You most definitely have a dh problem he needs a kick up the arse!
The very least he could have done is also taken parental leave he certainly is out of order dishing out punishments that he won't have to deal with!
he has never had them on his own for more than a few hours.
That's utterly ridiculous! About damn time he stepped up properly! The half term shite he's hoping childcare will be sorted by then and he won't have to make good on it
He can certainly do the bulk of the childcare at evenings and weekends!
Regarding costs :
Check local cinemas for special discounted kids film showings. When my dd was small our local cinema did cheap sat morning screenings of old kids films (but she'd not seen them) we took our own snacks and drinks in my rucksack style handbag
Have you checked your local and neighbouring councils pages for free/cheap school holiday events? There's usually loads of stuff being put on at libraries, museums and leisure centres.
Google "cheap and free activities for kids aged..." and you'll get loads of ideas, I recommend you look at guides and scouts websites too they're full of easy/cheap/free ideas
Have you loyalty cards? The points on those can often be exchanged for days out. Gets you more value usually than if you simply spent those points on shopping, or juggle to free up money. Eg Tesco Clubcard points used against mobile phone bill I think gets you triple value and so would free up a phone bills worth of money
Chores - they are not too young! They can be responsible for keeping their rooms tidy, putting clothes away inc dirty ones in hamper, taking their dirty dishes through to kitchen etc. This age is PERFECT For sock pairing duty.
Have a routine still and stick to it - seems like more work but I found kids quickly got used to it and actually liked knowing what we were doing each day and on that day each week (I was a childminder at this point)
"If it's Tuesday it must be the park... (Weather permitting but I wouldn't allow a light summer shower to put it off, kids are waterproof! Wrap em up warm and shower proof and they're generally fine. Plus it can be quieter on less sunny days meaning they had their pick of the equipment!)
"If it's 2pm that is quiet time..." I would engage them in listening to a story or reading or writing their own or drawing/colouring or a jigsaw, the little ones would nap
Everyone knows where they stand then.
Learn to embrace lazy mornings in front of the TV in pj's. If you're up and out too early you end up home with a huge chunk of the day still stretching ahead of you.
I'd agree with that. No point rushing to get up to effectively do nothing
Do you have separate finances and he's expecting you to pick up the bill for this?
Excellent question
High earner can mean big mortgage, high travel costs..
Can but doesn't have to - those things are choices
I had an early riser too so I feel your pain there! I too when she reached an appropriate age made sure she could access ready to eat/drink breakfast items so she didn't wake me up quite as early as bloody 5.30am!!
One thing I did which may not be possible for everyone but might help some as a future idea. I saved what I could when I could through term times -
jan - jun savings were used for summer holiday extras/cover
Jul - Dec savings were for Xmas and dds birthday (which is only a few weeks after Xmas and the first few years broke me!)
I know that doesn't help you now op but be good to sit and make a plan with dh like this for next year? Even if you have childcare cover then it will give you a bit extra for the weekends and your family holiday?