just as Baby J decides he his hungry.
30. Feed all 3 kids while stealing bites for myself in between.
    
31. Leave mall.
    
32. Load everyone up and head home.
33. Best part? Singing songs together to keep kids awake on the drive home so we can all nap together at home.
    

It was so much work! I really don't think monthly pictures are in Baby J's future.

The afternoon wasn't much better. I wanted to nap but didn't get to. I gave it up so I could bake cookies with L. Cut-out cookies no less. I didn't get a much needed nap until later when I threw a fit with Daddy Piper and stomped into my bedroom and laid down for an hour.

Best part of the evening - decorating cookies with the kids!