It's All Back to Normal Mom

Well, we got back from the beach on Sunday night late, and here it is Wednesday and things are already stressful to the max.

Thomas suddenly looked at me on the way to church tonight (we go to a Bible Study - which I had to teach this week) and said, "It's All Back to Normal Now Mom."

So, here's to "Back to Normal."

That being said, Sam and I agreed that Thomas had a much nicer disposition while we were at the beach, with the exception of following "Uncle Bill" (sometimes "Uncle Billdee") everywhere and trying to do everything that Tyler did, which caused much brotherly fighting between the cousins.

We are thinking this was allowing to the fact that we got to spend soooo much more time with Thomas last week. By the end of the week he was markedly less aggressive and contradictory about everything. We are discussing ways to make more family time.

Here's our "Normal" schedule: {Keep in mind that they are up at 8am and then go to daycare from 9:30-5:30 daily}

Monday Night - Sam and I have Karate (kids are with a babysitter) then Dinner, home at about 10:15pm

Tuesday Night - Kids' Night with Mimi and Grandaddy (Sam is teaching Karate, I go to Mimi's), home at 9 or 10

Wednesday Night - Bible Study, they have a babysitter at church, the Dinner, home at about 10:15-10:30pm

Thursday Night - I go to a Ladies Bible Study at church while Sam teaches Karate and the kids have a babysitter, then straight home for dinner, by about 9pm

Friday Night - Our night with the Conver's, dinner at about 7pm, sometimes they spend the night, sometimes we come home about 10pm

Saturday Morning - Karate at 11am - kids with the babysitter at church- then lunch, and then home for naps.

Saturday Night - Up around 5-6pm for dinner, then the evening off.

Sunday Morning - Church at 11am - they're in Sunday School (Sam and I teach another Sunday School class K-5th Grade -2 of 4 weeks per month), then to lunch, home around 2pm for naps.

Sunday Night - "Free" but usually dinner with family around 6ish and home around 9pm.

I know what you're thinking, that's way too much. But that's only on "Normal" weeks. Sometimes we actually have something going on and actually make plans. {lol} Like tomorrow, Mom is picking them up at 4ish and taking them to the fair for the evening, and then possibly keeping them overnight...we'll see.

Solutions:

One thing we've thought of was for me to quit the Thursday Night Bible Study. Sam wouldn't be home until 9:15-9:30, but at least I'd be here with the kids. He discussed stopping the Karate class that night, but that would only leave Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. The big problem with that is the timing. We have our greatest influx of students at Back to School time.

Sooooo..... what then?

I could stop going to Karate on Mondays and be home then 2 nights a week (Mon and Thurs) but then I'd only be getting exercise once a week on Saturday Morning, and that's if we can find someone to watch the kids....but it is an answer.

Somethings got to give. And I'd rather it not be our time with Thomas and Grace, or any of the 4 of our sanity...

It's just too much for all of us.

I'd welcome comments on this.... maybe you see a valid "drop that" spot and I'll give it some extra prayer and thought. Also lovvvve some prayer in this area! This has been on going for a really long time.

I'll finish on a happy note:

Some cool pictures from the beach you may not have seen yet.....