3:30 When it becomes apparent that Ethan is just stuck, I suggest that we take Poppy for a walk. Jonah opts to stay behind and write, but Lulu, Maizie and Ethan jump at the chance.

3:45 After locating the leash and getting everyone’s shoes on, I get the older kids watch the babies, and my fellow walkers and I start out down the street. I intend for it to be a fairly short walk, just to get Ethan’s mind off his writing woes, but it’s so nice outside that we end up walking all the way to the hospital where my husband’s practice is.

4:15 We can’t go inside because Poppy is with us, so we stand outside my husband’s office window and get his attention. He makes goofy faces at us and gestures for us to come in, and I point to the dog and shake my head. He motions to the door and gets us to meet him at the main entrance. Once we meet, he says he wants to check the kids’ ears since they’ve all been complaining about plugged and painful ears since our trip. They disappear inside, and I find a chair in the breezeway to wait with Poppy.

4:20-4:50 Poppy is tired so she lays herself down at my feet. I suddenly realize how tired I am, but keep myself occupied with watching the big fluffy clouds outside and the workers who are replacing the clinic’s carpet inside. It strikes me as quite brazen that they would tear out the medium blue commercial carpet and replace it with a very light beige color. I enjoy the quiet and say hello to a couple of people I know who pass by.

4:50 Curtis and the kids emerge from inside the clinic and I ask whether he might be able to leave early and drive us home. He leaves to check his schedule and reappears moments later saying, “Let’s go!”

5:00 We stop at the McDonald’s drive-through to get some drinks and head home.

5:10 We arrive home and find that Jonah has completed his writing assignment and all is well. Joshua’s friend is just leaving to go meet his little brother who is just returning from a field trip to a nearby city (their bus broke down on the way home and they are two hours late).

5:15 My husband calls to let the judo instructor know that our kids won’t be there because they’re still not 100% healthy.

5:20 I start writing this post and Curtis plays with the babies and asks whether I have any plans for dinner. I remind him that we have our quarterly primary activity tonight and that I haven’t really thought about dinner.

5:25 Curtis goes upstairs with the babies to change, Ethan gets back to work on his writing assignment, and I keep writing this post. Kids periodically enter the kitchen, but I shoo them away so Ethan can have things quiet.

6:00 Curtis comes back with the babies and Zoe starts yelling that she’s late for dance and needs a ride. Curtis agrees to take her, and I stay with the babies who cry the entire time because they want their dad back!

6:15 Curtis returns and starts making dinner – fried egg sandwiches, no less! This is what happens when I need to get to the grocery store.

6:20-6:40 Sandwiches get distributed and we send Sofie (who’s in shorts, a tank top, and two left riding boots – one of hers and one of her sister’s) upstairs to change into something more appropriate for the weather and the Primary activity. She reappears momentarily wearing a sundress, and we send her back for outfit #3. The third time is the charm.

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