So What Do You Do All Day?

A pair of big blue eyes peek over the side of the bed at me. Disheveled tufts of blond hair poke in all directions. "Mommy. I want pancakes. And dip."

It's how my day usually starts, normally around 7:30am. After hearing some horror stories from friends about their 5am risers, I am grateful we seemed to pass on the sleep-in gene to our children. Because anytime after 7am is definitely sleeping in for the preschool set.

I constantly scold myself that I should get up an hour or so before the kids, to shower, make preparations for the day or just to soak in some quiet solitude. I should get up, but in the battle between shower and sleep, sleep ALWAYS wins.

So I usually begin my day already feeling a tad bit behind.

When I quit my job to stay home with my first child, I had a friend ask me about my new life as a stay-at-home-mom. "So, what do you do all day?" she curiously asked.

She wasn't being rude and I wasn't offended. She was a working mom with a full-time job and I often wondered how she managed to cram all of her responsibilites in a 24 hour period.

So one day this summer, inspired by other bloggers' "Day in the Life" posts, I documented our day with my iPhone.

This is what I do all day.

Spoiler alert: It's not glamorous. It's not even exciting. But it's never dull. And it's always a bit messy.

***

Day in the Life: Summer 2014
Jack (almost 5)
Henry (2.5)
Elise (16 months)

On this particular morning, John took our 4-year-old out for some "Daddy/Jack time." They went to McDonald's for breakfast (Jack's choice) and our son was quite disappointed to discover that they do not serve chicken nuggets at 8:00am. He cheered up when John pointed out that they do serve Sprite.

And I wonder why they think Daddy is the fun one.

I bet you'll never guess their favorite baseball team.

John has a job that requires him to work long hours, mostly evenings. He is usually around in the mornings though and he always makes the best of the time he has with us.


We didn't have any pressing errands to run that morning, so I straightened up one room while Henry and Elise destroyed another. And then we switched.

After getting the kids ready, I attempted to take my bi-weekly shower. Ok, ok, I take more than 2 showers a week. Sometimes I take 3.

And now I'm really cursing my self for not doing this before she woke up!

I finally managed to distract Elise with some toys. And by "toys" I mean all my hair accessories under my sink.

UH OH. THAT IS NOT A HAIR CLIP.

I finally wrangled the kids outside to avoid any other mishaps. Jack and Daddy returned from their morning adventure and John headed off to work.

I forgot to take pictures at lunch, but it went something like this:

Me: What do you guys want for lunch? (BIG MISTAKE)

Jack: MCDONALD'S!!

Henry: YAY! MCDONALD'S!!

Elise: GAH BAH GAH!!

Me: Oh, actually, all we have is peanut butter.

Kids: NOOOOOO!

Me: What if I cut the peanut butter sandwich into chicken nugget shapes?

Kids: OK!!


Then, naptime. Glorious naptime.

Yes, there is an actual child in that crib. No, I did not put him to bed like that.

Shortly after naptime THIS happened. NAIL POLISH. EVERYWHERE.

OH...MY...I JUST...I CAN'T...I DON'T EVEN...!!!

Elise knocked a bottle of nail polish off the bathroom sink and it shattered on the tile. So much for my bath mats. So much for my bathROOM.

I wiped up what I could, but quick-dry polish is NO JOKE. Nail polish remover was not even making a dent. This mess was going to take HOURS to clean up. So I did the only thing I could think of...

I took a picture and stuck it on Facebook. My favorite caption suggestion: COVER(your floor)GIRL. (Thanks +Stephanie Wheeler !)

COVER(your floor)GIRL

Then I left the mess, threw the kids in the car and picked up some take-out.

We opted for a picnic on the front lawn because it's summer and you're supposed to have picnics in summer. And also because our house smelled a little like a nail salon.

Upside of a picnic: easy clean-up. 

Downside: instead of getting up from the kitchen table 19 times, I run in and out of the house 19 times. 

And then, after baths and jammies, Daddy came home.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

I put the baby to bed around 8:00pm and began BATHROOM CLEAN-UP 2014

I think I may have found the one task that is even more frustrating than putting the boys to bed.

I could hear John in the next room, attempting to tuck the boys in for the night.

"Daddy, I want water. Cold water. With ice."

"Daddy, you forgot to say prayers!"

"Daddy, I want MOOOOMMY!"

"Daddy, why is pee pee yellow? I wish mine was orange."

Finally, FINALLY, as midnight approached, our floor was white again. As long as you don't look too close.

And I was finally, FINALLY off to bed. 

I needed to get some rest.

I had another perfectly messy, beautifully ordinary day ahead of me tomorrow.

A Much Needed Snow Day

It snowed today. It snowed and snowed and snowed until Look, Mommy, there's no more green! And the children watched mesmerized as fluffy layer and crunchy layer alternately blanketed the ground. At nearly 6 inches, it was the most snow they had ever seen in their lives. They were thrilled.

Even the ducks behind our house seemed to welcome the coat of snow on their backs as they lounged on the frozen pond.

Only the mommy stared dubiously out the window, facing the reality of no school, no regularly scheduled activities and especially sad, no date night tonight. I hadn't even thought to look up snow day activities on Pinterest. This was going to be a looooong day.

I leaned over to my husband and whispered, "Please don't go to work and leave me with these children."

And you know what? Today, on our snow day, he stayed home with us.

John has a demanding job and often works long hours. The kids look forward to his days off with the same anticipation usually reserved for holidays (ok, and Mommy does too), but even days off are usually cluttered with an appointment here, a birthday party there, or some other type of obligation. I honestly can't remember the last time we had a lazy day at home with absolutely nothing on the agenda.

I've decided we need to have lazy days more often.

Batman stopped by to make sure we were alright. We told him no worries, Daddy's home today!

Somehow, even with both parents gathering mittens and extra socks and boots, it still took approximately 52 hours to get everyone ready to go play in the snow. But today there was no Where are your shoes? I've told you 5 times to put them on!!! or No, we DO NOT have time to find the orange paci, we are already late!!! because we had all day. You don't have to make an appointment to play in the snow. 

One time I filled out a questionnaire that asked, "What is your favorite family activity?" I answered, "Watching my kids play with their dad." 

Today, on our snow day, my favorite family activity happened.

While John played with the kids I attempted to take some artsy, snowy nature photos...

...but I got distracted.

What icy tree can compare to these handsome guys??

Even Baby Elise has become a daddy's girl. Today, on our snow day, she raised her arms to her father and loudly announced her first word, "DA!!" 

(Good, I told her, that's exactly what you need to call out when you wake up at 2am)

Sometimes we get exactly what we need in the most unexpected ways. 

Tomorrow I will be ready for regularly scheduled life to resume, but not today. 

Today was a much needed snow day.

Date night, shmate night, we've got a snow day!

Ducks & Firetrucks: The Story of a Lazy Friday

Today the sun came up on on this cool, crisp October Friday and we had nothing to do and nowhere to be.  The day was ours for the taking.

Naturally, we began with some cuddly cartoon watching in the big bed.

As a stay-at-home mom I have no deadlines to meet, no bosses to please, no clients to manage. I do have time. Lots and lots of time. Not time to myself, mind you, but time that is often filled with the monotony of diaper changing, grilled cheese making and face wiping, among other things.

I generally like to plan different activities to break up the tedium and keep the kids busy. Lately, though, as I see Kindergarten looming on the horizon, I realize our long, slow days are numbered and these lazy, wide-open hours are gradually becoming my favorite way to spend time with them. 

What should we do today? Play outside? Bake cookies? 

How about a trip to the fire station?

We packed up some cookies...

...grabbed some friends...

...a few more friends...

...and hit the road!

(sorry, Sweetie. in a few years we'll force the boys to go to the ballet)

\

Aren't firemen the BEST? I find it difficult to think of any other profession that not only welcomes small children unannounced, but will encourage them to climb all over their workspace and give them free stickers and treats!

(Then again, other professions aren't nearly as popular to the preschool crowd. I highly doubt many law firms find groups of little children at their door dressed as tiny attorneys and wanting a tour of the cubicles.)

Later, after lunch and rest time, we squeezed in a visit to the duck pond behind our house. 

Jack threw corn...

...Henry threw rocks. Or so I thought. Upon further inspection I discovered it was actually poop.

Elise enjoyed the excursion from my back.

She is literally along for the ride.

Storybook Ending: Then we all sat by the pond and watched the sunset, after which my children (who somehow managed to remain perfectly neat and clean) headed back home and happily scampered off to bed. 

NOT.

Real-Life Ending: On our walk back home, Jack gathered quite a collection of feathers which he secretly stashed in his shirt pocket. He then locked himself in the bathroom, stopped up the sink and began an assembly line of feather-washing, making sure to use my scented handsoap and guest towels. "But Mommy, I'm making a surprise for you!" Yes, thank-you, Honey, I was quite surprised.

Real-life Mommy. 

There is a trail of green goose poop across the family room carpet and my bathroom is covered in disease-infested duck feathers, but I have 2 giggling little boys, now in their jammies, reenacting today's adventures. "Henry, you get on top of the couch and pretend it's your house on fire. I'm going to drive in my fire truck to come rescue you. Now say 'Help! Help!"

It's bedtime and Mommy is exhausted and the kids are clearly NOT, but we all must get some sleep. 

Who knows what adventures we may find tomorrow?