Day 1149. Today it was the alarm that let us know at 8 am that it was time to get up. The kids were already up at that point, even though Emmy slept longer today, until just before 7:30, right next to me. After breakfast we cleaned them up and dressed them and left the house just after 9 am to take the 9:20 train. After the train we still had a tram ride, then we walked to the swimming pool. We went up one floor and entered the sauna area, then chose two cabins to get changed. Then we walked down the stairs to the pool area. We showered and went to the pool, where the previous class was still going on, and so we sat down on the side of the pool, with our feet in the water. The kids were impatient to get in. The class soon ended, and they were finally able to get in.
And it was a fun class again. I had Sammy for much of the time, and he really impressed me today. With three rings on each arm, he did really well swimming on his own today, without his mouth going under water. And he was having so much fun, laughing a lot throughout the class, and it got noticed by the other adults.
Tammy and Emmy were also having lots of fun, and they are fearless now. At one point she had them have only one ring on each arm, which was really too difficult for them, as they just move arms and legs to somehow stay above water. Today she had them get on top of a raft, then run to the other end and jump off. They did it over and over again, even though they went unter water each time. That's the same boy who said just a few weeks ago that he would not dive and stood his man that he wouldn't.
The 40 minutes went by fast, and then it was already time to leave. We showered off and went back upstairs to get dressed again. The kids had really red cheeks from the hot water and all the effort they had put in. They were running around and having fun, while we were all getting ready to leave. Then we walked down the street to where the McDonald's was. We had another Mom walk with us who chitchatted with us with much interest.
The kids were excited to go to McDonald's again, and both Tammy and Emmy wanted to come with me to place the order and carry it back to the table. They wanted to get Smurf figurines again, even though a book was also an option. It wasn't easy carrying the two heavy trays back to the table. Then we were all having fun eating together.
Leaving there, the kids were impatient to go on the carousel by the subway entrance. Tammy had already been saying in advance that she was gonna drive the fire truck. Emmy was undecided and ended up in the jeep, while Randy put Sammy into the batmobil again. They were having fun going round and round. So much so that Sammy had a fit, when Randy took him out of the car. He cried and cried, wanting to stay in it. Thankfully I had a pacifier with me as a backup, and it did the trick.
We walked to the subway, where the kids were watching videos, then we took another subway. Just before 1 pm we were back home. We put the kids to bed right away. It took them longer to fall asleep than I had expected but by 1:20 they were all sleeping. I really wanted to sleep myself, but I had to prepare my 8 pm lesson, which took some time, as I still had to scan the book. And then Emmy already walked into the room after having slept for about an hour. A few minutes later Sammy woke up.
Last week I had a little gift/toy for both Tammy and Emmy, and then Emmy asked, "What about Sammy's?". Only then did I go online and found him the perfect gift, and it had finally arrived. I was excited to give it to Sammy. I put Sammy on the floor and got the little horse out. Sammy loves horses. And this little horse can even walk and make noises and move his tail. However, instead of him falling in love with it, he was scared of it. That was disappointing to see. It was Emmy, and then after Tammy had woken up also her, who fell in love with the horse, and Tammy and Emmy were fighting over it. Sammy was just scared of it and wanted to be as far away from it as possible. Maybe he'll get over it in time, like he's done with another moving and talking toy.
Everyone was up before they had needed to be. We got them ready and left the house at 3:15 pm. It was time for the weekly dance class.. We took the subway, and then the bus, and got to the dancing school early. We were happy to recover our diaper bag that Randy had left there last week. Then we went upstairs to the classroom.
Once again there was a good number of kids there. And the regular teacher was still sick, and so we had yet another substitute teacher, and I didn't like the way she did the class very much, even though she was more personable and interested in the kids. Tammy was not very motivated and kept saying that she was tired. I kept trying to get her to participate. Emmy did better. He got noticed by the teacher pretty quickly, as he always had an answer for her, when she asked a question. Sammy was also pretty tired, but had a lot of moments he enjoyed.
After 50 minutes the class was over. We put their shoes back on and left to walk to the bus stop. On the way we stopped at the grocery store, as we had a few items we needed. The kids insisted on getting kids' carts, and then we put everything into their carts. They also grabbed stuff themselves, or asked to take certain things that I had to say no to. In the end we bought them some drink yogurts that they really like. We checked out, put everything into the strollers, and continued walking to the bus stop.
We still had a few minutes to wait, and so they all had some of the drink yogurt. Tammy and Emmy started watching their Paw Patrol videos again. We got on the bus, rode it to the end, then got on the subway. I was extremely tired and kept my eyes closed as much as possible. We got home just before 6 pm. And then I had a message that my 8 pm student wanted to move our lesson to tomorrow. I was somewhat relieved. The kids continued watching, while I started making their food. Just after 6:30 we sat down to eat, then they continued eating in the bathtub. By the time they were all in bed it was already 8 pm. I sat down by them, but after a while they started aggravating me with their behavior. And I had thought they'd fall asleep fast! All three were awake. Randy finally took my place after he was done eating, while I went to the kitchen to cut up my salad. It was 9:30 before I started eating. After I was done, I started working on today's pictures. Now it's after 12:30 am, and I'm pretty tired. I just have to clean up the kitchen, then I can go to bed.
