It Wasn't Me

Saturday was NOT a good day. 

I was still mourning my mother's departure from the day before, wondering how on earth we were going to manage without her. 

I fed the girls pancakes while Ben snoozed in the recliner.  He had returned from the states earlier in the week.  Apparently he was tired.... maybe delayed jet lag??  So I let him off the hook.

I had an appointment at noon to get my nails done (a rare treat) and then I was going to go do some grocery shopping on my own.  Grocery shopping without kids = heaven.  

I figured I could leave Ben in charge for a couple of hours.  He was still snoozing in the recliner when I left... I gave him some instructions about feeding the baby, he indicated in his comatose state that he understood, and I was off!   

Usually Ben does a decent job with the kids while I'm away, which was why I wasn't too worried about leaving him.  But something was seriously off with Ben that day.  He continued sleeping in the recliner for the ENTIRE TIME I was gone.

When I got home it was like a scene from Lord of the Flies (to use Ben's reference).  It was 3 pm, the girls were still in their pjs, they were camped out in front of the tv, breakfast dishes were exactly where I had left them, the house was a mess, and to boot, apparently Caroline had taken a crayon to the wall with a mean sort of vengeance.  

Purple crayon was found everywhere... in the baby's room, in the play room, in the hallway, and funny enough (although I was not laughing in the least bit), all over the wall behind the recliner where Daddy was snoring as this all went down.  

I was on the verge of tears.  Em said to me, "I told her Mommy and Daddy would be mad and she said, 'No they won't!'" I could just hear her defiant, mischievous little voice.

So, it's needless to say how we spent the rest of our Saturday, but what put a smile on my face through this all, was a piece of notebook paper I found propped up on one of the walls that had had received the brunt of Caroline's "artistic expression."    

Apparently, Em was too nervous about waking up Dad to inform him of Caroline's misdeeds.  So she did the next best thing she could think of.  She wrote a note clearing herself of all culpability. As if there were any question as to which child did it.  But, I guess according to Em, you can never play it too safe.