Tag: Pictures

Just another day at daycare

~ Lenore Diane ~ 1 Comment

This is the third year I have put together a calendar for our daycare provider, Ms. Suzann. I ask the Moms to send me pictures of their kids to include in the calendar, and I have one or two photo days at Suzann’s house during the school year, catching the kids in their element. Because I didn’t have any good holiday pictures of the kids, I decided to head to Suzann’s house for an impromptu photo session.

To my delight, all the kids had on festive clothing! It was as if someone had contacted the parents, asking them to put their kids in holiday clothes for daycare. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t an impromptu photo shoot. One thing is for certain, I did not tell Suzann what I was doing, yet she donned a red shirt! Honest!

The plan was for me to drop Charlie off at Suzann’s in the morning and linger a bit, while the other kids arrived. My lingering gave me a great opportunity to see the kids enjoying their time. I watched as they sat at the table, all eating cereal. I watched, as they decided to gather on the couch, and Charlie helped Riley take off her shoes. And, I watched as Ms. Suzann popped in a yoga DVD and gathered the kids for morning yoga.

Charlie and Caitlyn

After their morning yoga, I decided it was time for the photo shoot. Ms. Suzann and the kids came outside on the front porch, and did a great job following directions and posing for the pictures. Everyone had a great time. When I was done taking pictures, I went home. Shortly after returning home, Ms. Suzann called to say Lacy had just arrived. And, I assured Ms. Suzann that I would return in the afternoon to take some holiday shots of Lacy with her friends.

Going back to Ms. Suzann’s house in the afternoon gave me another chance to see the kids in their element. I soon learned their afternoon was an exciting one, because the four bunnies at Ms. Suzann’s house ‘broke free’ from their pen. Actually, the bunnies had broken out of their pen earlier in the morning, but the excitement didn’t pick up until the afternoon. The kids had successfully corralled two of the four bunnies, but the two other bunnies were still hunkered down under a nearby barn.

While I was visiting and waiting for Lacy to wake up from her nap, I watched the other kids keeping their eyes on the windows. The kids were watching for any bunny sightings. I listened, as the kids chatted, and I was amazed at how they encouraged each other with every word. And, when Lacy woke from her nap, I watched as the kids greeted her – so excited she was awake.

Lacy and Charlie

Once Lacy was dressed in her holiday attire, I gathered the kids for another photo shoot. Again, the kids did a great job of listening and posing. The kids listened so well, I was done taking pictures within five minutes. And, because it was the end of the day, I gathered Charlie’s things and was ready to take him home with me. However, Charlie wanted to stay; he wasn’t ready to go home. So, with Ms. Suzann’s permission, I sat in the corner, watching the kids have fun.

I enjoyed watching the kids play. I smiled, as Lacy reached into one of the bunnies’ crates, grabbed a carrot and started eating it. The bunny just watched, clearly willing to share. I welcomed the opportunity, when Riley and Lacy came to me and asked me to read a book. Shortly after I started reading, others joined us on the couch to listen to the story.

Today, Joe gets to spend the day with Ms. Suzann, because he does not have school. Charlie was excited to have Joe back in the classroom. And, this morning, Charlie said he was slow to wake up because, “I was dreaming about Joe loving Caitlyn and Riley.” Joe heard Charlie and he said, “Yeah, I can’t wait to play with Caitlyn and Riley.” The boys were so excited to spend the day with Ms. Suzann.

Riley and Ms. Suzann

“What do we call Ms. Suzann’s again?” Charlie asked. “Do you mean ‘daycare’?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. “Daycare.”

As we went to get into the car, Joe was bouncing along saying, “Today is a special day at Ms. Suzann’s house.” And Charlie said, “Joe, every day is a special day at Ms. Suzann’s house. We always do special things.”

Ms. Suzann’s house is more than daycare. Ms. Suzann’s house is special place the kids love visiting. I’ve sung Ms. Suzann’s praises several times. It seems fitting that I write this post a day before Thanksgiving, because Suzann is high on my list of things for which I am thankful.

A Collection of Collections

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment
A veritable plethora of collections

Most everyone collects some thing or another. Some people collect stamps, some collect antique cars and some collect shells. Many people collect many different things, and you wouldn’t be taken aback if someone told you, “I just added the best Simpsons stamp to my stamp collection.” However, you might politely excuse yourself from talking with someone if s/he said, “Today, I found the coolest fingernail to add to my collection!” Actually, if someone were to tell you about their fingernail collection, you might spit out the beverage you were sipping and run away. Fast.

Yes, some collections are better received than other collections. I ended my Bells and Bunnies post mentioning the Tooth Fairy, which made me realize my son is nearing the age where he will begin losing his baby teeth. As I considered my son losing his teeth, I wondered how my husband and I would handle the whole ‘Tooth Fairy” thing. I also wondered if I would keep the baby teeth my boys lose. I vaguely recall coming across a collection of baby teeth in my Mom and Dad’s room. I know the baby books my Mom put together of my siblings and me contained locks of hair.

Collecting and saving baby teeth and locks of baby hair seems a common practice. I have not saved any locks of hair from the boys, and it remains to be seen whether or not I’ll save the boys’ baby teeth. However, I do have the boys’ belly button stubs. (Should I have warned you prior to sharing?) Why do I have a ‘collection’ of belly button stubs? I haven’t a clue why I kept the stubs. Perhaps it is part of the delirium of parenting newborns. Sleepless nights can make for the start of crazy collections. You pregnant Moms out there – consider yourself warned.

I wonder. Will Joe come to me at the age of say – 17 – and say, “Hey Mom! Do you still have my belly button stub? I want to show it to my girlfriend.” One can only assume that the girlfriend would soon become an ex-girlfriend, screaming in horror as she runs out the front door. “That’s odd.” Joe would say, while watching her run away. “My buddy, Jeff, thought it was really cool.” I can only hope that Charlie would be nearby during the ‘belly button stub sharing’ incident, so he wouldn’t make the same mistake with his girlfriend. Then again, he might use it to rid himself of an annoying girlfriend.

Rest assured, two belly button stubs are not the only thing I have collected over the years. I have a collection of glass ornaments from my days working at a glass gallery, and I have a collection of pictures, picture frames and picture magnets. In addition, I have a collection of watches, though none of the watches have working batteries. So please, though I collect watches, don’t assume I will be on time all the time. I also have a collection of single socks with holes in the toe and/or heal. Why I continue to keep socks with holes and no mates is beyond me. And sadly, I can’t blame it on newborn delirium.

I’m not entirely sure at what age the collection bug hits, but I am guessing it happens early. Already, Joe has his ‘farm’ collection, which consists of hand picked stuffed animals and nick-nacks. Joe keeps his collection on the shelves of his headboard; the shelves are overstuffed, and Joe knows immediately, if one of the animals or nick-nacks is out of place. And, I see hints that lead me to believe Charlie wants to start a collection. He gathers many little things and keeps the items in a box or bag. But, Charlie’s attention span is not quite as fine tuned as Joe’s attention span. The contents of Charlie’s boxes and bags change daily. So far, the boys seem to have ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable’ collections. No fingernail collections in this house! Sadly, they haven’t asked to see their belly button stubs. No worries. I can wait.

The word of the day today is ‘Giddy’

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment
Me and the boys enjoying my birthday, while the oldest keeps his eye on the prized ice cream pie.

The word of the day today is ‘giddy’. According to Merriam-Webster, the #2 definition of giddy is a : lightheartedly silly : frivolous b : joyfully elated : euphoric. I am feeling very giddy today, and I am having a hard time staying focused on work. Why? Because it is snowing outside. I am like a kid in a candy store, when it is snowing outside. I live in GA, and we don’t get too many snowy days.

My husband is working from home today. He’s not home due to the snow, though it is certainly nice he is home on a snow day. He works from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I think I might be getting on my husband’s nerves, just a bit. I keep calling out to him saying things like: “I love the snow!” “Look at the snow!” “I love that I can sit here, work and watch the snow fall!” “Look! It is still snowing!”

Yes, I do believe I am getting on my husband’s nerves. While he was washing his breakfast dishes, I came up to him, grabbed his arm, started jumping and said, “I’m so glad it is snowing!” My husband is putting up with me today. When he works from home, he typically goes down in the basement to work. However, today he is sitting and working at the dinner table. And, from where he is sitting, he can look out and see the snow blanket our backyard. He likes the snow, too; he is just better at controlling his excitement. (He’s an engineer, and I believe controlling emotions is a common trait for engineers.)

Oh and yes, you read the above correctly. My husband was washing his breakfast dishes. Something tells me that sentence was noticed by many readers. Yes, I am thankful my husband washes his dishes. Yes, I know what I have. And, yes, I am glad our relationship continues to improve.

Giddy. I am joyfully elated. If my joy could be illustrated, it would be a variety of bright colors scribbled scrabbled with curves, circles, dots and smileys. I might have to throw in a few stars, too.

Part of the giddiness is due to my birthday, which was yesterday. I had such a nice time with my boys and my husband. My husband took some great pictures of the boys and I, while singing happy birthday and blowing out the candles. He has greatly improved his photo taking skills. The shots he took last night are definite keepers. I went through the pictures over and over again last night, smiling with every shot. And, when I went to bed, I thanked my husband again for taking such great pictures, while falling asleep with a smile on my face.

I planned on attaching a picture of giddiness to this post. But, I think I am going to post a picture from my birthday celebration last night. I’m not even sure it is the best of the bunch taken, but I do believe the picture is lightheartedly silly. Look at how my oldest son is eying the ice cream pie. His eyes aren’t closed, I promise you. My oldest takes after me, with his love for ice cream. Both boys take after me with their giddiness, too. Perhaps, my husband’s influence will keep the boys balanced, as I can teeter on the border of mania.

The snow continues to fall, and the butterflies in my belly continue to flutter. I just yelled out to my husband that it is snowing. His response? He smiled and played along by saying, “It is? Imagine that!” I need to remember moments like this when I am having a bad day. I hope you have a good day today. If you are feeling challenged and teetering on a bad day, I hope this helps you recall a giddy day in your life. We all have giddy days; the key is remembering the giddy days while in the midst of a bad one.