Day 1062. It was nice not to have to get up at a certain time, though there is no sleeping in with the kids anyway. They are up early every day, and the only question is when they have wreaked enough havor for us to get up, or when they are convincing enough in their pleading for me to get up. This morning I would not open any squeezies for them, and so they were more adamant than usual that I had to get up to make breakfast.
After breakfast we did not go downstairs, but left the house together, even though there was still some time. I had looked online where there was anything going on for 3-year-olds today and had found a puppet theater performance in a park at 10:30. So that's where we were heading. Since we had to take the tram line that often uses old trams with steps, Sammy was in the (narrow) stroller, Emmy on the tricycle and Tammy walking. It was quite a walk to the tram stop. We got on the modern tram and rode for a while. After we got off, we still had some walking to do, but we soon started seeing the Danube, as the park was right by the river.
We got there at 10 am and saw the stage and chairs right away. It was part of the Vienna cultural sommer festival that has locations and events all over the city. The playground was right next to it, but for some reason they were not interested in going there. They wanted to sit down, and so we went in and got ourselves some seats in the shade. Emmy needed a new diaper, and when he came back with Daddy, he had a balloon, and the other two got one too, as well as all the other kids that were already there. I guess they had meant to hand them out after, but one had escaped and Emmy had caught it, and so they just started giving them out.
The performance started on time, but it was disappointing. It definitely was cultural, and more that than interesting for kids. It was somewhat boring. After half an hour they'd had enough and wanted to leave, and so we did.
Now they were ready to go to the playground and started playing and sliding and swinging and climbing. It was already pretty hot in the sun, as we're in a heat wave, and Emmy's skin is pretty sensitive, so we stayed away from the swings. After some time I suggested we'd go home, but go over to the water feature first. The city has set up nebulizers and other water features all over the city, and there was one right there. Other parents and children were already there enjoying it, and so did our kids. It was located right where some boats were tied up and some people were in the water, and our kids wanted to go into the water as well. I told them that we had not brought any swim stuff with us. It was time to go home.
They were upset, when we started walking back towards the tram stop. Emmy wanted a pacifier, but we had not brought any with us. I was thankful, when there was a distraction after a few minutes. We saw 5 fire department vehicles and 3 police cars, and the kids were looking with much curiosity at what was going. Whatever it was, it must have been taken care of, as the vehicles started leaving. But it had ended their state of being upset. They were still asking for milk, but of course we had none with us. Just before we reached the tram stop, there was a supermarket, and so we went inside and got some strawberry milk, banana milk and chocolate milk. They were very happy and enjoyed drinking them.
We got on the tram, and I sat with Tammy and Emmy who wanted to watch Paw Patrol. I was holding my cellphone and the tricycle and watching how Randy tried to cheer up Sammy who was fussing. I finally switched with Randy, and then Sammy was fine, and I was having fun with him. As always when they're really tired, they were upset and had a fit, when we stopped the video to get off the tram.
Sammy was back in the stroller (he'd been on the tricycle before) and Emmy on the tricycle, but Tammy was so upset that I put her on my shoulders. We had a big road to cross. However, she continued her fit up there, which was rather painful. I finally got her back down, and she started walking again. Just before we reached the tiny playground near our house, I put her back on my shoulders, and that way we were able to pass by it, even though they kept asking to go there. It was already close to 1 pm after all.
Back home I immediately put together a quick meal and put it on the table. However, Tammy and Emmy were lying in their beds and did not want to come, and so it was just Randy, Sammy and I. I turned the ocean waves on for them. Of course they both got up after a few minutes and joined us at the table, even though they'd had so much milk they didn't want to eat. So I cleaned them up, dressed them and put them back to bed. It was about 1:45 before they were all in bed, so pretty late. Once they were asleep, I walked away, spent a few minutes on some things, and by 2:15 I was able to close my eyes as well.
And for the first time in quite some time I got a decent nap in at lunch time. Randy went to the grocery store, while we were all sleeping, and I could hear him come back, and then suddenly Randy put Emmy right next to me on the bed. However, Emmy rarely goes back to sleep, and so he soon got up and asked for milk. Randy had gone downstairs, so I had no choice but to get up to give it to him. Tammy woke up as well, and Sammy was already downstairs, and so I finally stayed up as well, even though I would have liked to sleep a little longer.
But I enjoyed the rest of my afternoon. For the first time in a while I did NOT work on preparing lessons today. Instead I was catching up on office work for the ministry, and it was a nice change. I enjoyed that they only called up to me once, and so I had a quiet afternoon of being able to work. At 6 pm I went to the kitchen to make dinner, and at 6:30 they came upstairs to eat. They ate some at the table, then continued in the bathtub. Sammy ate all his food and some of his siblings' and had eaten much more than them in the end.
It was about 7:45 pm by the time they were in bed. I sat down by them and stayed until about 8:15. By then only Tammy was still a little awake, but I was able to walk away anyway. I got myself something to eat, ate, and then went back to work. I can tell I had a nap today, as it's after midnight, and I'm still going strong.
