Moms hummed softly to herself as she bustled about her kitchen preparing breakfast for her two toddlers, Mart and Trixie. It was a beautiful day in mid April and Moms had a clear vision of how she wanted to spend it. Her plan was to put in the early crops in her garden, then share a picnic lunch with the two tots, and finally read to them while soaking up the early spring sunshine. To Moms, it seemed like an ideal day as she saw it unfolding before her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the patter of the toddlers' feet as they traveled down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Good morning, my babies," Moms sang out.

Trixie, looking grumpy and rumpled in her Dora the Explorer pajamas just rubbed her eyes and pushed her tangled curls off her face. She plopped down on her chair as Mart brushed by her, tapping her lightly.

"Ow," Trixie cried. "Moms, Mart hurted me." Trixie began to cry and Mart scowled at her.

"Okay you two. Let's hurry up and eat our breakfast so we can go out and enjoy this beautiful day. How would you like to help me put in the garden and have a picnic lunch," Moms suggested quickly, hoping to put an end to the squabbling.

"Don't wanna," mumbled Mart.

"Me neither," echoed Trixie as she scooted down in her chair so she could land a kick on Mart's shin.

"Ow," Mart howled. "Moms, Trixie 's kicking me. I think she busted my leg."

"Shhhh, both of you," admonished Moms. Looking for a distraction, Moms added, "How about we get dressed now and eat our breakfast on the terrace?"

Before Mart and Trixie could argue, Mom's led them upstairs towards their bedrooms.

Mart grumbled as he trudged up the stairs, "Well, I'm not wearing that stupid shirt I wore yesterday."

Moms silently counted to ten and then replied, " Okay, Mart. You get yourself dressed and surprise me with what shirt you choose."

Moms deposited Mart at his bedroom door and continued into Trixie's room. She was in the middle of removing Trixie's pajama top when she heard Mart yell, "Moms, I'm dying. Look at my tummy!"

Mart ran into Trixie's room, stood in front of Moms, and pointed to his stomach.

Moms finished pulling off Trixie's top and gasped. She looked at Mart and her eyes widened.

"Look, Trixie's dying too," announced Mart as he pointed at Trixie's tummy.

Trixie looked down at her own tummy and began to cry, "I don't wanna die."

"Shhhh, shhhhh. It's okay. You two must have the chicken pox. Nobody's dying. You'll be fine," Moms said soothingly.

Suddenly, the vision of the beautiful spring day disappeared in a poof and was replaced by a vision of two whiny, sick kids.

"Alas, woe is me," sighed Moms.