Slices

This is my typical week these days:

Monday: 4 of 5 kids go to 3 different schools, two leaving at 7 a.m. and two leaving at 8:25. Run 2-3 Car Pools over the day. Run Errands while only with one child. Complete week of Laundry (I like to just get it all done) Teach Taliana (who has picked up reading like she was born to do it. Seriously this 4 year old now is pointing words out to me everywhere. 2 weeks ago we transitioned from learning the sounds of letter to officially reading "Bob Books" with her---she read 4, before I stopped her!) At 1:10 p.m. I read aloud in 5th grade Lissa's class (60 kids attend this every week---it will take us til February to finish this book, but the kids are quite riveted--although Tali is certainly not impressed.) Later kids come home, snack, check math homework, dinner, FHE, fold clothes with cute hubby. (Very romantic)

Tuesday: Regular Morning routine: (Wake early, stumble around until I exercise, make lunches, wake kids who are still sleeping, family prayer, keep troops moving in the right direction---piano, chores, brush teeth and etc!) Start School with Kyden try to get though Language before running to the Library for Tali's Music Class, at home continue schooling through reading, math and science and etc. Lissa comes home, pick up older kids from car pool, serve an after school snack while kids tell all of their day. Run to soccer practice...inspire 14 girls to run and run and run even though it is still 105 degrees outside. Come home finish dinner, serve and run to Presidency meeting or Stake Softball for YW.

Wednesday: Same crazy morning routine, Wash Linens in house, start school for Ky and Tali, work on calling simultaneously, put on mascara in between teaching concepts (try to remember to do both eyes), Lunch lessons for little guys (who always beg for more---usually do 2, but sometimes do 3), Take Tali to gymnastics class at the Library---and exchange the 35 or so books that we check out every week (yes that's 3 bags full!) Drive 10 miles to Mc and Dallin's school for their car pool. Come home, make snack, and dinner, Run kids to YW and scouts and 1/2 the time stake meetings for me. If no stake meetings---go to the farmers market at 9 p.m.---because that's when there is time and it is Double ad Wednesday!

Thursday: Get angry at my alarm clock for consistent promptness and wonder why it never allows me to sleep a few additional minutes. Acknowledge sleepily that I put the alarm clock 15 feet from my bed so that I would have to get up! See myself in the mirror and slowly come to the decision that 15 extra minutes of sleep may not fix the damage I see. (We're talking major surgery people) Decide to roller blade instead of jogging, because I like it better (and I am the boss), make lunches and leave a little too late to go 6-8 miles, so race like crazy to truly get a work out!! Hustle the kids with love out the door as by Thursday everyone seems to be running a little slower! Start school with Ky and Tali and vary up the lesson plan for the fun of it (as by Thursday everything seems too regimented) Play roll the dice---to memorize math facts---with 2, then 3 and then 4 dice. Kyden gets his doubles memorized and we feel relieved for the fun of it. Afternoon: get Tali to play group, pick up car pools, and Ky to soccer practice and wish that the rest of dinner will make itself and wonder WHEN I will buy the rest of the groceries....?

Friday: Mc and Dallin have Friday off of school, but have piano lessons at 9 a.m., so same ol same ol run around, except more people are moseying around. Take kiddos to piano, start school with Kyden and Tali---spelling tests, grammar and the like... Pick up Mc and D, more school, lots of chores, make something clever with the left overs from the week or something easy regardless. Prepare for soccer game---making up roster.

Saturday: Soccer (this last Saturday is was surprisingly HOT!) and Paint a room---or trim landscaping or lounge in the pool and have a nice change of pace!

In addition to all the fun---and truly it is fun, we had our triplet niece and nephews this week. The are almost three years old and busy and darling as can be. They were at our house Tuesday through Thursday afternoon. Tali's 5 girlie play group was also at our house this week, so come Thursday afternoon, we had 9 children milling about the house (8 of them four years and younger) Kyden at age 6 was my personal assistant. We had Popsicle, Popcorn and Pandemonium! Dan was also out of town this week at a leadership seminar AND I taught the art masterpiece class on Friday for Kalissa's class. (1 hour that turned into 2 of trying to teach art technique and appreciation to 5th graders while instilling an awareness of the artist themselves)

Who knew I could just download the perpetual calendar that is constantly spinning in my head. I'm sure I missed something or several things, but you get the idea. Give me a shout out if you are a crazy mom like me! ;)