3 years 3 months 18 days

Day 1205. The last ones of us just barely over the last round of colds, Tammy now has a cough again and coughed all night. Emmy still climbs into bed with me a lot, which together made for a rough night. He was asleep next to me, when my alarm went off at 8 am. Randy started changing them and making his oatmeal, while the kids were in bed with me to open the three advent calendars. After breakfast we dressed them and left the house after 9 am.

We took the 9:20 train, then got on a tram that we rode for a while. The kids were getting impatient, but finally we did get off and walked to the building the swimming pool was in. There was still some snow on the ground, and Tammy and Emmy walked through the grass with me and picked up snow. That was the first time this winter. Then we went inside, rode the elevator up and took two cabins to get changed into our bathing suits. All done, we walked down the stairs to the small and really hot pool. First we showered, then we sat down on the side of the pool to wait for the previous class to be over. The kids started playing with some balls while waiting. Once the other class was over, we all went into the pool. The twins were the only other kids once again. Today Tammy and Emmy did not swim with just two rings on each arm, but the teacher took another ring off. That made it really hard for them, and they could only do short distances that way. The teacher told me that she wanted them to build up their confidence and therefore to not let them go under.

She also wanted to do some diving. Last week Emmy had refused to and had said he would today. However, once the class had started today he wasn't so sure any more. She had them jump from sitting on the board into the water, and Emmy did it as well. She also had them slide into the water today, and Emmy kept going back up again and again, while surprisingly it was Tammy who only went once and did not want to go again.

One version of an exercise the teacher always does is to have them pick up objects in the water and take them somewhere. Today it was building blocks they had to take to the side of the pool to build a tower there. I had Sammy for most of the class; he just loves the water so much and is doing great in it.

Today the teacher gave them "swim noodles" which she hasn't done often before. Tammy and Emmy used them sovereignly and were able to swim without any issues at all with them. They looked like they'd always been doing this.

After 50 minutes the class was over. We showered and went back upstairs to get changed into our street clothes again. Again we were done before the twins, and their mother asked me how in the world we could be so fast. Talking to her I found out that they were not continuing the class, as the new one, the continuation, starts next week.

Our kids were eager to go to the McDonald's across the street for lunch. We were lucky to get a free table right away. Tammy and Emmy went with me to order, while Randy stayed with Sammy. Once I was done, we returned to the table and Randy went to pick up the order. As we already have a good numer of those hot wheel cars from the Happy Meal right now, we did not get them again today. We were enjoying our special family outing together.

Once we were done, we put their coats back on and headed to the subway, or rather the caroussel right next to it. Tammy and Emmy each gave the guy their tickets and then went straight to the teacup together. Randy took Sammy to the batmobil again. And once again they were having fun going round and round, smiling and laughing. It's so worth it!

Then we put them back into the strollers and really headed down to the subway platform. The train arrived right away. Tammy and Emmy started watching videos, while I let Sammy push the subway door button - his favorite activity. Then we changed lines and continued on the same way. Just before 1 pm we were  back home.

We got them ready for bed, and by 1:15 (their regular time) they were all in bed. However, nothing was regular after that. Normally Emmy falls asleep right away, but not today. I was so very tired myself and just wanted to go to bed, but no such luck. I had to sit there for a whole hour before they were all asleep. Just before I walked away Christine already arrived just after 2 pm. She started silently working in the kitchen, while I finally went to bed. I first took care of a few things, then set my timer for 30 minutes. Not much, but something.

It was tough, when the timer went off, and I added 5 more minutes. But then I had to get up. Emmy was already downstairs, even though he had been last to fall asleep. With me being up and talking to Randy, the other two also woke up and went downstairs. As for me, I was in a rush to get everything done that needed to be done before my 3:30 pm class. I taught until 4:20. Before I was done, Tammy and Emmy already walked into the room, as they were about to leave for their regular piano class. Once my class was over, I helped get them ready and saw then on. Then I started my 4:30 class.

I was finishing up some administrative work, when Christine came upstairs with Sammy. She's been alone with him two afternoons in a row, and he's been enjoying it. I went to the kitchen to start making the kids' dinner and talked to Christine a little bit who soon left. She had brought Sammy upstairs on his new car that Randy had bought second-hand yesterday. He was sitting on it really well (which is why he had bought it) and was enjoying it. He sat with me in the kitchen, when Randy and his siblings returned just before 6:30 pm. They started watching Superbook, while I continued in the kitchen. Randy told me that their behavior, especially Emmy's, had been lacking somewhat.

But tonight was not a typical night. Once a month the music school does a Zoom bedtime story call that lasts for half an hour. And it started at 6:45 already, so they sat down on our bed with Daddy to watch it. That gave me the necessary time to finish making their dinner. They enjoyed the stories and songs, and then went straight into the bathtub, where they were eating their food. Then we got them out and ready for bed. I was mindful of the time as I was teaching at 8 pm. I told my student it would be a few minutes after 8 apm. That gave me the necessary time to still open the advent calendars with them and to read them a bedtime story.

It was after 8 pm, when I went downstairs with my computer, while Randy sat down by them. However, Tammy was upset, and I had to excuse myself twice to quickly run upstairs to take care of a problem she had. Fortunately my student also has a child and understands.

At 9 pm I was done teaching. I took another 15 minutes to finish up things and then went upstairs. All the kids were asleep. I went to the kitchen to start cutting up my salad. It was 10 pm before I was able to sit down to eat. After I was done, I started working on today's pictures. Tammy had quite a restless evening, coughing and waking up frequently and asking for milk. Then Sammy woke up and wanted me to sit with them, so I sat by them for a while. Now it's after 1 am and time to clean up the kitchen and go to bed.