a typical day includes : at least one sick child , toys strewn from one end of the living room to the other that magically reappear the moment after they 've been put away , dogs barking , kids laughing , the phone ringing off the hook , fedex and ups deliveries coming and going , kids whining , lost homework , appliances breaking , school projects due tomorrow that our children somehow forget to tell us about until the last minute , baseball practice , gymnastics practice , football practice , tae kwon do practice , repairmen coming and going , doors slamming , kids running down the hallway , kids throwing things , kids teasing each other , kids asking for snacks , kids crying because they fell , kids cuddling up on your lap , or kids crying because they need you right this minute !