After breakfast everyone got dressed in their uniforms (throughout the week this also included helping the boys find their lost tie, shirt, hoodie, etc.). The girls didn’t seem to have the same problem. ;)
Luckily for me, Emma does her own hair (and it looked great all week long). I was in charge of Ruth, Lucy and Jane’s. By the end of the week it turned into me asking “How many ponytails do you want?” I guess I am a one trick pony when it comes to girl hair (or maybe a zero trick pony? The first few pony tails were bumpy). But I sprayed all those stray hairs down with lots of hair spray, curled every hair that stuck out, and covered their hair with every bow the little girls wanted. They were happy (and Jane could see!).
Rachel has a chalkboard where she puts chores for the kids to do in the morning. I thought that was a jazzy idea so we did that.
After reminding everyone to brush their teeth (I don’t think anyone likes to except for Jane), getting all their gear from their black lockers, and saying family prayer, the four oldest and I loaded up in the suburban. Apparently putting on your seat belt is as cumbersome as brushing your teeth. Oh, and I learned quickly that seating in the car is very important but I don’t think I did a good job of making sure everyone got a chance to sit up front. We were early though, so that made Emma excited.
When I got home I got to hang out with my buddies Lucy and Jane. We made a schedule and Lucy drew pictures of everything we had to do and drew big check marks when we finished it. She really liked the schedule and we got some things done too!
Included in the schedule (and every morning after that) we would get dressed, do hair, and clean their room. One of our other tasks on our list was to “play school.” I taught her a simplified version of
the ‘Elephant song’ and we had to sing it to every person in the family and make sure they were squished by the elephant! Four year olds are the best. We also did the calendar and ‘J’ page (per Lucy’s request).
Jane would nap around 10 or 11 am, but before she did she went the bathroom, which she loves. It was cute and funny how much she loves the bathroom. She would stroke the toilet seat and close the toilet lid a couple of times. She asked me every day to clean the toilet and I would always answer, “Not today.” I would ask her if she needed help getting on the toilet, and she would say, “I do it myself.” I would watch as she put her feet on the shower to climb on the side of the toilet seat and then skootch her way over to the front of the toilet. When I let her get toilet paper I watched as she tore off 7 tiny pieces the size of her nails. Later during the week she told me the toilet paper hanging down was like Repunzel’s hair. The bathroom is an exciting place.
Lucy and I would play games such as "hide the pot where you hide the pot” as Lucy explained. She was a big fan of the Nutcracker music and asked Roger to play it for “an hour!” every day. She would then dance and run and dance to it in the living room. As the week progressed this involved more costumes and dresses.
Princess dancing before the nutcracker appears
Rats before the Rat King comes out
We also exercised one day. The little girls liked the plank best I think because they would crawl under and then on top of us while we did it. Definitely more challenging!
Got him down!
We played lots of Guess Who because it's my favorite. Are you noticing all the laundry in the background? Their laundry machine sings a victory song to you when it's finished. I love the person who thought of that. You should have a celebratory song for every finished load!
We also had lots of sandwiches including a pancake sandwich. Roger kind of blew Lucy’s mind by putting turkey and cheese in between two pancakes. She had the idea to dip it in syrup. ;)
We ate lots of fruit and yogurt and Roger even shared with them “Chicago bread” on Monday. (It was bread we hadn’t eaten from our trip on Saturday). Lucy talked about how good it was for the rest of the day. “I love Chicago bread!”
Lots of books, lots of drawing, lots of Legos and Barbies, and lots of nail polish! I painted all the girls nails and Roger even helped out with Jane’s hands when I couldn’t get to everyone. It’s a good opportunity to talk.
This picture of Lucy (in the background) is a favorite because it's so Lucy.
Most every day the little girls helped me cut up vegetables for the older kids' snack. Lucy did a great job peeling carrots and cucumbers and Jane experienced success cutting cucumbers. I started them off using butter knives but they were struggling so I upgraded them to steak knives. They did a great job and I loved Jane’s concentration as she cut the cucumbers into big wedges. : )
I would pick up Emma, Spencer and Ruth from school around 2:20pm while the girls stayed with Roger. Lucy was amazed that Roger could sit on his computer for so long. When the older kids would come home she would tell them, “and Roger worked on his computer for sooooo long! The WHOLE day!”
I was amazed the kids would go directly to their homework almost every day. I would pick up Austin from basketball practice at 4pm. Jane would usually go with me. It was the only time she left the house most of the week. I realized I couldn’t understand her very well when I was driving and she was buckled up in the back seat, so I faced my rear view mirror towards her and we played peek-a-boo every day, all 12 minutes to the school. Her laughter was worth the 36+ rounds.
Monday night we had FHE and I taught a lesson about gratitude. It was a little long but good. Roger was concerned we didn’t have a treat for FHE so he made brownies (and friends) and we ate that while catching up on the Studio C episodes they hadn’t seen.
We would read with the younger girls in their scripture reader and then get them to bed. We would then read with the older kids and they would gradually go to bed.
Monday night we also sent Roger to his bedroom early so Emma and I could decorate. Austin saw us and wanted to help so I let him stuff the piñata. Roger’s Northern Lights themed birthday turned out pretty cool!
Golden and green Northern Lights + hanging stars
Roger in his car (pinata) watching the Northern Lights
Elaine's goodies + more Northern Lights
Tuesday
Roger's 30th birthday!!!!! I really wish this picture wasn't blurry but you can kind of see the excitement.
That afternoon I picked up Emma, Spencer, Ruth, and Lucy and we went to the grocery store to get supplies for Roger’s ice cream cake. I found a
really easy recipe, it’s not really a recipe it’s so easy, and made it after school. We had hamburgers and fries for dinner and a quick game of marbles (courtesy of the daily presents Rachel and Kurt left the kids).
Then it was piñata time! Roger was very concerned someone would get hurt so we all folded our arms and he said a prayer that no one would get whacked with the bat before we began. Everyone got one turn and neither Roger nor the children were injured!
Spencer actually cracked it open a little and then the birthday boy had the last hit. He hit it and then ended it all by grabbing and shaking it like crazy. (I think it was so the kids wouldn’t have another turn with the bat!) They didn’t care! They had candy! Roger snuck some packaged cheese into the pinata. The kids were confused.
We then ate the ice cream cake that turned out pretty well!
Wednesday
Roger let me sleep in 15 minutes and he did the devotional. So nice! Presents from mom and dad every day! (Pictured: Olaf suckers.)
That evening Emma, Spencer and Austin went to different activities. Roger took Austin to mutual and just stayed at the church and worked. It turned into a quiet evening with the 5 at home.
Thursday
After school Austin had his first basketball game, and the first boy's basketball game for the school. We showed up with four of the kids an hour early so we hit the post office and then came back. Everyone did well for the first half because they were eating popcorn.
But Ruth was right, “It’s too salty!” But we ate it anyway. The latter half, people were getting antsy. By the end Roger was outside with Spencer, Lucy and Jane. Jane looked outside and said, “It’s dark. Time for bed.” Someone was tired!
Ruth was remaining positive that Four Rivers could make a comeback in the last quarter when they were down 18 points. And they did! They lost by 7 points instead, with a final score of 21-28. The kids ran all over the gym while Austin changed and then we took them all home.
Friday
We picked up the house, dropped the kids off to school, put Jane down for her nap and then Lucy and I headed to Boise to pick up Rachel and Kurt. Here's us leaving in the suburban. Roger was doing the "waving" dance and making Lucy laugh.
She didn’t want to come, but Roger needed to work so off we went. I knew she would be a fun driving buddy and she didn’t disappoint. She told me about the fog they’ve had “twice.” She brought along her book she made for her mom, and agonized over sharing the tootsie roll she stole from Spencer’s stash with her mom or if she should just eat it in the car. (She also told me Spencer needs to find a better place to hide his candy). We sang songs and named my GPS McKenzie and then Madison (her cousins) and ate way too much cereal.
We picked up Rachel and Kurt (I think we were late but they were too nice to say anything) and got to hear all about their trip. The kids were excited to see them and all the stuff they brought back.
