How many times have you said that in your household? I knew having two children would be different than one, but boy did I underestimate. I still don’t know how single parents or parents with multiple children do it!
There’s not a dull moment in the Thompson household these days, and by dull, I mean there’s really no down time. It’s been quite an adjustment with me and Jen back at work full-time. Jen obviously leaves for work early in the morning, then it’s time for me to take over with Finley. Sometimes that means 5:30am or sometimes later, it just depends on what kind of night she’s having. Then, at about 7:00am, it’s time to get our other daughter Katelin up and going. I have to help her get breakfast and get Finley fed a bottle. Then, it’s on to helping Katelin get dressed and ready for the day (although she’s become a pretty self-sufficient 7 year old), load up the two girls (and sometimes the dog too) and head off to school. After dropping Katelin off at school, it’s back home to keep Finley happy and entertained.
Oh, she’s finally down for a nap, yeah, I’ll have a little bit of time to take a nap myself. Nope. The pile of dishes in the sink is staring at me, there’s cleaning that needs to be done all over the house and the grass looks like it hasn’t been mowed in two weeks. Jen arrives home between 12:30 and 1:00pm. We get to spend a little bit of time together, maybe have lunch, but then I have to start getting ready for work. I head off to work at 2:30pm, while Jen is spending time with Finley (the piles of laundry and the growing weeds in the garden are staring at Jen). At 3:00pm, Jen has to load up Finley and go pick up Katelin from school. At 4:30, it’s time for Jen and the girls to get ready for Katelin’s swim lesson or some other after school function. They all head off to the “Y”, sometimes Finley is a doll, sometimes not. They arrive home a little after 6 o’clock and Jen realizes, oh no, I haven’t thought about dinner. She tries to be super mom and is grilling burgers outside while cooking mushrooms on the stove inside, Finley is over on her playmat fussing because she’s hungry and Katelin is yelling “I don’t want a burger for dinner.” At about 7:00pm, I arrive home for my dinner break. I try and relieve Jen for a little bit with Finley, but then it’s time for us all to eat. I spend a little bit of time with the girls before it’s time to start getting Katelin ready for bed, while Jen is feeding Finley again. I get Katelin down to bed and have to head back into work, while Jen tries to get Finley and herself down for the night. And then it starts all over…
This is a typical day in the Thompson household, but add in haircut and doctor appointments, work obligations outside of your normal hours and sleep deprivation and there’s definitely not enough time in the day! I can’t complain though, I have three wonderful girls in my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
on May 20th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Mike and Jen, things will get better for you two. I have 3 kids of my own and I thought that I would never make it. In time, things will come all together and fall into place. Now all 3 of mine are teenagers and 1 off to college this fall. I would rather let the lawn and weeds grow so I do not miss anything for my kids. Kids are only kids once.
on May 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
It will get easier! Slow cooker meals are awesome for those days with tight schedules! I’m a full time college student with two active boys, the slow cooker has saved me more than once.
Try this one if you like mexican…
1 Beef Roast diced up into 1 inch peices or so.
1 small can diced green chilies (found near taco shells at the grocery store)
1 medium to large Salsa (I use Pace mild)
1 garlic clove minced
Package of Flour Tortillas
1 can of Vegitarian Refried Beans (seriously use the vegi, its better)
mexican cheese mix or any cheese
Sour Cream
Put 1/2 to 3/4 of Salsa in the cooker with chilies (and juice) with roast and garlic the night before on low, in the morning about 10 or so put it on high, stir well, by 2 or 3 pm you will be able to pull the roast into shreds with a spoon, the meat will be done when there is no more liquid after shredding. When its time to eat, butter both sides of the Tortillas on wax paper. Put a line of cheese down the middle, then meat, and on top put the beans. Fold ends in first, then roll like a burrito. Place on a cookie sheet in the oven (preheated at 500). Takes about 5 or so minutes till tortillas are browned. Serve with sour cream on top and salsa… everyone in my family LOVES this! It is very quick and easy. Also tastes awesome in taco shells and you can do this with pork too.
on May 25th, 2009 at 6:22 am
Thanks for the recipe! I’m going to try it this week!
on May 26th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I hear you…There’s not enough time in the day. I have two boys, ages 3 and 1. The house is always crazy, but it’s so much fun. One of my favorite cookbooks is “Fix It And Forget It”. It’s a Slow Cooker only recipe book and it’s a life-saver!
Thanks for all the updates…you have beautiful family!
on May 30th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I tried the recipe this week and it was GREAT!!!!! My whole family loved it.
on Jun 30th, 2009 at 7:51 am
For anyone with a hectic life (for those of you who’s lives are not hectic we’re all jealous) this website is a lifesaver. I almost never used the crockpot for anything beyond soup before stumbling across this site. For myself being a vegetarian there are still lots of wonderful recipes!
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/