I always enjoy sneaking a peak into how others manage their day…maybe because it helps me to feel less crazy 😉 So when Katie suggested doing a Day in the Life link-up I couldn’t resist playing along.

I must admit that since the holidays, I have been s-l-o-w to settle into a consistent morning routine. I have been easing my way back to my early morning workouts so my day alarm goes off around 5:30AM. I stumbled around in dark tiptoe around my house getting ready and head to the gym.

My view as I pull into the gym parking lot

With the workout done, I hurry home to make sure I get back in time so my husband and my oldest son can head out the door to school/work. A quick check of the day’s schedule, including making sure my son has everything he needs for the day (all books, saxophone and basketball uniform…check, check and check) and they’re off. Now it’s time to get my youngest ready for school – I pack lunch, snack and double-check his backpack. He has breakfast and I my first cup of coffee while we chat about the day ahead – this morning we practice spelling words for his test.

After chatting at the bus stop with my neighbors, there’s time for some meditation, a shower, and a quick clean-up of the kitchen before settling in in front of my computer.

There’s a little time for checking email, blogs and Facebook before I start working. I’m so lucky to work from my home as it offers me great flexibility in managing my schedule. I can also swing getting laundry and other odds and ends done in between conference calls and replying to emails. Today’s a day of grant-writing and I am grateful for a quiet house so I can focus.

By early afternoon, I’m itching for a break and take my “office mate” our for some fresh air.  Soon it’s time for some combination of bus, carpool and a flurry of books, papers and catching up on all the details of the kids’ days…or what I’m able to drag out of them besides “It was good.” (Does anyone else have that problem?)

Some nights there’s hockey practice for my youngest or a late meeting for my husband, so of late family dinners have been hard to come by during the week – not something I’m thrilled with! My goal is to have dinner together at least 3 times a week, which we were able to do for the most part last fall. Before bed my youngest will come and cuddle on the couch and we’ll read together.

Depending on  the homework load, it may be close to 9:30 before my middle schooler is asleep and things quiet down. If I have the energy I may return to my computer for a little blogging and catch up on FB, etc., but of late, I’m toast and just happy to sack out on the couch and watch a little TV with my husband before calling it a night.

And that’s pretty much a typical day in my world.

How ’bout you – are your days pretty routine or always changing?

I so enjoyed reading the different Day in the Life posts inspired by Jill & Angela – and since Jill said the link up was open for a few more days I thought I’d join in!

Since the school year started two weeks ago I must admit I’ve been struggling a bit to settle into a “typical” day and find a new routine.`Of late, most mornings the alarm goes off by 6 giving me a little time to meditate, become semi-coherent and then get my oldest up and moving for school.

Once I’m sure he’s up, I head downstairs to see my morning BFF as I continue to work on becoming coherent. I check email, do some blog reading, prep breakfast for my son and lunch for my youngest. I chat with my son about his upcoming day while he eats and then ensure that he and my husband J are out the door on time. Now it’s time for round two with the “tiny terror” – he’s like me, slow to wake up so this takes a while – in between rounds I get the first of many loads of laundry started  and get some more screen time in until he makes an appearance for breakfast. While I have not been loving having the boys on two different school schedules this year – I do love having one on one time with each of them in the morning before the day gets crazy.

Soon we head out to hang with our neigbors and wait for the bus. Once the great yellow beast has rolled out of sight I’m off and running – literally . Despite not being a natural early riser, I do miss the early morning runs of the summer – I liked that sense of accomplishment before the day even started…but for now, waiting until the kids are out the door just works better.

Post-run/workout, the morning is quickly filled with work, blogging, more laundry and errands.

Eventually this big guy will demand some play time  — so there’s either a walk or lots of running in the back yard. Some days, like yesterday, I manage running errands and grabbing lunch with a friend – which makes the errand thing so much better! On other days, there’s more work in front of my computer, mixed with doing stuff around the house (a definite advantage of working from home!)

Before I know it’s time for the bus and my youngest is home excitedly chatting about his day. Depending on the day of the week, I then have to race out for carpooling duties. With everyone home and settled, it’s all about homework and dinner prep – unless there’s an evening school event – which was the norm this week.

I’m trying hard to get us all to the dinner table at least 3 nights during the week. By 8 we start winding down for the day – the tiny terror is lights out by 8:30 and by 9 my oldest is hanging in his room reading. For the first time in hours, the house is quiet – some nights J and I just veg in front of the TV – especially if football’s on. Otherwise, the laptops are still up and going for both of us. I’m naturally a night owl and have to force myself to head to bed by 11.

Head on over to Fitness, Health & Happiness to check out the link up for other Day in the Life posts!