because I want to

Meals are not the most stellar moments of our day. We eat breakfast and lunch in a big dining room, buffet-style, on tablecloth covered tables, with real (breakable) plates and glasses. I've mentioned in an earlier post that my current "survive mealtime strategy" involves taking the tablecloth off the table... if I don't, I spend most of the meal trying to prevent Lydia from dragging the tablecloth to the floor. Despite my attempts at keeping our damage to a minimum, we've already broken two glasses.

To add to the fun, Matt's morning meetings get out at about 12:30, at which point a BIG line forms for the buffet. So, the girls and I (and all the other moms and kiddos at the conference) hit the lunch room about noon, to reduce chaos. I get the kids seated, run to the food line and load up the plates with all kinds of goodies. Then, back to the table to feed kids. Lydia eats 100% table food, but it does need to be cut in small pieces. That's a LOT of cutting. So, I sit at the table, cutting Thai-style-cooked veggies into into bite sized bits and trying to re-direct Julianna's attention back to her plate. With about 30 kids in the room, there is LOTS to distract her.

Try doing that meal scene, twice a day, 23 days in a row! We're all getting a little weary of the meal-time chaos. This morning looked over at Julianna at the end of breakfast and she was crying.

"Julianna, why are you crying?" I asked.

"Because I want to" she answered.

Well, sweetie, I can't help you if you are crying because you want to. But, to be completely honest, I sometimes feel a bit like crying during meals too, so I understand.

Thankfully, dinner provides a much needed respite from the breakfast/lunch scene. I love having Matt around to help, and the girls enjoy eating somewhere a little quieter and less chaotic. Tonight we are ordering pizza to eat at the hotel pool. Now, that sounds like a much better option! But, with lunch on the horizon, we've got one more dose of chaos to endure before our pool-side pizza.