Despite my laziest intentions

Tonight. I'm tired. I'm almost always hungry, and tired. Just par for the course being pregnant, chasing a three year old around all day, and having daddy out of town working for a few weeks. I don't mean to complain, just explaining what is. So tonight, my plan... Renee has dance class on Wednesday nights, after which we usually take Apollo to the park to romp and go potty. But I also needed to go to the grocery store, and I still havn't played my trumpet yet today. Not a huge list of things to do, but I just didn't have a lot of time to get it all done.

Dance class ends at 6:30pm, after which we usually go to get some ice cream from Four Queens Dairy Cream. So we went home to change Renee out of her leotard and pick up the grocery list, then drove over and waited in line to get ice cream. I was thinking of going to the grocery store right after getting ice cream, but it takes a little while to finish eating, so we drove back home to get Apollo and take him to the park. The dog could romp while Renee and I sat in the car finishing our ice cream. We got to the park, and Renee (as usual) was begging me to let her out of the car so she can go play, but I (as usual) told her no, because it's too late and we have too much other stuff to do. Then my plan starts to derail.

We sat in the van for a few minutes before I could let Apollo out because a small kid with his father and their wagon were walking by and I didn't want Apollo to scare them. Remember, I wanted to just sit in the car while Apollo romped himself, so I didn't feel like herding him away from people. I was getting a little impatient waiting to let Apollo out and started looking around us at other areas of the park. Maybe instead of the field, we could go to the track? Then I spotted our friends Serenity and Marlin and their dog Colby! Well, we drove over and I rolled down my window to say hello, and Apollo starts barking loudly and Renee starts screaming for me to let her out. I give in. We park, and I let Apollo out to say hello to his good doggie friend, and I let Renee out, too. Renee goes running full speed across the parking lot with open arms to run and get lifted up by Marlin. What a cute greeting! Serenity and Marlin are heading home, but we chat for a few minutes. I load up Apollo in the van and prepare to load up Renee. That's when she runs.

We say our goodbyes to Serenity and Marlin and Renee takes off full speed for the playground toys. There's no way I can keep up with her. I tried to yell and convince her to come back to her Mommy, but she was completely focused on her target. So, I give in again, let Apollo out of the van (when I discover that the stupid dog has eaten the rest of my ice cream!) and we all head for the playground. Eventually I round up kid and dog to the track where we start to run a laps. Renee then informs me that she peed a little bit in her pants, which was just the excuse I needed to load everyone back up and leave the park. "It's not bad, Mom" Renee informs me. But I still want to get her home and change her pants before we go to the grocery store.

Then we run into our old neighbors at the park! They've brought their kids, Alice and Frank to play for awhile. I completely forget about Renee's possibly wet pants and the kids all run again back to the playground. At least I've got Apollo loaded in the van! Renee and Alice and Frank have a blast running and chasing and screaming and climbing! It really was just what Renee needed! Her friends are much more fun than her Mommy! But it was fun for Mommy, too, catching up with *my* friends! And what a treat to chat with my old neighbors Kelly and John (yes we do have exactly the same names!) and my friends Serenity and Marlin! I just hadn't budgeted for that much time in my evening routine!

Eventually we all head for home, Frank and Alice riding their bikes and Renee running full speed after them. In case you missed it earlier, I can't keep up with Renee anymore. Not while I'm pregnant anyhow- she ran so fast I decided to hop in the van to catch up with her across the other side of the park and school yard. When I got on foot again I caught up with Renee heading behind the school, still running full speed. This time she stopped and came to me when I called her! I scooped her up and she informed me she was looking for Frank and Alice! My busy little girl! All the kids finally slowed down and we said our goodbyes and finally Renee (reluctantly) got loaded in the van. (At this point I decide that Renee is BANNED from going to park ever again until her Daddy is home and can chase her if she runs!)

So from there we went to the grocery store, got everything on our list and just as I'm picking up my last item, a carton of milk, another nice customer smiles and says to Renee, "My, you're pretty wound up for 8:30pm at night! Aren't you tired?" Renee just gives her a coy smile, and I suddenly realize how late it really is! Groceries loaded in the van, kid buckled up, finally heading back home- it is now 8:40pm. Why are we out so late??

Then, as if it couldn't get funnier (or later) I'm getting Renee tucked into bed and she shows me an owie on her knee. Looks like a small splinter, but it's red and puffy like it's been there for awhile. So I decide to try and take it out. That was a mistake since we were both tired. Renee said it hurts and she didn't want me to touch it. I did succeed in trying to grab the splinter, but with no success, and lots of tears and drippy nose and screaming. So we *finally* call it quits, eat some jelly beans and go to bed.

I'm so tired. Really, what do I do that makes me feel so busy all the time? Hold on, I'm hungry... hold that thought!