Have Mercy Twins...fast forward! by helseyc

Ok, you've heard the start of the story so let's skip to current time...today infact.

Approximately 8.5 months ago I had the girls. Feels like I've never been without them. They fit into our family like my comfy pair of one stars that I bought 10 years ago and still fit my feet so well. They're like all the holiday celebrations rolled into one, they're sunshine on my shoulders and they make me happy...most of the time.

Today is Anzac Day...Lest We Forget!

The day started like any other, well not really cause Vic is overseas at the moment, but apart from that it started like any other. The 3 girls all up around 6ish. Gave E & S their bottles and got Miss C her weetbix and milk. I then glance at the clock on the oven, 7:05 am. "OK," I crazily think, "we can still make Anzac Day service at 7.30am." So set about whizzing around like Samantha from 'Bewitched'. I organise the little ones breakfast and pack it in the nappy bag. I change all the girls, get myself dressed and get Erin down the two flights of stairs to the car first. Then it's Sunny's turn. As I'm hiking her down the stairs I call to Claudia to follow me. She does so and as I place Sunny in the car I ask her to please put her shoes on. All of our shoes are at the very bottom of our stairs so are the last item to go on! Claudia has one foot in and is very pleased she has done it up. "Clever girl" I say, then tell her I'll quickly do the second shoe as we're running out of time to get to the service.

That was all it took.

She's lost it.

Screamed like a banshee "I do it!" I appease the fire breathing creature that is my 2.5yr old and as I gather her up I tell her, "Ok you can put it on in the car!" As I hurry to push her through the front passenger seat to get her seated in the middle of the back row between her sisters seats, her back is arched, she has continued wailing but now it is that high pitched scream that only dogs can hear. She has now set her already upset teething sisters on a roll - my chorus of cherubs! I crawl into the passenger side of the car, with my butt hanging out and try to mould her rigid body into a sitting position so I can strap her in and we can be on our way! I do it and break a sweat in the attempt.

So she's in, then I race around the car and I am in. The garage door is raised, the air con on high to cool all our temps down and I'm reversing as I pass the lone shoe back to my princess to put on. That shoe comes flying past at eye level to hit the front console. "Claudia!" I exclaim, and go to say don't take the other one off...too late, there it is now resting with its twin shoe!

Right! Now I'm just cranky thinking, "Great, it's one of those days is it!?" I drive to our destination and we're there by 7.28am - not bad I think under the circumstances. I can get all 3 girls out and in the pram and across the road in no time.

Then as I jump out of the car to get the pram out, I realise with great disappointment that I have forgotten to put my own shoes on in all the ruckus! I am fully dressed thank goodness and have the most stunning purple socks on but not my comfy one stars that I bought 10 years ago!

It is now that I burst into tears and think about the effort I made to get us all to the Anzac Day service on time. My mind quickly changed however, to those soldiers past and present who would not have cared if I was shoeless or not.

I will certainly remember this particular Anzac Day for a long time...lest we forget...our shoes.