Day 2 is Always the Worst

Yesterday, I had things in the BAG.  I was super dreading the return to reality after Christmas vacation, but I must have prayed extra hard, because the day went as awesomely as it possibly could have.  We're talking I was up for the day at 5 (thanks to Schnookems -- who also woke me up a few other times during the night); I got the girls up on time for school; made breakfasts and helped with lunches; got them out the door on time for the bus; and even CLEANED UP THE ENTIRE KITCHEN while the baby fell asleep in the swing.  I even made it to the library that morning to return books before they were overdue AND let Alex pick out some new ones, while toting the sleeping baby in his car seat.

Of course, things started to unravel towards the end of the day as pretty much everyone threw a fit about the dinner I had prepared {bean bowls -- and I knew I'd have complaints} and I really wasn't surprised that everyone's tiredness had caught up to them by the time we attempted family home evening {let's just say it took about 20 minutes to accomplish a lesson that should have taken 1 or 2 minutes TOPS, thanks to absolute meltdowns and shenanigans from my two sets of Bobbsey Twins  (Ethan/Grace & Alex/Jane)}, but overall the first day back went pretty great!

Don't let the cuteness fool you.  Or do.  It's the only thing getting me through the middle of the night awakenings.  :)

But, it's always the 2nd day back that's the worst.  Because, for one thing, Isaac is NOT a good sleeper.  And he's been even worse the last week or so ever since he went through a growth spurt.  Basically I'm up all night long with HIM, and then last night we were joined by Jane at some point, and before I knew it, it was "morning" {and I use that term loosely, because Ethan's 5:40 wake-up call is WAY too early for me} and Alex and Jane were already up for the day.  Scott thankfully got Ethan to the bus and then came back to get Alex and Jane set up with breakfast so I could go back to sleep for a little bit, but my going back to sleep caused us to almost miss the bus.  When my alarm went off at 7, I was still a bit comatose and couldn't quite get a move on.  I listened to it go off for what I thought was only a few minutes before getting up to wake the girls, but when I looked at my phone, I realized I had been laying there unable to move for over 20 minutes!  Hahaha.  Ruh-roh!  I yelled a frantic "Wake up, it's almost 7:30!" to the girls, and then hurried downstairs to get lunches made and some cereal on the table as everyone scrambled to get dressed and ready to go.  Scratch that, Grace and Sophie scrambled to get dressed.  Jane ambled.  Hahahaha.  Hahaha.  That kid.  After I ran upstairs to get her some clean clothes to wear, we got through scripture time in record time, and they made it out the door on time!  Whew!!!

What followed was more mom of the year material, as I put the baby in the swing and let Alex play on the computer so I could just lay down on the couch and rest for a few minutes, and that few minutes turned into a couple hours.  Of napping that is.  For me and the baby.  And those two hours turned into three hours of screen time for Alex.  And that was my morning.  Nothing else too noteworthy occurred the rest of the day, other than crazy emotional meltdowns and outbursts from Jane and Alex by bedtime.   It was quite the day.  I'm hoping tomorrow is NOT a repeat.  :)

 Now if only this little Squeaker will SLEEP for longer than an hour or two at a time tonight, then perhaps Day 3 will be a charm!