Why I can't go anywhere quickly & why my purse is a backpack

So I know I should have come to this realization months ago, but I recently had an epiphany.  My life came to me in a clear view on an attempted Costco trip one afternoon...

We were visiting my parent's house at the end of our spring break and, on our way back home from an outing, my mom mentioned she needed to pick up a couple items at Costco.  So I thought: Great idea! We'll run in really quick and then head home to put the younger two down for naps.  Not that we had any big plans for the day and we had been on a staycation of sorts for the past several days but the "quick stop" that I had imagined was anything but that. I was not upset by it because it was what it was, but it just made me realize the kind of life I am running these days.

We went into Costco and, disappointingly, they did not have their usual plentiful samples.  On top of which it was lunchtime which meant my kids cleared my entire "snack bag" out in a matter of minutes and were still begging for more.  Then, I got a call from my sister (who was stuck in traffic) and wasn't about to miss out on the conversation because she had just met our future sister in law and was calling with details to fill me and my mom in on how the weekend was going (since neither of us have met her and were anxious to hear about her!)

I was more than slightly distracted on the phone (#1 rule when shopping with 4 kids: Don't attempt a phone conversation, or any conversation other than containing and pacifying them) and my mom and I were both pushing carts around aimlessly.  The two carts were not because we had a lot of items to purchase, but that we had some restless kids who we had to place strategically far from each other and contained in said carts.  Even with our efforts the kids seemed to be playing musical chairs and needing to switch locations in the carts every couple minutes.

We finally made it through the check out line at which point I handed off the phone to my mother but, due to my distraction, forgot to purchase our food court items at the check out which meant a SUPER long, slow line in the "non-pre-paid area" with four hungry kiddos and no room for carts.  We made our purchases, got everyone settled down with the junk food and I had a brilliant (which ended up to be not-so-brilliant) thought: Opportune time to feed the baby! Then she will sleep on the way home.  So I fed the baby not so discreetly in the costco food court during which she empties her bowels.  All over not only her entire outfit and up the back, but all over the front of me as well.  Yay!! While I am ending feeding her on one side Lilly begins her "Potty emergency!" chant and we speed off to the bathroom. 

All I could be thankful for at this point was the fact that my Mom was with us, a rare opportunity that afforded me the chance to take only these two kids with potty emergencies to the bathroom. Well, I suppose I was also very grateful we were in America, especially a Costco, that had a changing table, toilet paper, soap, and running water because goodness knows I've been to plenty of toilets without these luxuries!  I got us all cleaned up and returned in time for Jonas to have pooped his diaper and for Jocelyn to be needing a bathroom desperately.  My mom and I swapped kids and repeated the procedure.

I have to point out I wasn't upset. I was getting a little worn out, true, but mostly just ready to be headed home.  My children were all losing it a little at this point as well so I figured we'd just get everyone in the car and they could fall asleep or at least be contained while we headed home!  But, of course, not before I decided that we should probably get gas at Costco too which, if you didn't know, can be quite a lengthy attempt on a Friday afternoon. 

So, our "quick stop" ended up being over an hour which I should have just embraced to begin with.  This also explains why I have to carry a backpack with me everywhere instead of a stylish purse. I have to have equipment ready for any of these emergencies/everyday occurrences and even though I get weird looks when I am sporting a backpack into a clothing store (you may need to check that up front, what is it for?) or the dentist (Oh! I thought you were  student, but that makes sense now, you're a mother of 4 kids under 6 yrs!) Anyhow...Now that I've made the mental transition to the fact that I can't stop anywhere quickly, I am fine with it.  I just somehow missed that fact until now.

4 kids Easter Morning

3 older kids at breakfast one morning