Just Breathe...

I am certain homework is from the devil.  There is no question in my mind.  Why wouldn't it be?  Our family was having a perfect afternoon (meaning I was able to do what I wanted/needed to do while the kids were playing nicely by themselves) until I said those dreaded words, " IT'S HOMEWORK TIME!!".  I swear something happens when those words are spoken.  Suddenly the kids picture me with a pitchfork and horns, and I picture them no longer as sweet little "leave it to beaver" kids and more like snot-nosed brats (a little harsh, yes?  well, as you can tell, we JUST finished homework, so I might be exaggerating a wee bit.)  Those little words can transform most fun-loving families in to total monsters.  ugh.  So, Noahs homework was to put his spelling words in alphabetical order.  Kate's homework was to decorate a paper Christmas Tree (surprising they are still allowed to call it a Christmas Tree).  Easy enough, eh?  Que the CHAOS.  Kate needs sissors, Noah needs sissors, Kara HAS the sissors and is about to cut her hair.  Take the sissors from Kara, give them to Noah.. cue Kate crying because she asked for sissors first... which leads to Noah doing his *evil* laugh because brother got them first and not Kate.  All the while, Kara starts screaming because SHE wants the freakin' sissors back.  We get over the sissor drama.  I have Kate coloring and glueing, Kara thinking she is doing homework and Noah .... wait... where is Noah???   Ugh, he is back in the living room.  Get Noah back at the table...he gets the sissors back (he has to cut out words and put them in alphabetical order..) which starts sissor drama... again.  We get that settled... again.  Must start dinner.. Turn around and Kara is putting on jewelry.  Innocent enough, right!?  Nope.  She is coloring jewelry on herself.  Nice.  Whatever, she is quiet.  We will deal with ink poisening when we must.. for now, I MUST. START. DINNER.  Noah says he is done.  I leave the dinner that I haven't started yet.. and go look.  His alphabetizing goes as follows:  SANTA, BELLS, JINGLE, SNOW, STARS, TREE, ELF, REINDEER, etc.  What the????????  Trying to remain calm (who am I kidding, the calmness went out the window with the sissor episode)  I "politely" ask him how in the world that this is alphabetical order??  He shrugs and asks when Daddy is coming home.  I refrain from saying something really smart mouthed and just shrug (after all, that's HIS answer to everything... so mature, mom, so mature...).   Then he proceeds to put cotton up his nose (why, yes, this IS the 8 year old)...  Got the cotton out of his nose (the cotton was from decorating kate's christmas tree), look over my shoulder at the dinner NOT prepared. I try and explain alphabetical order... again.  He stares at me like I'm some freak.  Kate's almost done with her tree.  I give up on dinner, and order pizza.  Chris comes home, I give him and look and tell him  I'm going to take a bath.  I'm DONE.
 Pizza is here, Noah is working on homework with Dad (which goes much smoother than working with mom...), and I have the girls in the bath.  How am I going to do this during busy season soon???  Oh, help!!!

***Rest assured life has gotten easier lately, and homework, too.   I think we are all just tired, so we are not on the best behavior.  We are also all giddy about Christmas, which makes homework much more difficult.  They are now being sweet again, and so is mommy.  Some people oppose to telling such stories on a blog.  Let me explain myself.  Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one in the world who has nutty nights with crazy kids, but then I will happen across a blog where a "less than perfect night" is going on, and it makes me feel a little better.  Most days here are better than not.  Most days we are having fun and making good memories, but we are also normal.  Well, maybe not completely normal, but you get my drift.  I've learned that its ok to tell people your faults and struggles, it might just help someone who is struggling to know they aren't alone.

I'm off to make sure the homework got alphabetized, the tree got colored, and the dishes need to be washed and put away.  I hope everyone has had a fabulous Tuesday, and I will be back tomorrow.. and yes, that is a threat!  :)