4 years 1 month 21 days

Day 1512. The kids have swim class on the first and third Sunday every month, and so we left the house at 9 am yesterday to take the 9:20 train, then we took the tram for two stops. The class was from 10 to 10:30 am. They all did really well and had fun. The kids now like diving so much and did it all the time. Tammy's eyes turned so red that I asked her to stop opening her eyes under water and later ordered goggles for her. After the class, we stayed at the pool, and I went in with Sammy who just enjoyed swimming on his own so much. Emmy had to get over being upset, as he had not behaved well during class, and I had warned him several times that he would not go to McDonald's with us if he didn't start behaving, but he still didn't. I finally offered him grace, holding out my hand to him, and he took it. Then I started playing with him in the water, and he had so much fun that he was soon his joyful self again.

After some time we decided to leave. We took the tram to McDonald's and enjoyed our meal together. Then we took the train home, where we arrived at 12:45 pm. At 1:30 I put them to bed for their nap. It's been hard to get Sammy to sleep, but he finally did again.

After they were all up again, Randy took them downstairs to play, while I was working on the computer. I think we all needed an afternoon at home bad.

This morning the boys were up before the alarm, but I asked them to wait for the alarm to get up. It soon went off at 7:15 am. We all got up, the kids sat down for breakfast, while I prepared Sammy's snackbox for kindergarten. At 8:15 am Randy left with him. Then I got some exercises ready to teach the other two kids, and we had fun. At least Tammy and I did. Emmy easily gets upset and then he's done with everything. He was crying and refused to go on. After a while he calmed down and continued the task at hand. They were practicing drawing lines, and I taught them how to draw the first letter of their names. We also practiced counting to 5 and played a few games with cards that had different numbers of animals on them. In the end they got a sticker each for their binders.

After we were done, they watched "Little House on the Prairie", while I turned my computer on to work. At 11:15 I went to the kitchen to start making lunch. Sammy and Randy came relatively late at about 11:45 am. A few minutes later we sat down at the table to eat. After we were done, the children continued playing or watching. At 1:30 pm it was time for their nap.

I was extremley tired and in much need of a nap, ready to lie down. However, Sammy was playing around. I repeatedly tried to get him to sleep, but to no avail. All my trying robbed me of my own nap, while Sammy ended up crying because he did not want to sleep. At least the other two kids go to sleep. And so I stayed extremely tired.

By about 3 pm everyone was up. I dressed them for class, then Randy went downstairs with them, while I got ready for my 3:30 pm lesson. They came upstairs at 4 pm, and Randy put their socks, shoes and coats on. When I finished at 4:15 pm, we all left the house as quickly as possible to make the 4:30 pm train.

We made the train, then bought chestnuts before going to the subway that we took for one stop. Sammy was really happy that it was a new train. We walked to the school and took the elevator up to where the classrooms were. There was already one other kid in the room.

We took their shoes and coats off, and even though I was extremely tired, I was the one going inside with the three kids. It was the second session with this new teacher.

She did the greeting song with all the kids and parents, then sent the parents out. I was allowed to stay as Sammy's assistant. While we still miss the previous teacher, she did a good job. The kids were all having fun, and our kids were certainly not holding back. She had them use rattles, and got a guitar out that they could all strum. Sammy behaved really well today. He was never cranky, never wanted to leave, but participated the whole time.

At 5:50 pm the class was over, and we left the room to find all the parents outside. We put their shoes and coats back on and left the building. Sammy was asking briefly about the library, but I told him we were going to the subway. The other kids asked about the playground, but it was too cold today. Even though I had no students any more today, I just wanted to get home.

As we had plenty of time until our train's departure, we did not get on the three old trains that came in a row. For Sammy, we took the fourth one, which was a new one, which made him very happy. We rode it for one stop, then went to the train platform, and a few minutes later the train arrived.

By 6:45 pm we were back home, and I went straight to the kitchen to make their dinner. They ate some, then continued eating in the bathtub. We got them ready for bed, and we read two Bible stories together. Then I prayed for them and put them to bed. Sammy was so tired that he fell asleep quickly. Not so the other two. After an hour Tammy was still whining for me. I went to her one last time to stroke her hair, and then she finally went to sleep.

I got myself something to eat, and then continued working on the compute. Now it's after midnight and time for bed, as I have a long day ahead of myself tomorrow.