Day 1590. Yesterday was just a regular day at home for us. The kids were playing, while I was doing office work.
Today all the shops were open again. And so Randy left right away in the morning to go pick up 360 diapers for Sammy that the insurance was paying for the first time ever. It was after 10:30 before he got back. He then took the kids downstairs, while I was getting ready for my 11 am student, the first one of the new year. I taught until noon, then I went to the kitchen to cook.
After lunch, the kids got on their tablets, while Randy left to go to the post office and the grocery store. I continued doing office work. After Randy returned, he was supposed to go downstairs with the kids so they could play. Emmy was asking to go to the indoor playground, as I had brought it up that we could go there one of these days. Because of their prices, you can only go there at 5 pm to stay until they close at 7 pm, as there is a lower rate this late in the day. And so we spontaneously decided to go there, as this was the third day in a row, where we had not left the house.
We took the 4:27 pm bus near our house, then had to take another bus after that. We got to the playground about 5 minutes before 5 pm, and there was already a long line out the door that we joined. It was raining a little, so we were getting wet. At 5 pm the line was finally moving, but it took us a while to get in. It was about 5:20 before we finally had our tickets and could go to our lockers to put our coats and shoes inside. They had let Sammy go in free, like last time.
The kids were eager to get started and had already moved more than usual on our way there. Because I knew the boats were gonna close earlier, we headed there first. Randy stood in line, while Tammy and Emmy started climbing on the big blow up mattress in the middle of the room. I then put Sammy on there as well, and he enjoyed the movement. Finally it was Randy's turn, and he got into the boat with Sammy first. The rides were 3 minutes long. The kids were steering the boat. Once Sammy was done, I got him out and Emmy got in with Daddy. Tammy went last. While she was in the boat with Daddy, I returned to the big mat with the boys. I actually got on the mat myself, but it was the opposite of fun for me.
I had seen a big, steep foam slide in the corner that they didn't have last time, and so we headed there next. The kids were climbig up the foam steps, but they were not as fas as the older kids, who were impatient. However, it was worth it. They loved the slide and went up again right away. They slid down together, but didn't leave right away. And then an older girl slid into Emmy. He was crying really hard, saying he was hurt. The girl apologized to me, while I told her they had to be careful and watch the smaller kids. I held Emmy to comfort him. He was saying that his wrist hurt really bad, and it was turning red. He continued crying for a while, and I was wondering whether there was a hospital visit in our near future.
We then walked to the other side of the room, where there was a smaller version of that slide. The kids went down once, then went to what they had right next to it. Randy then went up and down with Sammy a few times. Tammy and Emmy were picking up balls and putting them into guns to shoot and had funs.
Then I asked them to come out, so we could move on. We walked up a level, and they climbed right into the climbing construct to make it all the way to the top to go down the slide. It was hard to keep track of where they were, but thankfully all three had the same red T-Shirt on today, and Tammy and Emmy also had red pants on, so it was easy to pick them out of the crowd. I decided to go up to the top, near to where the slide started, so I could be closer to them and see them better. They'd made it to the top and slid down, and I assumed they were making their way back to the top. I could then see them and waved them to come to the top, where you could also exit. There were big, blown-up balls that they were trying to get over, but then they were suddenly gone. I was getting worried, when I didn't see them coming to the top. Then I suddenly saw them further down, and they seemed to be crying. I shouted to them that I was coming to the bottom and for them to go there. Then the three of us took the elevator down, and I quickly walked to where you could get out of that tower. Emmy was the first one coming down, and his cheeks were wet from tears. Then Tammy came, and she had also cried. They had not been able to make it over the balls and were crying because they didn't know how to get to me. I comforted them, and Tammy wanted Daddy and ran to him.
We then returned upstairs and went to the toddler area. They had a big pool full of balls, and a new slide installed there, as well as a small trampoline area that was new. The kids were having fun there, then we moved on. There was another smaller pool of balls, with air coming out so the balls were flying, and Sammy stood there for a few minutes. Then the others ran to the little bobby car area, and we followed them. All three were riding their cars or motorbikes. The little hill made it more fun.
There was a smaller climbing construct with balls and slides right next to it, and Tammy and Emmy got in and were having fun. Then they went down the wavy slide, but it wasn't very fast. Then we continued walking in the direction of the trampolines, where they were having fun for a few minutes. It was getting late, and I told them there wasn't much time left. And so we went back to the bottom, where they went up the big, blow-up mat in the middle of the room again. And Sammy got to slide down a small slide. I had to go into the blow-up castle myself and then lift him all the way up to the top, and then get him to slide down on the other side, without being able to see what was over there. However, I had asked Randy to go there and catch him, so I trusted he was there. A worker was already telling me to hurry up, as they had to let the air out.
And then the fun was over, as they were shutting down everything, a few minutes before it was 7 pm. Time had gone by really quickly. Now that Emmy could think of it again, he was whining again that his wrist was hurting, though he was already saying that it was better. We joined the crowd walking to the lockers and all got dressed, then slowly moved to and out of the exit and started walking in direction of the bus stop. It was still raining lightly.
We got on the bus, then had to wait for another bus that took us home. By 7:45 we were back home, so rather late. Sammy had already eaten quite a lot of bread with salami on the way home, while the other two had only had apples. I warmed up some leftovers for them, then gave them some fruit. It was too late for the bathtub, so I just showered them off quickly. Then we got them ready for bed. I read them a bedtime story, prayed for them, they brushed their teeth, and then I lay down on the top bunk with Tammy and Emmy, as Randy was making his dinner. I was surprised that Sammy was still up and stayed up for some more time. Tammy and Emmy soon fell asleep. When I slowly moved to leave them, Emmy woke up, saying he was also going to his baby bed on the bottom. There he fell back asleep. Randy never had to sit in the chair by their bed tonight.
I went to the kitchen and got myself something to eat, then I went back to work. Now it's after midnight, and I have not done today's pictures, but as we have to get up early tomorrow, the pictures will have to wait. At least I've got my report done.
