Embolden by my shopping trip yesterday, I decided to venture out for a play date this morning.

Here is what I felt I needed for a two hour stay at the park. The double stroller is already in the trunk. I’m pleased to say I used most of it.

Ben picked his outfit today and decided that 5 year old shorts and rain boots on this sunny, 85° day would be perfect. The twins look like they are second guessing the attire. I guess it was better than yesterday, when he decided to pick Jack up from school in his Hulk halloween costume.

Once again I was shocked at how well it went. Except for a bit of crying on the way home, the twins were angels. They didn’t need constant holding and played peacefully in the pack and play. Since I didn’t have a free hand, Ben very nicely held the stroller until we entered the park.

Pam helped me carry our stuff back to the car, but we made it there on our own and were all set up by the time everyone else arrived.

Max and Hamish Play with the Twins

This week Jack is in school but Ben doesn’t start until next week. However, my fall schedule has kicked in. This means I will only have a helper when I have all four kids to care for after school. In the mornings I’m on my own.

I planned to lay low all week and not do much before help arrived. What could I possibly accomplish with three kids under 3?

But yesterday I realized we were not going to make it through the week without more wipes, diapers or formula. So, I took a leap of faith and did this…

This picture was taken by my friend Pam, who I ran into by chance. She has three kids but only had one with her this morning. Ironically when I saw her she was completely frazzled. The school had just called because she didn’t leave a change of clothes for her kid and he had an accident. The other child who was with her just had a big poop and needed changing. She came in for some umbrellas for the kids and left $168 lighter with no umbrellas to speak of. She should probably start her own blog, she’s got a great sense of humor and these things seem to happen to her daily.

After target we made it over to Costco. This time I had one car seat in the cart, Ben up front sitting in the cart, and a twin strapped to my chest.

Somehow it all worked out. Seven trips back and forth to the car later we were in the house and ready for lunch. I was very proud of myself, but I also realized it was sheer luck they all behaved.

Other super mom feats I accomplished this morning – making a peanut butter sandwich one handed while holding a baby in the other and breast feeding standing up while holding a baby in one arm and patting another one on his back to sooth him to sleep.

This morning Jack started Kindergarten.

Luckily we’ve both been trained by two years of preschool. I knew the drill. I packed his lunch, I handed him his clothes, I kissed him goodbye. He and Adam walked out the door together. No tears for anyone.

It will be a totally different experience for him today, but for me it was just another year.

Jack expressed some nervousness about his new school. He was worried about the ‘big kids’. I felt bad for him and wished I could be with him to hold his hand and fend off these invisible ‘big kids’. When further probed, he was actually talking about 6 year olds. Ironically he’s bigger than most 6 year olds we’ve met!

As for me, anytime I’m down a kid things seem easier. In reality they are still difficult. I don’t have a stroller to fit all these kids so we are stuck at home. Running an errand would be impossible. There are more kids than can reasonably fit in a cart.

This morning both babies were tired for their nap at the same time so I had to take turns nursing and letting them cry while Ben sat outside the nursery door in his underwear, kicking the door for my attention. I was sweating by the end of it.

But there was victories as well. Ben pooped in the potty without me having to remind or push him. I just walked by and saw him sitting on the potty all by himself. It was amazing. This week while Jack is at school I’m working on getting him to pull his own pants down to pee. He may just make it to school after all! (His first day is next week)

“What are the odds our kids have two foot injuries in one weekend?” Adam asked me as we were all driving over to the emergency room this Labor Day afternoon.

I don’t know. What are the odds we would have twins? What are the odds that a girl who lives in China ends up meeting her future husband, who lives in Chicago, at a wedding in Jamaica? Maybe we do have a chance at winning the lottery after all, I thought. I’d almost given up.

Yesterday Ben fell off a chair and hurt his foot. He has been walking on the outside of his right foot since then. He didn’t cry much and was very cheerful, completely undisturbed by this new limp he’d developed.

We wondered if perhaps he’d broken his toe? He didn’t seem bothered enough, though.

“It’s Ben!” Adam and I exclaimed, as we often do when this cheerful, good natured boy takes something in stride.

Jack pulled opened his costume drawer this morning so hard that it fell all the way out and landed on his foot. The base of his big toe nail started turning purple. Unlike Ben, he cried a lot and expected to be carried all day.

After a lot of ice and heavy lifting, Adam decided to bring them both in, just in case.

The doctor determined that Ben’s cheery attitude signified that his foot and toe were fine.

They did an ex-ray on Jack. No damage either. Thank goodness.

Next month Adam will be kicking himself that we switched to the high deductible insurance now that we are finished with the baby making years.

More Labor Day Entertainment – Jack builds Ben a ‘fort’ in our bed.