An Adventure

Today I was feeling adventurous.  I posted on my FB to see if anyone wanted to go on an adventure with me and my crew.  Another twin mom said she was up for something so we decided to go to IKEA for lunch and  a little getting out of the house.  The only place I have been with all 4 is a twin playgroup.  When I go there, we literally have to get from the parking lot 20 feet to the door of the place which now is no big deal.

I guess I was feeling over confident and thought it would be a good idea to go somewhere else.  Now wait... How was I going to do this??? I have 4 kids... 2 double strollers (but I can only push 1) and 3 different baby carriers.  I posted these questions to another group of MOMs that all have twins the same age as the girls and one of the local MOMs decided to join us too!! 3 moms, two 3 month olds, two 4 month olds, 4 19 month olds, and a 3 year old! 9 kids and 3 moms!

I had a few options.

1.) put the boys in their double snap n go and attach the girls' backpack leashes to the stroller and have them walk.

2.)  bring the girls city mini micro- put one girl and one boy in the stroller, one girl walks, and I carry one boy in a front carrier

3.) figure out how to carry both boys and put the girls in the stroller

I ended up choosing option 2, which seemed to make the most sense.(I couldn't figure out how to do two carriers!)  It worked out pretty well to get from the car to the restaurant part of IKEA.

We had lunch, and then the meltdowns happened.  The mom with 3 kids decided to go ahead and start walking.  A few minutes later I got the kids ready and Evy was just having none of it.  She threw herself on the ground and had a full blown meltdown.  I just ignored her tantrum like I usually do at home.  It wasn't working.  I finally got us moving and then she was just having none of it again.  She wouldn't walk.  She wouldn't ride.  She wouldn't be picked up.  I had no idea what I was going to do! My friend with the 4 month olds offered to carry Oliver in the other front carrier that I brought.  Thank goodness!  I put Evy in the stroller (against her will) and strapped her in.  She was not a happy camper and pretty much whined the whole way through the store.  Char rode as well and was cranky at times too. I gave them each stuffed animals from the store to hold onto.  This calmed them down a lot.  I know, I know, I shouldn't buy them everything they want but sometimes sanity is worth a few dollars.

  Elliott slept in the carrier and Oliver just looked around at everything in the store and was a little confused when his mama was not carrying him!

Why didn't I just leave you ask?  I didn't want to give in.  I can't spend the next 5 years inside my house or in my backyard.  We have to be able to get out!  If I don't try now, I never will.  Yes, its way easier to just stay home, but I think its good to get out.  I also need to not depend on other people to help me out... which today, didn't work out.  I really need to get a triple or a quad stroller.  That would have made life a lot easier today!

Here's a few pictures from today... they are in random order :)

Eating lunch at IKEA

Me and my four beauties

Talking to the grill- after we got home

The boys! All ready to go.  Their onesies say "My Mommy Rocks!" I needed a little encouragement that this was actually going to work.

Charlotte's turn to talk to the grill

Waiting in the garage for me to get the boys in the car

Chilling on the couch this morning.  

Char was soooo tired when we got home!

Char and Elliott just hanging out while I got things situated

Being good little patient girls!

Char talking to Elliott