Summer Routine

Summer is fun, and sometimes summer is TOO much fun. haha!  From the beginning I knew we would need a basic daily summer routine that we could stick to that would keep everyone happy and on the same page.  Here is the basic routine that has been working for us this summer.  We don't have really specific times for everything, more like a specific order that we do things in.

-Breakfast
-Get dressed/make beds
-clean-up/ start laundry
-Snack
- go to visit with foster kids mom or do some school work/activity
-Outside time
-Lunch
-Reading time
-Rest time/movie time
-snack time
-Free play/ water play
-Dinner time
-Bath time/play outside
-Bedtime (daddy does bedtime for older 6 and I put the 2 babies to bed)

That is what we do everyday with an occasional fun activity thrown in to mix things up.  Evenings have their own routine as well.  One night a week is a kids date night (we rotate whose turn it is for a date with mom or dad), one night we take a few kids swimming at the pool, and one night McKay goes to young mens.  Friday night is family fun night and Saturday night is date night for mom and dad.  

Overall the kids entertain themselves really well here at home and know the expectations 'fairly' well.  Meal times here are a big part of my day/life and I have to be prepared for each one so that I don't have a million hungry kids at my feet with nothing to feed them... oh man those moments are rough.  I still do my weekly grocery shopping trips, but I have now added in a Costco haul about once a month.  I can't imagine what the budget will look like when they are all older!!

My very favorite thing about this summer has been watching them play in water.  They all have such a blast and get SO excited,.  Even if we are just going in the backyard with the hose.  I think Jensen's favorite moment of the summer was when he caught a snake in the backyard.  He was so proud!

Another favorite moment of mine from this summer has been having a babysitter come once or twice a week.  She stays at my house and watches my kids while I take the foster kids to their visit with their bio family.  While they have their visit I get an hour to myself to relax and get a few errands done kid free.  woot woot!

Here is a random photo dump of our sweet and chaotic moments at home this summer

Happy Summer 2019!