UGH.................

….the best word or shall I say retort, to describe when Rich is away.

I’d like to think I have learned a few things over the years of what to do and what NOT to do when the hubby is away.

Things like: go easy on my self, plan simple dinners for quick clean-up, keep an emergency stash of chocolate on hand, enjoy the kids instead of stressing about a clean house (that’s still a kicker for me), AND go to bed early!

The latter is quite important as I need a good 8-hours of sleep and it is no secret I am NOT a morning person. Fortunately, for the whole fam, Rich is a 6-hour (give or take) a night sleeper and rises with ease in the morning. So naturally he has "kid duty" each morning while I get a few extra winks of sleep. It makes for a great set-up (when he is home that is)!

Well I was feeling rather up-beat last night and there was a cute movie on TV, which is a rarity! So I did not retire until 11:00 p.m. I know for most that is a normal bedtime but it is considered late for me. I climbed into bed and quickly did the math: 11:00-6:00 a.m., oh no, only 7 hours of sleep and that is if we make it til 6 with no interruptions. Grateful, I had my vitamin B shot earlier that day. Perhaps that will make up for the lost hour, I thought. As soon as I shut my eyes my “UGH” began to unfold:

11:07 p.m. - I heard a moan uttered by my little Romeo, and then a tumble and soon Blake was at my bedside.

Me- “What’s wrong Blake”?
Blake- “Nothing”……long moan
Me- “Do you need help getting back to bed?”
Blake-“Yes”….moan…moan…moan

We made a quick pit-stop and then surprisingly Blake climbed back into his bed rather easily. As I pulled the covers up, I conveyed a quick prayer (or plea) that there would be no more interruptions and that somehow I would be a happy mom in the morning.

3:02 a.m. - 3:07 a.m. - Loud cries from Tori’s room
Fortunately, I have learned to wait it out and we both drifted back to sleep.

5:00 a.m. - LOUD birds chirping outside my window….the signs of spring nearing!
Pulled pillow over my head and sacrilegiously prayed…."Lord, pleasssseeee, help the kids not to wake anytime soon!"

5:46 a.m. – Bang, crash….sounds of Blake reading quietly (NOT) in his bed. Yes, I still had a pillow over my head….that is how loud Blake “reads”.

Did I mention my kids ALL take after their dad in the “rising early” category?

5:55 a.m. – Surprisingly, it is Skyler not Blake that has been sooo noisy, “Mom is it time to get up yet?” “Noooo honey, come lie down”. She replies, “Just making sure, you do have a tendency to oversleep.”
Good thing I have an accountability partner….not that I asked for one.

5:59 a.m. - Cute coos and babbles from Tori’s room.
There is no escaping it; my “night” is officially over….UGH!!!!!!!!

6:15 a.m. – I hear the most glorious sounds and a wonderful aroma begins to fill the house! The Grind-and-Brew went on and my one hope of “waking up” is on its way!

6:24 a.m. - My lips are firmly pressed against a hot cup of freshly brewed Starbucks coffee. The “UGH” is replaced with “UMMMMMM”!!!!!!

I guess my day won’t be so bad after all!