School Days

School has been going well for both of the girls. Matilda is enjoying Kindergarten, and has made wonderful new friends. She's learning to write and read, and is so excited to share these with me! Audrey has a full day of Pre-K, which makes her very tired! She loves her teacher, going to school, and playing with "her kids." Audrey has become much more outgoing and truly enjoys sharing stories of her school days with anyone who will listen.

I have taken a deeper interest in my children's learning. We share books every night before bed, and part of this means we also visit the library weekly or bi-weekly. We are always practicing writing our names and forming letters properly, counting anything we can, and learning new things constantly. I'm trying to add a weekly "trip" to a new place. I've found some local free or cheap places to take the girls where they can learn something new! There will always be playgrounds around, and libraries... But taking the girls out into the world to see nature's beauty and to experience nature is something they won't get in school often.

Stay at home Moms do not have free time.

In case anyone had forgotten, or was curious, here's a detailed list of what I do each day. Mind you, this does not include days that I have to run errands, go grocery shopping, take people to the doctor/ER, go up to school for classroom help/field trips, do laundry, tend my garden, or mow the lawn. I can't wait until Matilda starts Kindergarten and I have to get up three hours earlier.

8:30am - Awake to a 3 1/2 year old yelling that the sun is up and we need to wake up.

9:00am- After being rudely interrupted in the bathroom multiple times, I find clothes for myself and the kids.

9:30am- Make breakfast for the kids and myself... Usually three different things. Yay for short-order cooks... ugh.

10:00am- Put away dishes and clean up the breakfast mess while kids destroy living room.

10:30am- The kids want to go outside. We fight about it. Unless I think it's okay, then we go outside. Usually feed the cats around this time.

11:00am- Try to get the kids to clean up the living room mess. Most of the time I put it away.

11:15am- Oh no! I have to pee. But can I do it without the kids following me? Hahaha, no I cannot.

11:30am- Listen to a 3 1/2 year old whine about being hungry, when I swear we just ate. Try to convince her to play instead.

12:00pm- Give in to 3 1/2 year old, and make lunch. Usually sandwiches and veggie sticks. Sometimes I get creative and eat leftovers.

12:45pm- Try to convince kids to help clean up after lunch. Matilda usually handwashes a few dishes, and Audrey helps with the dustpan so I don't have to bend over. I have to sweep, do dishes again, and wipe down all the surfaces. Does any of this sound fun to you yet?

1:15pm- Hoping for some down time, I turn on the tv. The kids are playing so loud right next to me I can't hear, so I shut it off.

1:30pm- Husband is running around like crazy trying to get ready for work. I'm being cried on about one of the kids hitting the other.

2:00pm- Husband leaves for work, kids destroy living room again. I try to make a few things for dinner so I don't have to cook it all at once.

2:30pm- Clean up the kitchen again.

2:45pm- Try to sneak off to the bathroom without the kids noticing. Fat chance.

3:00pm- Try for downtime again and convince the kids to color/draw quietly. Usually get an hour of tv, always interrupted, of course.

4:00pm- I am whined at for food again, but this time by both girls. I correct their whining by making them ask politely. Don't they learn?

4:15pm- Quick snack. Fruit & graham crackers, or PB&J with a cup of juice... Still doesn't lessen the mess, though.

4:30pm- Clean up the kitchen.... didn't I just do this? This time though, I have to start dinner while cleaning.

5:30pm/6:00pm- Dinner time. Ahhhh... quiet. For 10min.

6:30pm- Put away food, clean up, do dishes, etc. etc. Kids usually help.

7:00pm- Take the kids outside if the weather is nice.

7:30pm- Back in for baths, if it's bath night. Clean up all the toys in the living room and bedroom first.

8:00pm- Get out the pj's, comb hair, brush teeth, etc.

8:30pm- One of the girls goes to bed while the other sits downstairs with Grandpa.

9:15pm- Time for the other to go to bed. If they go to bed at the same time, they play/fight.

10:00pm- On a good night, it's quiet, and the girls are asleep. I get an hour to myself on the computer.

11:00pm- Husband is home... Have to spend time with him, haven't really seen him all day. At least he makes his own food.

12:00am- We head up to bed, I usually spend a few more minutes on the computer. Or play the Sims with hubby for a while.

1:00am- Can't keep my eyes open, back is sore, so it's time to lay down and go to sleep.

3:15am- 5 year old jumps out of bed and comes to sleep with me. She's really good at slipping her ice cold toes under my warm legs. I don't sleep well after this. I also have to listen to hubby snore for a hour before I can fall back to sleep.

5:00am- 3 1/2 year old wakes up, cries. Sometimes goes back to sleep, or joins us in the bed.

5:30am- back to sleep, until it all starts again...

Burn in Your Heart

When I see you my heart yearns.

I want to be in your embrace.

My soul cries out to be your fire.

To burn in your heart, to flicker in your eyes.

I want your aura to be against mine.

Merged into one illuminating light.

Pressed against your heart, held there for eternity.

Holding together with you, forever.

My eyes shimmer when your fragrance drifts.

My skin chills when our eyes meet.

My heart stops when you whisper my name.

My soul reaches for yours. . .

Stuffed Shells, Anyone?

Yesterday I made a huge dinner for my family at my parents' home. I haven't cooked anything like that in a while, and it made me feel like I was doing something special for them. I created stuffed shells, filled with cheese and smothered in meat sauce. I also made a tossed salad, and a sweet fruit salad to finish out the meal. It felt so good to eat something crafted by hand... To eat something designed to make you happy, and to fill you up!

One of my good friends mentioned that it seems as if cooking for others is how I show that I care. That is so true of me, and I had never really thought about that. I'm grateful to my parents for helping me and my daughters. Staying at their home until things get worked out was not something I had expected them to deal with so easily, or for them to be so helpful. I have been cooking meals almost nightly for them and for my daughters, and it seems that it is a work of my heart and soul. I truly enjoy creating good, beautiful food for my family, because it shows them how much I love them.

This has even become somewhat of an obsession. While my children are falling asleep at night, I sit in the room with them and browse the internet for new recipes. I've got tons of bookmarked recipes that I'm planning to try out this week. Of course, this includes special snacks for the girls; my hungry little caterpillars who seem to go through all the food in the cupboard in two days!! I'm hoping that heartier, handmade snacks will keep them more full, not only in their stomachs, but in their souls!

The website that I've been finding myself on the most this weekend is this: familyfun.go.com. It's full of ideas for cooking for children, and cooking with children, which is something I love to do.