23 months 3 days

Day 703. Last night I went to bed at 12:45. This morning Emmy came at 5:45, and just after 6:30 we already sat down for breakfast. After cleaning them up and dressing them, we still had some time until leaving, but let them run around upstairs, which is usually not that great an idea. We left on time at 8:15 to go to the bus stop. They were already getting tired. Of course Tammy and Emmy sat on the seat with me.

We got to the dance studio a few minutes early. We all sat down on mattresses on the floor, and the teacher started with a welcoming song, going from child to child, and each child has to turn once, when it's their turn. Then she took Sammy and did some songs where they sit on your legs and you move your legs with the words of the song. Then she handed Sammy back and got a box full of drums and rattles. Emmy's eyes lit up, and he did great beating the drum the whole time. She made them drum loud, and stop, and drum with the song. When it was time to put the drums back into the box, it was Tammy who put everything that was on the floor back into the box.

Then the teacher got her guitar out to do some songs. We got up and walked in a circle doing different things, from running to stomping to turning. They did pretty well, walking themselves, rather than asking to be carried, which is what happened with the songs at the end.

After having done several songs like that, it was playtime. They can get everything they want out of the closets, and there's a lot. They played with all kinds of toys, and rode the motorbikes and went down the slide. Then the food came out, and for once they were not the first ones at the table, though they did eat a lot. It had early been 3.5 hours since breakfast after all. Even Sammy ate better than usual.

There was still some time to play, and Emmy found the box with drums and immediately got one out, and so did Tammy. They were drumming for a while before putting them back, and Sammy had two rattles in his hands. As the end was approaching, we did a few more songs walking in a circle. I had a tired Emmy in my arms, and Randy a tired Tammy. Sammy was lying on the mattress watching us. The class ended, we put their shoes back on, and left.

It's quite a long walk to the bus stop, and I found myself wondering what it will be like to walk here in winter, when it's cold and nasty. They're already registered to continue this course in fall. When we finally got to the bus stop, the bus left without us. We were just a few seconds late, which was annoying considering how tired they already were. The next bus came 10 minutes later. At first they sat on the seat with me, but then Tammy wanted to be with Daddy who held her for the rest of the trip. She was really tired. And Sammy actually fell asleep, which meant he was not gonna sleep any more at home.

We got off the bus and were walking home, when Tammy's eyes were also falling shut. I did not want her to sleep at that point but rather after having eaten, so I got her out of the stroller and she walked the rest of the way home. Sammy stayed in the stroller, sleeping, while I quickly warmed up leftovers and had them in their high chairs a few minutes after getting home, at about 11:30, so half an hour later than usual. They did not eat much at all - but did eat all their icecream. Randy was making omelets for him and me, while I was feeding them. I cleaned them up, dressed them, and put them both to bed. I had just finished, when Sammy woke up, and so I sat down to feed him. After cleaning him up and dressing him, I decided to try to put him to bed anyway, and he was quiet for about half an hour before he'd had enough from lying in bed, and I got him back out. During that half hour I was able to eat my omelet, and Randy was still eating, when I put Sammy into the swing by his feet. After he was done, he went downstairs with him.

When Emmy woke up after barely an hour of sleep, I sat down in the chair with him, but he just does not sleep on me any more, only on Daddy, so I ended up taking him downstairs.

By this time I was already really tired, and working, still transferring everything to my new computer which is so much work. I never actually got to sleep, as Tammy also woke up rather early, after less than 2 hours of sleep. I sat down in the chair with her for a while, and at about 2:30 I called the boys upstairs to eat. Emmy went straight for the balcony door I opened up for him, and then I got them their jars and cut up some fruit for them. Randy is the one who gives them peanut butter as wanted, while he feeds Sammy. Tammy and Emmy keep running around, all over the place. When it seemed that they were done eating, I took them downstairs, and Sammy joined us after a while. I decided to stay to spend some quality time with them, so Randy went upstairs for a break.

Emmy immediately wanted to look at photobooks, which he loves doing, and so does his sister, so we sat down with one of the big books and looked at all the pictures. Today Emmy and also Tammy said "Emmy" for the first time. But Emmy says "Sammy" and "Tammy" frequently now, while "Emmy" is still new to him. He'd point at a picture and say their name.

He had seen pictures of them drawing, and so he wanted to draw. I got the table and chairs down, as well as the paper and crayons. And once again I saw improvement in their drawing skills. They are now drawing lines, holding the crayons correctly. It's Sammy who still puts them into his mouth a lot. We used up several big pages of paper.

By the time we had tidied up, it was 3:45 pm, and time for me to go and do some office work. Randy took my place and stayed with them until dinner time. I worked until 5:30, and then started making their food. I could hear a lot of crying and knew they were really tired, and so I called them usptairs before it was all ready. They sat down to eat, and for the first time Tammy ate all her bread at the table. She must have been really hungry. And she really enjoys cantaloupe now and ate it all right away, when I put it on her plate. They also ate two bananas together tonight. Some mornings they also eat two bananas and don't or hardly touch their cereal.

Then we went into the bathtub, and all three finished all their food there, there was nothing left at all. They were having fun to the very end, and were in bed before it was 7 pm. Emmy fell asleep fast, and Sammy always does. The girl always has a hard time, rolling and moving around and whining. She was crying so hard, when I left, so I returned, and then she stayed down and fell asleep rather quickly.

I was able to get myself something to eat, and then to start doing office work. The computers will have to go a second night all night to transfer everything from the old to the new.

Now it's still rather early, but I have yet to do all the cleanup. Still, I'm hoping to make it to bed rather early tonight, especially not having had any nap today.