Life Happens

That's a phrase our principal uses from time to time when he talks about things not going exactly according to plan.

Well, that was this morning.

Yesterday, Kristie's father and step-mother paid us a visit, along with their grandkids.  Kristie's brother, Brian, and his girlfriend, Jenna, and their two kids also came over, as did Kristie's best-friend Tricia.

We had a house full.  By the time everyone hit the road, Cash was tired and fell asleep really early, around five o'clock.

We were hoping that he'd be so tired that he'd make it all the way through the night.

That didn't happen.  At about 11:30 we heard Cash out in the hallway, and I took him downstairs.  He was wide awake and wanted to watch one of his favorite shows, The Super Hero Squad, on the iPad.  Then he wanted to watch Captain America.  Then Spiderman and His Amazing Friends.  Then The Hulk.  By the time he was ready to go back to bed, it was 3:00 am.

So it was back to bed for a few hours of sleep until Kenz woke up ready to go at 6 am.

So it was time for a quick shower and to get her ready for school.  This was compounded by the fact that yesterday was the first real snowfall and cold temperatures that we've had.  So that means bundling Kenz up in her new winter coat and her snow pants.  It also means finding her boots from last year.

This, normally, wouldn't have been so bad except when Cash woke up he was a bear.  And I'm hardly using a metaphor there.

He was angry.

At first he didn't want to get dressed.  Then he wanted to wear his Captain America costume to daycare.  When I finally found it and put it on him, he decided he didn't want to wear any clothes underneath his costume.

Well, that is not an option.  Now Glenda is a saint at her daycare and doesn't care if the kids show up dressed as any Super Hero they wish, but Cash had to have clothes on underneath.

While all of this is unfolding, Kristie and I are trying (vainly) to get dressed and ready for work.

While Cash is having a meltdown, I escorted Kenzie out to the bus stop and waited with her until the bus came.

When I (somewhat reluctantly) went back to the house to grab Cash, I feared the worst.

Yet, when I walked in, there was Cash decked out in his Captain America costume with his coat and boots on.  I tell you Kristie is a miracle worker.  She had even found his all important Captain America shield.

In all of this insanity, I forgot to pack my computer (I didn't even brew any coffee!! That might be a first in 10 years)!

So while I was busy packing up my laptop, Cash started freaking out about his coat.

I tried to reassure him that we'd be leaving in a minute.

But in that minute, Cash was able to take his coat off and stash it somewhere.

For the life of me, I couldn't find where he hid it either!  Finally, he showed up where he had it stashed - beneath the chair at the desk in our living room.

By this time he was bawling how it choked him.

I reassured him that I wouldn't zip it up around his neck, and I was able to coax him into the coat.

By this time I had sent our principal telling him that Cash had a meltdown and that I'd be late.

To make matters worse, I had to drive slow due to the icy roads.  Even worse than that, I got stuck behind two busses on my way to Glenda's.

Finally, as I pulled up to Glenda's Cash decided that he didn't want to wear his costume after all.  And now he was beginning to throw a fit over that.

Oh man, this day was starting out as a five star day!

I was able to get him inside, take him out of his costume, and put everything away when Glenda came up the stairs.  The poor little guy was pretty tired and cuddled up with Glenda and snuggled with her.

That still left me with a few minutes to try and get to school.  It wasn't so bad.  Until I got stuck behind four busses over by the middle school!

Life happens, indeed.  I just wish it wouldn't happen all at once so much in the mornings!