Historically, I would not call myself a routine type of girl. I have always prided myself in being "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of person. Or at least, I aspired to be. I used to keep a tent in the trunk of my car because you just never knew when you would have to have a spur of the moment camp ready. I always liked that idea, and I think it even came in handy one time.

Now that I am the mother of two young children, stay home part time, work part time, and have to be responsible I take comfort in our routine. Today was a day that many parents across the land (well, New York state) happily sent their kids off to school. I sadly sent my husband out the door and hence, commenced our routine for the 2008-2009 school year. Being that we are both teachers our years start in Sept and end in August. And ever since I have known Kyle, I always become quite sad that once again we have to spend our days apart. Don't get me wrong, we need our space like everyone else, but we have always been able to spend a lot of time together and be ok (No mr and mrs smith here). I'm also a bit saddened that this also means that I have to take on a new workout schedule and began today with my 5am wake up to workout. Luckily, Mikaela woke us up at 4:30am so I was already awake before the alarm even went off. I love when that happens. No, not really. Don't worry, 5am is absolutely the earliest I will wake up. I refuse and have total belief that it is without a doubt absurd and inhumane to have to wake up before 5am. I just don't think it should be done. Especially just to go to the gym.

I quickly got to work today and baked some PB & J muffins (I miss baking!), made pancakes (Cameron = panpakes) for breakfast, and headed outside to continue the damn gardening. That's right I said it. Hmmm..speaking of gardening. I finally chopped down the small forest of oregano outside and...left it there. Think it will keep overnight? I just want to dry it. And give it to 100 of my closest family and friends. Then have a little left over for Christmas gifts. Kidding, but there is a ton. I even used some of it for the first time when I made dinner at 1pm this afternoon! And actually, that's really all I got done was trimming the oregano. That and putting the kids in time out 2-3 times each. That's right, Mommy's back in charge and it's my way or the highway. Don't even bother with those cute little smiles and tilting of the head. I will turn away before I give in!! I even did laundry and sorted some of the clothes in my closet. THEN I took a shower, folded clothes and fell over dead from exhaustion. Fortunately, that was unacceptable to my children so I had to get up to answer the "I'm awwaaaake" calls from Cameron's top bunk. Have I mentioned that Cameron sleeps in the top bunk of his new bed? We don't let him get up and down on his own so now we hear "I'm awaaaaake" every morning. I'm training him to get up and down on his own this very instant. Tomorrow I go to the paying job, which at least I get to sit down for several hours at a time, but ugh I sit for several hours at a time. I always leave there bloated and with a headache. I wonder if there's a correlation.

So, as Kyle so aptly put it, "I'm so disappointed that there aren't more hours in the day" and I will head off to bed. I'm sure I will be asleep before the raccoons even have a chance to let us know they are mating.