In which we go swimming and I get lots done

Yesterday morning I got up, made the bed and did some laundry. My children are late risers and slow starters - like me - so I've been trying to get some house stuff done rather than chase them round in a frustrated way. So I did a whole load of laundry and saw to the chickens before they wandered down for breakfast.

Breakfast was Frosties, and a juice ice lolly for the baby, who would live on a diet of ice lollies and crisps if I let her. I am fasting today (until 3pm) so nothing for me except lots of coffee! Cleared breakfast and then my mum came to take the girls to their music group. I read Jude his stories (Seabird and Joan of Arc), he did writing (copywork is the story of Samson, Judges 13) and recorder practice, then he got to go on Minecraft.

I had a bit of “free” time! More laundry, dishes, cleared out fridge, did a freezer inventory, sorted out our homeschool basket, tidied and hoovered front room, tidied bookshelves in dining room. Got lots done.

Mum and girls returned about 12:45, then we had lunch. Tesco shop coming tomorrow so lunch was bits and pieces - bagels, fruit, carrot, crisps, leftover pizza, baguette with honey or chocolate spread. We just finished Heidi, and so started Five Children and It (free ebook), which everyone really enjoyed, and Jude laughed out loud a couple of times. Poor baby was falling asleep in her high chair, so Mum took her back to hers for a nap - she sleeps very well in the quiet there!

Cleared lunch, then Jude’s friend whom we take to swimming with us came over. We left for swimming at 2:15ish. Normally I have Phoebe with me, but because Mum had her I had 25 minutes to myself while the children swam! I grabbed a scone and coffee, and read Teaching from Rest.

Children got changed super quick (for once), then we picked up Phoebe, dropped off Jude and his friend (with Jude’s Cub uniform and subs - he’ll be dropped off there later) and came home. Isobel and Emily watched A Bug’s Life and the baby pottered around. I hung up the swimming kit, bit more laundry, got the dinner on. Tonight it’s Garlic Chicken and CousCous from the Once A Month Meals Israeli Mini Menu.

While I’ve been doing housework today I’ve been listening to audio from the recent Christian Home Educator’s Conference in Devon. It’s good, encouraging.

Andy did Bible Time with the girls after tea, and when Jude got home from Cubs he read me An Afternoon with the Secret Seven (from a Happy Meal box!) and I read him The Invisible Girl Part 2, a series that friends of ours are in the process of writing and publishing.

When the children were finally in their rooms Andy and I watched an episode of Fargo on 4OD. Great programme - really enjoying it. Loving little Hanks - oddly pleasing to watch the children of great actors that you've grown up with.