Day 724. Last night I headed to bed at 1 am. Emmy came to me at 5:45, and I let him crawl into bed with us. After that it doesn't take long until they are all awake, and then Emmy is the first one to ask for food. I give him and Tammy some milk, and then banana, and they did ask for salami again, but didn't eat as much of it as they used to. But they never touched their cereal which is supposed to be their breakfast.
After breakfast I did the cleanup with everybody around, picked their clothes and dressed them, and we left the house at 8:15 am. It was quite a cold morning, so they had jackets on. We got to our bus early, and could get on, as it was the terminus. Today Emmy stayed in the stroller both directions and only Tammy came out to sit on the seat with me. I could tell he was already tired. We still had quite a walk after getting off the bus, dropped off the Corona test at the gas station, and got to the dance studio in time.
Today was our last time there for this class; they'll be taking a similar one but with a different teacher in fall. We started sitting on the floor, doing these songs where they sit on our legs, and we move them, which is fun for them. Then she got the rattles out, and our kids were the first ones at the box to get them. She did a few songs where they're supposed to shake the rattles in beat. She also had them make as much noise as possible with them, and then be completely silent. When it was time to return the rattles to the box, Tammy didn't just throw our rattles in, but went around and gathered them all up and put them in.
We got up and did a few songs walking in a circle, running, walking, stomping feet, turning. They stayed on the floor today and did pretty well. Randy was carrying Sammy.
Then it was playtime. During the last song Tammy had already been shouting "baby" over and over again, louder and louder. She didn't bring her doll. The teacher asked what she wanted and helped her find a doll right away. Tammy was happy and never let go of the doll the rest of the class. In fact she found the doll stroller that she also had to conquer back a few times, because other kids took it, when she was not holding on to it. I was wondering about her reaction in the end, when we had to leave, but she actually gave the doll up rather easily.
Randy had Sammy most of the time, and had him on a few vehicles which he enjoyed. Emmy found the rattles and got some back out, went down the slide, found the horse and was riding on it, and Tammy did that as well. Everybody was having fun.
They like snack time, and Emmy was asking for food before it was time. They were really excited, when the teachers set the tables up and put the food out. Again Tammy ate the ham and cheese off the bread and left the bread, while the boys ate the bread as well. And Tammy ate quite a few grapes, so we have to try that again at home. I was also surprised to see Emmy reach for the raisins, which he's never had from me at home (Randy's oatmeal has a few raisins, and they eat some of his breakfast every morning).
While they were eating, tne little girl next to Emmy got up and gave Emmy a kiss, and another one, and another one. I think his face says it all. He did not appreciate it, but just stayed still, not reacting. During playtime later she came up to him again and did the same thing, and he jus ignored her again.
They were the last ones to finish eating. Then there was a few more minutes of playtime before the teacher started putting everything back up. And then it was time for the final songs/dances.
Again they were walking, when in the past, they usually wanted to be carried because they're tired by then. They did their running and walking, stomping and turning. Then the final song which ends with waving good-bye at everybody. They put their shoes and jackets back on, and we left. We had to walk quite a distance to the bus stop, and had just missed a bus. The bus took us all the way home, though we still had to walk a little to our house.
We got home at 11:15 am, and I immediately put yesterday's leftovers into the microwave and took their clothes off. A few minutes later they were in their chairs and eating. And today they ate better than yesterday, especially Tammy. And so they all had icecream. Then I cleaned them up and dressed them, and today they all went to bed at the same time. Usually they're tired enough after dance class for that to work. Tammy was so very tired, she was crying and wanted her Daddy. So Randy sat down by their beds with her, and she was the first one asleep, on his chest. Emmy and Sammy were still having some fun with each other before they also fell asleep. A few minutes later I moved Tammy from Randy's chest to her bed, but Randy stayed in the chair anyway and kept on sleeping by himself.
In the meantime I'd had something to eat and then started working. Randy finally got up and got himself some food. When Sammy was the first one to wake up, he went downstairs with him. Emmy however woke up at the same time, joined me at first, and then I took him downstairs to his brother. By that time I was so very tired, I just had to close my eyes. When I heard Tammy waking up, and asking for her Daddy, I had Alexa call the boys back upstairs. It was time for the afternoon snack.
We always go on the balcony for that. And I get Grandma's bubbles out which they enjoy. I've just bought a little bubble machine, and today was the day to try it out. We had a few difficulties at first, but then it worked perfectly. It spews 500 bubbles per minute. Tammy and Emmy loved it! Sammy seemed to like it as well at first, but then he got scared for some reason. I finally put it away, much to the others' dismay. After everyone was done eating, we went downstairs for playtime. I left them there to go back upstairs to work.
I was making good progress, until I heard Emmy cry hard and for a long time, and so I decided to go downstairs. It was 5 pm, so I only had half an hour with them before I had to go make dinner. But we did a lot in this half hour. We read a new book with sound effects, and then we got paper and crayons out and did some drawing. Then Tammy wanted into the swing, and that's already when Randy arrived to take my place.
I went upstairs, and at 6 pm I called them up to eat. They ate some at the table, and then most of their food in the bathtub. Only Sammy didn't want to eat as much as usual, but he had eaten a lot in the afternoon. We had fun playing in the bathtub, and then it was time to get ready for bed. Randy left for the grocery store, while I sat down by their beds. They were tired, but it took them a while to fall asleep. Emmy was getting very upset, when I tried to leave. Tammy wanted her doll to fall asleep, and so I had to go downstairs to get it. Emmy got out of bed and ran to the gate by the staircase, crying for me. I picked him, held him a little, and then he let me put him back to bed. I stayed, and it wasn't long before he was asleep. Then I was able to leave; Tammy didn't mind. I made myself something to eat, and before I was done, Randy returned. I ate and went back to work. Now it's going on 1 am, and nearly everything is done for today. Tonight Emmy hasn't even cried once. I stopped giving him milk a few days ago. Last night it was rough, trying to get him to stop crying, so tonight is the opposite.
