But that's not now, that's then.
Today, while busy and messy, was gooooood.
It started out cripplingly early thanks to a four a.m. thunderstorm (must...get...up...to... close...windows...), followed immediately by a bedwetting (with requisite shower and relocation to mamma and pappa's room), and then a strong-willed almost-two-year-old deciding that five-something-unhuman was an awesome time to get up and start complaining.
But today all of it was amusing. Especially when Angus, who has been a champ at potty training (hooray!), told me I wasn't allowed to use the bathroom anymore.
Nei, Mamma! Mia! MI-A! (That's a Norwegian-Spanish double-punch.) And this picture is remarkably true to my experience since he was blurry because my eyes hadn't fully adjusted. I had to try really hard to not laugh.
Seriously, Gussy, Mamma has to use the potty. May I please use the potty?
This might look like the face of compromise. It isn't.
Gussy, I'll use it really fast and then you can get on again! I'll take the ducky off. You can hold the ducky while Mamma uses the potty!
No mercy. I had to peel him off and listen to the wailing while I hurredly heeded the call. Have you ever tried to go to the bathroom while a baby is screaming and banging his head on the floor? It's not as satisfying as you might think.
ONWARD!
Then it was breakfast in bed for the sleepers. Cooking while child-minding was made easier once I gave grumpy Gussy an apple and then another apple, because he's decided that as soon as they are bitten a few times they are aesthetically displeasing and must be cast aside.
The breakfast was a success.
Bine went off to school. Gussy also determined today that naps are for sissies so he only did thirty minutes before climbing out of his crib and refusing to return. This is the kid who usually puts away three hours like they're nothing. We were in foreign, emotionally unstable territory. At least it wasn't me this time.
Bine came home and quickly got to work on Mickey's gender reassignment.
"I gave him eyelashes, so now he's Minnie."
Then Angus came running in reporting a gecko behind the door to the playroom. But it wasn't a gecko. It was our first kitchen...
I'll take these over roaches. A. n. y. d. a. y.
They're so photogenic; symmetric like a supermodel. Gangly yet curvy.
We called Bine, the self-declared Animal Rescuer, who took charge. The critter was released on the boat ramp, full family present (including Su), giving it the ceremonial tone of a goldfish flushing.
Next Gussy went nuts tickling Tito's feet while he was up on the ladder caulking moldings. Totally delirious ("Ti-to toe! Ti-to toe!"), but at least he wasn't demanding apples and then throwing them over the balcony into the sea for a minute.
Then I took a picture of these bananas from our tree on the hill for my father-in-law who loves them.
Then Jennifer and the boys came over and the kids fell repeatedly and got mild concussions but were too excited about playing in all the boxes to give a hoot. Which was really funny and great. And Jennifer helped me locate a rotty smell in the play room that had been driving me nuts all day. You might guess who was responsible for the almost-black, half-eaten apple under the sofa.
I also had a cup of coffee, something I don't do very much anymore and thus I am up at 10:12 contemplating baking something with layers, or starting a novel, or going for a run (wow, caffeine is a serious drug), when I should be in bed because there could be thunderstorms and bedwettings and cute/feisty babies with agendas at five in the morning.
I also had a cup of coffee, something I don't do very much anymore and thus I am up at 10:12 contemplating baking something with layers, or starting a novel, or going for a run (wow, caffeine is a serious drug), when I should be in bed because there could be thunderstorms and bedwettings and cute/feisty babies with agendas at five in the morning.
Finally, there was a masterpiece sunset. One of the best things about life in Utila is this view, this enormous sky.
And of course, this guy.
