Ok, new category. I have had so many people say that they would love to be a “fly on the wall” in my house, that I thought it would be fun to do a monthly “day in the life of me” post, where I share everything…the good, the bad and the ugly…that happened that day. I was going to do it for the 15th of every month, but it was a holiday from school and I totally forgot. And, I like even numbers anyway, so I will be sharing my days from the 16th of every month. I meant to get this up yesterday, but didn't get a chance, so here it is.

A Day in the Life of Me- Jan. 16, 2007

6:10 a.m. - Alarm went off

6:13- I snuck out of bed so I don’t wake up Belane…put in contacts, brushed teeth, etc.

6:30- Nate, Ry and Shane came up from downstairs. They are the earliest early birds and never need an alarm clock. I spent a few minutes checking email and blog comments (my computer is in the kitchen so it’s easy to check things quickly)

6:40-Mercy and Des came up- they are not early birds and they definitely DO need an alarm clock. :)

6:42- Belane woke up and came out of my room on her own, smiling…MUCH better than sitting on the bed and crying. Go Belane!

6:45- I served breakfast to the six oldest kids (Mercy, Nate, Ry, Des, Shane and Ben). We do cereal on week day mornings…we buy it in the huge Malt O Meal sacks and always have a big variety.

6:55 – Marcus woke up and came out of his room…joined Belane watching Dora.

6:55-7:10- the big kids finished breakfast and then headed downstairs to get dressed and make beds. I cleaned up the kitchen from round one of breakfast.

7:15-7:30- While the kids washed up, got dressed and got their stuff ready for the day, I signed reading slips, math homework and a permission slip and packed up the backpacks.
Maggie and Amanda woke up and came upstairs at some point in there.

7:33- I sent the kids downstairs to put on snowclothes, boots, coats, etc. (it was a ridiculous -23 that morning. IKES!!!!!!) I got six kisses and they went out to the end of our driveway where the bus picks them up. Luckily the bus was right on time and they only waited a few minutes.

7:40- I served round two of breakfast to the four little ones that are home with me during the day (Amanda, Maggie, Belane and Marcus). Sometimes they are all up and eat with the big kids, but usually not.

7:50- Josh left for work after a few rounds of smooches.
8- I sent Maggie and Amanda to go and make their beds and pull out clothes (while I cleaned kitchen again), and Marcus and Belane ran off to play. Maggie and Amanda came up with capri’s and t-shirts, so I sent them back to try again (remember what the temperature was!!!!) I went downstairs to fold a load of laundry, move the wet stuff into the dryer and start a new load. I also pulled out clothes for my littlest two.

8:30- Belane got her medicine (she gets two different meds in the morning.)

8:33 - I filled up the tub, and Marcus and Belane happily got in. Planned on getting myself some breakfast.

8:34-Yelled at Marcus for splashing.

8:35-Yelled at Marcus for pouring water on the floor.

8:36- Yelled at Marcus for pouring water on Belane.

8:37-Yelled at Marcus for shooting water out of the tub with one of the toys so far that it was running down the hallway wall. Gave up on eating breakfast for the moment.

8:38 - Washed the babies and brought them into the kitchen to get lotioned and dressed and sent the girls into the tub.

8:38-8:52- Put hair balm in Belane’s hair and some Baby Buttercream in Marcus’s hair, smothered both in lotion, got them dressed and gave their vitamins. They ran off to play.

8:53- I went into the bathroom and gave the girls their soap (I give them the shampoo and soap up their heads and then they wash their bodies and rinse out their hair…they do a really good job).

8:54- I had a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats and checked some online news sites.

9- Put “Little Einstein’s” on on the Disney Channel for Marcus and Belane. Got the girls out of the tub, even though they happily would have stayed in for hours. They want to see if they can turn into mermaids if they stay in long enough.

9-9:18. - Help the girls get dressed and help them with their lotion and brush out their hair…put a braid in Amanda’s. (Maggie’s doesn’t need anything and is too slippery to hold a pony tail or clip anyway… Amanda is growing out her bangs and needs some styling so she doesn’t have her hair in her face.)

9:20- The girls got out their blocks and I gave Marcus and Belane their Aqua Doodle and then I jumped into the shower.

10- By 10 I was showered, dressed, had some make up on and my hair was dry (with minimal interruptions which was lovely).
10-10:30-The kids helped me make a double batch of my Grandma’s “sour milk cookies”. (I called my aunt in here to verify the recipe).

10:30-11-Moved the laundry again and then answered a few emails.

11-Started lunch. They had bagels, apple slices, bananas, string cheese and yogurt, and water to drink. This bunch (not counting Marcus) EAT SLOWLY. I called my aunt again to tell her the cookies tasted just like I remember.

11:25-Encouraged Maggie and Amanda to get done because they had to get ready for school. Marcus got his hands washed and ran off to play.

11:40- Maggie and Amanda finally finished… I sent them to use the bathroom and gather their boots, coats and backpacks. Then I combed their hair and had them wait by the front door.

11:50-Josh came to pick up the girls for preschool (we only have one car right now) and swiped a few cookies. Marcus cried because he wanted to go.

11:55-Belane FINALLY finished eating. Got her hands washed and went off to play while I cleaned up the kitchen.

Continued...