12:00 Pull up to the parking lot where the 10 year old should be arriving soon from his sleepover camp. The girl wakes up. This is not good news. She normally takes a 3 hour nap. Since she had a short nap, this means she will be grumpy for the afternoon and will not go back to sleep. I change her diaper in the now 106 degree heat.
12:10 10 year old arrives, I am overjoyed at seeing him. I have missed him terribly (and not just because I had to take care of his animals while he was gone). He is casual and cool about seeing me but obliges my needing to hug and kiss him. He proceeds to tell me every single detail of his camp experience.
1:00 Pick 13 year old up from his internship. He is also casual and cool about seeing me (gotta love the teen attitude). He does not mention the morning sidewalk fiasco. It is a silent agreement that it will not be spoken about again.
2:00 Arrive at the first library of the day. We have movies and books to return. I am hoping that the big kids can run inside to return them and get the books they have placed on reserve. That plan is quickly changed by the little kids, who insist on going in the library. The 3 year old demands that I read him every single movie case before he decides on which movie to check out. The girl picks a movie that is not appropriate so I gently remove it from her chubby little hands. She makes sure that the entire library can hear her voice her complaint about me removing the movie. She then picks a new movie and refuses to let me see it. She runs amok in the library with the movie held behind her back. When the kind librarian says "hello" to the girl, the girl shrieks like a banshee and hides the movie under her dress. While this is going on, the 3 year old is attempting to choose between 2 movies; the riveting Curious George or Goodnight Gorilla. He finally decides, I think we are in the clear to leave but he then declares that it is time to choose a book. The above scenario replays itself in the book section. I change the girls' diaper in the now 107 degree heat.
2:30 Arrive at the second library (yes, we use 2 different libraries). The same scenario replays itself yet again.
2:45 Home at last, I rush to throw a load of clothes in the laundry since the power company has asked its' users to conserve energy between 3 and 7.
2:50 The girl and the 3 year old run into the laundry room, both yelling "Shaving Cream!" The 3 year old has drawn all over himself and the girl with multi-colored markers and tells me it is their shaving cream.
3:00 While changing the girl's diaper, I keep smelling a terrible odor. I thought it was her diaper, but no. I then realize that I am still wearing the shirt with the poop on it from earlier in the day. Yuck. Gag reflex kicks in.
3:05 The 3 year old comes into my closet, where I am attempting to change my shirt without getting poop on my skin or hair. He has a pair of scissors in one hand and a clump of what I hope is his hair in the other hand.
3:10 The 3 year old has decided to draw targets for his pretend gun shooting practice. He sits at his desk and makes 53 targets that require his usage of an entire roll of tape to place around the house. The girl copy's him so we now have about 100 targets taped in a variety of places around the house. Luckily, they do not place a target on my rear. I take advantage of their feverish target making and manage to unpack 2 boxes. This is great progress considering we moved 3 months ago and I have only managed to unpack half of our boxes.
4:00 The girl is begging me to take her outside and push her in the swing. It is 108 degrees outside. I am not going out. She will swing for hours if I let her. I do not enjoy standing in the heat and melting while she is swinging. I explain to her that while she is a native Texan, I am a native Californian and have not yet acclimated to the Texas heat and probably never will. Luckily, the big boys offer to take her out and push her and her brother on the swing. I take advantage of their willingness to melt outside and I make dinner.
4:30 A neighbor boy, we will call him "B" arrives at the house. I am surprised we have not seen him sooner since he tends to spend a great deal of time here. I don't mind because he is super nice and actually helps me with the little kids. I have also found that he does not mind doing chores for me! The 3 year old runs to him, yelling "B! You are here, I love you!" Hmmm, I have never had that kind of reception from the 3 year old.
5:00 The 3 year old is getting restless. Before others start getting hurt, I pull the mattress out of his room, prop it up against the couch and he goes wild charging into it over and over again. This keeps him occupied for the next 1/2 hour and the rest of the household is spared being charged into over and over again. Thanks for stepping up mattress!
6:00 My husband arrives home from work. He is exhausted, probably because he was fixing the pool pump and pouring concrete at 3:30 this morning. He allows the kids to use him like a trampoline until he can't take it anymore and we eat dinner.
6:30 We play games, read books and have a rare quiet and fun evening together as a family. The 13 year old teaches us a magic trick that none of us understood. The 10 year old does handstands. When things start getting a bit too wild, the big kids are sent outside to round up the animals and put them away for the night. They also empty the kitchen compost into the big composter outside and take out the recycling.
7:00 The girl is exhausted since she didn't have her full nap. She cries during her bath while I attempt to get yellow marker out of the inside of her ear. She tries to climb into her crib. She is asleep in less than a minute. One down, 3 to go.
8:00 The 3 year old is showing no signs of sleep coming anytime soon. I remember that he took a nap in the car earlier which means that there is no telling how long until he goes to sleep. I am attempting to get some lesson planning done since our homeschooling year starts in a few weeks. He snuggles up to me and asks me to read him some books. I can't resist and put everything aside. He has picked his current 2 favorite books: Henny Penny and The Snowy Day. I enjoy these books as well and have a good time reading them; the first 15 times. After that, I was done. Anyone with little kids knows that they love the same stories over and over and over again. Joy. The boy can tell that I am wearing down and he declares that he is ready for bed. This is suspicious.
8:30 My husband lays down on the floor in the 3 year old's room and within 5 minutes I hear him snoring. He is also blocking the door so the 3 year old cannot escape. I pick up the house as best as I can.
9:30 All children are in bed, either asleep or pretending to be asleep. It doesn't matter to us as long as no one is asking us for another glass of milk, another snack, another book, to play monopoly for the 100th time, etc. We decide to watch a movie.
9:35 We are both sound asleep.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Day In The Life
I thought I would give a glimpse into an average day in my life. Of course, there isn't an "average" day with 4 kids, homeschooling and all the animals but today is as close to average for me as it gets.
3:30 a.m. Wake up hearing strange squealing noises in the backyard. Thinking a coyote or a fox is attacking the animals, I open the back door to see the house pig gleefully running in the sprinklers. Very strange, I don't know why the pig is outside since I saw the 13 year old let it in before he went to bed. Also notice someone lurking behind the pool house. It is my husband. He woke up and instead of going back to sleep, decided to fix the pool pump so we can actually swim in the pool before summer ends. He also poured some concrete for a slab to something that is important but I have no idea what it is for since it is the middle of the night.
5:30 a.m. Husband leaves for work. He is made lunch for the 13 year old to take to his internship so hooray, one less chore for me!
6:30 a.m. Wake up with a pair of little feet lounging on my face. It is the 3 year old, he usually sleep walks himself into my bed at some point in the night. I'm not sure what time he fell in bed with me but at least his feet are clean.
7 a.m. I wake up the 13 year old and ask him why the house pig was outside at 3:30 a.m. The 13 year old is confused and amused because he thought it was 6 a.m. when he let the pig outside and fed her breakfast (6 a.m. is the usualy time the pig insists on being fed and going out for her morning routine).
Put the laundry in the dryer that I washed the night before since the 3 year old insists on wearing the same Superman shirt and cape every day.
7:10 a.m. The girl wakes up (she is 22 months old). I hear her happily exclaiming that she has poop. Hooray, I get to change a poopy diaper first thing in the morning. She insists on getting dressed, and I comply even though I know that I will most likely have to change her clothes again before we leave since she refuses to wear a bib and is notorious for making a mess with her breakfast.
7:20 a.m. I go outside to help the 13 year old with the animals since his 10 year old brother is away at sleepover camp. Taking care of the animals includes:
Letting the rabbits out and giving them food, water, hay and a block of previously frozen ice. Empty their litter pan into the compost bin. Inspect the hole they are attempting to dig to China. They have not gotten very far since our lot has about 3 inches of soil then solid rock. Happy digging rabbits!
Letting the goats out and giving them food and clean water. Adult goat wants some attention so I stop to pet him a bit and give him encouraging words about tolerating the heat and to please eat the poison oak growing behind the garden.
Letting the ducks out and giving them food and clean water. Ask the ducks to please stop trying to swim in the goat's water because it becomes a disgusting mess every day. The goats prefer clean water (who would blame them?)
Letting the chickens out and giving them food and clean water. The teenage chickens are still not talking to the younger chickens but since being moved and having an entire acre to scratch around in, at least they are no longer bullying the little chickens. The little chickens and the ducks have formed an alliance and let each other in on the great hiding places around the yard when they feel threatened by the teenage gang.
Check the pumpkin vines that I planted the previous morning. The girl helps check the vines by trampling on most of them and attempting to dig up a few. We have wild rabbits in our yard and I have been nervous about them eating my garden. So far, they have left it alone but I am still trying to convince the big kids to make a robotic scarecrow.
Giving the cats food and water and changing their litter boxes. Putting the adult cat's food up in the bathroom cabinet so the kittens don't eat it and get sick (the adult cat gets fed at night). Putting the kittens food up on a high bin where they can jump to eat it but the pig cannot reach it. The pig is not happy about this and spends a great deal of time trying to figure out how to fly up to the bin and eat the food (maybe he should borrow the 3 year old's cape?)
Give the fish pellets.
7:40 a.m. Take a kitten out of the washing machine, where the 3 year old has put her for "a bath mama." Argue with little kids about them wanting to play outside but we have to leave in 15 minutes so there isn't time. They do not understand. Practice meditation while continuing chores.
7:42 a.m While I am in the laundry room, I wash the cloth diapers and hang them on the line to dry. The pig tries to nibble my toes.
7:45 a.m. Feed breakfast to everyone. Yogurt with raspberries, blackberries and granola.
7:50 a.m Put little kids on their potty's before it is time to leave. 3 year old says that Superman does not go potty. Using my excellent parenting skills, I tell him that if he doesn't go poo then he will have to stay home alone with the coyotes. He is deathly afraid of coyotes so he promptly poops. Hey, put that in the parenting books! The girl tinkles in her potty and then with the speed of a child twice her age, puts her hand in and splashes around. Fighting my gag reflex, I wash her off and practice meditation.
7:55 a.m. Change the girl's outfit since she has predictably made a mess eating breakfast.
8:00 a.m. Hastily get the 3 year old dressed, he is upset because he wants me to "touch up" his toenail polish. There is no time for male pedicures this morning (medicures?), throw some snacks and sippy cups in a bag and load the family in the car.
8:10 a.m. Leave to take the 13 year old to his volunteer internship at the Children's Museum. We are 10 minutes late in leaving the house. He has forgotten to brush his teeth. I actually have some little portable toothbrush things called Brushups in my car console. I am feeling pretty good that I actually am prepared for this situation! I then wonder if I brushed my teeth and when the last time I took a shower might have been.
9:00 a.m. Amazingly get the 13 year old dropped off on time. I accidentally think that the sidewalk is a driveway and proceed to drop him off RIGHT IN FRONT of the museum before I realize that it wasn't a driveway and that I am parked on the sidewalk in downtown Austin. The 13 year old is rightfully humiliated and the 3 year old calls me a "dumb sh.." He is correct.
9:05 a.m. Pull over on the side of the freeway because the 3 year old decided he didn't like his snack and spit it out all over his carseat. He is now throwing a huge fit because his chewed up snack is all over his carseat and himself. I clean it with some wipes and away we go. Practice more meditation while driving since both children are now screaming for the same book.
9:15 Practice mediation while the little kids scream because the 3 year old wants the sun roof open and the girl wants it closed.
9:30 a.m. Pull up to YMCA. Give the 3 year old a "brushing." Google Sensory Integration Disorder Therapies to know what "brushing" means. Pretty much, it allows me to leave him in the child care without worry of him hurting himself or others.
9:45 a.m. Yes! Time for me! Pilates class! I am sculpting my body and loving every minute of it! The instructor directs us to hold onto our feet or ankles. I wonder if my holding onto my knees will count. Need to work on flexibility.
10:45 a.m. Leave pilates. Pick up children from child care and the girl has a black eye. Apparently it was an accident that happened when another child stood up quickly. The girl doesn't seem upset and we don't have any important family pictures to take anytime soon so all is good.
10:50 After struggling to get the girl to the car because she refuses to hold my hand in the parking lot, I proceed to change her diaper in the back of the car while it is now 100 degrees outside. I realize that I forgot the wet bag for her cloth diaper and have to scrounge around the car to find a piece of paper to lay the diaper on until we get home. While simultaneously trying to put a clean diaper on the girl and find something to put the diaper on, I get poop on my shirt. I do not have a change of clothes. Oh well, must stay in poop shirt until I get home.
11:00 a.m. My gas tank is on empty so I pull over to get gas. Argue with the 3 year old because he insists that it is his "job" to wash everyone's windshield's. While it is absolutely adorable to myself and the strangers in other cars when his little arm reaches up to clean the bottom 1/3 of their windows, it is also very dangerous in such a large gas station so I veto it today. While at the gas station, I decide to treat myself to a Diet Dr. Pepper. It is my guilty pleasure. I know I need water but love the nasty chemicals so I put the money in the machine and out comes....an empty bottle. Maybe someone is trying to tell me to give up the cola.
11:20 Practice meditation while the girl screams in the backseat and I have no idea what it is that she wants. She yells "geez eee sooosh!" I offer her the book, food, drink, music, nothing works.
11:25 Both the girl and the 3 year old are passed out asleep. Peace!
To be continued.......
3:30 a.m. Wake up hearing strange squealing noises in the backyard. Thinking a coyote or a fox is attacking the animals, I open the back door to see the house pig gleefully running in the sprinklers. Very strange, I don't know why the pig is outside since I saw the 13 year old let it in before he went to bed. Also notice someone lurking behind the pool house. It is my husband. He woke up and instead of going back to sleep, decided to fix the pool pump so we can actually swim in the pool before summer ends. He also poured some concrete for a slab to something that is important but I have no idea what it is for since it is the middle of the night.
5:30 a.m. Husband leaves for work. He is made lunch for the 13 year old to take to his internship so hooray, one less chore for me!
6:30 a.m. Wake up with a pair of little feet lounging on my face. It is the 3 year old, he usually sleep walks himself into my bed at some point in the night. I'm not sure what time he fell in bed with me but at least his feet are clean.
7 a.m. I wake up the 13 year old and ask him why the house pig was outside at 3:30 a.m. The 13 year old is confused and amused because he thought it was 6 a.m. when he let the pig outside and fed her breakfast (6 a.m. is the usualy time the pig insists on being fed and going out for her morning routine).
Put the laundry in the dryer that I washed the night before since the 3 year old insists on wearing the same Superman shirt and cape every day.
7:10 a.m. The girl wakes up (she is 22 months old). I hear her happily exclaiming that she has poop. Hooray, I get to change a poopy diaper first thing in the morning. She insists on getting dressed, and I comply even though I know that I will most likely have to change her clothes again before we leave since she refuses to wear a bib and is notorious for making a mess with her breakfast.
7:20 a.m. I go outside to help the 13 year old with the animals since his 10 year old brother is away at sleepover camp. Taking care of the animals includes:
Letting the rabbits out and giving them food, water, hay and a block of previously frozen ice. Empty their litter pan into the compost bin. Inspect the hole they are attempting to dig to China. They have not gotten very far since our lot has about 3 inches of soil then solid rock. Happy digging rabbits!
Letting the goats out and giving them food and clean water. Adult goat wants some attention so I stop to pet him a bit and give him encouraging words about tolerating the heat and to please eat the poison oak growing behind the garden.
Letting the ducks out and giving them food and clean water. Ask the ducks to please stop trying to swim in the goat's water because it becomes a disgusting mess every day. The goats prefer clean water (who would blame them?)
Letting the chickens out and giving them food and clean water. The teenage chickens are still not talking to the younger chickens but since being moved and having an entire acre to scratch around in, at least they are no longer bullying the little chickens. The little chickens and the ducks have formed an alliance and let each other in on the great hiding places around the yard when they feel threatened by the teenage gang.
Check the pumpkin vines that I planted the previous morning. The girl helps check the vines by trampling on most of them and attempting to dig up a few. We have wild rabbits in our yard and I have been nervous about them eating my garden. So far, they have left it alone but I am still trying to convince the big kids to make a robotic scarecrow.
Giving the cats food and water and changing their litter boxes. Putting the adult cat's food up in the bathroom cabinet so the kittens don't eat it and get sick (the adult cat gets fed at night). Putting the kittens food up on a high bin where they can jump to eat it but the pig cannot reach it. The pig is not happy about this and spends a great deal of time trying to figure out how to fly up to the bin and eat the food (maybe he should borrow the 3 year old's cape?)
Give the fish pellets.
7:40 a.m. Take a kitten out of the washing machine, where the 3 year old has put her for "a bath mama." Argue with little kids about them wanting to play outside but we have to leave in 15 minutes so there isn't time. They do not understand. Practice meditation while continuing chores.
7:42 a.m While I am in the laundry room, I wash the cloth diapers and hang them on the line to dry. The pig tries to nibble my toes.
7:45 a.m. Feed breakfast to everyone. Yogurt with raspberries, blackberries and granola.
7:50 a.m Put little kids on their potty's before it is time to leave. 3 year old says that Superman does not go potty. Using my excellent parenting skills, I tell him that if he doesn't go poo then he will have to stay home alone with the coyotes. He is deathly afraid of coyotes so he promptly poops. Hey, put that in the parenting books! The girl tinkles in her potty and then with the speed of a child twice her age, puts her hand in and splashes around. Fighting my gag reflex, I wash her off and practice meditation.
7:55 a.m. Change the girl's outfit since she has predictably made a mess eating breakfast.
8:00 a.m. Hastily get the 3 year old dressed, he is upset because he wants me to "touch up" his toenail polish. There is no time for male pedicures this morning (medicures?), throw some snacks and sippy cups in a bag and load the family in the car.
8:10 a.m. Leave to take the 13 year old to his volunteer internship at the Children's Museum. We are 10 minutes late in leaving the house. He has forgotten to brush his teeth. I actually have some little portable toothbrush things called Brushups in my car console. I am feeling pretty good that I actually am prepared for this situation! I then wonder if I brushed my teeth and when the last time I took a shower might have been.
9:00 a.m. Amazingly get the 13 year old dropped off on time. I accidentally think that the sidewalk is a driveway and proceed to drop him off RIGHT IN FRONT of the museum before I realize that it wasn't a driveway and that I am parked on the sidewalk in downtown Austin. The 13 year old is rightfully humiliated and the 3 year old calls me a "dumb sh.." He is correct.
9:05 a.m. Pull over on the side of the freeway because the 3 year old decided he didn't like his snack and spit it out all over his carseat. He is now throwing a huge fit because his chewed up snack is all over his carseat and himself. I clean it with some wipes and away we go. Practice more meditation while driving since both children are now screaming for the same book.
9:15 Practice mediation while the little kids scream because the 3 year old wants the sun roof open and the girl wants it closed.
9:30 a.m. Pull up to YMCA. Give the 3 year old a "brushing." Google Sensory Integration Disorder Therapies to know what "brushing" means. Pretty much, it allows me to leave him in the child care without worry of him hurting himself or others.
9:45 a.m. Yes! Time for me! Pilates class! I am sculpting my body and loving every minute of it! The instructor directs us to hold onto our feet or ankles. I wonder if my holding onto my knees will count. Need to work on flexibility.
10:45 a.m. Leave pilates. Pick up children from child care and the girl has a black eye. Apparently it was an accident that happened when another child stood up quickly. The girl doesn't seem upset and we don't have any important family pictures to take anytime soon so all is good.
10:50 After struggling to get the girl to the car because she refuses to hold my hand in the parking lot, I proceed to change her diaper in the back of the car while it is now 100 degrees outside. I realize that I forgot the wet bag for her cloth diaper and have to scrounge around the car to find a piece of paper to lay the diaper on until we get home. While simultaneously trying to put a clean diaper on the girl and find something to put the diaper on, I get poop on my shirt. I do not have a change of clothes. Oh well, must stay in poop shirt until I get home.
11:00 a.m. My gas tank is on empty so I pull over to get gas. Argue with the 3 year old because he insists that it is his "job" to wash everyone's windshield's. While it is absolutely adorable to myself and the strangers in other cars when his little arm reaches up to clean the bottom 1/3 of their windows, it is also very dangerous in such a large gas station so I veto it today. While at the gas station, I decide to treat myself to a Diet Dr. Pepper. It is my guilty pleasure. I know I need water but love the nasty chemicals so I put the money in the machine and out comes....an empty bottle. Maybe someone is trying to tell me to give up the cola.
11:20 Practice meditation while the girl screams in the backseat and I have no idea what it is that she wants. She yells "geez eee sooosh!" I offer her the book, food, drink, music, nothing works.
11:25 Both the girl and the 3 year old are passed out asleep. Peace!
To be continued.......
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