Today I ran the dishwasher and completed two and a half loads of laundry. I changed a few diapers, fed six kids their breakfast, two kids their lunch, and one baby milk made by my body.
I call those milky meals Midnight Snacks 1,2, and 3, Breakfast 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 3.27, and Lunch 1, 1.1, 1.5, 1.854, and 2.
Lunch 3 will begin after fitful and pointless Newborn Nap #22 of the day.
I drove four children safely to their school with packed lunches and properly completed homework in their backpacks. They wore seasonal coats and only one boy had a hole in his pants—right knee.
I made my bed and encouraged a toddler to make hers.
A pile of papers to read, sign, and return awaits my attention. Important matter are left in my care, things like granting permission to visit a museum dedicated to choo-choo trains. I must also carefully consider a proposal to buy slices of pizza for lunch on March Fridays. I think I will do it.
Midday, I sent small children outside to harvest fresh air and sunshine. I joined them briefly, between Newborn Naps #18 and 19. It’s beautiful, near 70 degrees, with a warm wind blowing from the direction of everywhere.
The kids sat in a bed of wood chips side by side, digging the dirt underneath. They were barefoot. I asked what they were doing.
“We are going to make a castle.”
I considered their plan to make a castle out of dry dirt on a windy day, but didn’t say anything to discourage them. Instead, I left them with a very deep thought:
“That dirt seems really dirty, guys.”
They didn’t care.
They had full stomachs, slip-off shoes, and a mommy who would be inside waiting with liquid soap that smells like vanilla and a pink hand towel.
Ahhh – what a great life… Can I be one of your kids?
Bonnie’s last blog post..Blog Burn
I’m pretty sure I just threw up in my mouth, a little bit…
Rach’s last blog post..current worries
that’s accomplishment!
I am highly impressed by the fact you made your bed AND encouraged a toddler to make her bed. but did she?
Courtney from Mommie Blogs’s last blog post..breathing clear, but turning into a tv junky…
Simply amazing. I did five loads of laundry, vacuumed the house, had a kindergarten friend over after school, and ended up with the entire neighborhood of kids in my back yard for over an hour. I only had to pack one lunch and feed one other mouth besides mine, but I’m pretty pooped. 🙂
Amy’s last blog post..My Brain is Spinning
OK, I’m DYING over here…I didn’t actually think you had done all that in one day, I thought maybe it was your ideal day and you were just sharing that with us!
Which is why I said “I threw up in my mouth a little bit,” because no one can have a day that perfect…
and then after getting your comment back, I realized it WAS your day!
You are amazing, G!!! Asher had pink cupcake stuck to his snot tonight, and it took me about an hour to get around to getting it off. 🙂 How do you do it? You have a sp;ecial talent…
Rach’s last blog post..current worries
God knew what he was doing when He gave me only 2 kids. I’m pooped just reading about your day! Congrats on a job well done (and well accounted for!)
Shayne’s last blog post..Who’s The Fairest Of Them All?
You are NOT helping my Colorado lust with talk of 70 degrees in February.
It was 40 here today, up from 21 yesterday. Those are the numbers I’m obsessed with this time of year.
That kind of day is contentment defined.
Kelly @ Love Well’s last blog post..SeaWorld 2009
“I must also carefully consider a proposal to buy slices of pizza for lunch on March Fridays.”
That cracked me up for some reason. Probably because my boy came home with the exact same proposal.
It sounds like you had a positively delightful day!
Amy’s last blog post..An Un-Executive Member
Love the day in your life! One time my mother in law was sitting at the table shaking her head (not being of the larger family ilk!) saying: “How do you do it?” I was a bit like “uh!” But she carried on: You serve and clean up from 27 meals a day and that doesn’t include snacks” – Gosh… never ever stop and think about it, last time I looked it was just the father person and me… where did all these short foragers come from anyway!!!
se7en’s last blog post..Pancakes Plain and Puffy with Se7en Bazillion Toppings.
I love this kind of accounting! I actually get a kick out of listing all the small, seemingly mundane things I do all day with children and it actually makes me realize how important it all really is. I love being able to do these things for my children. Sounds like you had a busy day to me!
Good work, good work. And that 70 degrees? Let’s not talk about that any more.
Heth’s last blog post..Grocery Day
Sounds like life is good and you are counting your blessings.
Warm days and health have a way of lifting the spirit, don’t they?
Okie Sister’s last blog post..Muffaletta Supper
Okay, is this a personal note to me to quit moping about being stuck inside with my girls who have been alternatingly (is that a word? it should be!) sick for four days now.
And it’s not warm and sunny here, despite this being the supposedly sunny South.
Bleh.
Good work!
Amy @ Hope Is the Word’s last blog post..The Gift of Psalms
You never disappoint!
I’d call that good math. 🙂
I love it! Although I too am very jealous over the 70 degrees part. Not fair!
homeskoolmommy’s last blog post..A giveaway! And an awesome homeschool find!
I love this. Something about that last sentence just makes me all teary…my own mommy was reassuring like that; with her at home, all was right with the world.
Jenni’s last blog post..Tickled
One of these days I should keep track of everything I do in a day, too. No wonder we’re tired.
And beautiful last sentence….
Beck’s last blog post..The Cure For Cabin Fever
I feel just lousy this morning, my tummy is icky and my whole body hurts. Probably catching that 24-hour bug that’s going around (I read that you had it!) But this post totally lifted my spirits and brightened my morning! Thank you Gretchen. <3
ann’s last blog post..Livin? in PA