This was the week of windows.

Windows.

Windows.

And more windows!

I love all of our windows. This week, they also got the electrical wiring, HVAC stuff, and plumbing in. We’ll probably have our 4-way walk through next week. This is when we go through the house with our building superintendent and make sure everything looks right before they start the next phase of work.

I really want to finish this list, so here we go for prompt #12:

Describe a typical day in your current life.

This is a little tricky to answer because we do different things on different days of the week. So, I guess I’ll just pick a day to describe. How about Tuesdays? And I have to preface this by saying that most of my days don’t go exactly as planned.

Calder is our early riser and usually stumbles into our room around 6:15 in the morning. I tell him it’s too early and to go back to bed. Ten minutes later, he’s back, wondering if he can come out yet. This goes on, back and forth, until I give in around 6:45 and get up for the day. Easton wakes up a couple minutes later and usually asks for crackers and a show. And then Amelie, my sleepy head, emerges sometime around 7:30. I get the kids breakfast, feed the baby, and try to get a shower in before Bryce leaves (doesn’t always happen). I let the kids play on the iPad or watch PBS Kids for a bit while I go through email and basically get ready for the day ahead.

Around the time that Liam goes down for his morning nap, around 10 a.m., we do school. We’re homeschooling for the next little bit until we move. We start with a song and then do scriptures together. Then Calder and Easton go play while I do math and language arts with Amelie. If we’re doing history, Calder will often stay and listen to the day’s reading.

On Tuesdays, Amelie has art class in Murray. There’s a great historical farm just down the road from her class, so we’ve been going there for a picnic lunch before class. The kids love the ducks and farm animals and there’s lots of space to run around. Then we take Amelie to class and I usually bring the boys back to the farm to play some more. Pick Amelie up after an hour, admire her lovely work, and it’s back down to Pleasant Grove. Easton usually falls asleep in the car, since he’s missed his usual afternoon nap.

Most days, we do chore time around 4 p.m. The kids pick their 3 chores for their day and, if they’re feeling motivated, they get to do 2 extra “Golden Ticket” chores. They earn a little money for these. I’ll have to write a separate post on this topic. I do chores, too, and we try to get the house looking nice for when Daddy comes home from work. Around 6, we’ll have dinner. Some days we all eat together as a family, some days I feed the kids and then Bryce and I eat later. It just depends on what’s going on that day. After dinner, the kids get ready for bed and I read to them for a bit and then it’s into bed.

Once the kids are in bed, Calder usually comes out a couple times for various reasons. At some point, he decides to actually listen to us and stay in bed. This is when I either go to the rec center for an exercise class, watch a show with Bryce, or try to do some reading. Haven’t been getting enough reading in lately. Around 10:30, Bryce and I usually head to bed. During the night, I’ll probably wake up a handful of times–to feed Liam, or soothe Easton. And then it’s Calder stumbling in and the day starting all over again.

That’s just an idea of a typical day. But, as I said, each day varies a bit. Some days we’re right on track and get lots done. Other days it feels good to just play and watch movies. And there’s usually a smattering of fussiness, begging for fruit snacks, big hugs, and cuddling. It’s a busy life, that’s for sure!

Just thought I’d do a quick re-cap of the progress on our house. Every Thursday, Bryce has meetings up by where we are building, so he comes home with video and pictures from the site. I look forward to it all week–it’s so exciting! So, here’s our new house, weeks 1-5.

Week One–Digging the hole

Week 2–Pouring the foundation

Week 3–Basement walls revealed

Week 4–Basement floor poured, window wells in, plumbing started. You can see the kids out at recess. That field will be so fun for our kids to play on when school isn’t in session!

Week 5–Our main level floor!

Week 5–Look at our basement!

Week 5–And just as Bryce was getting ready to drive away, the first wall getting ready to go up!

So, 5 weeks down, about 7 to go! I cannot believe how fast it’s going.

Honestly, kids provide the best comic relief. They are just so funny! Here’s a couple moments that made me laugh this past week.

The scene: I’m driving with the kids and there are some pretty sun beams streaming down through the clouds.

Calder: Wow, Jesus must be coming down somewhere!

Evidence he’s seen plenty of Church movies and art, I guess…

The scene: We’re watching Sleeping Beauty and it’s at the part where Maleficent is getting really angry and curses the castle with massive thorn growth. I expect Amelie to say something like, “Oh, I hope the prince makes it!” or “That looks scary!”

Amelie: Well, it’s lucky for the thorns that they get to grow!

Me: *Amused look*

Amelie: Well, isn’t it?

Nice way to turn a negative into a positive there, Amelie.

Liam, who will be 5 months old in five days, is as sweet as ever. Lately, I’ve been a little concerned about his growth. At 2 weeks old, he was average height and weight. At two months, he was at the 20th percentile for weight and still average for height. At four months old, he had a dramatic drop and was only 2nd percentile for weight and 8th for height. I don’t know why he’s so little. He’s not a voracious eater. Our pediatrician recommended that I try starting him on some solids, so he’s eating a bit of solids and I’m trying to make sure I nurse him every 2-3 hours, though sometimes he doesn’t care to eat much. I’ve tried to get him to take some formula, but he refuses to take a bottle. I’ll keep trying and we’ll see if he warms up to it. On the flip side, Liam is such a happy baby. He smiles, laughs, coos, and is very strong. He rolls all over the place and holds his head up very well when he’s on his stomach. If he hasn’t grown much by his 6 month appointment, I guess the doctor will look into it more. I may not know why he is little, but I do know that he is happy, so that’s reassuring.

The joys of having older (creative) siblings.

Hi, baby.

Sweet smiles.

My little love.