Day in the Life, Spring 2015

How about a Day in the Life post? Here's a Wednesday, with Cora in second grade, Violet in her last couple of weeks of preschool.

6:15 - After my alarm yells for a bit, I get up and settle in with my coffee and devotional. Cora joins me about 10 minutes later, dressed for the day. She normally gets up at 6:40, so she is early. She brushes her hair on the couch and reads the Lego Magazine.
"I'm at least like 27 minutes early," she said, referring to her morning time chart. Her thoughts turn to soccer. "Who are we versing next? The Cheetahs?"

6:50 - It's time for me to shower, and I encourage Cora to change clothes, since she wearing leggings with a shirt that ends at her waist. She argues, but then agrees to change into a longer top.

6: 55 - Cora is so early, she asks if she can watch a show while she eats breakfast. I say "yes," after she unloads the dishwasher, one of her main paid chores. She argues at first, but then gets the job done. When I am clean and dressed, she again asks to watch a show - yes, when she is dressed to her shoes. She argues, but obeys. See a pattern? Though I'd love to see her obey WITHOUT grousing, sometimes I let her come to obey on her own (within reason), without turning Every. Single. Thing. into a big fight.

7:25 - I wake up Violet and she requests a dress with pockets,"for Owliver and Swoops," her Beanie Boo clips.
7:30 - I prepare Cora's lunch, Violet's snack and some food for me for later, while Violet eats cereal that Cora poured for her. The girls watch Wild Kratts online.

7:45 - Time to shut off the show and start walking.
Within five minutes, we're off, and as we approach our streetlight, we notice that the landscapers have put new mulch near the rosebushes.
"Awww, I wish it was blue mulch!" Cora said.
"Have you ever seen blue mulch?" I ask.
"No, but you could spray paint it blue!"

Since Cora got new tennis shoes the other day, she has been walking to school, instead of riding her scooter. As we pass the park, I asked why.
"Putting on my helmet and getting out the scooter is too much hassle, and I want my legs to be strong for soccer," she said. "And when I get too far ahead on my scooter, I miss you."

7:56 - We reach the school gate as the first bell rings. After goodbye kisses and a little chit-chat with my mommy friends, Violet and I head back home.

8:13 - We're back home, and nearly ready to leave for Violet's preschool. On the way, I remind her that Grandpa would be picking her up from school. Violet is happy about this - she loves playing with his dogs Jake and Benny, and usually achieves her goal of getting a vanilla milk and cake pop at Starbucks.

8:33 - I leave Violet at the door to her school, and head back to Cora's school. I volunteer in Cora's class every other week on Wednesday, and this is my week in class.
9:00 - I sign in at the lobby of Cora's school, and head back to Dr. Porter's classroom. It's nearly silent, as the children are working hard on a writing assessment. That's a big difference between 1st grade and 2nd grade - the students are much more able to work quietly.

 9:15 - I'm preparing next week's homework packets at a desk in the back of the room. Cora walks by, gives me a hug, and proudly whispers that she's on her FOURTH page of her writing assignment. The teacher had said that some of the students like to write novels. Cora's following in her mama's footsteps, I guess!

When the children are finished with their writing time, I get to help them with a art project. They are making a stained glass window using bits of colored tissue paper and starch.

A couple of months ago, I'd helped cut the black window frames, which will be glued on later in the week.

By 10 a.m., the children are out for recess, and after saying goodbye to Cora, I head out front.

10:10 My friend Jen is meeting me, and we drive together to Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce. The second grade is coming here next week on a field trip, thanks to Stace's suggestion and Jen's hard work on the phones and email to get it organized. She and I want to go out and do the two suggested hikes, so we know the lay of the land.

11 - After checking out the interpretive center, we find the park employee Jen has been working with, and she talks us through our options. Thankfully, it's a cool, cloudy day, perfect for hiking, and unusual for May. It's a far cry from the high 90s we had a week ago.

12:30 We've completed both hikes, and head back into Saugus, taking the scenic route (Sierra Highway to Vasquez Canyon to Bouquet).

Meanwhile, Violet has had a fun lunch time with Grandpa - she succeeded in getting that cake pop, along with mini corn dogs for lunch that Grandpa got her at Target.

1:15 p.m. - When Jen and I arrive at Grandpa and Grandma's home, Violet is playing a computer game. We chat for a few minutes and then get going back to Valencia.

On the way to school, I look into the back set and see a sleeping child. Violet is old enough now that she rarely naps, but will sometimes drop off if we're in the car on a longer drive.

1:50 p.m. - Back at school, I leave Jen and then get a phone call from Stace. My car had its "check engine" light come on the day before, and he thought I might drop into Auto Zone and ask to borrow the diagnostic tool.

2:00 - Carrying a sleeping 5-year-old on my shoulder, I enter the store and ask about the code reader. No, they no longer can give it out - state law changed a couple of years ago.

2:15 - Back at home, I talk to Stace and we decide I'll call the mechanic we trust and take the car in. We have been planning to get it serviced anyway. The mechanic suggests we bring it in the next morning.

2:35 - Violet has remained asleep in the car this whole time - again, I'm so grateful for a cool day, though I know that a nap means she won't be sleepy at bedtime.
We drive to Cora's school to pick her up, and then we'll go pick up Stacey from work. He rode his bike to work, and if he leaves it at work, it will be easier for us to get the Hyundai into the mechanic the next day.

2:45 - School's out! Cora buckles up and I explain the afternoon's plan. On our way to get Daddy, we'll stop at the grocery store, since there are a few deals I want to get, and Stace isn't ready to leave work.

2:50 - Cora is chatty on our short drive: "When we get to Sprouts, I don't want you to get anything. I want you to tell me what to get, like a scavenger hunt. I like to turn shopping into a game."
About soccer: "The only thing is, I haven't had any hard balls at me when I'm in goal. I want a hard one that I have to catch, or hit away."
And, "I wish I had my bear with me. That's why I like to have a stuffed animal with me at school; in case we go to a store and I didn't know, they can come with me."

3:10 - Inside Sprouts, we get the fruit we need, I get a couple of bottles of wine, and the girls want to pick out candy from the bulk bins. 

Violet gets yogurt-covered pretzels, and Cora chooses gummy bears. Interestingly, from the bulk bins, one amounts to $1, and the other to 95 cents.

Cora thinks I should choose a sweet too, and it should be black licorice, because she'd like to try it. She thinks she likes it, because she's enjoyed licorice-flavored jelly beans and licorice-scented markers. I pick four small pieces, and we go check out.

3:45 - Once in the car, Cora's not so sure she does like black licorice.
4:00 - Stace still isn't ready to be picked up, so we make a stop at Valley Produce for a few more deals before going to his work at 4:45.
5:00 - Home again, at last. On a normal day I'm home a lot more than this! I unload the groceries, put them away and start making dinner. Violet plays, and at 5:20, Cora starts homework with Stace. He gives her a practice spelling test of the week's words, and completes her timed math flashcard practice and timed reading assignment.

5:40 - Dinner is ready. Tonight, on the menu is a baked egg dish, with cheese, ham and mushrooms, with broccoli and red bell pepper on the side.

The girls finish getting ready for Pioneer Club, and we're off. It's the last regular Pioneer Club meeting of the year, as next week is the closing ceremony.

"Oh, I really want Skippy," Violet sings. "I want Skippy, I want Skippy. Oh, I really want Skippy, I love him so much."

6:15 - When the girls are checked into their classes, Stace and I have an hour to do something - often we run errands, but I got my grocery shopping done already for the day. Colleen and Rigo have no plans either, so we all decide a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone sounds great.

7:30 - Pickup time! Luckily, these two friends are in the same Scooter class this year. They are looking over their pages from the "My Fun With Skippy" journal, which have been handed back since the year is coming to a close.

7:45 - Cora and Violet play on the playground for a few minutes, and then we load back into the car.

7:50 - I make two mugs of children's Sleepytime tea, and get out a few graham crackers. Violet had an hour nap, so I expect her to need all the help she can get to fall asleep.

8:10 - The girls are brushing their teeth and getting into bed. While I chat with Cora, Stace reads to Violet about butterflies.
8:20 - Before we pray and kiss goodnight, Cora tells me that she had another headache during Pioneer Club, and she can't wait to get her glasses. Also, when will we be going to Montana and seeing Ave and Johnny???


8:30 - I kiss Violet goodnight, and encourage her to stay in her bed, even if she doesn't feel tired. Then, I head out. She heeds my advice for 10 minutes, before coming out to say she needs to go potty. This takes a while.
9:15 - Violet is back in bed.
9:35 - Violet is singing to herself.
10 - I peek into the girls' rooms on my way to bed - Cora is asleep, and, finally, so is her sister. Maybe having a good friend to cuddle with made the difference. Sebastian begins purring loudly when I come in. We do love our boys.

There you have it - A Day in the Life. Not an "ordinary" day since I don't ordinarily go to Vasquez Rocks, and we don't ordinarily shop for groceries after school or pick up Stace from work. But, by all means, a normal day, and by that, I mean a blessed one. Thank you, Lord, for this life with my family.