Ordinary life / Creating routines

About a week and a half ago I thought it would be good to share something of a "regular day" since a lot of this blog has been around activity beyond our regular days.  Then it took about a week and a half before we had a regular day.   But here it is.  I wondered what might be the most appropriate title for this post.  Initially I thought I'd simply say "Ordinary life," but I can't say all of what we are living feels "ordinary" yet.  What we are doing is trying to establish routines that help us organize our time and energy, and help us through our adjustment.

Breakfast table.  I've been making baked oatmeal (I'll cite Mom's cookbook and Aunt Lorraine's recipe) fairly regularly as our alternative to cereal, which is expensive.  We're not at a rice-and-beans-for-breakfast stage yet.

The walk to school. Around 4 blocks. Sometimes Silas can be a stinker about only wanting to be carried the whole way, but today he was okay with being held just across the roads, and basically walking the rest.

Often Rebekah and I are the first to arrive at the office after dropping the kids off.  Task one: a cup or two of ice water.  Task two: the coffee.

Our office.  Rebekah's desk side. (Note the list on the whiteboard of how much she has assigned for me to do!)

 Our office.  Derrick's desk side.

 Back at Preescolar Globitos to pick up the kids.  Silas at the playground.

Lia in the doorway of her classroom.

Lunch was quiet today with two of our staff out.  Quiet as lunch can be with Lia and Silas present.  This has not been an easy part of our day.  Yolanda prepares wonderful food and everyone has been really flexible as our children test our public parental performance.

Here's a good moment. Our kids at their best.  Lia and Silas pulled out the chairs for the second day in a row to give a "school concert" of all the Spanish songs they know (I was their only audience).  Makes me proud. Looking forward to the Good Charles Family Band Christmas recording for 2015.

 Today it was my turn to be with the kids at home in the afternoon. On the way home we stayed in the park a little to watch some park repairs that are underway.  The task of the moment was to put a new concrete surface the basketball/soccer court.

 Back at the house, we attempt quiet time. Silas wrestles a chair.

Lia sings and colors.

 Quiet time is over and we hear the ice cream man ringing his bells.  I'm slow to get the gate unlocked.  Lia and Silas produce enough volume to make sure he knows he has buyers.

The Super Cono today.

A conversation with my brother and his family.  Much to be said about the wonders of Skype.

Rebekah made fried rice with leftovers from Pollo Estrella (a restaurant), a grilled chicken fundraiser from church last Sunday, and yesterday's supper.  Nicely done.

Wrapping up the kids' day with stories.  Tonight Lia chose a book about fireflies and a Fancy Nancy book on poison ivy.  Right now Silas only wants to hear Danny and the Dinosaur and Magic School Bus: Lost in the Snow (which is a nice thought as we squeeze and our sweat together). All's well that ends well.