A Single Mom of 3

Here is how I spent last week while my bro and his wife traveled to Europe. I was left home alone with the 3 boys and had a long week ahead of me.

This is Baby. He can be adorable and cuddly or fussy and emotional. I like to catch him on the good days and overlook the bad ones.

Monday night we went to the beach for Family Home Evening. I got a Costco pizza, made homemade lemonade and chocolate chip cookies, and hit the sand.

Only one problem. It was high tide. There wasn't sand to play on.

So the kids ran around on the ramp and rocks, only resulting in one child loosing blood.

Tuesday was happy Canada Day! Of course we had to celebrate Peter's heritage with hot dogs and RockBand.

Laura and Peter...

Boredom kicked in by Wednesday, but I was entertained by Baby's many poses at lunch.

Who doesn't love a good Cheetos's face?

Laura invited us to fireworks at the high school Thursday (the 3rd. My city missed the memo that it is the 4th of July).

On Friday Baby and I went to the beach with Krystie, Troy, and Mike. Saturday was my last day of Mommy duty so we piled in the mini van and enjoyed bowling in Poway. Am I the only one that feels dirty walking into a bowling alley? Has anyone really been to a new bowling alley? I can't imagine the rich and famous bowling in a run down place. I want to find their alleys.

Life lessons I learned this week:

-Having children is a LOT of work. I keep reminding myself that they usually come one at a time, and with a husband.

- Birth control is a great option. Being Catholic tainted my views of birth control, but my perspective has changed.

- Children want love and attention. Baby would scream out whenever he couldn't find me... " MEA GAN" I think he was afraid I had abandon them all.

-Good sleep, or sleep at all, doesn't happen when you are a mom. I made the mistake of telling the kids that if they woke up in the middle of the night for any reason, to wake me up. That means that if they stirred at all, they came running. I would wake up every night to a new kid in my bed, and me urging them back into their own bed. I even had the opportunity to do laundry in the middle of the night when a bed was wet.

-A 2 year old can break an 8 year old's nose. Plastic golf club.

- When a 6 year old is stubborn, but you are more stubborn, you can get them to eat grapes. Even if it takes 40 minutes.

-While you might have energy to make homemade lemonade and cookies at the beginning of the week, you will be running to McDonald's and Rubio's by the end of the week.

-Naps aren't long enough to finish laundry or dishes, but just long enough to catch up on shows you've Tivo'ed like "So You Think You can Dance" and "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List"

- I love my nephews. I wouldn't change them for the world. Being a mom is a great experience I'm sure, but being an Aunt is even better. There is nothing more wonderful when a child calls your name to comfort them when they are sad or hurt and being able to give them back at the end of the week.