chaos

The chaos of the summer with 4 kids plus one are over - or so I thought. Now that school has started, the mornings are calmer. A lot calmer! Even calmer than last year on school days. I'm not sure if it's because I'm making sure the kids are up at 7 am vs. 7:30 last year (which gives us an extra half hour to get ready!) or if it's because Kenan is getting ready for school too. I think it's a combination of both of those. So if the mornings are going so smoothly, what is up with the afternoons when the kids get off the bus? It's crazy! Micah is crying because he missed his siblings yet everyone is busy unpacking, changing, talking, using the bathroom and going here and there and everywhere. Excitement and loud chatter are everywhere as all 3 kids want to tell us about their days at once. Then kids are hungry and want to know what's for dinner, and Micah wants to walk underfoot in the kitchen and gets mad when we usher him out. I am so thankful my husband is home in the evenings now instead of being at school! Now I have someone to tag team with.

Our after school routine is the one that needs help. It's only the little window after school and before dinner that's chaotic. Once we sit down for dinner we really enjoy talking as a family about our day. One thing I'm going to try tonight is pushing dinner back a bit. Then there will be one less thing to do right as the kids are getting home. I used to put on soft calming music as they are arriving home, and yesterday I didn't remember until it was too late. I think the background music helps set the tone for the volume in the house as well as the mood of everyone too. I know it's just the 2nd week and soon everyone will fall into some kind routine that will work for us, but I think I will try these things this week and see how it goes.

Oh and I showed the kids my flute yesterday. The kids all tried to blow into the mouthpiece and the loved seeing it. Hannah was so excited to see "her" flute. She practiced with the mouthpiece and she can make sounds! That's a start. I still need to drop the flute off and get it tuned up, but I'll do that this week sometime. I'm so excited to hear Hannah start practicing!