Day 1161. Sunday morning, yeah! Especially after the tough night we had. Tammy was coughing all night and waking up frequently, asking for milk, and she also climbed into bed with us a few times. It felt like I was up constantly all night long, and I had gone to bed really late anyway. It was a big blessing that we turned our clocks back and gained another hour. Of course Emmy knew nothing about the time change and was up as early as always, and he soon had his sister up as well. I then turned Kasperl on for them, like we do on Sunday mornings, and then some other videos. At around 9 am we got up.
After breakfast I took them downstairs, where we read a Bible story together. Then I returned upstairs to work. It was about 10 am, when I turned my computer on. I had been behind on office work for the ministry, so that was my focus this morning. I called Paul and talked to him for half an hour to get an update on what was going on. Then I continued working. At 11 am Sonja arrived; we hadn't seen her in a long time, so it was great to have her again. I had already heard Emmy crying for her downstairs, after Daddy had upset him. When the doorbell rang, the kids wanted to come upstairs to greet her, and I let them come. Emmy was so happy to see her! She then went downstairs with them, where they were having fun.
It was after 11:30, when I went to the kitchen to get lunch ready. At noon everyone came upstairs, and a few minutes later we sat down to eat. Last time we went to the grocery store, Emmy and Tammy got two pizzas, and then Emmy suggested we'd make them, when Sonja comes, and so that's I did. However, the kids didn't eat very much at all, especially Tammy who did not get any icecream. Then I cleaned them up and dressed them, and even though it was just after 1 pm, they all still went downstairs to play with Sonja.
At 1:20 they came back upstairs to go to bed. I sat down by them. It took a while, but then the boys fell asleep; Tammy needed some more time. Then I left to continue working. Just before 3 pm I stopped the sleep sounds and opened the curtains. Emmy was up right away and went downstairs to be with Sonja. Then Sammy woke up, and I took him downstairs as well. Tammy showed no sign of waking up. After a few minutes I picked her up, and she also wanted to go downstairs to be with Sonja. As for me, I went to the kitchen to make their dinner-to-go boxes. Then I chose their clothes for church, and they came upstairs to get ready. Just after 4 pm we all left the house together.
When we got to the train platform, the kids started punching their tickets again, which they enjoy so much. We then took the train, got fresh chestnuts, and waited for the tram. It was a long wait time, and so the tram was extremely full. It was a difficult ride, and one that was also longer. Both strollers were right by the entrance, as there was no other room, and the kids were restless. Emmy had been really cranky today anyway, and he started fussing so much that I started a video on my phone to calm him down. Normally they only watch videos on the way home, when they're tired. As for Sammy, he was twisting and turning and crying, and there was nothing Randy could do about it. I was glad, when we finally got off the tram.
We then walked up the hill to church together. I switched with Randy and was pushing Sammy's stroller, who was happy again, now that I was pushing him. Emmy was crying again because he was upset that I was NOT pushing them, while Tammy got out of the stroller. She ended up walking with Sonja, while the only thing that calmed down Emmy was to put him on my shoulders. And so I was carrying him and pushing Sammy up the hill to church.
The service had already started, when we arrived at church. We went to our usual spot in the front and were surprised to find a painting set up there. Someone had put down a carpet to protect the floor, and several children were sitting on it and drawing. Of course Tammy wanted to join them right away and did. Emmy then joined them too, as did Sammy. And then they started drawing, with Tammy drawing the most. After a while I took Sammy and had fun with him, and then Emmy was already asking to go upstairs. At about 5:45 we did.
There was already one other child in the room. We took the kids' shoes off, and off they went to play. Sammy was eager to get to the play kitchen, as always, and crawled there pretty quickly. Once Randy returned from the bathroom, he joined him there to hold him up. Sammy was already saying "up". I then left them there and went to the sanctuary for the service. At 6:40 I left the sanctuary to return upstairs. Tammy came running up to me again. I sat down, and she brought a book to me to read to her. Sammy was on the floor and also crawled over to me, and so I was reading to them both. After two books, we decided to get going, and so we put their shoes back on and left.
I was carrying Sammy who kept saying Anna's name, as usual, as we were going down the staircase. Emmy then ran to Anna and so did Tammy, and Sammy also ended up in her arms. We went to the lobby, where Tammy and Emmy started playing with the older children there. We then put their coats on and left, hoping to still make the 7:30 train home.
It was already dark, and it was foggy, and the mist was tangibly making us wet. Once we reached the tram stop, I got the kids' food out, and they started watching Paw Patrol while eating. The tram was pretty empty, thank God, and they continued watching and eating. When we got off the tram, we had no time to lose to get to the platform and catch our train. When the elevator doors opened, the train had just arrived, so we made it. They continued eating and watching, and by about 7:45 we were back home.
We got the kids ready for bed, and then they still wanted to hear a bedtime story, which I read to them. However, they did not fall asleep, even though it was already pretty late, especially in light of the time change. It took a while, then Tammy fell asleep first. Randy then sat down by them in my place, as he had finished eating. After a while Sammy fell asleep, but Emmy was still up and talking and calling my name. By the time I was done making my salad and sat down to eat at 9:30 pm, he was finally asleep, and so was his Daddy next to him.
After I was done eating, I started working on the pictures. Now it's after 1 am and time to go to bed after I've cleaned up the kitchen.
