31 months 20 days

Day 962. Last night I went to bed just after 1:30 am. Tammy joined us in bed during the night. This morning she was the first one up at 7:40, so the dark curtains have worked! It was the first night we had them up, and Emmy slept longer. Tammy got up right after waking up and left to go wake her brothers up. As we needed to leave the house at 9 am, I got up right away as well.

After I'd made breakfast, we sat down to eat. They didn't eat much. Then I cleaned them up and dressed them, and we left the house a little late at 9:10.

We took two subways, which took a while, before we had arrived where we needed to go. Masses of people got off the subway with us, all going to the Easter market at the imperial castle. But we didn't see Sonja yet. Randy was gonna change Sammy on a bench, while Emmy kept shouting Sonja's name, and then she arrived. Together we started walking to the entrance of the imperial palace, where the Easter market was in the courtyard. Even though it was only about to open at 10 am, there were lots and lots of people. We finally made it there and started walking around. They say it's the most kid-friendly Easter market with kid activities. There was an old-school carrousel, but we walked on as it was too expensive. We then saw a big sign that announced Easter crafts for kids and headed there. When we got there, she showed us what it was and that it was for all ages. But then she said they had kindergarten classes now and that we could only come at 11:30, which was 90 minutes later. She sent us to the information to find out about any other kid activities. So we walked to information, where we were told there was something at 1 pm, and that was about it. And that was the kid-friendly Easter market! At least we got to take a nice family picture in front of a huge egg. We walked all the way to the castle, passing all the stands, to look at the horse carriages parked there. Tammy was very interested in the horses, but kept her distance. I was carrying Sammy, who didn't want to be in the stroller.

There was nothing else we could do, and so we decided to go see the other two Easter markets downtown. Tammy was cranky and refused to go into the stroller, and so I ended up carrying her on my shoulders. Sammy was not too happy about being back in the stroller. It was a long walk back to the subway, then a long subway ride all the way to where we had gotten on earlier. But then we went up to the ground level and started walking towards the Easter markets. Randy suggested we go home, as Tammy refused to go into the stroller and wanted me to carry her, and so I put her on my shoulders again.

It was quite a walk, but we finally made it to the first market, then continued on to the second market just another block away. Tammy finally agreed to go into the stroller, as I was starting to hurt, and then we lost Randy and Sammy. They were usually right behind us. He was still at the first market, while we were at the second, but while we were waiting for him I did a circle through the market with the kids, and there was nothing for them. And so we all returned to the first market. At least there were lots and lots of horse carriages going by, which fascinated the kids. We walked into the first market and saw the kid stand right away. Ladies were holding styrofoam eggs on sticks to hand to children to color. I got Tammy and Emmy out of the stroller and put them on the bench. They each got an egg, and then there were paint brushes in little jars with different colors. They have never used paint brushes before, but did pretty well. The only thing was that Tammy did not put it back into the same color but into another one, mixing colors that way. I had Sammy on my arm and helped him paint an egg as well. Then we put the egg sticks into foam blocks to dry. Tammy was throwing a fit as she did not understand that she was getting her egg back later. I put her on my shoulders where she continued crying for a while, drawing people's attention to herself. Together we walked on through the Easter market, and she soon calmed down. There were huge, painted eggs sitting on tables to look at, and we looked at them all. As we had already walked in the direction of the subway, I asked Sonja to go get the painted eggs so we could continue on and go home. Tammy was so happy to have her egg back and would not let go of it until just before we got home. I was still carrying her on my shoulders, all the way to the subway, but I put her into the stroller, when we got on the elevator, and she did not protest in any way, thank God.

We got on the subway, and Emmy wanted out and to sit with Sonja. Tammy started fussing, and so I turned Peppa Pig on which immediately got her quiet and watching. Of course Emmy then wanted to come back to watch as well. The short episode ended just before we got off the train. Once again Tammy was upset and got out of the stroller. Sonja ended up carrying her the short stretch to our building.

At 12:10 we were back home. I had cooked a lasagna yesterday that we had not eaten and immediately warmed it up for the kids, while Sonja took their clothes off. They sat down to eat, and I warmed up the portions for Randy and Sonja. Then I started making myself something to eat, while all the others were eating the lasagna. Emmy didn't eat much, Tammy more, and Sammy really liked it. It wasn't long before Tammy and Emmy started goofing around, and they ended up pulling a whole bunch of squeezies off the shelf. They did not get any dessert today. I cleaned them up, dressed Emmy, and put him to bed. He was the first one in bed at 12:50. Sonja dressed Tammy and took her downstairs, while Randy was still feeding pudding to Sammy. Five minutes after Emmy Sammy was also in bed. And then they were both awake for a while, and Emmy was giving me a hard time. Sammy finally fell asleep, but not Emmy, who was rebellious and stubborn and refused to lie down and sleep. I hadn't eaten yet and finally left to do so. Randy sat down next him and was about to fall asleep, while Emmy was still moving around and playing. I returned to the seat next to Emmy's bed, and rocked him once again. Just before 2 pm he FINALLY fell asleep. These fights to get them to sleep are just so exhausting! I went downstairs to get Tammy, who didn't want to and fought me nearly all the way to her bed. I put her to bed and sat down next to her, and by 2:15 she finally fell asleep as well. Only then was I able to walk away and turn my computer on to work, even though I was extremely tired myself and would have loved to sleep. But I had too much to do.

At 4 pm I turned the ocean waves off and that was enough for Tammy and Emmy to wake up. They came running and crying. I sat down with both of them on my chest. Then we got up, grabbed a few squeezies and peanut butter, and went downstairs. Tammy was really cranky. It took me a little time to get her to calm down, and then I was able to leave and go back upstairs to continue working. Randy was also upstairs, trying to lower the curtain rod he had put up yesterday, so you can actually move the curtains.

I went downstairs, when Tammy was crying hard, comforted her, and then allowed them to watch Peppa Pig even though Sonja was here. I told them that in return I wanted no crying when I'd turn off the video player. They agreed. About half an hour later I was done making their dinner and came downstairs and stopped the video. Tammy started crying, and I reminded her of what she had promised. I invited them to tidy up with me, but Sonja had already done most of it by herself. And so we just went upstairs to eat.

Sonja gave me some stuff for them for Easter, as well as a few hard-boiled, colored eggs. I ended up giving one each to them and showed them how to do the Austrian tradition of "Eierpecken".  I showed them how to hold the egg in their hand, and then they collided. Emmy's egg cracked. Then Tammy did it with Sammy's egg and his cracked. Tammy was the winner! I peeled the two cracked ones, and Tammy ate the yoke, so did Sammy. Emmy didn't want it. They soon left the table, and I combined their food in a bowl I took to the bathtub. They ate a little more while playing in the water. Then we got them out and ready for bed. By 7 pm they were all in bed.

I sat down by them, and Tammy lay on my chest, and we talked. She then returned to her bed, and I sang to them. Tammy was the first one asleep, while the boys were still awake. I was getting hungry, and Emmy was giving me a hard time. Finally Randy came to take my place at 8:15, and I went to the kitchen to make my dinner. Emmy was soon asleep, but not so Sammy. He was calling my name. I finally gave up getting to eat any time soon, picked up Sammy and sat down to rock him a little. That's what he had wanted. After a few minutes I put him back to bed, and he was fine. I was finally able to sit down and eat. Then I went back to work. Not having slept throughout the day, I soon had my eyes falling shut while writing and tried to get done as quickly as possible so I could go to bed.