January Jewels

Sickness has kept us home for most of January.  No church, no co-op, only one playdate when Sarajoy could stay home with Dad. 
It has been a nice respite for me, to be honest. 
This schedule is filling reservoirs for me that I know I'm going to draw from in the coming months. 

It is never easy for me to get up in the morning, but 6:30am is especially painful.  It is good to know exactly what I'm supposed to do.  It helps.  I always have to pray myself out of bed.  I'm thankful for our breakfast schedule so I always know just what to make each day.  Dallin comes up from his early morning study/exercise session at 6:45 and wakes Ruby up.  By now the big boys are showered and dressed and working on chores.  Dallin reads while I finish up breakfast.  Nathan eats and we have a prayer before he catches the bus at 7:15.  Then it is time to wake Daisy up.  She does scriptures with the little ones in the evening to help her get more sleep.  After I eat, I either feed the littles or get their plates ready.  Sometimes they're not awake yet.  Then I go back to bed.

The 3 grade-schoolers know to turn on a movie for the little kids if I haven't already.  They also know to finish their chores, come give me a kiss and a hug, and take the cat out when they leave for the bus at 8:15.

 Usually between 9:30 and 10:00 Sarajoy comes into my room.  She'll either crawl in bed with me for a snuggle, ask for a diaper change, or want more breakfast. I get up and change her.  I'll help Simon do his chores to earn his computer minutes.  He's not always ready to do chores just yet.  Sometimes he just plays with Sarajoy.  This is my study time.  I write in my journal, read scriptures, a conference address, and the Ensign.  I've felt inspired to visit and re-visit some parenting books this year.  I usually read a chapter or two and maybe take some notes.  This time is frequently interrupted by requests for help with toys, etc. or a beep from the washing machine.  I don't mind because there is rarely a rush.

Between 11 and 12 we leave for our walk around the block.  Sometimes just the thought of getting bundled up to go out is enough to make it seem not worth it, but it always is.  Now that we have a bench in our mud room, I can at least set them on the bench and they'll stay put long enough for me to get their socks, boots, mittens, hats, and coats on. 
We sneak out the front door so Mikey doesn't get in when we're leaving. 
As soon as we're out in the fresh air, the grumpiness of getting ready fades, and Simon is ready to talk.  Most of his talk is pretend.  He pretends he has a juice machine and makes drinks for me.  He pretends we're in a video game and we get points for walking fast or kicking rocks.  He likes to point us in the right direction and have us start and stop at his command. 
We turn the corner and the sun is at our backs.  We wave to our shadows as we walk down the hill.  Simon pretends he's flying.  A dog barks, but we never see him.
Another corner to turn and we can see our backyard.  Sarajoy tells me about the time the wind blew her playhouse over and it broke to pieces.  I reassure her that Daddy will put it back together in the spring.  Now the little yappy dogs come out and bark at us.  Sarajoy tells us which one is hers and which one is Simon's. 
Tire tracks in the banks of snow on the side of the road make great "path-es" for us to walk on.  Sometimes we have to choose which one to take.  Simon likes me to stand at the end of one to help him choose.  They are extra fun if they are slippery.  We pause for several minutes while Simon and Sarajoy try out a slippery spot. 
Up, up the hill.  The kindergarten school bus passes by.  Now we're on our own street again.  This is when I usually get the "Can we have hot chocolate?" question.
We crunch ice formations at the edge of the melting snow.  Snow piled up on the neighbors' driveways is fun to kick at and jump into.  I get scolded if I forget my boots and can't participate in the snow-kicking.  The next-door neighbor's parking strip is melted with mud puddles.  Another pause to glory in squishiness.  Then we have to walk through the snow to clean our boots.
Mikey hears us coming and jumps out of the bushes to welcome us.  He starts meowing because he is ready to come inside.  At the edge of our property, Simon opens the giant mailbox and looks inside.  It is always empty.  "Hello in there!"  He says, and laughs.  "Just like on Charlie Brown, Mom."  
Mikey waits at the garage door and runs in front of us.  Off come the boots and the snow clothes.  We warm up water and mix in creamy chocolate.  They sit and sip from straws.  I have just a tiny taste before I start lunch.
I wonder how it works.  How can a very slow, interrupted walk around a block with 2 little kids be enough exercise for me?  Somehow it is, it is just right, and I am thankful.

It is nice for lunch to not have to be an event.  It is always simple.  Often PBJ.  That's Simon's favorite.  Sarajoy prefers mac and cheese.  Or we'll have leftovers.  Frequently I'll check email or facebook while I eat my lunch.  Sometimes we'll read a story or play games after lunch.  Sometimes they'll get really into something they're playing.  Sometimes Simon is ready to do his chores and computer time so we'll clean his room together.  Occasionally, I'll catch a few minutes to do some housework or work on a project.  My main job is laundry.  I try to get it all washed on Monday.  The goal is to have it sorted, folded and put away on Tuesday.  That doesn't always happen, but it is nice to have a clean and clear laundry room for the rest of the week.  I usually wash diapers on Tuesday and Friday.  Since I spend so much time in my room, the little kids bring their things in there.  It usually needs lots of tidying.  I have a whole list of projects that need to be finished, but I am usually ready to lie down again after lunch.  Sarajoy often puts herself down for a nap, but it is usually a little later than I'd like.  Anything after 2pm, and she stays up too late.  So I lie down with her and read something fun until we both fall asleep. 

Simon is not always excited about this part of the day, but it is SOOO good for him.  He has the quiet house all to himself.  I try really hard to have screen time over before or soon after lunch.  I want his quiet time to be genuine rest for him.  When he was a baby and toddler, I would put him down for a nap and he'd play in his crib for up to an hour before he fell asleep.  No complaints.  After he grew out of the crib and naps, it has been hard for him to get this alone time.  I know it is a possible reason that we have the kids in school.  He has some special needs that really need attention.  I'll get playdoh or some other manipulative activity out and turn on some music for him.  It is such a joy to come in and out of sleep to hear him singing at the top of his lungs while he plays.  He really loves "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" and "The Bear Went Over the Mountain".  There have been a couple of times lately that I've been thankful for angels watching out for him while I rested, but for the most part he just plays happily.  The first time he came and told me that his CD "See me Run" was not working.  This was NOT the CD I had put in for him.  I got up to help him and found a kitchen chair with a little stool on it and a little chair precariously stacked on top of that next to the computer armoire.  He had climbed up there (So thankful he didn't fall!) and gotten the aerosol duster down that Dallin sometimes uses to clean the CD player when the discs aren't working.  He saw nothing wrong with taking matters into his own hands, but I assured him that that was something for Daddy to be in charge of.  A couple of days later, I came downstairs from resting only to hear the sound of the microwave beep.  Once again, so thankful nothing worse happened.  He's never tried to use the microwave before.  Some dangers you just don't think of until they happen!  He was just warming up a "drink" he made with milk and water.  Both of those happened in the last week.  I may need to move his quiet time up to his bedroom so I can hear what's going on better.

Sometimes I'm ready to get up when Nathan gets home at 3:00.  He has been really great to take time to play with Simon when he gets home.  It is SO awesome.  Simon looks forward to it so much!  It is just the thing after a nice quiet time.  The other kids get home about 3:50.  Then it is time for the evening rush.  I try to perk up enough to take in everybody's day and help with homework and get dinner started.  It is usually pretty hectic.  I'm still learning how to deal with it appropriately.  Just cause the little kids have had my attention all day doesn't mean they're ready to give it up when the big kids get home.  Thankfully, there is usually at least one sibling available to play and someone willing to help with dinner. 

Next thing you know, we're eating dinner and cleaning up. (Why, oh why does this have to take so long?)  Sometimes there is a little down time after this, but usually it is time to get the littles ready for bed (7:30) and do their routine.  They get a story each and a gospel lesson from the nursery manual or the illustrated Book of Mormon Stories.  We sing some songs together and have a prayer and they lie down and listen to Primary songs until they fall asleep.  Then I read to the girls and Dallin reads to the boys until 9:00.  Then Dallin and I pay bills or catch up on emails or watch our Becoming Spiritually Centered DVD's or watch a movie or just talk.  We make ourselves stop and lights out at 11:00.  I usually  have to read for awhile until my eyes won't stay open.  It is the best way I've found to deal with my nightly restless leg syndrome/itch fest that will keep me up for hours otherwise. 

This is my last day of this wonderful schedule as Ruby has decided to come home starting tomorrow!  I am excited!  I am ready to host co-op at my house next month.  I am ready to see my friends and start making more of an effort to make friends in the ward.  I am excited to have some special time with Ruby.  This month has really been a gift, and I know a time of preparation.  I'm truly grateful to feel like I've had "permission" to slow down. 

Weekends this month have been spent trying to get the house in order.  I have finally hung pictures and decorations that have been in boxes for over a year.  I moved the changing table to the upstairs bathroom where it is closer to the potty.  That made room for a bench in our mudroom.  So far I am really happy with the change.  I've washed and folded all of my little baby stuff.  I reorganized the Family Room/Play area to include the baby doll stuff.  Sarajoy spends most of her time playing babies.  I also reorganized Simon and Sarajoy's room so it is easier to clean and it has a rocking chair for story time.  (Did I already post about this?  I can't remember).  I'm getting the itch to sew which means I better clean up my sewing room from the Christmas tornado. 
Dallin and the big boys went camping one weekend to the Klondike derby.  Unfortunately the competition was cancelled because it was too rainy and muddy.  I think they had a good time anyway. 

Having a teenager has really caused a lot of frustration for me.  I never realized how hard it would be to know where to stand when your kids are constantly questioning.  I have had many times where I felt so completely lost and hopeless.  I've really had to turn to the Lord for guidance.  I feel hopeful as Dallin and I work together to maintain the safety barrier between the world and our home while we are also trying to let our child grow into an adult that will be a part of that world.  This month has helped me through a major attitude adjustment in that area.  The Lord has helped me learn to see my kids from a more eternal perspective so I can love and enjoy them despite their frustrating choices.