Day 1561. Thanks to the advent calendars, I don't get to stay in bed longer in the morning any more, but I have to get up and help them open then, then read the story from the story book calendar to them. After that, I made Sammy's snack box, while the kids had breakfast with Daddy. At 8:15 (or later) Randy leaves with Sammy to take him to kindergarten. After they had left, the kids and I started tidying up, putting up clothes and toys so that the cleaning lady could actually do her job. She already arrived just after 8:30 am, and everything was looking great for her to work. Once Randy had returned and put up the groceries he had bought, he went downstairs with the kids, while I was working on the computer. They came back upstairs at 11 am, and that's when I started doing school with them. They were not that excited about it, and Emmy soon quit on me. Tammy did a few papers, then started working on the school tablet. I did all I knew to do for Emmy to finish at least the one paper before lunch. It was after noon before I went to the kitchen to start cooking, and I was going back and forth between the kids and the kitchen.
When Sammy returned at 12:45, the cleaning lady had just left, and the food was ready. Sammy was asking for the cleaning lady's gift, as she always brings them some candy. And then he didn't want to eat any pasta but have his candy right away, which I refused to do. Randy was then able to get him to eat a few spoonfuls before the candy.
We have now officially quit with the naps at lunch time, even though Randy and I would still need them big time. On the other hand, it's nice to have that extra time in the day. The kids were watching stuff on their tablets, but soon Sammy asked to go downstairs, so Randy took him. The others were supposed to go as well, but then I finally solved an issue I had had for over 2 months, meaning the children's educations package that I got, which is why I got them school tablets, was finally operational for them to use. I had only one stick, so Tammy started using it and had fun with it. While she was doing that, Emmy was working on the rest of his papers that he had not completed in the morning, and he actually did pretty well. Then he watched his sister. I'm glad they're both enjoying that new system.
Then they did go downstairs for a while, and I continued working. Time was short, as I had a student at 3:30, and it was my difficult teenage student. I was done by 4:15, and we left the house as quickly as possible. It was windy and cold, and we quickly made our way to the subway building, then walked to the train. We got on the old train, and then bought some chestnuts before getting onto the subway. Thankfully it was a new train. Then we had to walk through the cold again to get to the school. The kids had left their bottle in the gym last Friday, so the first thing we did was to ask whether they had found it. They went upstairs to the gym with us, and there it was in the locker room. Tammy was really happy!
Then we walked to our classroom of the day. It was the very last music class, as I have not registered them for part 2 that starts next week. This teacher was by far not as good as the last one, and our kids do more playing than what she's asking them to do. Today was the perfect example for that. There was only one other child, who they became friends with, and so Tammy and Emmy played with her the whole time, especially Emmy. The teacher then concentrated more on Sammy, who was at times the only one listening and participating.
And Sammy just had the greatest time today. I think that was his best class ever. Even without a nap, he was not cranky or lethargic. With one song, he did such a great job dancing that I had wished somebody had recorded it. And he was excited that he got to pick some instruments out and played them well. When the teacher handed out fabric, she was having fun with Sammy as well. She then did a song with her guitar, and Sammy came up to her, wanting to touch the guitar. After class, the teacher asked me whether Sammy is always this joyful. She also asked us whether we're continuing the class and was genuinely sad, when I said no. She gave them a heartfelt good-bye at the end.
We went outside to put their shoes and coats on, and their friend from the class was doing the same there. It was time for them to say good-bye as well. Just before the girl left, Emmy said to her, "I love you Jesus. Do you love Jesus?" The girl didn't respond. As she walked away, Emmy shouted after her, "You need to follow Jesus." I was so proud of him! He had said it just naturally, without any suggestions from anyone.
We left the building to go home. We took the subway, then had to wait for the train. By about 6:40 we were back home. There was a bunch of packages waiting for us by our door, much to the kids' delight, but there were some Christmas gifts, so they were not allowed to open them. I went to the kitchen and started making dinner for them. Sammy joined me and had fun with me, and in the end, he pulled himself up on the chair and started pushing it and walking that way - until the wall was right in front of him. Smart boy!
After the bathtub, they opened their chocolate advent calendars, and Tammy got one of the big prizes that Emmy had been hoping to get from day one. He burst into tears and cried hard for a while, that he had not been the one to get it. I then read them their advent stories and prayed for them. Tammy and Emmy still had to brush their teeth, so we went to the bathroom together, together with their tablets and special toothbrushes that help them learn to brush properly and be fun at the same time. It just takes a lot longer, and so it was already going on 9 pm by the time they were done and going to bed. Of course Sammy was fast asleep by then. Randy sat down by them, while I went to the kitchen to cut up my salad, which takes them. After having eaten, I went back to work. Now it's after 1 am, and I still have to clean up the kitchen.
