The ups and downs of daycare

Our first experience with public daycare hasn't been the greatest. Jonathan and Annah started daycare at Children's Friend Learning Center about a month ago, and it just wasn't what we expected. They were nice enough there, but it was just lacking, in several ways. Only a few specific incidents to report...most of it was just the whole "Mommy feeling" thing. So I took them out.

They started today at their new daycare; Little Caterpillers Development Center is the name of it. And I'm thrilled. They really had a great day. Annah's teacher told me how much fun she'd had all day and how she'd really bonded with one of the teachers in particular; she played with everyone in her class and genuinly enjoyed herself. Jonathan, of course, was his normal outgoing self; his teacher already calls him her little buddy and says how funny he is. I love that other people instantly love my kids; I already know they're special, but it's nice to hear that other people think so too!!!

Here are a few pictures:

Gonna soak up the sun....

We spent the better part of the evening/night with Austin's sister, Katherine, and her family. They've been here in our corner of the woods for their vacation, and have been staying at a friend's house on Lake Sinclair. It's a great little vacation place, and even includes (for select friends, I'm sure!) the use of the boat!

Anyway, we were able to load up and go out on the boat and just cruise around the lake. I was amazed at how close things are on the lake that are miles and miles apart by land. Anyway, not too much to tell about, but here are some fun pictures!

Busier than a one legged man....

Have you heard that expression? Well, that's been me this last month. Busier than a one legged man at a butt kickin' contest!

Jr. Deputy Camp started up two weeks ago, and the weeks before that were spent in preparation. I'm in charge of the program: Camp Director, they call me. It was fun...we had a lot of kids (over 180 registered, but not all showed up every day), and it was extremely rewarding. I'll be posting pictures on my Deputy Lewis page, if you're so inclined to go look.

But the business hasn't stopped at work. Matthew was off at Boy Scout Camp; Camp Sidney Dew, in Rome, GA. I should have some pictures pretty soon, when I get his film developed, but for now, here's some that our Bishop took.





He had a blast. It's the first time he's ever been away from home without us, and he totally enjoyed it. I think he was a bit homesick, but he got over it, and I know it was a great learning experience for him. He managed to earn two merit badges AND his Spikebuck badge!

Jonathan spent the week with MaLew (Austin's mom), and he really had a good time. His only down part was that he wound up with Strep throat on his last day there. Thankfully, MaLew managed to get him to a doctor and got him on an antibiotic pretty quickly. He's much better now, and I'm hoping it won't make the rounds through the whole family.

Annah missed her brothers last week, but she's a trooper. She went with me to Jr. Deputy Camp a couple of days, and got to see the K-9 tracking dogs and the fire trucks. She also got blasted with water from the fire truck, and I'll probably never be able to convince her to go anywhere near one again, but that's okay. In the end, she was fine - albiet a little (okay, a lot!) wet!







Anyway, the family is all together again, and it's time to return to the normal grind of life. But what am I complaining about? Our life is FAR from boring!

A walk down memory lane

I was cleaning out the clutter in my email account recently, and ran across an email that I sent out more than four years ago. It brought a smile to my face, and I decided that my little trip down memory lane needed to be posted here, where it is most appropriate!

"Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 19:28:30 GMT

This morning, after making the drive into work, I realized that
I'd forgotten my two-way radio. Not being able to work without it,
I turned around and drove home, getting there just in time for
Jonathan's morning cereal feeding. I found Austin and Jonathan,
both still in sleeping clothes, sitting in the recliner, busily
shoveling down the cereal.

"You don't use a bib?" I asked Austin.

"We don't need a bib. That's just something you got off of T.V."
Austin replied.

"Hmmmmmm," I said, as one of Jonathan's hands grabbed the cereal
filled spoon, splattering it across his arm.

"I always use a bib," I told Austin.

"You always make a mess. We don't." Cereal now runs down the
side of Jonathan's face, and a bit is in his hair.

"You want me to get you a cloth?" I asked, watching Jonathan's
messy little mouth suck on his own hand.

To which Austin replied, "He's only doing this because you're
here."

"I'll get the cloth," I said, getting up and going into the
nursery to retrieve a burp cloth. As I return and sit down,
Jonathan hits the spoon again, and a large lump lands on the end of
his nose. I wipe it off.

Jonathan's cereal covered hands brush against Austin's arm, but
nothing is said. He finishes the bowl and Austin gives him the
bottle that's leftover from making the cereal. Towards the end of
the bottle, I commented, "He probably needs to burp."

"I usually wait until we're finished," says Austin, but
nevertheless puts him on his shoulder and begins to pat his back.

"BUUURRRRRPPPPP." It's loud and sounds dangerous, and Austin
turns his head away just in time. "BLLLAAAAAAHHH." Spitup goes
everywhere, pooling in the space at the bottom of Austin's neck and
running down towards his belly button. His shirt is soaked. I pick
up the cloth and wipe Jonathan's face, murmuring "poor baby", then
wipe Austin's neck.

Austin hands Jonathan to me, but only after I've picked up a
blanket and put it over my shoulder to protect myself from spitup
and Jonathan from sharp objects on my uniform. Austin goes into the
bedroom to get cleaned up and changed. I wonder if he hears me
giggling.

And softly I ask no one in particular, "Need that bib now?"