Chaos is the name of the game

Alicia & I like to try & get together during the summer when she sucks & is off work to hang out for the day.  I think we enjoy it for different reasons... I enjoy the fun conversation, the laughing, the catching up & the fact that her children are great birth control.  She likes it because she enjoys laughing at me whilst I watch the chaos that is her life unfold in front of me...

To my great dismay pleasure, she had accidentally on purpose picked up a friend of Sam's during her child pick up that morning.  She says, "Eh, What's one more?"  I say, "WHAT?  WHY would you do that?"

(Ok-if you're new here - you know this is all in jest.  That extra little boy was no problem the whole day.  I know his parents  - he was more quiet all day than her kids anyway...)

When Sam saw me, he smiled this HUGE grin, walked over to me & kind of punched me.  (not hard or anything - he was playing around.)  THEN - he hugged me.  That's our relationship & I'm ok w/ that...

 First stop was lunch at Chick-fil-a.  It's always packed & we had quite the crew.  Alicia got all teacher on them & started waving that finger.

 'Jake-you want chicken nuggets, right?'  (And NOOOO Jake did not want nuggets - it was quite the scene when we sat down to eat & he refused...)

 It's like a well oil machined feeding this army.  I just watch in amazement hoping no one thinks any of those tiny humans belong to me.

 Jake perked up & quit pouting when it was time for ice cream.  He's a sweet little guy & took his sister up to get hers.  Then he had his arm around her when he walked her back to the table.

If you think this momentary act of kindness makes me wanna have kids - you don't know me at all.

 Nora worked on that ice cream until it was liquid.  

 I may or may not have encouraged her to lick it off the table. 

(But only after she had already done it & I wasn't quick enough w/ my camera... 

She already had the germs in her mouth, people...No harm, no foul...)

 We went to the library & then home to let the boys play on their Kindles.  Nora wanted to watch Frozen & Alicia & I were just gonna hang out.  We talked while I followed her around the house while she cleaned up & did laundry.  I've decided she doesn't have to run because she had to have covered 5 miles in her house while I was there.  She'd clean up something, a kid would appear, stuff would appear, kid would disappear, she'd clean it up - again...

Nora was cranky & tired but wouldn't sit still on the couch to take a nap.  She was up re-arranging lamps & knick knacks.  Alicia chastised her for that & added, 'It's like Brad McAfee's at my house!'  (B-rad thoroughly enjoys moving stuff around when he goes to their house to annoy Alicia...)  Alicia gave her the choice of sitting in her bed or sitting on the couch to watch Frozen.  And she doesn't play - those were the choices & that was it.  And she doesn't forget.  She's a childs nightmare!  Like you know how they try to wear you down so you just give up?  Nope, not Alicia McAfee.  She just kept telling Nora her choices until Nora decided to sit on the couch & watch Frozen... And she fell asleep 3 minutes later...  She said, 'You probably think I'm the meanest mom ever.'  I said, "Hell no - I love it you make your kids mind!" 

Nora woke up like 3 hours later - her hair was in shambles...she gets that from her mother.  

 Alicia was having the Sandy's styles van come that night so Nora had to get ready for the girl party.  

How do you think she felt about getting her hair brushed?

LOOK AT THOSE POUTY LIPS. 

 Alicia said, 'Ok-fine - you're not going to be able to go to the girl party if I don't brush your hair...' & she perked up & said, "Mom - you can bwush my hair".  She put in 2 of her favorite bows, added jewelry & she was perfectly happy.  Hmph, kids...

 Notice the camo sunglasses?  Seriously...

 Lucky Poor Daniel was running late getting home because there was a problem on the interstate.  Alicia had to get out the blower to clean off the front porch.  (In the spirit of full disclosure I don't know for SURE that she did it because Daniel was running late... but it's funnier this way - just go w/ it...) We DID have to consult Daniel on how to start it - we had to do everything but stand on our heads - flip the switch, pump it 5 times, pull it 3 times...

 We got it started & it ran out of gas... Lord have mercy...

 She was forced to use a broom instead...

 Jake was quite helpful in telling her where to sweep.

 He wanted to help her fold laundry so he sat on the bed & leaned back on the clothes.  I said, "Hang on, Jake - I'll take your picture."  Alicia was in the other room & she said, "Jake - get up!  You're going to wrinkle the clothes."  I said, "Oh sorry -that's my fault - I told him I wanted to take his picture."  She said, 'OH?  It was planned?  Ok then - no problem.'  True blogger right there...

 Jake folded 2.4 articles of clothing & he was over it.

 Last year when their immediate family descended on my in-laws houseboat they had a camping spot reserved but decided to stay in a cabin instead w/ the rest of their family.  We decided a year ago that she would reschedule the spot & voila - the plan was born for all of us to go to the lake together!  (UHM no one can accuse US of not being planners.  SOOO opposite of our husbands!)  That's gonna happen in a couple of weeks.  I know you can't wait to read HER version of the day & then read MY real version... 

Fun day w/ a fun friend.  Thanks for the good conversation, the laughs & the birth control.  You're the best...