Seriously - So Glad Jake is Home

So.. Jake was gone for an entire week.  I have to say I have a new respect for my sister Teri, who has to do this for an entire year while her husband is gone with the military.  Most days went pretty good... but for some reason that "are you serious" moment almost always happens to me on Sundays.  Maybe  it is because I rarely take my kids out in public if I have to juggle all three of them alone.  I almost threw in the towel and went home after Trey's third tantrum and that many trips out to the hall.

This sketch doesn't even come close to how stressed I was feeling.  Trey was extra grumpy because he had a lousy nap and a late night.  He hadn't eaten lunch because he woke up right before we left.  He didn't want the cheese I brought him and kept yelling for a cookie at the top of his lungs.  I was juggling snacks, coloring books and whining kids.  We arrived later than normal, so we had to sit in the back on fold up chairs (I was happy that at least we were near a door and I didn't have to walk in front of too many people repeatedly).  To top it all of I had decided to wear a button up dress.  I saw it in my closet and thought "hmmm I haven't worn that dress for so long" -- As soon as I got to church I remembered why!  UGH--  The buttons kept coming open and it is hard to do up buttons and juggle at the same time. 

I thought if I can just make it through the first hour, I can take the kids to class and relax a while.  When I took Trey to the nursery I noticed there was not a second person in there.  I had substituted the past 2 weeks and vaguely remembered they had said 2 or 3.  Needless to say, I did not get a relaxing break for the next 2 hours (although I better add that the kids were pretty well behaved-- so not too many complaints there).

Here is another picture of what happens when Jake is away --

My bed gets overrun even more than normal.  My mom used to let us sleep in her bed if my dad was away.  So I told the girls if they were good all week they could sleep in my bed over the weekend.  I guess Scotty thought he was invited too.

All I can say is --- Jake is home!  

Seriously - Who said Church Pews were for Sitting?

Ok --- so the last one didn't actually happen --  But really it wouldn't have surprised me.  

All I can say is that an hour is a long time for a 21 month old boy to sit still... and obviously it doesn't usually happen (unless sleep is involved).  

The first 4 sketches are real positions Jake or I wrestled Trey out of on Sunday as we tried to listen in sacrament meeting.   I guess when mom isn't the jungle gym, a church pew works pretty well too.  

Seriously - Last Night's Family Scripture Study

Sometimes I wonder why we bother...

Then I notice at least one child is listening... maybe the other two will when they get older.

Well, our family scripture study is never very peaceful, but last night felt even more crazy to me than normal.  Once again I became a human jungle gym... Somehow the cat slept through the chaos on my lap, as Trey climbed up and down, and up and down on my shoulders.  Tamsyn fought for space on my lap too, and kept singing "to help Scotty sleep" as she pet him. 

At least Natasha and Jake got something out of it, because I know I didn't hear much more than Jake stopping to ask Tamsyn to quit singing.