Kids and Band-aids

The way I see it there are two kinds of kids.

1) The one who thinks a band-aid can cure any injury- no matter how big or small, no matter very real or quite imagined.

. . . and . . .

2) The one who can loose enough blood that they almost need a transfusion but doesn't notice or cry until you put a band-aid on it at which point the child thinks he/she must be permanently disabled and becomes paralyzed.

Way to Mom's Heart

Last night while reading books with Rachel and Cole, I had an "aaah moment". We were talking about the pictures on the page, and I asked about the flowers, "what do we do with flowers?" In asking this I was expecting the usual response of them leaning into the page like they were smelling the flowers. Instead, Cole turned on my lap, touched my chest, and said, "uh Mom" with a big smile.

Cole is not much of a talker; he says about 30-40 words -compared to Rachel who probably says over 150 and uses complete sentences. He doesn't combine words much either, but does verbalize some grunts and syllables here and there amongst his actual words. So . . . all this to really just to say his "uh Mom" really meant give them "to Mom"!

What a sweet (unexpected) answer from a very sweet boy!

Unsettling

I just wrote a resume, reference list, and cover letter. I haven't done that in years, and it felt very strange! I am not even applying for a "real" job, but it made me nervous just putting it all together as it led me to think of the day that I will go back to work at a "real" job. Yikes! I know stay-at-home-moms do it all the time so I am sure there will be a place for me somewhere, but whew!

So, if I am not applying for a real job, why am I doing this? you might be asking. The Nursery Coordinator position at our church is available. It is actually a paid position (I've never been at a church that pays for this spot), but it makes good enough money that I figure I can schedule workers on Sunday mornings as well as any other events that need childcare. It is a paid position but they don't have any formal application or anything (the previous person filling the position was also director of the early childhood center our church hosts and is retiring after 22 years), so I am doing the whole sha-bang of cover letter, resume, and references. These people know me, so it will be interesting to see if they actually get all official and call references, interview, etc. If they do, I guess I can chalk it up to good experience. What if I don't get the job though?! I guess I will have to come back here to share my misery with all my (three) loyal readers! You will help me feel better, right? :)

Whew!

First day of swim lessons was today. I was a little nervous for Alexa. Our parks and rec program offers lessons for 3-4 year olds in the kiddie pool, and then starts level 1 students in the big pool. Alexa (age 5) has done the kiddie pool thing the last two years, and really is beyond that, but I was concerned the jump to the big pool was going to be too much for her. Don't get me wrong, I know she CAN do it, it was just the matter of whether she was willing to try. She can get turned off by the littlest things sometimes and then just shut down (by the way, this is beyond frustrating for me). However, when I came to pick her up she was soaked head to toe and smiling! Whew!

The level 1 group had close to 20 kids and four instructors, so I asked her if they had split up. She said yes, the kids who knew how to (which I translated as were "willing to") put their heads in the water right away went to one group; the others in another group. She said by the end though she was putting her head in (not really a new thing for her, but she does have to be in the mood to do it) and trying to help another boy who didn't want to do it! YAY ALEXA! There are still many more days left, but I am much relieved that day one went so well for her.

Check! another item completed

It has been a pretty crazy spring around here with lots of activities. There has been the normal daily busyness along with the various special activities which I may or may not have mentioned here before. In my tiredness at the moment, I am not even sure what I have shared previously. Anyway, another program was held today that I can mark off my list. The children's director at our church is retiring, and her "Service Celebration" was today. I was on the planning committee for that, and although it was fairly low key compared to some of the other activities I've had going on, it still took extra time, attention, and focus. Now that it is over, all that is left on my list is summer fun with the kids and Vacation Bible School. VBS is a big one (I actually started planning back in February), it will be nice to have that as my sole "outside" focus for the next six weeks.

So far, so good

Well, we have finished our first week of summer vacation and have managed to survive one another. Now if the kids can all survive the strep throat making its way through our troops, we'll have an even better second week. Even with some illness, we have done some swimming, gone horse back riding, visited with friends (Oops! Hope we didn't get anyone else sick!), been medicating sickos, been watching LOTS of tv, played/watched two baseball games, colored, read, done puzzles, made a trip to the library, played with play-doh, and the most exciting- done the sleeping in thing (well, at least a little bit of sleeping in).

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Today is the last day of school. As of 1:00 this afternoon, my kids are home for the summer, and I am very excited! I can't wait for the fun we can have, and on a more selfish note, I am glad I won't be driving back and forth to school up to three times a day!