I couldn't believe it. "For me?!" "Yes!" he said. And when I asked why? His reply was, "Just because. I love you, babe!" And this, among millions of reasons, is why I am head over heels in love with him.
As the day went on, we ran a few errands. Together! It may not seem like a big deal, but when you only see your husband a couple of times per week and are used to doing the running around with kids by yourself, it was nice to not only have the extra set of hands and eyes, but it was nice to have the company as well :) After running errands, it was time to pick Cora up. I walked into school, just me, to get her. When we walked out, she asked if daddy was home yet. She had no idea that Tim came with me to pick her up. So, Tim got out of the car, closed the door, and ducked low to the ground so that Cora couldn't see him. When she walked around the side of the van to get in, there was her daddy! She leaped into his arms and gave him a big, huge hug and asked if he was home all day. When he answered 'yes!', I thought maybe she might jump to the moon ;) We came home, made some lunch, got Ben down for a nap, and the girls down for quiet time.
After everyone was up, it was about 2, and I wanted to get dinner in the oven before we took the kids for a walk. Well, I tried brining a chicken for the first time ever. I put a whole chicken in salt water for a day and a half and then put it in the oven at 300F for 3 hours. It turned out awesome!
While the chicken was cooking, we decided to take the kids on a walk and then to the park. Now, the park that we usually take the kids to also has walking trails that we usually walk before we play. Well, when I told them where we were going, Cora had a COMPLETE melt down. I mean, meltdown. Screaming, from her gut, like she was scared, that she didn't want to go. I didn't understand. So, after her sitting in my lap for a few minutes, begging me not to take them there and to take them to another park instead, I finally calmed her down and got out of her that she was afraid she was going to get poison ivy while on our walk or that Benny or sis would get it too. I reassured her that no one is going to get poison ivy (You can't get it unless you walk into the woods)! Could you imagine being that scared to get poison ivy? I felt awful. But, we took her there anyway. For a couple of reasons: 1. to show her that no one will get poison ivy and 2. to teach her that just because you're scared of something, doesn't mean you run away or take the easy way out (ie. the other park). We went on our walk and everyone came out alive and WITHOUT poison ivy! :) Cora was so happy and so proud of herself for being so brave. I was SO incredibly proud of her too!:)
After the walk, we let them play at the playground for a little bit. And let me just add how fun playgrounds are for me now. For the last three years, I've had a baby every time we've gone to a playground, so I haven't ever been able to climb a jungle gym with the kids, or slide down slides with them, because I've always either had a baby on me or in a stroller. Today was awesome :) I climbed the jungle gym, and slid down the slides, and ran around with them. So much fun!
After the park, we came home, I finished dinner and we all ate. Together. As a family. For the second time this week! And the girls were beyond excited. So far, night shift is great :)
I got Tim out the door, got the kids bathed, and followed our normal bed time routine: bedtime snack (yogurt), brush teeth, potty, read stories (same two stories every night: Little Blue Truck and Marvelous Toy), prayers, hugs and kisses, I love you's, lullabies, and then sweet dreams :)
I feel this mommy-hood thing getting easier everyday. Maybe it's because we're in a groove, maybe it's because they're getting older. Maybe it's because of both. Either way, it's been nice. I'm now enjoying my days instead of "getting through" them. And I'm so grateful for each and every one of them. :)
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