just the twins.

So today was the first day I brought Owen to school with all the offspring in the car by myself. Previous school days I've had the wonderful help of grandparents.

This is what I learned about doing it all alone: start getting ready for departure as soon as my eyelids open. We did somehow make it on time. Just in case I forget the logistics of this procedure one day.. allow me to elaborate.
Daddy out the door. Breakfast over. 7:45am.
Owen to potty after moderate coersion. Owen dressed. Smiling and crying at the same time when he realizes its a school day.
Jack and Parker dressed and changed.
Mommy dressed listening to Ben fuss.
Nurse Ben while watching each twin poop in new diaper. Perfect.
Change dudes, again.
Ben in carseat.
Park in car first. Owen second. Jack on the hip while carrying Ben in carseat.
All buckled.
Run back in house to get Owen's stuff, my stuff, COFFEE.
Throw Owen a banana in backseat for brainfood on the way.
Mommy buckled. 8:29am. Thank you Lord.

Nearly impossible to get Owen to his second story classroom by myself with all 4 in tow. Could be done with the double stroller, and sling for Ben, and Owen holding hands but seriously? By the time I did all that, dropped Owen off, went back down the elevator, and got them all back in the car.... it would be time to go back inside and pick up owen. So I need a helper. Katie drops Mack on the same school days at the same time but today Mack was sick and wasn't going to school. I bribed my poor cousin with CC's coffee delivery to throw the sick kids in the car and meet me at school so I could have her watch my kids sit in the car while I walk up with Owen.
IS. THIS. ALL. WORTH. IT!???
Yes. yes it is.

Never you mind about all that.
What is the point of this blog?
The point is my sweet little independent twins got to hang with their mom when we got home all by their lonesome. Well, after Ben went down for a nap.
The last time this occured was during the summer when Owen was with MawMaw and PawPaw. But they weren't talking yet. And since they've really commenced utilizing the English language, I have had yet another child, was unable to pick them up for two weeks, always have a baby suckling the teet, or a 3 year old who requries more attention than all 4 kids combined. So for once, the baby was asleep and the human constantly answering for them was away. and it was just us chickens. So we turned off the nanny tv. and read books. played with toys. tickled. laughed. ate cheerios. built a tower.

and then a miracle occured.

i picked up the doodle sketch. and began writing the alphabet. one letter at a time. I'd write one. then erase it and write the next one. and guess what? those two little people knew all but a few letters. i'd write it. and they would say it.
so i'm laughing because i was so surprised and so proud of them. and also i'm crying because i feel so guilty that i didn't know they knew the alphabet. how long have they known it? what else is in their heads and i don't know its there? is this the ultimate curse of having 600 kids in diapers?? i need more minutes in a day. i hate that i didn't know this and it took until now for me to realize it.

i knew they that knew SOME of the letters when MawMaw would sign the letters which started last week. but they knew almost every letter when they actually saw them written. and no one had ever asked them. and i felt so terrible about that. there's always so much action around our house and if its not the baby needing me, owen needs something and the twins are literally the least needy little souls and they end up left in the middle. at least they are together in the middle? poor guys.

no matter how much fuss it is to get owen to his little preschool for a measley 8 hours a WEEK... i will be so grateful for that time with the twins having my undivided attention.
what a crazy wonderful life =)