Day 2386. On Friday everyone was back in school, thank God. I lay back down after they were gone and got back up at 10:30 am as one student had canceled so I only had a student from 11 to noon. Randy left at noon, while I made myself something to eat but didn't have time to eat it as I had to pick Sammy up at 12:30 pm. Once we were back home, I ate, then we had time to relax.
Just after 3 pm Sammy and I left the house. We were going to take two subways but the first one was not running and there was no saying how long it would be so we went to the train instead which would take the same amount of time to take us to our destination. After we got off the train, we walked to the subway and got on but then it sat there. The same issue must have affected that subway line as he said he couldn't leave. So we sat in there waiting and not knowing whether we'd be able to meet up with the rest of the family. Sammy was geting pretty antsy. He wanted to pick up his sister, but as time went on it looked like we'd have to go home without her.
Randy had picked up Tammy and Emmy from school at 12:50 pm and taken them to their tennis class at 2 pm. Then they took the train to downtown where we were supposed to meet up. After 20 minutes in the subway train that wasn't moving, I was about to get off so we could got home when it suddenly did start moving again. Randy and the kids were already at the meeting point but there was enough time for them to wait. And so we met up and got on the subway going the opposite direction all together. After a few stops Randy and Emmy got off so Emmy could go to his breakdance class, while the three of us continued on to the train station where we took the next train home.
All those delays had cost some time, so time at home was short before my first student at 5 pm. Tammy and Sammy went downstairs to play - with their sandwiches I had quickly made - then I sat down at the computer for my first student. After I was done, I went to the kitchen to cut up as much fruit as I could before starting my next student at 6 pm, and Randy and Emmy returned home. They then ate while I was teaching until 7 pm. Then it was time for piano and reading practice before bathtub and prayer time. At 8 pm I sat down to teach while the kids went to bed - Emmy in my bed right next to me.
At 9 pm I was done teaching and got myself something to eat and took a break before going back to work.
Yesterday I was glad that there was no 6:15 am alarm going off. However, the kids were still up early. At 9:30 am my alarm did go off, and I got up and got ready to leave the house. This time I had to make sandwiches for Tammy and Emmy and fill their snackboxes, putting them and their water bottles into their backpacks for them to take.
The three of us left at 10 am and took the subway downtown doing reading practice. Their piano class started after 10:30 am (never on time). After the greeting song, the teacher did a guessing game, asking them what they were going to do after class. Then it was time for the finger warmup. After that, they did the last song they'd been practicing before she finally went on to a new song, and in this case a new key. It was about time. They had to circle all the Te's in the song, then all the skips.
Then it was already story time. It was Tammy's turn to tell the story and she did a great job. The teacher still did their singing song with them, then the class was over. Like last week, we walked to the subway and took the other line there for two stops, then switched to another line and walked to the McDonald's where we had gone last week and where the African works that they like so much. Randy and Sammy were alread there and eating. We joined them and had a good time.
After our meal, the five of us went back to the subway and got on it together. However, the three of us already got off after a few stops while Randy and Sammy continued on. Sammy had his music class at 1:30 pm. Tammy, Emmy and I walked through the mall to our church where we got about 15 minutes early. We sat down and saw people leaving the women's brunch. One of them was one of the leaders of the Royal Rangers, and she told us that they were not meeting at church but right by the subway. As she was heading there as well, we all walked there together having a good time chatting.
The main leader was already there with a bunch of kids, and they were getting ready to play a game. Tammy and Emmy were joining in right away. While Emmy had been saying all morning that he wanted me to stay with them, Tammy started pushing me to leave. I told her I'd watch a few minutes and take pictures, and then I'd leave. I thought it was funny how she was trying to get rid of me. Thankfully Emmy no longer wanted me to stay there. I saw that they were having fun with the game, then I left.
I took the subway and then the train home, where I lay down for a nap after getting some things done. Sammy was still at his class but got home at 3 pm.
At 4 pm the three of us left the house together. We took the train and then the subway, then walked through the mall to church. I was glad that Tammy and Emmy were able to stay with the Royal Rangers leader until our arrival, as their program had ended at 4 pm. They came up to us right away, and Tammy started telling me all about how great the program had been. They had also received Royal Rangers scarves that they were very proud of. Tammy said she wanted to go back to the program right away and was sad that it was 3 weeks until next time. As for Emmy, he'd also had fun but looked extremely tired, and when he's that tired he gets quiet.
We found ourselves seats in the sanctuary, then the service started. Tammy and Sammy were having fun during worship, while Emmy lay down on me and fell asleep. After about half an hour, the children's program's leader came to us to let us know that they were starting, so I had to wake up Emmy, and Randy went there with all the kids. I got to stay in the sanctuary and enjoy the service.
When 7 pm was approaching, I left and walked to the kids' program room as we needed to get going. I wanted to make the 7:18 pm train as I had a student at 8 pm. I picked up Tammy and Emmy but didn't see Randy or Sammy. We went to put our coats on, then we finally saw them, and we all left. The wait time for the subway was longer than hoped for and when we got to the train station, we watched the train leave the station. We had just missed the 7:18 pm train. The next train came at 7:31 pm, so by 7:45 pm we were home.
Time was really short so I asked my student to start at 8:20 instead of 8:10 pm which worked for him. The kids had some food, then got ready for bed. I prayed for them, then they went to bed - Emmy in mine - and I started teaching. At 9:10 pm I was done and went to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. I then had a break eating before going back to work.
This morning the kids seemed to be up extra early but left to play. They were loud as usual but once Randy was up he tried to keep the noise level down and eventually took them downstairs which allowed me to sleep without disturbances. At 10:45 I woke up and took my time to get up. The kids were outside riding their bikes and scooters. Tammy later came to me all excited saying that she was getting good at riding a bike. I went to the kitchen to make lunch, and just after noon we sat down to eat.
At 12:30 Randy left with Tammy and Emmy to take them to their maths club that starts at 1 pm, while Sammy and I stayed home. Randy returned for half an hour, then left with Sammy to pick them up again and go to the playground with all three. They had fun there. It was such a beautiful and warm day. I was thankful for the peace and quiet to get work done.
Once they were back home, we went downstairs where we did our own little service. I continued teaching on worship and on prayer. Sammy was not happy as he wanted to watch videos instead. Randy then walked away with him as he was crying, while I finished with the other two. Then we did piano practice, and one kid did reading practice, the other one did it later. We then went upstairs as they were hungry so I made their sandwiches and cut up their fruit. Then they were watching Bible stories while eating. For once we were not under time pressure when it was bathtub time. They had fun, then we had plenty of time for a story. I prayed for them, then they went to bed - and it wasn't even 8 pm yet. I then went to the kitchen to get myself something to eat and sat down for a break before going back to work. Once Randy went to bed at 10:30 pm, I had to stop doing my office work and continued doing other work.
