WITL - Tuesday

Tuesday was another day where I felt like I was forcing myself to move forward with this project, but as always, when I look back I'm glad I did.  I was more intentional and made a point to pick up my big camera throughout the day.  Although I'm often frustrated with the picture quality on my aging DSLR I like how I have to be more intentional about getting the shot than I do with my phone.  Photo quality aside, I find that the pictures with my big camera often tell a better story than the ones on my phone, simply because I'm paying more attention as I work to get the right exposure and composition.  My phone photos tend to be more mindless snapshots.  I still hope to get better at this as the week goes on.

Before I get started I feel the need to add/warn you that as I read through and edited this post I found it felt a bit negative and exhausting.  I was tempted to change/delete some things, but realized that's kind of how yesterday afternoon felt.  For me taking the time to do this project is about getting a picture of what is real in our lives right now, and not about painting a portrait of perfection.  And so we begin....

It was pushing time again this morning as it was almost 5 by the time I crawled out of bed.  Made it out for a run (even though the drizzly weather was tempting me to stay under the covers) and, as always, was thankful I did.

Back home in time for quiet time and coffee.

The kids get ready as I start the laundry.  Tuesday is also garbage day, and I have begun to have them collect the trash from their rooms and bathrooms and take it out to the curb.

We all convene in Sylvie's room as I help her get dressed.  Cora shows her how to turn off her scentsy (notice the less than thrilled look over all the picture taking) and Beau helps her make her bed.  They are both much more receptive to helping Sylvie with her chores than they are to doing their own.  We'll see how much longer that lasts!

Love that face (hers not mine).  Standing on the board (aka stool in most households) as I finish her hair.

This morning I was only half ready when it came time to help the kids.  After they were dressed, and hair was done I went back to finish getting myself ready.  I've found that it's often easier to stop what I'm doing to help them when they're up early than to try and finish up with constant Moooooom in the background.

Once we're ready (around 7) it's downstairs to get started on breakfast, which usually coincides with the first daycare arrivals.  One of the more exciting things of this new house for the kids was the microwave low enough for them to reach.

I love seeing the constant motion of the mornings.  I love it even more on mornings like this when there is no whining, yelling, crying, or fighting.

This mornings predicament was Cora dropping the spoon in to the sticky honey jar.  Complete with Beau's exasperated sigh and eye roll "really Cora".

The "rule" in our house is no video games or TV on school nights.  It was put in place when Beau started making a fuss about putting down whatever screen he was on in order to do homework, and then rushing through it when he did.  They received email accounts in school and he has since begun checking his email in the mornings.  While not technically a game (he's quick to argue and debate any such technicalities)  today it evolved in to a web based game.  As I finished with daycare drop offs and came to in to help them get out the door for school frustration set in as I saw no socks, no teeth brushed, and breakfast spread all over the counter.  I reminded him that there were to be no games before school.  He sighs, but doesn't argue.

Two girls that decided playing nicely was too difficult, so they got to sit at the table to wait for breakfast instead of playing.

We follow a preschool curriculum that shapes the majority of our mornings.  Sylvie is working on writing her name on her own (vs. tracing it).  She is doing pretty well with the letter shapes, although her name is usually either written backwards or with the letters all there but in no particular order.

I found this at the grocery store last night and had to try it.  It did not disappoint.  Seriously SO good.  I need to find a good hiding spot in the fridge.

Nap time consisted on another PIYO session, catching up on some computer work and of course laundry.  Although the pile was much smaller than yesterdays.

Snack time started with Sylvie's typical whine/cry because she didn't want apples for snack.  I told her if she didn't want apples then she should eat her crackers and leave the apples in her bowl.  The crying continued through snack as she sat and ate every last bite of her apples.

The happy demeanors that left for school this morning did not return this afternoon.  At least not for Beau.  I was immediately greeted with him requesting that one of the daycare kiddos be able to get out his tablet.  No.  Not the answer he was looking for and he let me know it.  Although he did do his homework (which I checked, calculator in hand) the attitude pretty much went down hill from there.  By supper time I was feeling defeated and fed up with defience, arguments, and power struggles.

Cora came home just as happy she left.  She's not one for power struggles, and generally finds it easier to do whatever we're asking, and only occasionally pouting the whole time she does it.  Far less exhausting for me.

Daily sweeping of the floor once the big kids were sent out to play and the littles had finished their snack.

I checked in on Beau to make sure he was getting his reading done before heading outside with the littles.  I let him know the math problems he needed to recheck and was met with silence, which I'll consider a step up from the sass.

Swings were the favorite pastime outside today with the exception of Sylvie who spent most of the time on my lap complaining of the cold.  I can't say that I blame her it was cold, windy, and damp.  Definitely one of those days where I wished it would just actually rain so we could stay inside guilt free.

However, if we thought the backyard was cold it was nothing compared to the soccer fields.  It always feels at least 10 degrees colder there and WAY windier.  It was a chilly game to say the least.  Thankfully, by this point everyone had switched gears and Beaus attitude had improved dramatically.  It's often that we say he can seem like a completely different kid hour to hour.

We returned home about 8:15, frozen and ready for warm baths and showers.  While I gave the girls a bath, dried hair, and brushed teeth Luke installed a towel bar in the kids bathroom.  It was past 9 (quite late for our kids) by the time they finally made it to bed.

I tried to warm up with sweatpants, socks and fuzzy blanket as I got in to bed shortly after the kids.  I spent a few minutes reading and contemplated starting a 5K running plan in an effort to solidify a running habit before it's time to start training for this fall's half.  Jury's still out.