A REAL day in the life of the Zimmermans

Some of you expressed amazement at our structured days after our last post so we decided to give you a few more details that were left out.

We are notorious anti-morning people. We prefer to sleep for as long as possible. Therefore, getting up in the morning is somewhat of a traumatic affair. We do indeed stumble to the coffee pot as quickly as possible and then contentedly make our way to the parlor for Bible study. It goes something like this. Dad: “Grace, what are your thoughts on verse 17?…….. Grace???………….. Grace! WAKE UP!!!” Followed by, “Naomi, it’s your turn to pray….. Naomi?” Mom: “She’s not waking up. Just go to the next person.”
 The next major event is our morning workout. Some are more enthusiastic about this routine than others. The first 10 minutes is enjoyed by all as we laugh, joke, and bemoan the NOT sugar free brownies we ate the night before. Leah tries to come up with every excuse possible to get out of the workout, including faking injuries. The last 10 minutes is spent in utter silence as each person deals with their own misery.
 It’s a race to the shower. First come, first serve on the hot water. Followed by Lydia, Grace, Leah, and Naomi beginning their school and music practice. Much of their morning is spent waiting for their turn for math on the computer and occasionally mom goes for a spider solitaire marathon that can definitely hold things up. (Now, SOMEONE “accidentally” deleted spider solitaire from the family laptop so this actually isn’t a problem anymore.)
 Hannah kicks things off in the sewing room. By the time Lydia and Grace arrive around lunch time she has repeatedly almost chopped her fingers off with the rotary cutter and is almost in a bad mood. It goes about like this. Grace: “Hi Hannah! Can I get your laptop so we can listen to music?” Hannah: “Sure. But if Lydia gets on Pinterest when she’s supposed to be working I’m throwing it in the fish pond!” Grace maintains her good attitude and dutifully plugs it in, then proceeds to pick out some music. (Always an ordeal.) Grace: “What do you want to listen to?” Lydia: “I don’t care.” Hannah: “I don’t care, but not Frank Sinatra.” Lydia and Grace: WE LIKE FRANK SINATRA!!!” (Hannah is not a Frank Sinatra fan.) Grace: “How about Adele?” Hannah: We’ve already listened to Adele 15 times this week.” Grace picks a neutral sound track. Lydia attempts to cheer everyone up. To Hannah: “Did someone eat your bowl of sunshine this morning, Thundercloud????” Hannah: “Did you bring some Panda licorice?” Lydia: “Yep! A whole box!” Everyone is immediately in a good mood.
 Lunch is a much needed break. A very casual affair, everyone tries to eat something healthy. At about 3:30 the panda licorice runs out. Morale drops and the characteristic Zimmerman intensity takes it’s place. That’s about the time mom makes her appearance in the sewing room to offer a few words of encouragement and the occasional scripture passage.
 The afternoon wears on until dad comes home and we decide it’s time for supper. We eat late. Always. So by the time we eat and clean up we have just enough time to tackle one more project for the day (lately, something to do with the attic) and the occasional card game or dvd. Leah and Naomi go to bed (always a source of distress) and Lydia brings out the sugar free chocolate balls. The rest of the evening is spent in contented munching and sometimes watching a favorite TV show and the occasional hockey, basketball, or football game. (Not Lydia and Grace’s favorite.) Lydia whispers to Hannah: “We’re not going to watch this all night are we?” Hannah whispers back: “Just be quiet and watch. It’s the last game of the season!” Lydia: “But I hate football!” Hannah proceeds to ignore her. Grace engrosses herself in a book or cross word puzzle. Lydia paints her nails.
 Time for bed. All the girls share a bathroom so there is a great deal of pushing around to gain position at the sink. None of us are as ladylike as we may seem. Including Mom. We’ll leave it at that. Mom and Dad go to bed and try to ignore the giggling and goofing off going on in the hallway. Finally everyone settles down and collapses into bed. Then it starts all over again. The end.