05:00

Mom: wakes, this is “my time” – tee hee.  I mainly read and posted this morning.

07:06

K(6): wakes, curls up on the sofa with a blanket (I opened the back door when I got up this morning – so excited about the cooler weather!).

07:19

A(3): wakes and then dutifully wakes up J(18mo).  A is excited when she realizes I have to get down long pants for her because it’s “cold”.  While changing J(18mo), L(7) wakes and comes out of his room.  The girls tell him it’s cold so we head to his room to fish out warmer pants for him also.
K: Cries because she “wants” a long sleeved shirt in addition to long pants but does end up admitting she doesn't “need“ one.  She cries again later because L calls her “rude“....sigh....do they have to start this already.

07:30

Breakfast is served.  Cheerful banter around the table is nice....yes, very nice.

07:40

Everyone: Brush teeth, hair and start chores.  J(18mo) follows me around as I work on my list for the day.  Had to stop periodically to serve as referee for the girls who were fighting over who had to do what.  Didn’t get my entire list completed despite J “helping” me.

09:00

A(3) & J(18mo):  Independent play in their room with the big legos.  Some crying in objection at first but quieted quickly.
L(7) & K(6): Prayer, Pledge & AWANA study.  Goes well, they are on track with their “5 sections a week goal”.

09:20

L: Phonics Test
K: (independent) review of special sounds

09:35

Crying from girls room – J has taken a toy from A, no injuries, I return to school room.
L: (independent) today’s reading assignment
K: Phonics review

09:40

L: (independent) Writing practice, begins sheet but will finish in seatwork
K: Writing lesson (cursive “h”)

09:50

L: Review Spelling List #4
K: (independent) writing practice

09:55

L: Poetry review (“The Lamb” by William Blake) – test tomorrow

10:00

Everyone: Snack!  Preschoolers thrilled to be coming out of their room…chanting “snack, snack” all the way to the family room.  Set up the kids snack in the family room near the door so they can feel the cool breeze.  J finishes before everyone and tries to steal animal crackers from the others.  ((Lots of crying))

10:10

A(3) & J(18mo): Watch “The Backyardigans” (thank you TiVo), this is A’s favorite show so she is thrilled when I suggest it.  J seems pretty excited about it too.  Both wrap in their blankets and settle in on the sofa.
L & K: Return to school room and read/discuss Science/Health lesson on Exercise and “helpful animals”

10:30

L(7): Arithmetic lesson
K(6): Counting…goes fast so she starts on her art.

10:40

A & J: Backyardigans ends and they begin to fight over blankets in the family room.  I take them back to their room and suggest they play “dress up” while I finish up in the other room.  J cried of course, as she does any time she can’t just follow me around the house but she quieted quickly and began to play with her sister.
I returned to the school room to finish Math and assign seatwork.

10:55

L & K: Begin seatwork
Mom: sort papers, finish up a couple of chores I’d started earlier

11:05

Mom, A & J: Played in the girls’ room…tea party, blocks, cowgirl, pretend animals, tickle fight and silly songs.  K joined us part way through as she had finished her seatwork.

11:35

K, A & J: Independent play.
Mom: Cup of decaf. Coffee, set out chicken to thaw, more chores.  Girls began to fight because K decided they needed to clean up the mess before lunch.

11:40

L finishes seatwork and starts on his art (he loves to draw) - thank goodness he finished in a timely manner today!  Has been taking him way too long lately.
K, A & J: K has finally convinced A that cleaning up is a good idea and they are working together (sort of).
Mom: starts preparing lunch

12:00

Lunch is served.  Daddy joins us for lunch (he’s working from home today).  Lots of chatting about various things.  L & A bicker because he feels the need to correct her constantly.  J is getting better as saying “thank you” and it’s such fun when she does it at the right moment.  A told daddy all about what a big girl she was at school yesterday.  Daddy talks to L & K about their school work.

12:40

Load up and head to the Library!  On the way, L & K attempt to read aloud a “Charlie & Lola“ book K is returning in a British accent.  L sounds far more French but K is “spot on“.

13:20

Home from the Library and the kids go to the backyard for a bit of “airing out”.  Recess must happen daily.  I am called to the back because they found cat poo in the yard.
Mom:  Talks to Dad for a bit about the library trip while he’s taking a short break.

13:45

Everyone: we snuggle on the sofa and read the next chapter of “The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe”.  A & J look at their picture books from the library as the story doesn’t interest them much.

14:00

QUIET TIME!!  L & K off to read their newly checked out books (Hardy boys for L & Arthur for K).  A & J take a nap!  No one complains about it today – woohooo!!!  Mom does whatever she feels like doing during this time.  So far I helped my sister with a Wedding announcement and then started typing up all of this stuff.