A Day in my INSANE Life!

Well, Jill inspired me to do a post on what I do during a day...so here goes nothing. Get your snack, beverage, you may want to hit the potty before hand...this could be a long one!

Every day I rise at...

Now, this isn't nearly early enough to get everything done and not be a crazy woman, but I seriously can not get out of bed any earlier. Especially because every couple of nights I wrestle with sleepless hours, and manage to waste two or so in front of the tv before willing myself back to sleep. I used to make fun of my mom for this...now I am my mom. :)

This morning the kids had muffins for breakfast - got smart and made those last night so they'd be ready this morning without much effort from me. They love chocolate chip especially. Wow, can 6 kids ever pound muffins! Of course, 6 kids can pound pretty much anything. Except meatloaf. None of the kids LOVE that!

While I'm getting myself ready, I'm also screaming out the bathroom door to do this and do that...for example:

• Water the dogs
• Feed the dogs
• Get your shoes on
• Put your lunch/snack in your backpack
• Take care of your breakfast dishes
• Find your coat and backpack
• Get your shoes on (yes I know I repeated that one, but trust me, I must say it 15 times a morning)

And finally, brush your teeth! The kids brush at the kitchen sink these days...with one bathroom and 8 people trying to use it, there is no room for teeth-brushing in the bathroom! So I developed this system...I use this caddy to keep their toothbrushes in, and I put the toothpaste on each of them so there aren't fights about who gets to do what, which are already PLENTIFUL!

Finally around 7:10 it's time to kiss Kyle, Cory, Brad, and Zach goodbye!

Then Nick, Kaila and I walk Madi over to Bonnie's house. I'm trying to teach Nicholas to be a gentleman and hold the door for the girls and I...he needs a reminder at times, but he's learning!

After walking Madi over to Bonnie's it's time to drive Nick and Kaila to their daycare. Tammy lives off of Lansing Ave, not far from Nick's school and Bob's house. This really tacks on an extra 25 minutes to my morning drive, but at least the kids get to stay at their schools and didn't have to switch. Once I've dropped them off, I'm on my way to work.

At work there are four of us that LOVE a little coffee shop called Sunrise Express. They are strictly drive through, and there are three of us that take turns picking up coffee (and iced tea for me) for each other on Monday's, Wednesday's (my day), and Friday's. I LOVE coming to work on Monday's to find that Lisa has brought me my big ole iced tea!!!

Once I get a couple of nice big swigs of tea in me, it's time to get down to business...checking voicemail, e-mail, my in box, running reports, typing whatever Rick throws my way, figuring surcharges for customers, and solving problems... (not the cutest picture here, but this is what my office looks like, with me in it! I don't think I usually look that crabby either, but today, probably!).

At lunch today I ran to get gas and pick up a prescription. Then I stopped home and warmed up leftovers and watched my favorite lunchtime show - "What Not To Wear". I think I love that show so much because I should be on it! Some days I go out with friends for lunch - that's like a REAL treat, talking and laughing with women! Other days I stay in and warm up something or make a salad, and then end up working through part of my lunch. Better than staying late though!

So, once I get home, Kyle has brought the boys home with him, usually picked up Nick and Kaila, and sent Cory over to get Madi, so they're all waiting for me. It's cool coming in and hearing 6 voices calling for you. Tonight though, they were HUNGRY. Kaila helped me make cheese manicotti and garlic bread, a family favorite. It's always something fast, and lots of times Kyle either starts or actually cooks dinner. I'm SO thankful for that!!

Finally by 6:00 we all sit down for dinner. It's not the prettiest of dining room tables, and a mix match of chairs (thanks to Kirk and Kristin we actually have ENOUGH chairs!!), but we all fit - barely - and enjoy spending a few minutes catching up on the day away from each other!

After dinner it's time to clean up the kitchen, and then settle down with Zach and Nick to work on homework for a while. Having to use my brain at this point in the day is EXHAUSTING! Once the homework is finished, we have a snack, and I work on yet another basket of laundry. I'm not kidding when I say you need mountain-climbing gear to get to the top of the pile! OK, so really I sorted it tonight, and once you pull blankets and comforters out of the mix, it's not HORRIBLE, but still I'm behind, and I don't like that...surprise!!

At 7:45 it's time to wrestle the youngest 4 kids into bed. Cory and Brad have earned some extra time at night to hang out downstairs, so they aren't forced into bed until 9:00. Once I have Nick, Zach, Kaila, and Madi tucked in, I came in to BLOG for a while...I love this thing. Love that I can keep everyone up to speed on our crazy fun lives, in one post! I sometimes think that our life is so boring, predictable, and tiring. But boy I wouldn't trade it for the world. So to all of you, good night, farewell...I'm heading here to read!!!

P.S. Notice the mess the covers are - that is what happens when little girls jump on your bed when you're downstairs :) Oh to be 5 and 3 again!!!