So yesterday I take the boys grocery shopping. I was miserable from a bad reaction to the flu shot I got the day before and my children were driving me crazy. I can choose from any number of things they did to annoy me. My 7 month old didn’t want to sit in the cart yet didn’t want to be carried. My 3 year old asked (loudly) in line at the pharmacy,”Mom, when you fart do you say excuse me?”.

Needless to say, my patience was wearing thin. Grocery shopping is usually something I enjoy but I was thrilled when I was done. SO. Here I have a car full of groceries, mostly perishables. I have 2 children who are tired and hungry and no bottle for the baby (he drank the one I brought). I go to pull in my neighborhood and my street is completely blocked off.

The geniuses in control of maintenance thought it a good idea to pave all the roads in the neighborhood between the hours of 2-6pm. The only warning we were given was a note taped to our mailbox that a neighbor found in his back yard after the wind blew it (and apparently all the others) away. Not a single neighbor I talked to was aware of the pave.

I actually tried driving around all the paving guys and into my driveway but they formed some kind of human chain and stopped me from getting to my house. I unrolled my window and blasted them. Two hungry kids, melting Popsicles. GET ME IN MY HOUSE.

Nope. I was told to return in an hour. I called a couple friends for refuge but everyone was unavilable. My husband was stuck in meetings and I didn’t want to sit in his office without makeup on. I drove for a while then saw a park on a side road.

I get there and Jake runs to the swings. “Push me! Push me!” No. No, Jake. I can’t push you. I can’t use my left arm and I’m trying to hold your brother with my right. You have a swing set at home, find something else to do.

Yeah. I noticed the other parents staring at me. It’s actually cold in SC today. I have Josh’s ears covered with a blanket and Jake throwing a tantrum because I won’t push him. Now he has to pee. Super. I look around and ask if he can wait til we find a bathroom. Nope. He’s 3. There is no waiting when you’re 3. I try to play it all cool like, “Oh, Jake. A walking trail. Let’s go explore!” and we start to walk.

Seeing parents still checking me out, I point out a rock to Jake, like it’s the most interesting rock on the most interesting walk we’ve ever taken. Jake interprets this as me telling him he can pee so he starts to drop his pants. I yell no and get him walking again. A little bit further down the path he can’t wait, so we had no choice. I can say I am THRILLED I have a boy who is already trained to pee standing up.

Yeah. I took a picture. I had to. My husband called the HOA, who also had no idea the roads were being paved, and told them they ruined my groceries and made my kids sick. They offered to reimburse the damaged food and if I have to medicate these kids and take them to the doc, you bet they’ll be getting that bill as well.

Any who, after all that drama I decided to push my luck and I headed home. I gave a little flirty eye to a guy paving and he cleared the path and got me in my garage. The HOA also plans on cleaning the mess I left on my driveway after driving through.

Even though I got tons of dirty looks in the park and grocery store (I have a rule. If a kid keeps repeatedly asking for something, knowing I heard the question, they will not be getting whatever they’re asking for), I realized that if it weren’t for these kids, I wouldn’t be a Mommy Blogger and I wouldn’t have gotten this:

from The Mom Buzz. I’m sure there are tons of other reasons I’m thrilled to be a mom, but after the day I had I’m just gonna stick with the one I gave for now. Once given this much coveted honor, the awardee is to pass the honor to 7 other blogs loved. The Awards go to…

1. Mostly BassAckwards
2. Punky Monkey’s
3. Short Pump Preppy
4. Ohana Mama
5. Mom Of 3 Girls
6. Blah Blah Blog
7. Glamorous Housewife

Now listen here all newly nominated awardees!

1. Slap this baby up on your blog. Don’t be shy.
2. Link to the giver – in this case the Mom Buzz!
3. Nominate up to seven other fab blogs.
4. Post links to those super fly blogs your nominating.
5. Leave messages for your recipients on their blogs…so they can feel as special as you.