Day 1170. No alarm clocks this morning, as there was no swimming because of construction. And so it was 9 am before we got up, even though the kids had been up for a while, as usual, and they kept bugging me to let them watch videos. After breakfast, I cleaned them up and dressed them, and we went downstairs, where we read a Bible story together. I didn't go upstairs right away, as Randy had gone to the pharmacy to pick up some meds. Emmy immediately asked to go in the swing, where I hadn't put them in quite a while. Emmy was having lots of fun, and his siblings were also impatient for their turn. When I put Sammy in next, Tammy was upset. Knowing that Daddy was coming back soon, I finally got Sammy out and put Tammy in. Sammy was lying on the floor and crying hard as he'd had so much fun and did not want to get out yet. I then put him by the piano, which satisfied him. Tammy hadn't been in the swing long yet, when Randy returned. I was finally able to go upstairs and work. It was already after 10 am, so I didn't have that much time left.
Just before 11:30 I went to the kitchen to cook. Randy and the kids came upstairs before noon, and Tammy and Emmy started watching videos. It took until 12:15 before we were able to sit down and eat. We had to do a lot of encouraging for the kids to eat more, and then they all had icecream. After I had cleaned them up, they continued watching videos, while Randy left to go to the grocery store. At 1:15 they went to bed for their nap. The boys fell asleep first, as usual, but Tammy was also soon asleep. I left them just before 2 pm and soon lay down myself. I set a timer for 30 minutes before closing my eyes.
While I was trying to sleep, Randy returned. At 2:45 I got up, and then Emmy got up as well. I could hear Sammy as well, and all the boys went downstairs. At 3 pm I was supposed to start teaching, but the student was late. At 3:15 Tammy got up and also went downstairs. I taught until just before 4 pm, then turned my computer off. Tammy and Emmy came upstairs, and I dressed them to get them ready to leave, which we did at 4:15 pm.
I had found a music school online that I really liked, and tonight we were going to a tryout class there. As we had to pay, and Sammy would not be able to do it, Randy and Sammy stayed home, which Sammy obviously did not like. We include him whenever we can. We took the subway and then walked after getting off and got to the music school pretty early. There were a few steps to get in, so the kids got out of the stroller and I carried it up the stairs. I paid for the class, and then we had to wait until 5 pm. They had some books there, and while Emmy looked at them by himself, Tammy had me read two books to her. Suddenly there were kids everywhere with classes ending and new classes starting. It took us some asking around to find the right classroom.
I was surprised that there was only one other child in the class. I talked to the teacher, a guy, and gave him the kids' names. Tammy and Emmy were excited to see the pianos sitting on the tables and sat down by them. When the teacher started the class, he asked all the kids to come sit down on the floor with him, and then he did a greeting song. Next he went to the piano and played and sang a song with the kids dancing.
Then he sat down on the floor with three individual xylophone parts. He played them and explained how one was a low note, one in the middle, and one high. He then put different colored circles on the instruments and the same circles on the board. He asked each kid to play what he was saying, and changed the sequence of what they were supposed to play. At first Emmy just hit the instruments wildly, but he then stopped and did what he was asked. They did pretty well with this task.
Then it was finally time to sit down at the pianos, which they had been waiting for. But the teacher asked them to not turn them on yet. He gave them cards with two hands on them and the fingers numbered and explained that the lion was the left hand and the mouse the right hand. Then he did a song, where they were supposed to wiggle specific fingers. That was hard for them. He then gave them a Spanish instrument that clicks, and they were supposed to hit it with the finger he said, which was too hard. Then it was finally time to turn the pianos on. The teacher then asked them to play low keys, middle keys and high keys. I was helping them out. Then he gave them a book, where they had to color the high, medium and low keys a certain color each - the color he had used earlier on the board.
Then it was time for another song and dance, before he had them sit down on the floor with him again. He drew a musical note on the board and then more, each a different measure, and clapped accordingly. He had them clap notes and a pause, but that was hard, especially the pause. Each kid got to draw a few circles (notes) on the board as well, and then got to wipe them back off.
Next it was story-telling time. He got a felt board out and really got the kids' attention with it. He told the story of three pigs building different kinds of houses and only the one made of stone withstanding the blowing wolf. After the story it was time for the good-bye song, then the class was over. I have to say that the kids had done really well, considering the late hour and even though some tasks had been too hard for them. I talked to the guy in the office again and purchased tickets for the Christmas party. I have to say I'm really excited about this school, as they actually learn something, even if it's much more expensive than the other schools.
We left, walked back to the subway, and then they wanted to watch Mickey Mouse, which they had never done before, and I was surprised they asked for it. Emmy was wearing a Mickey Mouse T-shirt today. They were watching all the way home.
We got home at 6:30, which is usually the time we sit down to eat. The two kids continued watching, while Sammy, who was really happy to see me, joined me in the kitchen. At 7 pm we sat down at the table to eat, then they continued in the bathtub. It was 8 pm before we sat down by their beds to read a bedtime story. Then I prayed for them, and they went to bed. I stayed with them until Randy was done eating and took my place. Tammy had already asked for her Daddy to come.
I went to the kitchen to make my salad, then sat down to eat. After I was done, I started working on today's pictures. Now it's going on 1 am and time to clean up the kitchen and go to bed.
