Bonjour, mon cheri! This is a marvelous question 😍 Bien sûr, every day above ground, in a warm and safe house surrounded by my loving family is a blessed day! 🥰😘💕💖
My idea of a perfect day is one that is equal parts relaxing and active. The climate is breezy, neither hot nor cold, with a clear blue sky.
First, I get up early to feed and change our two youngest, whenever they decide to wake me up. I take my time rocking Jeanne back to sleep, then Artie Jr. comes to snuggle with Maman and Daddy, and I get to sleep in a little longer. When I wake up, Arthur gives me big kisses and a massage, or even paints my nails for me, and picks out an outfit he wants to see me in. I hope it's a pretty dress! 🥰
As my other little sleepyheads start to emerge from their caves, I give everyone a hug and kiss then make my way to the kitchen, put on my favourite apron, and make myself café au lait before making a proper breakfast. Full English for my hubby, pancakes with all the fixings for the kids. I like crêpes with fresh fruit and nutella 😋
While I'm cooking, Al and Matt do their chores, the middle siblings play, and Arthur also gets a chance to relax - Daddy deserves it too.
Then all eight of us sit down to eat together, taking our time to enjoy and wake up, then everyone gets ready for whatever lies ahead.
The middle of our day could go a number of ways depending on how social we are feeling. We could laze around inside, embracing peace and quiet, or have company - like my friends, or future son-in-laws.
If everyone is up to it and the weather allows, we could venture out and take a walk to the park and the farmer's market! Maybe my husband treats me to a bit of shopping, or we stop to get a treat. I'd have Jeanne in a sling on my chest, while Arthur gives Artie Jr. a piggyback ride and the older boys hold hands with Peter and Michelle. We're only out for a few hours, though, as the babies start getting hungry and sleepy.
When we get back and settle the youngest for naptime, the apron comes back on and I start on an extravagant dinner. The twins provide their assistance if I need it. Sometimes Peter and Michelle want to help Maman in the kitchen, it's so cute! Cooking a big meal for a family of eight is no small feat, so this takes a while. Hubby admires me from a distance, sipping a drink that I poured him.
Finally, we all gather around the table and say grace, thanking the Lord for everything we have. It might seem silly, but we go around listing the highlights of our day as we enjoy the fruits of my labour. Then everyone helps clean up and I have a cuddle with the little ones.
While Arthur corrals the kids and tells them a bedtime story, I snuggle up with Al and Matt on the couch to watch a movie. Jeanne would be with us too, nursing or fast asleep in my arms.
When that's finished and everyone is snug in bed, I enjoy a glass of wine. Arthur and puts on a record and I light some candles. We slow dance together, with his hands on my hips and mine on his shouders. After, he carries me up to bed and we make unbridled, passionate love, facing each other; then pass out in each other's arms.
Thank you for this interesting question, I will try to give you a little insight into my very busy life as Mrs. Kirkland, aka Maman 🥰💞
You might ask me, François, do you ever get a moment of free time? The truth is, I do make plenty of time to relax, and nap when the babies nap. And I'm a skilled multitasker! When I'm not cooking, housekeeping, or tending to the children, I practice self-care, as in maintaining my appearance, and engage in my own hobbies.
The day starts around 6 am. From the moment I wake up I have a trail of Kirklands following me, and they all want Maman's attention! First, I make sure the youngest children are fed and changed, and cook up a big breakfast for everyone while Arthur gets ready for work. I then make lunches for my husband and our three oldest boys.
Once everyone eats, I take a moment to get ready myself - say a prayer, trim my stubble, have a latté. Some days I change out of my pajamas, most of the time I cannot be bothered, but no matter how I look, I send my man off to work with a big kiss!
It is around 8:30 that my four big boys leave, and the younger three are at home with me. Michelle will be starting school next year! Jeanne is only three months old, so a lot of my time revolves around her feeding schedule. Baby girl nurses every four hours or sometimes more. Artie Jr. mostly eats solid food but I will feed him if he wants.
My days are filled with laughter and snuggles and little adventures. We play outside in the yard, do art projects, even go for short walks. I love to read to my babies as well, Michelle is already reading independently. And when Daddy's not home, we only speak French!
Running errands can be complicated when there's so many of us. I avoid driving as much as possible, I'm not very good at so it just doesn't feel safe to me. Usually I take advantage of grocery delivery, but if we need to go out, we do it together.
The twins pick Peter up from school and they are home around 3. They often have homework or other activities to do. I check in with Peter and ask him how his day was, then put the youngest two down for a nap while he and Michelle play together. It's at this time that I start dinner so that I can have it on the table when Artie gets home!
When Daddy's home, around 6 pm, we all greet him with another big kiss and then eat dinner together. Sometimes the twins won't be around because of work or other obligations, but when they are it's a family affair. We all say grace, have conversations, and they help me tidy up afterwards!
Once that is done, it's usually quieter. We have some downtime. The little ones can be unpredictable but we're experienced parents, we have managed to streamline the bedtime routine. At about 8 or 8:30, I attempt to get Artie Jr. to sleep, whatever it takes. Sometimes he wants to be in Mama and Daddy's bed. While I'm wrangling my very clingy toddler, Arthur tucks Peter and Michelle in with a story.
Finally, I feed and change Jeanne and rock her until she's sleeping soundly. Then hubby and I snuggle up in bed together. We are usually asleep by 10 to be ready for the day ahead, I get around 7 hours of beauty sleep a night between midnight feedings.
Weekends are more relaxed. For Saturday, the twins are either at work or they will take the midde siblings out so that Arthur and I can unwind and spend some quality time together. On Sundays, we go to church as a family and I like to have company over, my best friends Toni and Gil, or Ludwig and Feli. Often all at once!
That would have to be Artie Jr. Little man is very energetic and everything must be on his terms!
He is constantly waking during the night; escaping his room and crawling into bed with Maman and Daddy, demanding cuddles and milk. Some nights I just bring him to bed with us anyway, and it's near impossible to get him to nap at a scheduled time, so I have given up on that. He's getting better as he grows, but I'm always happy to nurse and snuggle him if that's what he needs 🥰
Or Matthieu, the poor thing 😮💨 He says it's insomnia, but as his Mama I know it's more than that. He has so much on his plate with school and overextends himself studying, then stays up all night staring at a screen! I try my best to caution him, but he must learn to look after his sleep hygiene.
Fortunately, baby Jeanne is a peaceful sleeper, she goes right down as soon as I rock her and only wakes up during the night for a feeding or two. She hardly even cries! My sweet baby 🥺