4 years 22 days

Day 1482. Once again the boys were up before the alarm, at about 7 am. We had breakfast, then we got them ready and left the house just after 8:30 am. Everything was wet outside, but it wasn't raining any more, maybe just sprinkling a tiny little bit. We walked to the auditorium and were surprised not to find a line of people waiting to get in. We went inside and up to the kids' conference rooms. Sammy was already tense and whiny; it was clear that he did not want to be there. Emmy had been saying he was looking forward to it, but as we were approaching, he also started saying he did not want to be there. Sammy started freaking out, when we went inside. Yesterday's teacher came right up to him. He had his favorite toy, a duck, with him, but at that moment that did not matter. He was trying to grab me, making it clear that he did not want to stay there. Emmy was alright until it was time to go inside. I went with them a few steps, then a teacher took him. He wasn't crying as hard as yesterday. Sammy was on the verge of screaming again, but we walked away anyway. We did not expect him to get over it and start enjoying it and wondered how long it would be before I'd get the text to come pick him up.

We found ourselves seats in the auditorium, and at 9:30 a time of worship started. At 10 am I got the expected text message, and we decided to both go and get Sammy. He was so happy to see me and soon calmed down in my arms. He even smiled, when he interacted with the teacher a few moments later. Then we left with him. We went to the sitting area with couches, and Randy then stayed with him there, while I returned to the auditorium for the rest of the worship time and to hear the speaker. Then there was a break, and I went outside, where I saw Sammy pushing a little stool around, using it as a walking device. We then put him into the chair and went to the leaders' lounge with him.

There were lots of people everywhere. I sat down with Sammy, while Randy went to get some drinks and snacks. Some people talked to us because of Sammy. After the break, we went back to the sitting area. They started the second session late, and I soon left to go to the bathroom, then went to the kids' rooms to pick up Tammy and Emmy, as it was nearly 12:30, which was pickup time. Then we all left the building to walk home.

It was raining a little more than in the morning, but it was still light rain. Everyone had a jacket on to protect them from the rain. By 12:45 we were back at the house, and I went straight to work cooking lunch. I had already cooked the pasta in the morning, so it would go faster. And I cooked another favorite, Austrian dish. I was actually shocked by how much they all ate! Then they had some icecream, played a little more, and just before 2:30 it was nap time.

Tammy was the first one asleep again, while I tried to calm down Sammy and get him to sleep. He was actually crying. It was really strange. At one point he calmed down, but he was still not sleeping. Even Emmy eventually fell asleep, but not Sammy. Then he started asking for Daddy. It was 3:15 pm. And so I got Daddy who lay down next to him, while I went to bed myself. He then tried for the next half hour or so, but could not get him to sleep as well. I fell asleep, but Randy woke me up, when he gave up on Sammy. Sammy then went to the living room to play. A while later Randy returned with Sammy and woke the other two up.

They were then all playing, had some food, and we left the house at 6 pm to return to the last session of the conference. Thankfully it was not raining this time. There was again no line, so we went straight through security and then up to the kids' conference rooms. We had arrived early, as it was not quite 6:30 pm yet, which meant we had to stand at the end of the line and wait for them to open up for the kids to be signed in and dropped off. Sammy was afraid we'd take him there again, but we assured him the whole time he'd be staying with us. Randy then walked away with him, while I stayed with the other two to drop them off. The teacher then came up to me, and I told her there was no way Sammy was staying again. Emmy once again did not want me to leave either, but he took the teacher's hand and left with her anyway.

 I then walked to the sitting area, where Randy and Sammy were, and went into the auditorium to reserve us some seats. Then the three of us went to the leaders' lounge, as there was still time until 7:30, when the meeting was gonna start. We got some drinks and snacks, then we returned to the sitting area. I left them there and went into the auditorium for the worship time. It wasn't long until I got a text from Randy that Sammy was asking for me, so I rejoined them again. I got comfortable on the couch, and I could hear the music perfectly well there, so I just continued worshipping there, with Sammy next to me or on me. Randy was about just as tired as I was, so we both closed our eyes a lot, and Sammy's eyelids were also pretty heavy. He was watching children's songs on the phone, which was the only thing to keep him happy.

When the speaker came up to speak, we were both curious, as she was an actress, and we were curious to hear what she had to say. So the three of us went into the auditorium and found ourselves some seats with no people nearby, so Sammy could continue with his songs. That way we got to hear her speak. At some point Sammy got really cranky, and we decided to leave.

We returned to the sitting area, but decided to go get the other kids and go home. It was about 9 pm. There were no other parents picking up kids yet. Tammy and Emmy were happy to see us and said they'd had a great time. The teacher talked to Sammy for a little bit as well. Then we left to go home.

We were again glad that it was not raining, as we walked back to the apartment, where we arrived at 9:15 pm. The kids had some food, then a a quick shower, then we put them to bed. It was 10:15 pm. Sammy was asleep immediately. Tammy didn't need long either, Emmy was last to fall asleep. I turned my computer on to finish my report of the day. Now it's nearly midnight and time for me to go to bed as well. Tomorrow the conference ends with the Sunday morning service.