There is something wonderful about typical days; those happy days which could be from any week any month because almost every part is comfortably familiar, part of a well-established norm.

This Tuesday was one of those days.
With the exception of the fact that we didnt go to Mass which we usually do on a Tuesday (you boys both woke up too late! A first!), we all had our breakfast together of porridge and said our morning prayers. Clothes were thrown in the washing machine, and daddy headed off to work. The rest of us started getting ready to go out. I packed up our lunch (this week it was left-over lentil & chickpea soup, home-made sourdough bread, dried unsulphured apricots, celery sticks, carrots sticks, houmous, clementines, apples and bananas) and our water bottles and headed for our Montessori group….

Leo in the back:

Joseph in the front:

We love our Montessori group; we’ve been attending for over 3 years now, and there is always much playing, learning and a lot of chatting and friendship.

This week Joseph you spent a not-insignificant amount of time playing with the tessellation shapes and were very proud of yourself for making some amazing patterns, and then a not-insignificant amount of time in the kitchen, eating (also a very typical feature of our Montessori Tuesdays!). You then had a very confident little chat with one of the mothers about cars and underground car-parks.

And then at 1pm good-byes were said, and we strapped everyone back in the car and headed off home…

Half-way home Leo you looked like this…

So I heeded to Joseph’s pleas and stopped by to see Nonna and Nonno. Joseph you jumped out of the car and joined them for (a second) lunch, while I indulged in some quiet time and sat in the car reading a Catholic dictionary, until Leo woke up and joined the party…..

We went outside to enjoy the sunshine, while it lasted. The weather has been crazy this month; when we go out for the day I have to simultaneously take rain coats and sun hats and sun cream. It is both swelteringly hot, and rainy and cold within the same afternoon.

So while it was sunny we enjoyed the garden. Joseph you practiced your badminton..

Leo, you enjoyed the tunnel..

Then Leo & I decided to head home to do some chores. Joseph you were otherwise engaged and so stayed behind for a few more hours…..

Leo, we came home and had some fun play-time together! You have really got into story-reading this last month, and you constantly carry around very heavy touchy-feely books, or books with flaps for me to read to you. So we had a special cuddle and stories. We then indulged in our favourite snack…mashed avocado and banana! Noone else in the house appreciates it as we do! You then ‘helped’ me do some round-the-house chores, hanging out the washing outside and then I started preparing our dinner of mushroom & chicken risotto. Nonna and Joseph then arrived, and you boys spent some time playing with her in the garden as Nonna pushed you around on your bikes.

We start eating our dinner a bit early, because it just takes us so long, but soon it was 6pm, and daddy cycled up the path! DADDY’S HOME! yey! Leo is especially excited about that these days! We then finished our yummy dinner together, mummy had her shower, baths for the boys…and then bedtime! About 7pm for Leo, and 8pm for Joseph, preceded by story-time with daddy. He is currently reading you the original Thomas the tank engine stories.

After you were asleep mummy & daddy filled the dishwasher, did some (more) tidying and washing-up. Mummy worked on her Nature Walk booklets, and on a presentation on ice-cream for next week’s smoothie session, while daddy did emails and computer work.

Nothing fancy, but a perfect typical Tuesday!