Day 1367. Emmy was up early, as usual, and soon everyone else as well. Randy got up to make breakfast for them, then I forced myself out of bed so they'd be dressed by 9 am. The kids were waiting for the Mobile Support lady to ring the bell, which she did just after 9 am. All three of them were excited to see her and went downstairs with her to play. As for me, I sat down at the computer to work and was thankful for that productive time. We have only just over a month left before we leave for the US, and I still have to accomplish a lot during that time.
She left at 10:30, and just over an hour later Randy and the kids came upstairs to watch video or play until it was time to eat. I warmed up yesterday's soup, and before it was even noon we sat down to eat. Once again Tammy and Emmy ate everything in their bowls, but not Sammy. They all had dessert, then continued watching, playing or listening to children's songs.
Randy then left on a little errand, and at 1:15 I put the kids to bed. Thankfully they all fell asleep today, and it didn't even take that long. I soon lay down myself to get some sleep, before it was 2 pm. It was Emmy who woke me up, when he was walking into my room. I could hear Sammy as well. Emmy left again, and Randy then went downstairs with them, which allowed me to fall back asleep. My alarm then woke me up at 3:10 pm, as I had a student at 3:30 pm and still needed to do a few things before then. Tammy was still asleep; once she woke up she went downstairs to join the others.
I finished teaching at 4:20, so we needed to leave right away to make the 4:32 pm train. They always enjoy us running part of the way. It wasn't as hot as the last few days, but it was still okay to be short-sleeved, and they were wearing shorts. We made the train, then took the subway for one stop, then walked the short distance to the music school. We returned the DVD's at the library, then took the elevator up to the school. I took them to the bathroom, before walking to the classroom with them.
Today only one other girl was in class, and everyone was having a great time. Everyone got to choose an instrument in the beginning, and the boys had a triangle each, while Tammy had some rattles. The teacher asked each child what we should do while singing the greeting song to them. There was clapping, jumping, twirling, then Emmy said, "wiggle your butt". The teacher said that that was the first time she had heard that request, but we all did it.
Then we did a dance together. After that, she got the caterpillar and the pictures out and had them get a drum each. She wanted them to tap the syllables of the items on the pictures, which was a little difficult. And they weren't that interested either. Then the teacher played a train, walking in a circle, and calling one child after another up to follow her. It was so very cute how Emmy was walking!!!
Next she had set up stations that each had a short sequence of long and short notes that they were supposed to clap. Again, it was hard for them, and they were not that interested. Then they sat down on the floor again, and she gave Sammy the two sound bars to play, which he enjoyed. Emmy had the triangle again, and Tammy the rattles. She then asked them what their favorite songs were, and we sang each one of them with them playing the instruments.
And then the class was already over. They got stamps on their papers, as well as on their hands, we put their shoes back on and left the room until next week. We made a stop at the bathroom and then went to the library, where they chose a few movies to take home again.
Normally we then walk back to the subway, but they wanted to go to the playground behind the building, so we decided to go check it out. I was actually quite impressed by it.
We first went to a high tower that had a slide down. The kids needed a little help to make that last step onto the two platforms, and so I had to climb up to the first one myself so I could help them get up to the higher platform. Then they'd slide down and come back up. Sammy went down twice as well. Once they were done, I decided to climb down rather than slide down.
We the went to another part of the playground, where they sat on the seats on spring to move back and forth, and there was also something to sit on that could spin. Tammy and Emmy were on it first, then I put Sammy on it as well. He was sitting really well on it and enjoyed spinning in a circle. The other two also sat in the movable jeep. Then Emmy saw a leaning rotating wheel, but they did not like it very much. Then the round swing became available, and so we headed straight there. It was unique in that it was able to rotate, not just swing. It's the first time ever I've seen a swing like that, and it was really cool. They turn spin and wing at the same time, and they absolutely loved it!
But it was time to go home as 7 pm was approaching. Tammy and Sammy were crying because they did not want to leave yet. Just before we left they found a trampolin in the ground and jumped a few times. Then we started our walk back to the subway that we rode for one stop to get to the train station. At first I thought we'd just miss the train and have to wait over 20 minutes for the next one, but then there was a chance we'd make the 7 pm train. It was sitting there, when we got off the elevator, and so we actually made it! What a relief! By 7:15 pm we were back home.
Even though it was already pretty late, we went through our usual dinner routine, which was probably a mistake, as it was 8:45 before they were in bed, and that without a Bible story. And they didn't fall asleep any faster because of the advanced hour. All three were still talking and fussing for a while. I stayed with them at first, then Randy took my place as he had already eaten. I got myself something to eat, then went back to work after having eaten. Now it's after 1 am, and I still have to clean up the kitchen.
