7:30pm

7:30pm is the magic hour.

I love my kids, I do.  To the moon and back.

But somedays are tough.  Like today at 11:30am when;

• J's diaper blew out - for the 2nd time already, and while I was changing her she farted squirting poop all up my arm - necessitating bath #2.  Right as I was getting her out of the bath...
• R decided he was absolutely famished and couldn't wait for me to get a cold, wet, tiny baby dressed another second for his pb&j sandwich and in his most whiny, fussy, tearfilled voice yelled - "I just need to eat right now!"
• and then K started melting down because of hunger and exhaustion as he decided morning naps are for the birds.

During this fuss-fest I was trying to make pb&j sandwiches with one hand (because I was holding a nursing baby with the other) I had this conversation with R:

"Well you are taking a really long time!" he says,

"I'm just doing my best!"  I say back in a rather mean tone. 

"You need to talk more loving to me" he says. 

and so I took this sweet, sweet boy his sandwich and apologized.  What a humbling moment from my 4 year old.  So I tell him I love him, and I'm sorry for talking in such a rude tone. 

"Just try not to do it again mom" and with a smile he says "thanks for lunch mom, you're the greatest."

And so in that kitchen, I cried.  He is so forgiving, and I need to have more patience, always.

So naptime/quiet time came and went, I was re-fueled, and we had an afternoon of play-doh, building block towers, practicing writing words, reading books, and hide and seek. 

I love them so much that I use up every single ounce of fuel in my love tank during the day, that by 7:00pm I am running on fumes.  But 7:00pm brings the three B's - Bath, books, & bed.

So at 7:30pm it is my time to relax and refuel that love tank in order to do it better tomorrow.

Tonight I'll relax here in this chair with a snoozing baby on my chest, editing pictures.  See...

 Lots of hair, with lots of cowlicks creates a constant bedhead look in the back...

 But this gorgeous girl can rock the bedhead look...

P decided to put his headband on K...

She seems to have hit that 6-week growth spurt, she has been a nursing machine,

 but after a good burp,

 she is content as can be.

 It is clear she has big brothers, by the cars they lovingly share with her.

 Pushing each other in containers is a daily occurrence.  K can even push R, hence the nickname giant baby.