Now that the boys have been with us for about a month now, I thought an update was in order. Much of our daily routine is the same, as far as when and where we go and what we do, but everything has an additional layer of necessary preparation. Here’s a snapshot of what might be a “normal” day for us:

6:35am: Make a pass through the three kids’ bedrooms and wake everyone up.

6:40am: Make a second pass on the way back to the master bedroom to be sure everyone actually GOT up.

7:15am: Check to be sure everyone has shoes on, brushed teeth and is not sneaking toy cars in their pockets as we walk out the door. Split up into two cars: I take the oldest three (D. to Nana’s house, A&J to day camp) and Lane takes R&R to daycare on our way to work.

7:40am: Get to work and realize that I forgot to put on my powder foundation and mascara. Sit in car in parking lot and apply makeup from the handy-dandy stash I keep in my purse for just these mornings.

5:10pm: Pick up A&J from day camp while Lane goes to get R&R from day care. Call Nana from the stoplight near our subdivision to let her know that I’m almost there. Pick up D. from Nana’s house and meet at home.

Between 5:30-6:15pm-ish: Let the boys ride bikes or watch tv while dinner is being prepared. (Wow, lemme tell you … this cooking for seven people thing is a whole new ball of wax from what I’m used to! It’s hard to gauge how much they will eat, but far more often than not, there are no leftovers to speak of.)

6:15pm-7pm-ish: Boys check the chore chart on the fridge to see whose job it is to a) set the counter & table, b) wipe off the counter & table after dinner, c) sweep the dining room floor after dinner. So far, the chore chart is working pretty well. (The boys eat at the counter/bar, which curves around the kitchen, and grown-ups sit at the round table in the breakfast nook. It’s a cozy setup that works really well for us. We’re all right there with each other, but everyone has plenty of elbow room and we don’t have to have a ginormous table.)

After dinner: They also split trash day & laundry duties (sorting dirty clothes from the bathroom hamper into the right basket in the utility room). On a side note, I’ve been hearing a lot about the color-catching balls that you supposedly throw into your wash to keep colors from bleeding. It sounds like an interesting gadget, but to be honest, we really have enough laundry to wash entirely separate loads of blues, reds, khakis/grays, whites and towels.

Depending on the day, Lane may take the older three to karate for the 7pm class while R&R and I hang out at home. D. is really enjoying having big-kid time with A&J and Lane on these nights.

8pm-ish: Assembly line bath time & picking up rooms

8:30-ish: Congregate in R&R’s room for bedtime prayers, hugs, kisses and lights out.

9:30pm-10:30pm: Perk ears and realize they’re all actually asleep!