Insanity might be my middle name

I had off work yesterday due to all the extra shifts I've picked up lately to help out at my job. By 3pm, my children were going insane, so I figured I would take them out to amuse them. Shawn and I loaded the crew up in the van, and headed out, first to Starbucks, then to the Grapevine Mills Mall. We walked those children all over that mall for two hours. They did wonderful, of course. No fits, no tantrums, no fighting. And we didn't even go into any kid friendly stores, just stores that interested us. I really didn't feel like letting the kids go into the toy stores there, then listening to them cry when I told them no, they could not have a toy, so we just avoided the entire situation.
Due to the midgets behaving so well, Shawn and I took them next to the bowling alley to play pool. We set up a table for the four kids to mess around on, then one for ourselves. Not even three minutes into it, Ciarabel tripped Ryker with her stick. Then the kids started beating the sticks against the ground. So we made the rule that whoever was NOT shooting at the balls had to stand against the wall and wait patiently, which everyone listened to except Ryker of course. Then Ansleigh knocked over the large coke I bought for them to share. At that point, we cleaned up the mess, made the staff refill the drink, and left. The day was going so well. Apparently putting sticks into children's hands is not a good idea, especially with a drink cocked full of sugar. I really have no clue what we were thinking. Surely every parent knows that giving children large wooden sticks and telling them they are allowed to hit things with them is a bad idea. Why this small fact escaped us is beyond me. I like to plead insanity and exhaustion from working my butt off in the past two weeks (99hrs of work) but I really think its just stupidity in its finest form. Oh well...

Coffee For Two

They say the first thing to do when you have a problem is to admit it. So, here goes. "My name is Christina, and I am a coffee addict." I am so addicted to Starbucks that it's not even funny. Even my children ask for Starbucks now. Mind you, they get chocolate milk or coffee free fraps while Shawn and I enjoy the more blissful caffeine filled beverages. And I even get the extra coffee fraps, skinny style of course.
I drove Shawn to work this morning and dropped him off. Of course the only thing I could think of was Starbucks so the children and I headed straight there for my addiction. I ordered kids chocolate milks, complete with whipped cream for the midgets, and a venti extra coffee caramel frappuccino skinny for myself. I was even kind enough to get a venti caramel mocha frap for Shawn and take it to his job.
There is nothing like the sweet bliss of sipping Starbucks. It relaxes me, takes away my stress, and is just comforting. I know you must be thinking, how can consuming caffeine have a calming effect, and I can't really answer that question. It just does. It might be that my new job has me consuming so much caffeine that I seriously believe I have more caffeine than blood in my bloodstream these days. I have considered trying to cut the caffeine out of my life, then I just laugh and think how stupid that is. I am a nurse for crying out loud! And when I am not at work, I am taking care of four little midgets. So I will say it again, "My name is Chris, and I am addicted to coffee." And NO, I do not have a problem.