Daily Schedule

I've been asked a lot lately what our daily schedule is like so I thought I'd blog about it and publish it so that if I am ever curious one day how we did it all, I'll have something to look back on.

We have a family of 4 (plus TWO dogs). My husband and I and then our (almost) 3 year old twin sons, J&A.

At our home we (by "we" I mean J&A) wake up around 7 am. Then I check to see if they are dry. If not, they have to take off their wet clothes and help me w/ stripping the bed, then it's off to get them showered (if they peed the bed).

Then we go downstairs for breakfast.

After that we usually either leave the house by 8:30 am to run various errands or we will just hang out inside and/or outside until it's time for me to start making lunch.

When it's time for me to make lunch, they come in to play while I cook....then THEY eat (I eat when they nap because even if it's alone, I like ONE peaceful and uninterrupted meal a day).

Next up? Naptime!! By NOON I try my VERY BEST to get them in their beds. It's not always easy but they are usually asleep for nap by 12:30. SOMETIMES 12:45. They wake up anywhere from 2:30 to 3pm and then always wake the other one up, which I'm okay with.

I should add that the ONLY things they have accessible to them in their room is a handful of books that they can read and ONE stuffed animal each. The rest of their toys are in their closet that they can't get into on their own or downstairs in the playroom.

When they wake up, they are allowed QUIET TIME in their room. QUIET TIME means they can read or talk but they have to stay quiet. Sometimes I'll go in there and if they've been good and not wet the bed, I'll get a couple toys out of the closet and let them play for just a little longer. This buys me time to finish up whatever it was I was doing when they woke up.

By about 3:00 or 3:30 pm we will go back downstairs to play or do learning games as a family. We do that until it's time for dinner (and/or to make dinner).

MOST DAYS we are done eating dinner and we are cleaning up BY 5:30 pm. Then we talk about our day as a family, the good things and bad things.

Then it's time to go take a bath, brush teeth and go spend some quiet time in their room as a family (EVERYONE). I'll let them EACH pick out ONE book and I'll read them a book, we'll say our prayers and then it's time to go to sleep.

I think I should add that I NEVER let them jump in their beds. I tell them beds are for sleeping so if you want to SIT and READ in them, that's okay OR you can LAY in them...but that's IT. No wrestling. No jumping. No screaming. Also, now that they don't nap as long as they used to, they are IN bed BY 7 pm most days. I find that the longer I let them stay up with us at night, the worse their behavior gets the very next day. And they are asleep USUALLY no later than 8:30pm but sometimes more like 8:45 or 9 pm.

But their bedroom rule is no talking, playing OR reading past 7 pm. It doesn't always work like that...they do break rules. I mean, they are still only 3 years old but until they start getting out of hand (and you know what that means w/ your kids....like, JUST before the point of no return) we get up and go in there and make them quiet down. The ONLY reason we allow them out of bed past 7pm is for potty because they do eat and drink w/in 2 hours of us putting them in bed.

If I only had one child, unless I heard them jumping and making a TON of noise in their room, and as long as they didn't have a ton of toys in there, at bedtime, I probably wouldn't go in there but because I have two kids (of the same age, even) who share a bedroom, we can't let it get out of hand. With multiple children who share a room, just a little bit of noise can cause uproar and mayhem in our home with our guys.

But that's it in a nutshell. We get started early but they also nap and go to bed early, leaving me and my husband some much needed alone time and/or I get my "me" time. And other than after the kids go to bed or nap, there is only one other time when I'll hop on the computer. When? Right now. I'll set my alarm clock and wake up no later than 6:30 usually so I can start my day. Sometimes much, much earlier. It just depends on how busy the next day is for me.

I've learned a few things about my parenting skills over the three years I've had the honor of being a twin mom:
1. We don't do well unless whatever it is we are doing has been planned. And planned well.
2. I'm not a very happy mom, wife OR friend when I'm pushed to my max all day long without getting a break...so when I find my "me" time, I use it. I take advantage of it.
3. Children are demanding. Oddly enough however, they are usually on their best behavior when they have another parent and/or child interacting and playing with them. So as a rule, I usually won't spend more than 5 minutes a time on the computer while they are awake. If I'm waiting to hear back about something important, I might go check the laptop a few times while the kids are awake...but aside from that, the computer stays shut to ensure that my kids get quality time and attention from me.
4. Since so much of my time is spent with my children, that doesn't leave much time for me. I've got to take my "me" time at odd hours. Like 5:30 am. LOL!

On that note, it's time to go check emails and plan my day!

I Found God in San Marcos

We have the pleasure of having our own family minister! My father in law, Dr. Mark Henry Miller (or Grandpa Mark as he prefers to be called now) is a minister who has served with the United Church of Christ for over 30 years. He has also served for over ten years as a Conference Minister in the South Central Conference of the UCC in Austin and as Transitional Interim Conference Minister in the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC.

Recently he became the Interim Senior Minister for the First Christian Church of San Marcos so we've had the pleasure of watching him in action.

September 20th was the first time we attended church as a family w/ our sons. They have a LOVELY nursery for children of all different ages. The room that J&A go play in is for 12 month olds-2 year olds. We've never left the kids under the care of a stranger before so we weren't sure how they were going to handle it if we up and left. Well, they were too busy having a great time, they didn't even notice!

Our first week, there is a part in service where they ask the children of the church to help collect the donated food item and bring them up to the front of the church and then they have a short lesson for the children. Aiden has always been a great grocery helper so he bounced out of the pew, grabbed a BIG bag of canned goods and started (literally) dragging it up the aisle and up the steps to hand it to Grandpa Mark. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen and many of the members of the church awed in unison.

We felt so welcomed and loved there that we went back this past Sunday as well. At both services, I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or if Grandpa Mark always starts out with this line, but he said, "It is important to know that God does NOT keep track of all of our mistakes." I don't know why that simple sentence speaks VOLUMES to me, but it does. Each of the services we've been to have also dealt with children and how they fit into our lives and what it all means. Both times, I have found myself weeping over the truly BEAUTIFUL things that were being said.

This week a member of the church got up to speak about what that church meant to HER. She talked about how her church wasn't just walls and pews. It's not just a building. It's all the wonderful people in it that give her hope and drive to go on. She said, "Seeing little children struggle down the aisles with bags of food gives me hope." MY mother in law looked at me and gave me a knowing smile as if saying, "You know, she's talking about MY grandbabies." (She loves the grandmother ownership and we love her for it) It was at that moment, the waterworks started again. Did I just hear that correctly? Did a complete stranger just tell me that MY children gave HER hope? I've always known that my children are extra special...I mean, just look at 'em. But to hear those words from a complete stranger just made it all crystal clear. I am home. I am where I need to be. And it feels wonderful.

I know, I know.

It's been FOREVER!

I've been trying to start my own little at home business and that is taking up ALL of my extra spare time. I NEVER have time for emails or blogging anymore so I decided I'd get up at 5:30am today so that I could try and get some blogging in.

Today is the LAST DAY that Jason will be a 20-something year old husband/dad/guy. Tomorrow Jason turns the big 3-0!

For his birthday, Jason wants to go "toobing" down the San Marcos River and then tomorrow on his actual birthday, we are going to be going to Sea World! We've got an action packed weekend for the 30 year old. We'll see if he can keep up! hahaha

The boys are just growing up more and more every single day. Their vocabulary has blossomed lately. They are saying 3 and 4 word sentences, which is a VAST improvement from just a month ago. You can tell they are also becoming FRIENDS, not just brothers that HAVE to share. When Aiden sees that Jackson is upset over not having a particular toy, Aiden will try to make Jackson feel better by finding a toy and trying to pawn it off on Jackson. When it's quiet time at the house and they are laying down, watching a few minutes of TV, we've caught them hugging and holding hands quite a bit.

Happy Birthday to ME!

I took the boys on a glass bottom boat ride for my birthday at Aquarena Springs. I now know a lot about the San Marcos river and the water/springs that feed it. Feel free to ask me questions! Haha. It was a 30 minute boat ride that was actually very informative. We had a BLAST!

Another Video!

Mama's little jumping beans



We were trying out a local pizza place in downtown San Marcos called Valentino's. Most of the downtown area is old buildings and this place is no exception. It's got an eclectic feel and it seems very popular among the college kids.

Anyway, the floors were old beautiful hardwood floors and Jackson and Aiden LOVE making noise by stomping and jumping. The pizza took a while so Jackson and Aiden got a little rowdy, jumping around and around and around.

Here's a video for you

We had to take something back to Target so here's Jackson, Aiden and me waiting outside for Jason to get the slushie maker (terrible product!!).

Check THIS out!!

We had to go to the grocery store to do our weekly Saturday morning shopping and for some reason Aiden was in one of his moods.

When Aiden is in one of his moods, which is not often, it's not something you want to be around. We're usually pretty good at dealing with Jackson's attitude (probably because it happens more often) but Aiden's rare outbursts are shocking, annoying, painful and surprising.

He was reverting to his one year old self and screeching at the top of his lungs, causing everyone to turn and stare at the spoiled brat on aisle 4. We don't take too kindly to this sort of behavior because once one of them them starts, then the other one starts and before you know it, we have two kids having an all out melt down. It's not pretty.

So Aiden started his screaming and Jason told him to stop. He didn't listen so Jason told him it was time to sit in time out. In the middle of the produce department. So there Aiden sat, under the cherries and apricots and Jason stood next to him. Jackson and I went on about our business of picking out vegetables, bread, ect. while waiting on Aiden's time out to be over with.

I looked over and saw Jason talking to Aiden. He told Aiden why he was in time out and then asked Aiden if he was sorry and would he give Jason a hug. Aiden shook his head no so Jason said, "Oooookay. Another 2 minutes in time out, I guess," and back Aiden went, under the cherries and apricots. After sitting in time out for two minutes Jason went to talk to Aiden again which was when Aiden reached over and hit Jason on the leg while Jason was talking. Back under the produce table for another 2 minutes. When time out was up THIS TIME, Jason asked Aiden if he was ready to give Jason a hug. Aiden shook his head no and then hugged the leg of the produce table.

That's when I intervened and told Jason to MOVE OUT OF EVERY ONES WAY! Aiden would have been happy to sit under the produce table ALL DAY. Jason did get an appreciative smile from a Grandma which made him feel a lil better. I admire Jason's strong will. Obviously I see where Aiden gets it from. ;o)

Aiden=Attitude