the best moment of the day

11:30
after a morning of math, math, math and not much time to think i called f to come and have some mom time. we started to make play-doh. we set up on the stove top (easier to clean than the counter - yes, smooth stove top, bumpy tile counter). the older kids were sitting at the table working and the baby was sleeping. if this sounds idyllic, certainly there was a lot of 'mom mom' and 'let me have a little time with your brother' and 'stop singing your sister's trying to work'. and a lot of 'slow down f, let's do this together.'
we measured salt, water, cream of tartar and oil. i turned just a bit to open the food coloring (he wants black, his favorite color!?) and he stepped of the edge of his chair and grabbed the pot to help himself. he fell, the pot flew across the room in slo-mo as i caught f and watched helplessly as the salty watery mess spewed itself across my kitchen, coming to a halt right before it nailed the table and my other shocked children. this moment will live in my mind. than a moment of silence before the uproar began.
oh, it was funny. but it was also a moment of self-pity. i had a clear mind, to think, ok, now it's time to react the right way. so i didn't sit down and put the towel over my head or shriek just to blow off steam. f was just fine, but scared silly. we had a discussion about not grabbing the stove at any time.
my other two thoughts were: thank goodness i am not holding the baby. and so glad the stove wasn't on yet.
it took FOREVER to clean the fabulous kosher salt off the floor. then we started again, and this time, it worked. there's just nothing like warm homemade play-doh.