You all are lucky there is no real photo for this one. Of course we all know it's not ALL happiness ALL the time, but maybe it's a gift to be able to see the humor in things. I'm going to head this one under the read-this-after-you-have-your-own-kids category to my girls 'cause maybe it'll help you some day.

In an effort to eek out one more fun family activity for the end of Spring Break, we packed up and went to the YMCA pool yesterday afternoon. Lots of swimming practice, learning to tread water, and 4 soaking kids later, I head to the locker room with the 4 girls. (Of course there is someone in the family locker room and I have a shivering baby and 2 that have to pee, so I go it alone).

I had decided earlier that it would be a great idea to shower everyone after swimming so we wouldn't have to do baths at home later since we were having family over for Aunt Joanna's birthday cake. The showering actually went marginally well - it only took a couple minutes of whining to convince them to get into the water (why you won't shower when you have JUST come out of a public pool I will never understand.) I ended up with 4 pretty clean kids, except that the smallest was still shivering afterwards and then I realized that all the clean dry diapers were in the car. (sigh) Plus you have to imagine the constant chatter, me telling people to stand still and look at the ceiling repeatedly, screams after errant sprays with the shower hose attachment, a pile of wet bathing suits, and a soaking wet swim towel that got left on the floor. I should probably feel bad for the other people who were in the locker room at the time but I am pretty much beyond such things at this point.

SO, we all make it out of the shower and to our pile of clothes in a corner of the changing area where they all proceed to stand and shiver while I pass out underwear and instruct them to PUT IT ON. (really my teeth were not clenched while I said that) I dress the still shivering small one and leave on the wet swim diaper and perch her on the bench, then proceed to remove my wet swimsuit.

Let me just pause to say that I have decided that while being modest, I feel pretty strongly that it's important not to make a big deal out of whatever shape my body might be in since I want my girls to have positive body images themselves. I would describe it as a work in progress at this point. :)

I manage to pull on my underwear quickly and undetected, but the tankini top while soaking wet proves to be a bit of a struggle and as I pull it off over my head,

I realize I am surrounded by four staring small people who then dissolve in a fit of GIGGLES.

Yes, even Piccina, not yet 2 who has turned into a mimic with crowd mentality and will laugh for the sake of laughing just because everyone else is doing it.

So, (sigh) there was nothing I could do but also giggle, because darn it, they are so stinkin' cute, and I will admit after 4 babies and countless times of breastfeeding they probably do look pretty darn funny.