Remember when blogging was nothing but day in the life posts? I recall rushing to the computer every morning to crank out a post on what we did the day before. That kind of blogging was fun, but also a little stressful, and let’s be honest… at times probably a little dull to read. After all, how many times can you hear “and then lunch and then nap” before your eyes gloss over, right?

Our day now no longer include naps, but still may not be all that exciting to the outside observer. Still, I love sharing these peeks into life every 6 months or so because it’s really special to me to have them to look back on. Time passes fast and having a snapshot of a day frozen in time is a real treat for a memory junkie like myself.

I share a lot of day to day stuff on Instagram stories, but I don’t love being tied to my phone, especially now that my girls are 8 and 5. Babies and toddlers are one thing, but my girls are in the prime of watching me and my daily habits.  I’m trying really hard to make sure they see my eyes looking back at them, not just the backside of my phone. I don’t mind them seeing me with my camera though. Photography is something I’ve really grown to enjoy over the years and them watching me snap pictures feels less intrusive. I love that they both (especially Hailey) seems to be interested in photography and it feels like a hobby we can enjoy together!

I always want to pick a “typical” day for these posts, but as you probably know from your own experience, there is no typical day. Some days we are at home all day, others we have co-op, others we bounce around with errands or play dates. So, this is just a day. A Monday…

5:30 AM: I wake up, roll out of bed, throw on a nightgown and head to the kitchen to make a cup of Earl Gray tea. Then I head to the office, finish up writing my weekly newsletter, and return a couple emails. Around 7:00 I break, go get dressed and set up shop on the porch to comb through our school stuff for the day.

7:30 AM: Kaitlyn jumps out on the porch with a loud “BOO!” and a grin, then comes and curls up on top of me. I go get more hot water for my tea and a book to look through with her. By 8:00, a sleepy-eyed Hailey has wandered out to meet us. We sit for a minute before I decide to get breakfast started. Kaitlyn immediately asks to help and Hailey takes off towards her arts and crafts stash.

8:00 AM: The girls eat at the table while I sit with them and read the next chapter in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. I love reading aloud at breakfast because it helps the girls stay seated and eat- plus my voice isn’t tired yet!

8:30 AM: The girls finish up and clear their plates. I send them upstairs to brush their teeth and get dressed for the day while I clean up the kitchen. Per usual, there is a lot of giggling, shrieking, and running amok. I let it go for about 10 minutes before yelling to them upstairs to keep things moving along.

9:00 AM: We all end up in the living room for our math block. I alternate working on math with each of them. After Hailey’s lesson, she takes her workbook outside to her new swing to finish the problems she needs to complete.

10:00 AM: We break from math and the girls play in the backyard. Today they are playing really well together (score!), so I head inside to defrost burgers for dinner and do some laundry. About 30 minutes later I round them back up inside to practice phonogram cards and grammar rules. For writing, I have Hailey start checking off her birthday thank you note list. 

11:00 AM: I make food for myself and for the girls while they work on writing at the kitchen table. They aren’t super hungry so I make them a snack plate to tide them over since Hailey has her well check at 11:50.

11:30 AM: We leave the house for Hailey’s appointment. She’s 55 percentile in weight and 66 percentile in height- 51 inches I think? Basically, she’s going to outgrow me any day now!

12:40: We stop at Publix to grab some things since I didn’t get around to meal planning for the week. We’ve recently started playing this game where I give them my list and my credit card, then I “disappear” and let them do the shopping on their own. This works when I only have a list that is 10-15 items long. They have so much fun with the independence and I love that it teaches them some basic life skills.

Their first stop (“since we’re the moms!”) is the cookie counter. Sometimes I have to intervene and remind them they can’t run with those tiny carts that are just looking for an ankle to ram into, but overall they do well. I love watching them ask an employee for help because the employee’s eyes always grow wide and it’s a total Kevin McAllister moment. Also, pro tip: the best grocery store to do this at is Publix because the employees are always incredibly kind and friendly.

2:00 PM: Back at home we play some addition war with flashcards. I read them a book on Antarctica. They are really most interested in going back outside, so I say go for it. I prep a cucumber salad for dinner then change to do a quick workout in the garage. I do leg day from my Madeline Moves app, but don’t get all the way through it before I have to come in and shower.

3:00 PM: I make a super simple smoothie from macadamia milk and protein powder, shower, throw another load of laundry in, and have the girls change into their theater class clothes and pack waters for the car.

4:00 PM: I drop the girls off at theater class then go to a close-by grocery store with free wifi. I pull out my computer and start loading pictures for this post onto my computer, as well as respond to a few emails. The time goes quickly and I head back to pick them up on the early side because we have to leave right at 5:00 to get Hailey to soccer practice, somewhat close to on time. I down a SuperFat (that I buy through Thrive) on the drive over.

5:20 PM: Hailey hustles out onto the field and Kaitlyn hustles into my lap. She’s exhausted and whiny and clingy. Eventually she gets interested in some nearby kids and runs off to play with them, but is back rolling on the floor under my feet while I am trying to talk to my friend by the time practice is finishing up. I usher them as quickly as I can back to the car to head home.

7:00 PM: We get home and I immediately send the overtired kids to take showers and put on pajamas. There is a lot of whining and picking at each other. I light the grill and make a cup of my new evening go-to tea, Organic India Tulsi Ashwagandha Tea (which I buy either at Whole Foods or through Thrive Market). I don’t know if it’s placebo or what, but I find it takes the edge off at a time of day when the girls (and myself) are feeling pretty fried.

I grill the burgers, pull out the cucumber salad, slice a tomato and avocado, then make the girls clear and set the table for supper (which really means they just take all their junk and pile it in the corner of the living room). I use the last of the evening light to snap a picture of my hamburger salad. We sit down together, eat, and play would you rather.

8:00 PM: They’ve brushed their teeth and we all go to the playroom because they’ve talked me into one story, even though it’s late. We decide on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I love hearing Kaitlyn yawn while I read, and after the book, I send them both to their beds. Of course, Kaitlyn left Mimi (her lovie) in the car, so I go fetch that and Hailey wants me to braid her hair, so I do that, too. 

8:30 PM: I’m back downstairs, looking around at the mess of the house. Responsibly, I decide to lay on the couch and play on Instagram for a little while. David gets home just shy of 9:00 so I chat with him while he eats, then he  finishes cleaning up the kitchen while I put away the laundry.

9:30 PM: We watch an episode of New Girl (though thank you all for suggesting Schitt’s Creek- we are enjoying it!), then are asleep by 10:00.

And that is our, very detailed, day! When I get into bed at night, I am so tired. But I’m also so happy. I may joke about all the driving and the whining (which are 100% true), but I am so grateful for these crazy days and this phase of life. 

If you like day in the life posts as much as I do, here’s a walk down my personal memory lane!

6 Weeks Old
14 Months Old
2 Years Old (25 months)
2 Years Old (and me, 5 months pregnant)
2 1/2 Years Old and 6 Weeks Old
3 Years Old and 6 Months Old
3 Years Old and 7 Months Old
3 1/2 Years Old and 12 Months Old
4 Years Old and 17 Months Old
4 Years Old and 20 Months Old
4 Years Old and 2 Years Old
5 Years Old and 2 Years Old
5 Years Old and 2 1/2 Years Old
5 1/2 Years Old and 3 Years Old
6 Years Old and 3 Years Old
6 Years Old and 3 1/2 Years Old
6 1/2 Years Old and 4 Years Old
7 Years Old and 4 Years Old