on any given day

Morning begins early at the Milton house. When Greg is in town, he is out the door before dawn, with a kiss goodbye while I lay in bed waiting for the Early Riser. Just how reliable is Zack's internal clock? My alarm clock broke a couple of weeks ago and I've yet to sleep in.

He wakes up bright and cheery and ready to do something. He's been on a pancakes/waffles kick lately, but today I let him use a knife to cut his own grapefruit in half. I'm happy to report we typically don't head to the ER before school.

I usually spend the next hour or two wrestling my sleepy girl out of bed, urging her to eat and imploring her to spare her energetic brother's life while I make him wait until 8:15 before I set him free, to ride his bike or skateboard. My apologies to the greater Vancouver area; he's raring to go.

After we're all fed and the kids are out the door, I'm off to Jazzercise or for a walk or hike.

Followed by a shower.

The rest of the day usually includes chatting on the phone with these two:
ammy in the yardlori the personal shopper
My Mom and my little sister, Lori

I usually watch a little TV, a little news or something while I fold clothes, or sort through stacks of junk mail and school papers or pay bills.

I write and read blogs and try to catch my husband on the phone.

I grocery shop. I go to the library to pick up holds. I help out at school. I read between errands, always keeping a book or three handy.

I clean my house, especially since we put it on the market. I can't seem to get to it (because I find housework unbearable)(not that you love it)(I'm so ashamed of my aversion) unless there's raucous music or NPR playing or more likely: A book on CD. I'm listening to The Dark Tower today.

The kids come home from school around 3:30 and vie for my attention, talking over each other to report about their days, while inhaling my cupboards bare.

At some point, Zack will talk about numbers or math in a dreamy tone...


zack in the yard
And Lexi will inevitably cover some of her favorite subjects, not to be outdone.
redshirt1

And I will enter into my favorite part of the day: I make myself a strong cup of tea and while the kids play and do homework and flutter in and out of the kitchen, I start to make dinner.

I love the days when Greg is in town, and we eat together in the dining room, playing our warped version of: Would you rather? (Let's just say I'd rather not die by flame or flood, but if pushed to answer, I would rather drown.)


When evening comes, and the last kid has been piggybacked away - FYI, this mama will not be able to hoist them much longer - Greg and I kick back and watch a movie, or Mad Men or Heroes, this time of year.

And before this overhead light goes out, I always squeeze in some reading before I say good-night to another day.

Comments

Mrs. G. said…
A nice day at the Milton house. The state of one's hair is critical, Mom.
Saucy said…
That sounds like a perfect day (ha! the state of my hair!) and we also play "would you rather"... soo...

Would you rather:
a) blog, or
b) play would you rather?
holly said…
my daughter plays would you rather with jo's daughter.

they do "would you rather have all the animals in the earth killed, or eat a pickle sandwich" (actually the pickle sandwich is a placeholder for something much much much worse that i am blocking out....!)
I keep thinking I'm going to listen to books one day. A great way to keep me entertained during dinner making. Oh wait. Kids. Interruptions. Neighbor playmates knocking at door. Nevermind.
San Diego Momma said…
What do you make more dinner?
I want more minutiae! (A word I had to look up to spell.)

I sound glass half empty, don't I?

OK. I love reading about your day in the life so much, I want more! more! more!
I have to say your day sounds charming. Loved especially the photos of the kids! thanks for sharing.
JCK said…
This sounds like a good day. Your kids are so adorable.
What a neat insight into your life. Sounds busy but happy.
stephanie said…
I love your days and wish I could spend more of my days in them.
Christi said…
Love this post...that will be so interesting to look back on in a decade or so.
katydidnot said…
i'm with lex, hair matters. like, a lot.

also, would you rather eat only grass for two days or two bites of cow tongue all at once?

that's from the first grader. he's all over the cow tongue. because grass? is, like, a vegetable, man.

Popular Posts