I recently read through all of my "day in the life" posts, dating all the way back to before Ewan was born. Our day's rhythm hasn't changed much, but the details have. I enjoyed looking back and seeing what our lives looked like during each season. Without these posts I would forget so many little parts in our day to day. So, I decided on doing another one. My kids are getting bigger and it's bittersweet. So much of their exhausting helplessness is being replaced by independence and it lends us to doing more and different things with our days.
Our days start sometime between 6:00-7:00. Sometimes Michael and I wake up before the kids, sometimes it's a little voice on the monitor screaming "mommy!" or a little voice whispering in my ear "I need breakfast mom". Either way, we get up and start on breakfast. I especially love the days I get up before the kids. It makes for a smoother morning.
This morning's breakfast was scrambled eggs, homemade waffles, and bananas. Ewan usually eats another round of breakfast too. I just stick to coffee. I'm really bad about eating something in the morning. I typically enjoy a cup while the kids are eating their breakfast.
Then it's time for everyone to get dressed, brush teeth, make beds, and open curtains. Everyone does this on their own, except Eleanor, which is really nice for me :) I get ready during this time too, usually with a podcast or book going.
Look who finally got up. Isla is usually the house-sleepyhead.
If it's nice, I like to visit my garden first thing in the morning. It's like saying "goodmorning" to my little kingdom.
After I get Eleanor dressed, it's morning chore time. I always clean up the kitchen from breakfast and I always start a load of laundry. The kids usually play during this time.
Around 9:00, we're usually ready for the day! If it's a home day, we start school. Today's "school" was a trip to the library. We had some books on hold and needed to get out of the house. The kids are responsible for getting their waters, shoes on, and loading up into the car. Then we're off!
We spent a little time at the library. The kids love working on their computers and checking out all the exciting books. I love that our library has a drive-thru window. So I also picked up our books on reserve before heading out.
On Fridays, we pick up groceries too. Another drive-thru that I appreciate is grocery pick-up. I shop the day before and it's ready to be loaded into my car the next day. I don't even remember the last time I set foot in an actual grocery store. And with three little kids, that's the way I like it :)
When we got home, I unloaded the groceries while the kids played outside and looked at their new library books. We shop for groceries once a week and I do my best to stick to a menu.
Around 11:00 the lunch complaints start. So it's a quick watering of the garden while I collect my salad ingredients before heading in to make lunch.
Then it's lunch time! I found a hack that I plan on using all summer- diner baskets with paper wrappers. After they finish their lunch, they throw out the paper and put the basket back in the pile. No cleanup for me and less time in the kitchen. Win, win!
I'm on a salad kick (mostly because the lettuce in my garden is out of control). I make a different kind of salad almost every day.
Around 12:30, Eleanor starts protesting her upcoming nap (see picture below). It's a quick diaper change for her and she goes down for nap. If we are out and about during the day, she's ok skipping a nap. But she definitely still needs one most days.
Then it's the start of rest time for everyone. I make my afternoon latte (with a homemade vanilla syrup), take my supplements, do a chore or two, then rest with a book. The big kids play quietly, usually outside. Isla always listens to her latest audiobook. "Rest time" lasts about 2 hours and it's good for all of us to have this restful time to ourselves.
The new rule in our house is they have to wait for Eleanor to wake up in order to have an afternoon snack. The constant begging for snacks will surely be the death of me. Popsicles count as a good snack right? Eleanor usually wakes up sometime between 2:00-3:00.
Which reminds me... I needed to make popsicles for our Memorial weekend too.
I did end up making them a more substantial snack ;)
Between rest time and when Michael gets off work, I always try to get a couple chores done. I put away our laundry from the morning and do one or two other chores. Today it was vacuuming and picking up the playroom. Sometimes the kids help me with these, if they aren't running around outside somewhere.
Michael gets off work and comes upstairs between 3:30-4:00 and gives me a smooch. He usually has his own chores to do, today it was mowing the yard. The kids usually play outisde before dinner too.
Then it's dinner prep! Isla helped me grate the cheese today.
We eat around 5:00. Friday nights are pizza and game night at our house! It's become a sweet little tradition. We also share our highs and lows during dinner.
After dinner the kids each have a chore (vacuum and wipe the table) while we clean up the kitchen.
Then it's family time. Sometimes we play outside, call a grandparent, or read books. Most of the time Michael and the kids wrestle :)
I always close down the kitchen, including getting my coffee ready for the morning, feeding my sourdough starter, and wiping down all the counters.
Lately, we've started reading a chapter book before bed.
Around 6:45, we start getting ready for bed. It's teeth brushed, jammies on, and family devotions. Then we put each kid to bed. Eleanor is first with a song and a smooch. Then we pray with Isla and kiss her goodnight. She gets to listen to her stories in bed for another hour or so. And then we begin the very long process of putting Ewan to bed. There's a whole routine and 30 minutes later, he attempts to go to bed for the first time (he's usually awake 3+ more times before morning). I don't know what to do about it. It is what it is. But everyone is at least in bed by 7:30ish.
When we finally get downstairs after that whole debacle, I get in my scalding bath that Michael lovingly runs for me, read a little more, and then it's lights out. I'm old and boring :)
And that's a whole day for us. I love my life and I love our days :) And I'm sure I'll be glad to read about this season of our life too in the future.
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