5:27 PM and counting...

2 hours and 3 minutes until bath and bed time!!!

My day...
Woke-up late (8:00) and rushed to get the kids dressed, in the car (8:20) and off to school with no emotional outbursts. Breakfast consisted of store bought waffles sandwich sticks with cream filling in the car. Made it to school (8:45), gave hugs and kisses, reminded ME not to pinch and reminded Gideon that I would be back after lunch and to eat his lunch fast so we could get ME on time. Made it to work-out (9:02) for my 9:00 aerobics class, only to realize that I had a flat tire (thanks stranger for bringing it to my attention!). Called Keith several time (during class) to decide what I should do about the flat. Nice guy from the gym changed the flat and would not take the money I offered (thanks nice guy!). Spare tire was a little flat, so stopped 4 times before finding a place with an air pump…had no idea how to say that I need air in my tire, so played a game of charades (thanks nice guy #3 for airing up my tire~also for free, because he thought my gestures were so funny! Oh, how I wish there was a Wal-Mart Service Center in Yaroslavl or that we had our very own air pump in the trunk of the car!!!)! Met my prayer partner at her home (10:42~only 12 minutes late), where I changed my totally wet clothes and warmed up with tea and instant oatmeal (thanks Tonya for tea, oatmeal and your encouragement!!!). All I had been wearing was my gym t-shirt, pants and tennis shoes…who would have guessed today would have been the first day of snow and almost freezing temps!!! I gathered the kids from school (dropped my totally cute, new, bright pink journal in the mud running into the school) and listened to ME scream CANDY all the way home (I gave her a few skittles, but the girl always wants more! We need to go on a candy fast!!!) and immediately started the napping ritual…actually, I am not even sure what the routine is any more, but everything I attempted, even leaving her in her room to cry herself to sleep, failed…and I tried for 1 ½ hours!!! So for the past 2 hours, I have been “rejoicing” in the midst of arguing, whining and grumbling and counting the minutes until bedtime (thanks God for the strength and patience to endure difficulties and for sending all the nice people to help me through my trails!!!)!!!

WE MISS YOU KEITH...HURRY HOME!!!