Our life...

Life is busy. I thought it would be interesting to some to have an outline of a typical work day. It kind of has to start the night before actually, because without preparation we would never get out the door before 8:00am. I lay out Katya and Ollie's clothes, which is two sets because the nursery want an extra set in case of disater. So I actually lay out one set and pack the other in their bags. Then I get breakfast layed out and ready. Oliver's bottles ready, snacks for the train ride home, and my lunch. I then take a shower and lay out my clothes. Now Martin does help me with this if he is home, but he is often not. Katya is a mega-early riser, sometime between 4-5am. I usually give her a bottle (I know I know 2 and a half and still having a bottle, it is purely for an extra couple hours of sleep and sanity)and either she gets in bed with us, or if Ollie is already there, I get in bed with her and she 9 times out of 10 goes back to sleep until 6:00am. So we are up and getting ready by 6:00am. Breakfast (for the adults, the kids have breakfast at Nursery), load the car with the double push chair, 400 bags and coats for the journey. We are on our way to the station at 6:50am. We get their unload the 400 bags and coats, kiss Daddy good-bye and just make the 7:02 train, usually running only stopping so Katya can get her paper (free Metro) to read on the way. We arrive at Duddeston station around 7:20 and walk to my school, unload my bag, have a glass of water, a wee-wee, and sometimes I can start getting set up for the day. Then out the door around 7:50 to get to Katya and Ollie's Nursery. Leave them there happy warm and eating breakfast. Off to my school to have a crazy mad busy day teaching the inner-city children of Birmingham how to drum, keyboard, and sing like real pros (that is at least my aim, it doesn't always happen, but there are moments). The last bell goes at 3:05 and I tidy up and try to get as much done as I can until about 3:40, when I leave to get the monkeys. They are always happy to see me and it is wonderful to see them worn out buy doing well. Ollie always falls asleep on the walk to the station and Katya and I discuss the finer points to their day. We usually catch the 4:06 train back to Selly Oak. Arrive there around 4:30 and weather permitting we walk the mile and a half home, if it is awful weather or I am really tired we get the bus. Home between 5:00 and 5:30, Ollie wakes up and fusses, Katya is so tired she is grouchy. Usually the TV goes on so I can make the dinner. Martin is usually home around 6:00. Then dinner and a bit of family time. In the bath for the kiddos around 6:45-7:00. Katya in bed before 7:30 and Ollie has some mommy time a bottle and is asleep and in bed around 8:00. Then its from the beginning again! Pretty exciting huh? I relish my Thursday and Fridays off with the kids when the pace is MUCH slower, but still there is lots to do to keep on top of things ie laundry, cleaning, bill paying, and shopping. We are blessed with mostly patient and active kids who like having a busy schedule, although Katya does have days where she says she doesn't want to go to school today, but we all have those days don't we?