3 years 3 months 19 days

Day 1206. Today I did not have an alarm set, but Emmy was up as early as always, and I allowed them to watch a video. When it was over, he came to me, asking me to let them watch another one, but I said no. It was 8 am and time to get up anyway. And so all three joined me in bed, and Randy gave us their advent calendars. Each kid opened one, one after another, while Randy started changing their diapers. After breakfast we cleaned them up and dressed them. Just after 9 am the doorbell rang; it was the Mobile Support lady. She hadn't been with us in 3 weeks, so it was nice to see her again. She was still taking her coat off, when the doorbell rang again, and this time it was the cleaning lady, who had also not been with us for weeks. The kids always hope for some candy from her, and today she surprised them with huge bags of Christmas chocolate. They were pretty excited!

They all went downstairs with the Mobile Support lady, while I tidied up a little and then started getting all the Christmas cards ready to mail them out. It all took me longer than expected. Tammy and Emmy had already said that they wanted to come with me and were excited, when I called downstairs that it was time. Of course it would be so much easier to do this by myself, but I do enjoy taking them with me on errands and having that fun time with them.

We left the house at 10 am. It was bitter cold. I had decided to not take a stroller but have them walk. Tammy had had quite a rough night because of her cough and a fever. Thankfully tonight she's barely coughed and has no fever any more. But she did not feel well during the day until tonight. We took the subway for three stops and then walked to the post office. Tammy had her nice, new Peppa Pig backpack on her back. Because Emmy lost his Paw Patrol hat, I bought him a new one. Then Tammy made it clear (though not in those words) that that wasn't fair, and so I got her the backpack, so she would also receive a gift. She was really excited about it and has been carrying it with her ever since. Today was the first time she had it on her back. And she allowed me to put the Christmas cards to be mailed inside, which made it quite heavy. I kept asking her if she was okay or wanted me to carry it, but she wanted to carry it. Emmy was getting really jealous about the backpack, and I finally told him he'd get one too.

At the post office we took a number and stood in line. There was a good number of people ahead of us. The kids started looking at all the stuff that was displayed, especially the kids' stuff. Then it was our turn. I found out that I had to fill out a customs form for my package to the American secretary, and the lady gave me a folder that told me where to do that online. So I sat down to do it, while the kids continued looking at stuff. I got it done and returned to the counter. Tammy kept asking about her candy. The first time they had gone to the post office, the man working there had given them official post office candy each. However, that hasn't happen since. In front of the rather unfriendly lady at the counter I told her that they were not given out candy every time, and that that man had simply been very nice. Even though the lady heard it, she did not give them any.

We were done and moved on. There was a drug store right there, and the kids wanted to go in to get some Paw Patrol squeezies. While walking to that aisle, I saw a Peppa Pig brush and asked Tammy whether that was a good gift to even it out with Emmy getting a backpack as well. She was really happy about it. We continued on and were disappointed to only find one kind of Paw Patrol squeezie. We got some and some Peppa Pig snacks, paid and left.

The wind was strong and icy as we crossed the square to get back to the subway. We saw a Christmas tree sales place and for a moment I considered checking it out and possibly buying a tree but then decided against it. We're so busy that I don't know when we'll be able to do so. We took the elevator up to the platform, where the display said we had to wait 7 minutes for the subway. That was a long time to wait. It finally came, and by 11 am we were back home.

By that time the Mobile Support lady was already gone, which was disappointing for Emmy. Randy and Sammy came upstairs, as we had rung the doorbell. Sammy is always happy, when the three of us return. They all went downstairs, while I only had a few minutes until having to start cooking lunch. Just after noon we all sat down to eat. Tammy had not eaten anything at breakfast, and she ate hardly anything for lunch. Nobody had any icecream today. Emmy wanted the candy bag the cleaning lady had brought, but then he only unwrapped two chocolates and did not eat them.

It was still early, so I let them watch Paw Patrol. At 1 pm I put them to bed, as we already needed to leave at 2 pm. Thankfully they all fell asleep fast, so I could leave their side rather early. I did a few things on the computer to be ready for my 4 pm lesson, then set a 25 minute timer and closed my eyes. It had been the second rough night in a row, so I was really tired. It was a rude awakening, when the alarm went off. I forced myself up, got dressed and woke Randy and the kids up. We put their coats and shoes on and left the house just after 2 pm. Tammy was once again holding her backpack while sitting in the stroller. Sammy now always wants me to push his stroller and cries if I push his siblings. The icy wind hit us as we walked to the subway. We were lucky that we did not have to wait long for the train. We rode it to the end of the line and then walked to the school. The wind is always extra strong there, and we were glad, when we entered the building. We took their shoes and coats off and went into the gym, where the class was already in progress. We joined right in.

It was obvious today that Tammy was not feeling well. She did not participate 80% of the time, which is not like her at all. Her brothers however were having a great time. I had asked her before leaving if she didn't want to stay home, and she had said repeatedly that she wanted to go to exercise clas.

Sammy was playing ball with me while laying on the floor, and I had him doing somersaults again, which he just loves. He was laughing every single time and wanted to do another one. In the beginning Randy was holding Tammy for quite a while, while the different stations were set up in the room. Emmy was wild as always, doing everything. Today she asked them to jump up on the stepper, not just down, and he was able to do it just fine while holding my hand.

Then we did some action songs, the first one being one where they run. Tammy ran at first, but then sat down next to me and Sammy. Then the teacher did an action song sitting down. Emmy sat down next to her, and it was just the cutest to watch them do the song together, as if they were a teaching team.

Then she emptied out the box of balls, and all the kids had to pick them up and put them back into the box. Now Tammy was participating again. Sammy also grabbed balls, and Randy carried him to the box so he could put them in.

We did a few more songs, including the caroussel at the end. I was shocked, when Tammy did not want to do it with me, as she always just loves, loves, doing it. And so I did it with Sammy, as Emmy ran straight to the teacher for it. Then we did the good-bye song, and the 50 minute class was over.

We put their coats and shoes back on and ventured back into the cold. When we turned the corner to the subway, the strong wind really knocked us over. We were really glad to get inside. The kids asked me whether they had behaved well, and when I said yes, they asked to watch Paw Patrol. In fact, Emmy participated the whole time today and did not have to be asked even once to do what he was asked. We had to wait a bit for the subway, but once they are watching videos, nothing else matters. As for Sammy, all he wanted was to push the subway door button, and I let him.

Just minutes before 4 pm we were back home, so I did not have much time to get ready for my 4 pm class. Randy was still upstairs with all three, when I started teaching, but soon went downstairs. At 5 pm I had another lesson, and the kids came back upstairs a few minutes before I was done and walked into the room, then left again. After I was done, I went to the kitchen to start making their dinner, while the kids were watching Christmas songs at first, then other videos. At 6:30 we sat down to eat. They ate very little, then went into the bathtub, where most of the eating is happening. Then we got them out and ready for bed. We opened two advent calendars, I read them the stories, then I prayed for them and had them "fly" into bed, which they love, when I do that. It was 8:15 pm before they were all in bed, and I sat down by them.

We talked for a few minutes at first, mostly about our upcoming ski trip in January that we are all excited about. Then I encouraged them to stop talking and to sleep. Tammy and Sammy both wanted to hold hands with me, and so did Emmy, who was okay with only getting a short time, as the others needed it more. I was getting hungry and was glad, when Randy took my place, as he had already finished eating. I went to the kitchen to make my salad, and by about 9:20 I was able to sit down to eat. Then I started working on today's pictures. Now it's 1:30 am, and after having cleaned up the kitchen, I can finally go to bed.