What a Day...?

So I wanted to call this post "What a Day," but I realized that it is only 2:45 in the afternoon. I feel like my days are more like 2 mini-days. The first mini-day is from when we get up in the morning until the kids go down for naps at about 2:30, usually. (I use the word "naps" loosely because Josh is no longer a napper. For him we call it "quiet time.") I try to stay busy during this time. Entertaining Josh and Hannah is not a horrible job, but if I don't stay busy with them I get the major "mom guilt" because I end up doing something to pass the time and they end up on the couch watching cartoons. Not a great way to spend a mini-day, but I will admit that it does happen on occasion. Don't worry, we do take a break at lunch time to eat.

For this mini-day I took the kids to the park. I thought they would love it because that is what they suggested we do today. I even called a friend that has 3 big boys that love to play with Josh and Hannah and they love to play with the boys. Well, they were excited...at home. At the park Josh was starving to death the whole time. I didn't bring any snacks because I am trying to break them of always needing snacks when we go places. Silly me to think he could survive 2 hours without food. And Hannah, well she thought it was sit on Mom's lap and suck her thumb time. The big boys kept offering to take her on the swing and help her ride her tricycle, but she just wanted Mommy. So when I announced that it was time to go home, Josh was happy because he was almost completely wasted away. But Hannah, no that was when she decided it was time to play. She did the run away from Mom move and scream at the top of her lungs. (And that girl can scream!) So I proceeded to the car and put her bike and Josh in. The whole time Josh was saying, "Mom, don't forget Hannah." Then she started screaming "No Mom, wait for me!" So she got in the car reluctantly, but screamed all the way home. I was tempted, after lunch, to allow the TV watching to commence, but I just couldn't do it. So we went outside and the kids rode bikes and played. Much happier time than at the park. (Maybe they were just starving.) And now we are finishing up the first mini-day as the kids are both quiet in their rooms.

The next mini-day usually begins at about 4 pm when Josh comes out of his room. Then the questions and requests begin. Then Hannah gets up and cranks at Josh while I cook dinner. And then that magic moment when Shad walks through the door and it is not all up to me anymore. I love that time of mini-day. Then after dinner I usually make my escape to the gym. Shad even cleans up dinner and does the dishes so I can have my break. It's an hour to think (or not to think), sweat and just not be in charge of anyone but myself. Then I come home and we put the kids to bed. My wonderful husband even has them bathed on bath nights before I get home. Then we just enjoy the quiet that is interrupted at least 2-3 times by kids who just can't fall asleep. And I usually end the day by waking Shad up off the couch and we go to bed. My mini-days are not always exciting, but it's just what I do. And I can say this is all a gift from God and I am so thankful for my life and all the mini-days that are wrapped up in it.

Hannah and Josh were quit the hams while we were out playing, so I got some cute pictures of them. Enjoy!