surprise visit

as i have eluded to over the last couple of weeks, they have been a little rough. people ask me pretty much daily "what is it like with 3 kids?" (Darby, Kellie, Paige...do yall get that question??) Sometimes it makes me feel like i must have a heard of kids like i'm Kate Gosselin. But I do realize that most people stop at 2 these days and some people want to know because they are contemplating their 3rd. Well, my answer for everyone to know is this: It is hard. It is fun. It is sometimes complete chaos. I sometimes think triplets would have been easier b/c at least they are on the same schedule. I have 3 kids doing 3 different things so lots of time i just feel like i'm in constant motion and there is no break, especially between the hours of 7:30 and 6:00 (when micah leaves and when he gets home.) and that's another thing...he is a super helper. He is super dad. He always does the baths at night, plays with the kids and does their teeth brushing and puts them to bed. Used to, that was my time to myself. Now, it's time to wash dishes, take care of AC if she is up, actually get my shower for the day and sometimes still take a break. All of that to say...it is hard, but i love it. it is what i always wanted, even the mix i always hoped for. I'd do it all again to have just them.

Now, for the last week and a half, i had been talking and emailing my friend, Monica, who listened to me endlessly talk about how my children needed to be boxed up and shipped somewhere (and when i say kids, i'm unfortunately talking about the boys pretty much b/c they are the rowdy ones. AC just smiles, plays, eats and sleeps. but that will change.) the boys have been constantly fighting, i have been having some sleep problems and have been having my monthly hormonal swings (oh how i miss my BCPs) and it was just not adding up to be a good combo. i even called monica this past thursday and said "why don't you live here?" i don't have anyone i can call and say "can i come drop the kids off? i need like 1 hour to myself. (my parents live 5 hours from me, so here i sit.) anyway, friday night, i ran down the road to get gas for my trip into town on saturday and to pick up some supper. i called monica just to say hi, but she didn't answer. she had told me that she was going to her mama's for the weekend, and she lives in the BOONIES so i didn't think much about it. well, about 10 minutes after i got home and micah and i had started eating and catching up on our DVR, the phone rings and it's monica. and we have the typical hey how are ya conversation and then i asked "are you are your mama's?" ans she said "well, i lied about that." i said "why? where are you?" she said "don't get mad..." and i said "if you are at my house, i'm gonna kick your..." and the door bell rang. well i cry like a baby and she was shaking b/c she didn't know if i would hold to my threat. (see, i do NOT like surprises. i have control issues. we already know that.) but i could not have been more excited to see her. i turned around and looked at micah and said "did you know about this?" and the two of them had planned it a week ago!! yall, i love my husband, but he's not what you would call...spontaneous. and i'm in complete shock he held that for a week. anyway, she handed me a card that said we had a 10 AM appointment for a massage, then we were going to Red Lobster for some crab legs and then to do some shopping or pedicures or whatever.

how awesome is that???

so saturday morning, we went to the spa for our massage where the woman talked the entire time, but a massage in any form for me at that time was great. (and don't start me on getting lost alllll around downtown HSV to get there.) we each got 1.5 lbs of crab and ate every little knuckle and claw. We got in some shopping, but i started feeling guilty, like i always do, that micah was home with them and i wasn't there to help. like i said earlier...he is super dad. i don't worry about their care, just that he has worked all week and i'm sure he needs some down time too. anyway, monica told us if we wanted to go to supper alone that she would watch the kids. and micah said that was fine. we just stuck around athens and went to eat mexican and ran to walmart and kmart looking for a jumperoo for the sis. and that was stretching it b/c i called after walmart and she got on to me and said we couldn't come home yet. everybody needs a monica. oh...did i mention that i didn't have to pay for my massage or crab legs? and when i got home from my day, my laundry was all done and my living room floor was mopped and the dishes were washed? see...super dad. i think i'll hand in my resignation and see if he wants to stay home. we'll have to live in a box b/c he makes more than i would as a nurse, but i'm sure it's a job he'd want (heehee...i asked before and he said no.)

aaaannnddd...i took a nap yesterday afternoon. people, it was awesome. i asked her to come back next weekend, but she said something like she has a husband or something lame like that. so it was the only time i have ever ever been surprised and it was completely worth it!!