Day 1631. With Emmy being sick, he was in bed with me pretty much all night, as was Tammy, who is always sleeping between Randy and me. The boys were up at 6:30 this morning, but my alarm went off at 7:15. That's when Randy got up to make breakfast. I fell back asleep, and when I woke up, it was 9:15 am and Tammy was still sleeping next to me. Randy had just returned from kindergarten and the grocery store. I got up, and while I was up, Tammy got up as well. Randy then took them downstairs, while I opened my computer to work. At some point they came back upstairs. They were hungry, and so I warmed up their leftovers at noon for them to eat. Randy left to get Sammy, and I ate with the two of them, when they returned at 12:45 pm. Then the kids got on their tablets, and I was on the computer. That is until it was time to get everyone ready to leave the house.
At 2:15 pm we left the house together. We went to the subway, but there was some issue so that there were lots of people waiting there, and it was still 10 minutes to the next one. I wanted to take a different route, but we ended up staying as we had left the house early. We rode the subway for two stops, then got on a tram that we rode for 3 stops, to the end. After we got off, we could see the school right away, but the main entrance was locked. There were other new parents as well who were wondering where to go inside, and so everyone was trying to find the answer. It was the first session of a new class for our kids - an exercise class with balls. They're going to do everything with balls. Someone finally said we needed to go through the courtyard and enter through the back, and that was the answer.
We went to the locker room and took our coats and shoes off, then we went inside the gym. The two female teachers were already there, and there were balls all over the room, all kinds of different balls. The teachers asked Tammy and Emmy their names, and they were really shy, trying to hide behind me, but they did say their names. Then I sat down on a bench, while the kids ran off to play with the balls. More and more children arrived, and it was quite a big group in the end. Contrary to their other exercise class, parents are allowed to stay for this one and watch. There were also some siblings there, younger and older ones, and so it was quite a busy place.
Then the teachers called us parents together, and just told us that the first and last few minutes of every session is free play. That's what the kids were doing, picking up balls and playing with them. Sammy was also very interested in the balls. I had given Emmy some fever-lowering sirup and told him he could stop and sit down any time he wanted to, and he did skip a few of the tasks they were given. However, he was on the move most of the time and having fun. Tammy was having even more fun, clearly enjoying herself, laughing and grinning much of the time. It became so clear again how much children need to have the opportunity to run and exert themselves physically. Now they have two exercise classes per week.
The teacher then called all the kids to the big mat in the middle, and Emmy wanted me to come as well, so I did. It was time to get started. Every child had a ball, and they started running with them, then they had to throw them through the hoops the teachers were holding. They were doing a great job. All in all, I think Tammy was the best one of all the kids; it's a class for 3- and 4-year-olds, so they are among the older ones.
Next they set up a bench that the kids had to walk across with their balls. Reaching the end, they had to throw their balls at the teacher, and they enjoyed it. Another time they had to hold the ball above their heads, while walking on the bench.
Then they set up little cones in a line that they had to weave through with their balls in their hands. They have no problem doing that any more. Coming out of their, the next station was a bunch of hoops thrown in a heap, and they had to walk through without teaching the hoops, which they were able to do. Next they had to balance/walk on a rope lying on the ground. Then it was back to the bench.
Randy and I were playing ball with Sammy for much of the time, as he enjoys doing that. Then he grabbed a hoop and obviously remembered what we used to do in another exercise class. He asked me to pull him while holding on to the rings. And I did, much to his delight. Then Randy did, and he actually pulled him across the whole gym. Sammy was really happy.
It was time for the free play at the end, and Emmy ran to the ladder on the wall to climb up, Tammy following suit. The teacher put a mat on the floor by it right away. Then Emmy grabbed the rope on the floor and wanted me to tie it to the ladder, which I did. Then the teacher came, tied the rope on the bottom and then had a child hold it, and asked the kids to jump over the rope, while she was moving it. Tammy really enjoyed doing that, while Emmy went back to climbing.
Then it was time to gather again on the big mat, as the class was over. It was time to go home. Everyone had enjoyed the new class they're now taking.
We put all the coats and shoes back on and left to walk to the tram stop. An old tram was sitting there, and we got on. We had to carry Sammy up a few steps. I think my Grandparents already used those trams, when they were children. We rode it for 3 stops, then went up to the subway platform. We were surprised that there was still or again an issue. The boards said that no subway was running at the moment. And so went back to the tram stop and got onto a new tram this time around. After we got off the tram, it was quite a long walk home, which is why we didn't take that route in the first place. At about 4:30 pm we were back home.
Randy and the kids went downstairs, while I got ready for my 5 pm student. I then taught until just before 6 pm. Everyone was already back upstairs before then. I then got them something to eat. Emmy was still not feeling well, but he ate a little. They all got a quick shower, then we got them ready for bed. I read them a Bible story, then it was time to brush their teeth. After praying for them, they all went to bed - Tammy in my bed, while I was making my salad in the kitchen. Once I was done, I carried Tammy to her bed and sat down to eat. Surprisingly, it's nearly midnight now, and Tammy hasn't even come back to my bed yet. That's a first in days. And once I'm done in the kitchen, I'm going to bed, as I'm not feeling so great myself. My sinuses are all stuffed up again.
