Blue Palm

2:30 pm.

No one has had their nap.

Blazer is lying on a blanket, in the middle of a grass field, basking in the sun, worn out from just finishing his soccer game.

Dash can't decide if he wants to snuggle or if he wants to chase kids around the field.

Finley is dribbling a soccer ball through a group of soccer players.  She needs her diaper changed.  Again.

And guess what we decide to do . . . ?

Hey!  Let's head over to Blue Palm for some frozen yogurt!


Does this sound like a good idea to you?


Answer:

It is not.


Take three cranky, worn out kids

          and a warm day

                   minus some naps

                           give them giant cups of frozen yogurt

topped with jelly beans and cereal and goodness knows what else,

              shake them all up
                                 and stick them on some couches in the corner of a busy hot spot.

And Voilá:

Disaster.

Like Houdini, Blazer has his shoes off and he's running around the restaurant barefoot;
Finley is screaming (and screaming) and fighting to get bites of the good stuff from four different cups;
Dash is running around (laughing sinisterly), dragging and pushing his sister around until she falls down and 12 jelly beans come spewing out of her mouth.  Did I mention she was screaming?

Ryan and I look at each other and wonder:

Why are we here?


And then, during the ride home, three crazies magically transform into three angels

                 sweetly asleep

                              peaceful

                                       quiet

                        all is right with the world.


Ryan and I look at each and smile:

Aren't they wonderful?


. . . but watch out.  Finley's awake and screaming again.

Here we go.