This is why

Even when it's a beautiful day out, I still tend to feel extremely reluctant to take the kids outside to play. Not only does it take a lot of energy from me, but things happen like they did today: We were gone a total of a single hour, and came home with four (yes - count them, FOUR!) scream-inducing owies.

1) We stopped by the apartment's leasing office to pick up a UPS package I had missed while we were out on Friday. While the woman went back to get it for me, Jacob somehow managed to hit the corner of his eye on the side of a metal chair, giving himself a blood blister and narrowly missing the eyeball itself. Cue screaming. Thank goodness the leasing office also had a nice dish of chocolate chip cookies, and the screaming stopped as Jacob's mouth was eagerly stuffed with chocolaty goodness. (And as a side note, I'm so proud of myself for not taking a cookie for me. Although I did ask and receive a couple bites from the kids. Mmm.)

2) Melinda was playing on one of those evil playground animal see-saw bouncy things. They seat one person, and just bounce back and forward. Ever since she was big enough to sit on one, I've been practically wincing in anticipation of someone whacking their face on the head of the animal. It took about 3 years, but it finally happened today. She whacked her chin as it was going backwards and she was going forwards, and she bit her tongue pretty hard. Looked very bloody. She screamed very loud for a long time.

3 & 4) Both Jacob, poor little guy. He tripped twice while walking home on the sidewalk, despite holding my hand during the second incident, and at least only got non-bloody scrapes on his hands and knees. He's still recovering from Melinda practically running him over 2 weeks ago because she didn't want him to win a race to the front door. That little bit of fun gave him a bloody knee and a scab ("My skee-yab!!"), which he has been too eager to pick at, but is still very close to at least only being pink skin instead of scabby skin. He's practically obsessed with his "skee-yab", so nearly getting a few more made for a lot of crying, again.

All of that in only one hour, and only for walking to and from the apartment leasing office. Not a long walk by any means. Is it any wonder that things like this are why I don't really enjoy taking walks very much? By the time I work myself up to it, get shoes on everyone, make sure we've got something to drink while we're out, and actually get out, I start thinking how nice and enjoyable it will be, and then crazy things start happening. Sigh.

At least Alex slept all through it. ;)