Day 1069. I was so tired in the evening that I could not write my update any more. I fell into bed at 12:40, but then I could not sleep for the next nearly 2 hours.
It was a regular day. We usually leave the house at 3 pm to get to the 4 pm service, but now the S-train is not running until September, and so we have to take the regular train that does not come as often, and it has steps. I found out that the train was leaving just before 3:30, and so it was sufficient to leave at 3:15.
Sammy was in the stroller, Emmy on the tricycle, and Tammy was walking. We had to walk fast to make it to the train. When we got there, there was a guy there asking people where they wanted to go and telling them where they needed to go. Our train was leaving from the opposite platform than usual, and then it ended up coming 4 minutes later, so we wouldn't have needed to rush that much. Now that they have done it quite often recently, they are getting better at getting on and off the train with steps. At first they were always crying, but by the evening they were not any more.
After the train we took the subway and then we entered the mall to walk to church. First we made a stop at the grocery store to get a few items, then we walked on. The service had already started, when we got there. Randy took Tammy to go change her diaper, while I went to the front and side with the boys. Sammy wanted to stand by the stage to watch the drummer on the single drum; the drum set was unfortunately not in use. Emmy joined us there as well. After a while Tammy returned, and a few more minutes later Randy did too. Sammy immediately wanted to be with his Daddy. Tammy and Emmy wanted to already go to the baby room, and then started running around and chasing each other. And so we soon decided it was time to go.
We were the only ones in the room today, and we could not get the service on the TV screen, which was a shame. The kids were very excited that both kids' rooms were open, as they could get the cars out of the other room. In addition there was a whiteboard in their room, which especially excited Tammy. Unfortunately the pens were barely working, and it was not possible to wipe the board, and so Tammy did not stay with it for long.
They were all three enjoying running their cars. Randy really liked the car Sammy was sitting on. It was just the right width, and it was the first time that Sammy actually moved a vehicle with his feet. He was able to push his feet backwards moving the car forward, but Randy had to help him get his feet back to the front. In any case, he really enjoyed it. Randy also had him go up the stairs of the slide and then slide down, and he had never seen him lift his legs to go up stairs before. I had, though, as I sometimes have his feet on the staircase at home, when we go upstairs, and he always lifts his feet, though not far enough for the high steps.
After a while Emmy wanted to go outside on the terrace, and so I finally took him and Tammy outside. They sat on the chairs, then walked to where the plants were. This time there were no bees flying around. Tammy picked a dandelion, and I put it into her hair, which looked pretty. Then she checked out the other flowers and smelled them, and Emmy followed her example. Sammy wanted to be outside too, and so I got him from Randy who decided to stay and make sure we would not get locked out. Sammy also enjoyed checking out the flowers.
After we had gone back inside, it wasn't long before we decided to return to the sanctuary. We were flying blind as to what was going on there, and as there was a birthday party after the service, it could possibly be over earlier. The tables were decorated with balloons, which immediately caught the kids' attention who wanted to have them. They each got small ones a lady gave them, and when we left, they were each given a big one, much to their delight.
The service wasn't over yet, and so we stayed in the café and waited. Then people started coming, and we talked to a few, then paid for the food and got plates to stand in line with. They were barbecuing all kinds of meet and vegetables, and I got some, as well as bread and salad to take to our table, where Randy was with the kids. I was glad that there was a high chair for Sammy. As always, the kids didn't really like anything and only ate some bread. They preferred running around and having fun. They sat down at the table, where friends of ours were sitting, and simply joined in with them as if it was the most natural thing. Then they went under that table and had fun there.
It was getting later, but the desserts were not available yet. We needed to catch the 8:22 train, as the next train was an hour later. Finally the pastors came to the table, and everyone sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY for them. They had both turned 40. We were the first ones to get some cake, as we needed to leave. We all ate some, and then packed up to go. I put Tammy on my shoulders, so we could move faster. When we got to the subway, a train had just left. Still, we made it to the 8:22 train. We got on, but the train was not moving. We ended up sitting there for another 8 minutes before it left.
The kids had already watched Paw Patrol on the subway and continued on the train. It was 8:45, when we finally got home, so pretty late. We put them to bed as quickly as possible, and it did not take them too long to fall asleep. By 9:30 I was able to walk away, which was already pretty late anyway. I had a lot of pictures, and that's why it got too late for me to still write the report before going to bed.
