35 months

Day 1064. It was an at-home day today, and I did not take any pictures, even though it was not a typical day. The kids did not want to eat at lunch time today and did not get any dessert. During my one hour downstairs with them after, I got another and the last new game out that works with the stick, and we played it together. They did really well, but Sammy was getting frustrated again, and I put him by the piano. However it was so loud that we could not hear anything any more, and so I turned him off and put him on the floor. He ended up coming over to us. By then we had nearly finished the game anyway. They would sometimes put cards into their mouth, or would not listen to the stick. Tammy won, and Emmy does not know how to handle losing yet. He just cried. Then it was time to go upstairs and to bed.

While they were sleeping I continued working, doing office work as well as preparing my next lesson. At 3 pm a new friend arrived - Ayda. I knew her from church, and someone recommended she'd come to our house one half-day per week to help for the next few weeks. The kids had met her at church yesterday for the very first time, and today she was already with us. Her ringing the doorbell woke the kids up, but it was time for them to get up. They were pretty sleep still, which makes them shy, and we all went downstairs. I got them some snacks and stayed for a few minutes to talk with her and give them time to wake up. Then Randy came with Sammy, and I went upstairs to continue working. After a while Randy came upstairs to go to the grocery store, while Ayda stayed with the kids by herself. Just before 6 pm Randy returned, and I went to the kitchen to start making their dinner. Sammy was crying at that point, and Randy went downstairs to comfort him. Just before 6:30 Ayda left, and the kids came upstairs to eat.

I was watching the clock tonight, as I had an 8 pm lesson. And so the kids were in bed by 7:30 tonight. Emmy had been asking me to sit down with them even for a short time, and that's what I did. When I walked away at 7:45, it was only Tammy that was fussing a little, but then both Tammy and Emmy were up and running around. Randy had to sit down by them, while I went downstairs for my lesson. After the lesson ended just before 9 pm, I needed some more time to wrap it all up, and then I took my computer and went upstairs. It was time for me to get something to eat, but it was too late to make a salad. I grabbed something, sat down to eat, and then went back to work. I may be busier with my new online teaching, but it sure brings joy to my heart.