You Could Fry an Egg on Our Driveway

It's hot. My mind is fried. Involuntary abstinence does indeed suck. And the new Hy-Vee is sadly, just another grocer.

And no, my mind is not fried from the temperatures this week. Although, climbing in our mini-van earlier today, quite possibly, could have done some slight damage. My brain is actually a bit mushy from all the business of caring for 6 children under the age of 7.

For the past couple of weeks, my family and I have been hosting my sister's children for an extended summer vacation. Our kids are all of the same age range, and between the normal kid fights and lack of much needed naps, they have truly been enjoying this summer. It will be one they won't forget. They've been riding bikes, playing squirt guns, taking swim lessons, swimming in our pool at home, playing on our playground and swings, enjoying local parks, seeing movies, visiting relatives and taking in a lot of Vitamin D from summer's abundance of sunshine.

One recent observance of mine is Trojan® has nothing on this new found form of birth control, involuntary abstinence (extra kid care). By the end of my days over the past few weeks, with 3 of our own children and my sister's three on vacation here, I have not one ounce of physical energy left, much less any enthusiasm to jump on my husband. But mentally after hours of constant movement and child entertainment, it's like clocking off 2ND shift of a service job and needing to relax or wind down for a few hours before heading to bed. This part is awful, because I find myself showered, in bed or on the couch, wide awake, while my husband's mind had been working in overdrive all day at the office and is now turned off and the snoring has begun. Thank goodness, it's only 4 days and 3 nights a week.

----Insert review of new Hy-Vee here...
I do believe I am a glutton for punishment. Perhaps this is my wild side eagerly and somewhat sneaky-like trying to reel me to some dark side? My mom and I ventured out with all 6 kids yesterday to visit the new Hy-Vee at Sheridan Village. I was determined to park by a cart corral, as it is a force of habit with me. So, I rounded the parking lot once before spying a woman with one bag left to put in her trunk. We parked center aisle, and near Smoothie King. While vehicles were jam packed in there, carts were sparse throughout the lot. We were lucky to secure two of them and then were able to strategically place 4 of the kids inside the carts. The other two kids we had climb on and ride to the door. The parking lot was bustling like the early 80s as I remember it, but also rude with honking horns and fingers and arms flying in gesture, yet not surprising on a hot and steamy opening day in July, 2010.

The store was shoulder to shoulder, cart to cart with patrons just as crazy as us for venturing out at early lunchtime on a weekday. The store offered an expected array of specials as heard through the online grapevine. Also offering a host of freebies and chaos. I was trying to take note of any items that would catch my eye or prices that would keep me coming back. Nothing really jumped at me. There were a few organizational aspects that made food items aesthetically pleasing and 'available' in a convenient eye level and reach of the arm, sort of way. Beyond that, the check out lines reminded me of a ladies restroom line during intermission at a Broadway show or a high profile concert performance. I had 14 items. Two above the allotted 12 items or less lane requirement. Luckily, I was spied by a manager, or perhaps it was the kids now in meltdown mode, that got us moved to one of those 12 items or less checkers. His name tag read Ben D. Because I had a lot of 'special offer items' he had to type in a lot of codes, which gave me a few minutes to ponder that name tag. All I kept thinking was how his name could have been one used in pranks when I was in high school. Poor guy. I'm hoping his last name was Davidson and not Dover.

I will probably go back sometime. There was nothing special about the store, but I do like a good selection of product, polished floors, a clean store, good lighting and employees ready to please. I'm hoping they continue to live up to their opening day hype.
----End insert.

I am overjoyed to be sharing these six weeks of childcare with my mom and my other sister and her family, because I'm realizing I could not have done it all on my own. On the day I hand them back over to the other family members, I do have a sigh of relief as I'm ready to enjoy my own family, JUST US. It makes me appreciate how quiet our house is without an additional 3 youngsters. Our own kids need some quality time with mommy and daddy during the week and more importantly, my husband and I need quality time together even if we have to lock ourselves in our bedroom! We've learned to utilize time when we get it, even if it's literally just minutes.

I look forward to tomorrow. We have a swim lesson in the morning, then lunch, then nap/rest time and then I get to hand off the extra three kiddies to my sister. They are usually ready to go as we've had our share of each other for the week and we could all just use a break.

I'm also looking forward to some reprieve from this heat and I'm hoping August brings some cooler temps!