A day in the life...

I was thinking this weekend about how much I want to capture our daily life right now.  The days are going by so fast, and I already know I'm going to blink and they are going to be teenagers.  We are having SO much fun with the kids, and know this stage won't last long.  There a lot of fun stages ahead, but this one is worth remembering.  :-)

Now that we are back in the 3-kids (under 4), 2-jobs routine, things are crazy.  I'm amazed that I have enough time to even write this post (let alone awake enough for it too!)

It takes about 2 hours to get ready every morning.  We go from one kid to the next, plus ourselves, changing, washing, dressing, chasing, and hoping that at the end of it they have weather appropriate clothes that match, and shoes and coats on without much searching.  Hopefully, minimum crying during the process.

I start work at 7:30, and we try to all leave the house at the same time - I go to work while Matt does the kid drop off with Cheryl.  Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't. 

We're pack mules leaving in the morning.  Between computer bags, diaper bags, daycare supplies, and various other needs of the children (Blankets, stuffed animals, and random toys) we look like we are leaving for a weekend. 

When Matt gets to Cheryl's, the kids bound out of the car and go in search of mom #2.  Have I indicated how lucky we are to have her?! We. are. so. lucky. to. have. her.

After a long day at work for both of us, I usually pick up the kids around 5:30 and head home for dinner.  Maddie and Caden usually play well together while Matt and I scramble to get a well-balanced meal on the table.  Attempting to resort to takeout only once a week or so.  Sometimes it works that way, sometimes it doesn't.   :-)  Usually getting Caden to eat dinner is a fight, while his sister puts down whatever we give her.

Matt and I usually make coffee with dinner, just to make it through the night :-)  After dinner, it's kids bathtime and jammies for one of us, and the other cleans up dinner.  Maddie goes to bed earlier than Caden, and Cameron later than both of them.  He still takes a nap in between every bottle.  :-)

On the weekends, we try to take the kids out somewhere for an activity so that we don't have them in the house all day.  The warm weather seasons we are outside as much as possible.  Monday and Saturday is hockey for Caden, Wednesday is swim classes for Maddie and Caden, and Cam is along for the ride in all cases.  :-)

Among all of this is laundry, dishes, house cleaning, bill paying, etc. 

Our days are filled with all of the above, but most of all, laughter and love.  Caden says the most hilarious things now, being incredibly observant of things around him and our conversations that we don't think he is listening to.  He asks questions all the time, and always wants to help with whatever we are doing.  He is incredibly caring towards Cam and Maddie.  He is very good at holding Cam's bottle or giving him his pacifier.  He tries to correct Maddie when we do, which doesn't work out so well because she doesn't want to hear it from him.  It usually ends with one or both of them in time out.  Caden loves to read books, and does so very quietly.  Unless Maddie is there, then they fight over who holds the book.  Once they work that out, Caden usually reads the story to her.  This is hilarious - I really need to get it on video.

Caden and Maddie are really starting to play together, which is great at times, and sometimes bad when they don't share nicely.  Their latest game is to chase each other around the house screaming while we make dinner.  We usually let it go because they are screaming and laughing at the same time, and having fun with each other.  We usually only have to intercede when one of them trips, falls, or pushes the other one.  :-)  Thank goodness Cam is a sound sleeper, because he is usually napping in his swing or sitting in his bouncer while this is going on. 

Maddie is hilarious, usually wanting to color because she is getting so good at it.  She doesn't clearly articulate too many words yet, but she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings. When she doesn't like something - you know it. She has about a 20 -30 word vocabulary and mostly we understand.  She gives the sweetest hugs, laying her head on your shoulder, or leg, depending if you picked her up or not. She smacks her lips together when she gives you a kiss.  Her hair is halfway down her back now and I don't want to cut it because I'm afraid the beautiful curls will go away! She also loves to wear anyone's shoes but her own.  If you visit our house - watch out - new shoes for Maddie to try on.  She was wearing Matt's size 12 hiking boots today.  They went up to her thigh.  :-)

Cam is getting big already - 13.5 pounds today when we weighed him!  He is a lot more alert now and holding his head up well.  As I type this, we are waiting for him to wake up so we can give him his last bottle and put him down for the night.

Funny story from the other night that epitomizes our life right now.  Matt and I successfully got all the kids to sleep at 9:30 and were going to watch a show and have some wine.  We opened the wine, poured a couple glasses, turned on the show and....both fell asleep.  We woke up on the couches at 3AM.  Wine hadn't really even been touched. 

We recorked the wine, and just went to bed, ready for another day to start in a couple hours. 

It might be crazy, but it's our crazy, and we love it.  :-)