No time to blog!

Things are moving at an incredible pace around here, just like I like it. There were a few days last week where we had some easier days - so I spent a lot of time organizing, cleaning, sanitizing, and writing plans. I guess it was a spring cleaning frenzy for the daycare! Now my records are all up to date, the toys are all cleaned, the couch has been throughly vacuumed (big job!) and the floor has been mega-mopped! Plus, I have a plan for themed activities for the whole summer. It feels nice to be back on top of things.

This week, we kicked of an Earth Day theme. On Monday, we went on a Trash walk. We walked the perimeter of the house, and even into the neighbors back yard, picking up trash and recycled items (Unfortunately, we didn't find much to recycle!). We talked about wasting and reusing. I'm thinking that the conversations went right over the girls' heads, but at least we're talking about it. It will all kick in soon. Yesterday it was dreary in the morning, so we colored a recycle symbol and painted the Earth on a paper plate. They look really cute - I hope to take pictures... but I've gotten pretty lazy with the camera lately.

Perhaps my lack of pictures has to do with my hands being full! Noah is walking and cruising everywhere! I'm amazed at how much a baby changes between 6 and 10 months. And Rebecca is showing signs of teething - Every once in a while we see some white on her bottom gums. Julia is getting more creative in her play - adding details with every scenario she acts out. Savannah is close to being potty trained!

Today, we're going to plant some grass seed in a potato. I'll kick myself twice if I don't get photos of that!

Alrighty - that's my interesting post for the day. Thanks for stopping by!

Just a list

Here's just a list of some of the things we did today:

• built towers with blocks and then knocked them down, over and over and over again
• played with shaving cream
• cleaned out the office closet (and found lots of fun things to play with)
• colored on paper with the babies (pictures coming soon, promise!)
• painted with watercolors
• played with sand, indoors
• read a million gazillion books
• played with noodles ("extra" noodles from today's yummy soup)
• prayed together
• sang together
• clapped together (one of Noah's new hobbies)
• practiced our letters (we're working on "T" right now)
• played with puddles outside (just for a few minutes, it was too cold!)
• played pretend (Julia was the mommy and Savannah did whatever Julia told her to, it was endearing)
• played ball with the babies - Noah and Rebecca are going to be great friends!

Nap time is just about over - I'm sure there's much more we are still going to accomplish today! I truly have the best job in the whole world. I wish you could spend a day with me. Thanks for stopping by!

Childcare by Maggie is closing down, effective May 1

April Fool's! Just kidding. I wouldn't give this job up for anything. I continue to feel so blessed to be in the position that I'm in - working for amazing families and growing with amazing children. I called my aging grandmother last night to say hi and to let her know I was thinking of her, and - as always - she asked about the kiddos in care. She told me that just the other day she went to Will's orchestra concert. Will is a college graduate that is in the CSU Orchestra in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Will is graduating with a management degree this May. My grandmother babysat will from the time he was a few months old until he was about 10 years old. And now, 15 years later, she is still invested in his life and attending the concerts that began as she took him to his violin lessons a decade-plus ago. Those are the kinds of friendships I want with the children I teach today!

You may have thought that this blog was forgotten. On the contrary! I think about the blog everyday, as I know there are many readers who are anxious for pictures and stories of the little ones. Each day, I think - "Oh I really need to blog about this!" and I kick myself for not having my camera nearby or for not simply downloading and then uploading the pictures that I do already have stored on the camera that I almost always have conveniently in my pocket.

Perhaps when things get back to normal, I'll be able to post more consistently. We've all suffered from the icky germs that attack when seasons change. Luckily (?) We've not all had the same virus... so at least we know sanitizing and cleaning is one of my top priorities! Today, it seems as though everybody (even me) is feeling better. We're all in attendance and we're all in good spirits. That's the kind of news that I like to blog about!

So please do keep checking. I hope to post some evidence of Noah crawling around looking for new adventures to get into. I hope to post pictures of Savannah and Julia playing one of their many newly invented games - usually having something to do with a ball or stick or rock or something. I also hope to post more about Rebecca's developments - she's signing like crazy - saying things with her hands like "mommy" and "more" and "milk."

But for now, just say a little prayer of thanks for our health!