The Circus.

I'm forfeiting any possibility of a nap right now to write this blog. Please say someone, somewhere appreciates that I'm doing this or that someone someday will. Sigh. 

I have no actual circus to post about today folks. Just our family as of late. Three kids three and under. It really is a circus. And a zoo. And a jungle. And a freak-show. And just as all of those things have their splendor and wonder and happiness, they also have their clowns with the maniacal laughter that everyone has nightmares about. You haven't heard of those laughing clowns that live in the jungle? Oh. You should get with it then. 

Truth be told, I am adjusting to three babes better than I did to two. People always told me having three kids is the real breaker because the number of munchkins outnumber the adults. But as a stay-at-home mom, you're outnumbered already with two kids. And I don't think this transition is easier. No no, not at all. It's just that I'm frazzled and I can't get anything done but I'm used to it by now. It hasn't been that way in my life since having three kids. It's been that way basically since becoming a mommy. I'm lots more comfortable with it now than I used to be. 

There was a day when I was really pregnant with Scarlett and Lucy was fingerpainting in her poop or other such behavior and I was losing it thinking about having more babies. Really losin' it. And everyone kept telling me, "I'm so sorry! But it does get easier!" And I just kept thinking, How on earth could that be? I only have one kid right now! And counsel I received that was actually most liberating was, "It doesn't get easier. You just get used to getting less done."

And so I've come to learn it is true. While Scarlett is napping right now, I'm sitting here nursing Isla and trying to type this with one hand. And this is going on directly beside me: 

She's not fingerpainting in her poop anymore. She's way too refined for that now. It's pudding. She's evolved into such a lady. See how I so easily could be napping right now?

Speaking of Lucy, we went up to Idaho this week and stayed with my parents because Jason had some business to attend to in Texas. Lucy has a favorite Idaho friend named Jake who is six years old, (she's always had a thing for older men, wonder where she gets it). He lives right across the yard from my parents. Jake was over playing at Grammy's house one day. My mom was showing Jake how tiny Isla's hands and feet are and Lucy was thrilled to stand by being the big sister of the show-and-tell item of the day. Then Isla started rooting around and I said, "Hey guys I think she's getting hungry, I better feed her." And then Lucy immediately turned to Jake and casually said, "Do you want to yook at my mom's boob? It's really cool."

And even though it was clearly Lucy who should have felt like a creep with that offer, it was me who felt like the creep. I avoided eye contact with him the rest of the day. Look Jake, I'm sustaining human life here, so just stop judging me. And don't. you. dare. tell anyone in the first grade about this. And it is cool. I mean, they both are.

And then there's Scarlett. She asked for some chocolate out of the Easter stash the other day and I told her she could have them if she finished her bowl of mixed nuts first. She loves them. Then about 2.3 seconds later, I hear her yell, "Aaaaalll done mommy! Treat now!" So I came to inspect and was surprised at first at how quickly she ate them and was ready to give her a hi-five and hand over the bite sized twix.

...until I noticed the bulge underneath the wooden place mat. 

Really Scarlett? Who do you think you're foolin'? Scarlett?  I had to eat the twix bar right in front of her to punish her. I even told her how delicious it was with every bite. Just kidding. I actually just thought she was pretty clever. So I stood there speechless for a moment and then still hi-fived her and handed over the twix.

She's into the terrible twos for sure but she's also just so charming and adorable that I don't really know what to do with her. In fact, her latest thing is to pinch/scratch Lucy and put herself in time out before I even say anything to her. So she just does her dirty work and then runs over to sit on the stairs (our designated time out spot) yelling, "Big trouble!" while she's high tailing it over there. So... the time out thing must be effective with her, right? I'm gonna have to figure something else out.

And the other day while driving home from Heber we took a detour and stopped by cascade springs. Utah has so many beautiful places but I feel like because we live here we don't go out of our way to see much of it. But it was a fun little jaunt and the girls loved all the many mini waterfalls.

Another effect of having a third child: I don't have the energy to fight my kids on what they want to wear, or to insist on doing their hair when they resist. So they look pretty much homeless a lot of the time. Case in point: Scarlett here. Backwards hat covering a rodent's nest, a big baggy jacket and no pants nor shoes. Spilled water all over her pants and I couldn't object to her stripping down. I also can't fight Lucy if she wants to be one big blob of pink. I've tried to tell her she's gotta have contrasting colors in her wardrobe. But I don't have it in me to fight her about it. They're loving this new mom.

Daddy and girls.

 And as far as an Isla update, she's still divine in every sense of the word. She is the sweetest and softest little angel on earth.

Hope you're all doing well out there and have it together as much as I do. Because I don't at all. But I'm okay with it.