The years are short, but the days are long. I want to remember this one.
5:15 AM my alarm goes off. It is black outside. BLACK. My plan of sleeping in my running clothes is not enough to get me out of bed. I don't even bother with snooze. I just turn the thing off.
6:47 AM I wake up. Mentally calculate that I have about 15 minutes til the circus begins.
7:05 AM Wake up my morning person husband. He makes Claire's lunch, Everett and I make breakfast for the troops. Read Claire's memory verse together instead of family devotions.
8:00 AM Nate drives Claire to school. I somehow manage to get a shower. Remind Everett that he's not supposed to get into the crib with Ingrid, who is caged up for her own safety and not happy about it.
8:55 AM With Everett dropped off at school, I pick up Weston for a little "baby nap at my house while his big brother gets a haircut action."
10:00 AM Lay Westy down for nap. Start dinner prep.
10:15 AM Ingrid finds a discarded can of coconut milk and slices her finger. Screams and invites Westy to join her.
10:25 AM Cuddle baby while applying pressure to her tiny, chubby finger. Attempt to re-binky Weston with half-naked Ingrid in my arms.
10:30 AM Wipe blood from every surface of my house, self and child. Weston sleeps, Ingrid rallies. I drink coffee.
11:40 AM Boys are home from school, lunch, spilled bubble solution, tears, power wheels. A note from the school that Everett has failed his hearing screening.
12:30 PM The Ws head home. Everett heads back outside for more power wheels time.
12:35 PM Everett comes in with "the look" on his face.
12:36 PM "Run to the bathroom, buddy...." "I can't run" New pants for Everett.
1:00 PM Everett takes a very loud nap. I read, finish dinner prep, have short phone conversation.
2:00 PM Rest time is over for the big boy. We make marble tracks and cards. Unprompted, he tells me that he was supposed to raise his hand during the hearing screening but "I didn't. Because I didn't feel like it."
2:55 PM Wake up baby so we can pick up Claire at school.
3:06 PM Retrieve my big girl. Head to the market. Bribe the kids for good behavior with promises of donuts and the playground. They do not comply. Stick to my guns and tell them we won't be having donuts or playing on the playground. Tears all around.
4:30 PM Bike riding with one hand, bike riding with eyes shut, band aids for Everett.
5:45 PM Discover that during the aforementioned very loud rest time, Everett had unloaded his dresser and also removed his drawers and bedding. I send him in to start folding.
6:35 PM He's refolded every piece of laundry in his dresser. Shower time. Half a bottle of baby soap down the drain "because I wanted to." Nate tells him that he's not going to be able to use soap again. Silently wonder how that's going to work out.
7:00 PM Stories (Beezus and Ramona; Thomas), teeth brushed, prayers, cuddles and to bed.
8:30 PM Claire is back out, catches me eating a treat. I share. We agree to wear our matching pink Toms tomorrow.*
*I can't say that pink corduroy Toms would have been my first choice but the joy on my six year old's face when we bought them made them a clear winner. I have maybe 2 years left when she's going to want to be matchy-match with me. She already prefers walking into school with friends. Even on a day like today, I'm glad we still have a few more years where matching shoes with your mama is cool.
