Plaster Hand Prints & Christmas Party

This morning the kids awoke only to be super rushed and pushed out the door. The kids go to bed at 9 but like to sleep in until 10 which is obviously cool with me since they are getting the recommended amount of rest, and I get at least 4 hours of sleep. Why were we so rushed? I had signed the kids up to do plaster hand print Christmas ornaments for our mommy and me playgroup. I woke up at 8 dragging after not even falling asleep until 5am, but that was nothing an english muffin and a cup of coffee couldn't fix. I had never been to this lady's house, but I knew it took at least 20 minutes to get anywhere in Tucson so I anticipated leaving early. I woke the kids up at 9 so that we could be out of the door by 9:30. We were on time and all the way at the gas station when I realized I left the directions at the house. GRRRRR. So I turn all the way around and go back to the house grab the directions and hit the road. Unfortunately I had horrible directions as usual and ended up way across town on the wrong side. I had one bar left of my phone so I texted the lead of the group asking for Melanie's #. Managed to call her and get directions to her house from the highway. Just great! I hate the highway. I get on and start making my way when I realize the numbers are going not up and I am not recognizing and of the streets. I hurry and take an exit and realize another thing. I have no freakin idea where I am and it's not looking like a good side of town either.So I make a quick call to my trusty GPS, my mom only she's not at home she's out and about. Phone dies. I'm thinking my car is going to break down and we are going to get mugged by all the hoodlums walking the street and no one will even know. I do what I can only think to do. Go straight and avoid turning right or left. I get to Broadway a street I know, but by this time it's 10:45. We are just slightly late. I take it all the way down and FINALLY get to Kolb to take me Valencia. Start up Valencia and see the street I needed and make it to her house. The best part is Melanie's house was actually maybe ten minutes away and super easy to get to. I basically had a minor panic attack for nothing. Nothing. I was so upset with myself. Anyways we get there and it's after 11 but luckily no one got there on time Not as late as me but not on time either. They had already made the hand prints and were waiting for them to dry which takes a hour. I hurriedly do JP's and then move on to Kailee's, but quickly realize something's wrong. I had just started siring when it became apparent my stick wasn't moving. The plaster just dried so quickly so we start adding more water until it softens. I redo her hand print five time before I give up and accept that her's probably won't turn out. Justin's dried so quick and both kids were playing while I attempted to be normal and do the whole mommy socializing. I have such a hard time letting my kids play out of my site and not being involved and felt quite bad because I kept getting up to check on them and play with all the kids. Kailee and Justin were having a blast! I mean it was like toy city and her play room was such a great size. I went and finished Justin's hand print which consisted of me painting it and then outlining it with glitter. His turned out really good with the exception of the hole that you hang it on busting. Kailee's on the other hand after two hours still wasn't anywhere near dry. So I did what any other mom would do. Salvaged her hand print by filling it with glitter. At least this way you could see her outline. Melanie was such a great hostess and made pancakes and hot coco for the kids. Justin gobbled up his pancakes and drank some coco. Kailee was too busy playing but did manage to drink some coco. The kids sat down and colored some Christmas ornaments while I helped clean up the kitchen. Next thing I know the room was slowly clearing out and toys are still everywhere. I quickly put my kids on damage control something they are very used to. At other people's houses they are expected to help pick up and clean. I don't even have to remind them. I just say five minutes till we leave and they immediately start picking up. Kailee and JP kept getting mad because they would have everything picked up and some kid would start pulling them back out. Well to me that's not my kid's job to sit there and continuously clean up after other people. They did their part while all the others were leaving or running around. Melanie and another mom kept commenting on how well behaved my kids were, how polite, and how well they listened. I said thank you and said it's our policy and how we parent. Our main goal is to raise respectful well mannered kids. I often hear I am too strict but better to hard or strict than have bratty, rude, mean kids. Well that's just my opinion. My heart definitely swelled with pride listening to their compliments and watching some of the other kids and their behaviors. We said our good byes and thank yous, and I made my way to the car with my kids, some new Christmas ornaments especially made by them, once perfect plaster ornament and one still seeping wet glob of plaster. Oh and a plate of pancakes for Kailee who hadn't hers yet. Got both of the kids buckled and safe and thanked them repeatedly for their good behavior. Kailee pipes back with it's ok that's just our responsibility momma. :) I love that girl. JP gave a thank you mommy w/ his signature cheesy smile. We make it home by 2:30 with just enough time to put Justin down for a nap and for Kailee and I to head to the store. We had to be back by 4 to be dressed and ready to go the the Christmas party. Paul's shift was lucky enough to be off, so we all got to attend. I was super nervous because we were leaving the kids in the daycare at the place. Kailee got to wear her Christmas dress that her Nana from Texas got her and she was way too pretty. JP was dressed in his normal kinda punk style complete with faux hawk and graffiti converse. My little man was too handsome.
So we get there and we take the kids up and I automatically get a bad feeling. They had them in a hotel room and a man answers the door. Why is there a grown man in a room full of kids? JUst had a weird feeling wash over me. There were kids everywhere. It just seemed so unorganized. I left them though at the reassurance by Paul. After all we would only be downstairs and I could go up there and check on them at any time. Justin's face immediately lights up when he sees a train track and cars. Kailee saw some crayons and coloring books and started to warm up. I did my usual lecture about no one is to do this or that, no going to the restroom with anyone, don't let any kids push, hit or scream at you and I forced myself to leave. I get outside the door and start tearing up. I HATE LEAVING MY KIDS! We get downstairs and I attempt to enjoy the party. At some point I go to check on them and am LIVID! Their are two high school girls, a 13 year old, two women who are too busy gushing over a baby to be watching the kids, a high school boy and that man. I go into the second room where I see JP in the corner laying on the floor playing with cars alone. Then to my horror their are kids everywhere on the bed jumping and having a pillow fight while the two high school girls sit there chit chatting. Neither of them are even watching the kids. JP hops on the bed so he can watch cars and gets kicked in the head twice and they actualy laugh thinking it's funny that he doesn't cry and just says owe. WTF! Kailee's on the other side of the room sitting in a chair alone watching tv. They are literally the only two not among the chaos. At this point there were 15 kids to the two high school chicks. I voice my unhappiness and they stop the pillow fighting. I go back downstairs crushed and uneasy and tell Paul what I saw. He was not oo happy. I wait another hour and then go back up there and check on them. I was trying so hard to not seem overly protective and psycho but I couldnt help it. The second time I went up there I was super pissed! I find 8 kids in the room including my two woth no adult. So I sit down and wait 20 minutes and never did anyone go check on them. Two kids are fighting. Again JP is alone in the corner playing with his cars not bothering anyone. I keep waiting and no oone ever comes in. I walk back to the main room and automatically my eyes focus on Kailee whose sitting at the table coloring with the man. I am not happy and feel very uncomfortable with the situation. No women watching this man whose has singled my daughter out and is talking, laughing and coloring alone with her. YES I know I am paranoid, but to me that's not an appropriate situation. I could have understood him being there with her if there were a bunch of kids coloring, but not sitting alone in a corner at a table with my daughter. I just start getting really hot and upset and finally say why is there no adult in the other room where there are 8 kids all alone. A lady jumps up and angrily says what? So she goes in there and stops the fight that broke out. The man who has become my number 1 most disliked is still sitting alone with Kailee as I'm across the room watching and observing. Kids are running everywhere, yelling, screaming, pushing and hitting and yet that man is with my daughter all alone with no female adult in the room. I walk over start talking to Kailee he gets up and leaves. I immediately ask her my secret questions. She reassures me no to every one and that he was being very nice and coloring with her and helping her with her letters. Still not ok, still can't get my heart out of my throat, still want to grab my kids and run. I walk down and tell Paul lets go. Explain everything. He's not happy and agrees lets go. Before you think man Mindy you are off your rocker there were numerous other events and findings that kept my mind at a constant uneasiness besides the ones I listed. Too much to keep typing. We get up there get our kids and take off. The kids were so happy to see us. Neither complained and both said they had fun. Wish mommy's mind could have felt easy and happy with them confessing how much fun they had. Needless to say I hugged and kissed on them and felt a ton better with them safely in the car on the way back to out house. We get home and I get them changed. By this time its after ten. No baths just wipes. They both fall asleep right away. I sneak into their rooms two or three times just grateful to have to have them safe and asleep in our home. I find myself on the couch while the whole house sleeps going over angrily the child care situation. Good thing my doc is on. I veg out to Trauma Life in the ER, Critical Hour, Impact Stories of Survival and hear a crash. Look at the clock it's 3am. Make my rounds checking on everyone, have Paul scare the crap out of me! He was up for something. I go in JP's room. Yup he's out with all his cars around him. I go into Kailee's room nothing but blankets. I start freaking out a little but go to my room. Again a pile of blankets no Kailee. Go back to her room no Kailee. Got to the couch no Kailee. Start really panicking. Go back to my room. I just keep making a circle with no Kailee. Check the doors all locked. Don't want to get lectured by Paul so I decided not say anything. I know he thinks I worry and am way too paranoid. I walk back to go to my room and I see a unusually large pile of the play room couch and it's not shaped like Abbey although that's her normal place to sleep. Lift the folded blancket and see my daughter out. I grab her and take her to my room and just hug her and tell her she scared me. She was like what why? LOL I swear my mind can get me all worked up sometimes....