Tea Time

I am sitting here having tea (as hot as I can stand it) because I cannot sleep due to coughing. This has been going on for almost a week now. But tea always makes me feel better.
Izabell loves to have tea parties. The funny thing is, we never actually have tea at our tea parties. As you can see in this picture, water works a lot better. Sometimes juice or iced tea or soda. Mostly, we have tea parties to practice manners, fine motor skills, and, well, just spend time together. But on the day that this picture was taken, she was having tea alone, confined to her chair, so that I could get supper done. Isn't that pitiful? Just like so many of us do, we get so busy that we cut out the important stuff. I am writing this post to remind myself and all of my friends to be careful. Lord, please help us to remember what is really important and prioritize appropriately.

By, the way, check out the shoes. That's the Murray coming out in her.

Stretching

I know a little stretching is good for us, but at some point you will eventually break. I almost reached that point yesterday. I was at church at 7:15 to sing in all three services. I am not griping about that. I love doing it, and I would get up and be there at 5:30 if that is what I was called to do. But yesterday, I was also scheduled to work in the nursery. I didn't think that it would be that big of a deal to get someone to work for me, since we have hundreds of servants in our church. Or do we?
I am slowly beginning to realize that it is the same dedicated people who work themselves ragged to get everything done. Dont get me wrong, I love my church. I really, really love my church. But yesterday was very discouraging for me. Do I draw the line and say, "No, more"? Or do I keep doing it because they need me? I realize that I don't need to be doing something that causes me to have hard feelings, (this was pointed out to me by a very wise friend), but when it comes to kids, I have never been able to say no. And if I do quit, that just means more work for the other dedicated workers who are just trying to help out.
I am asking my friends to please give any advise that may be helpful, because this is keeping me from sleeping. Also, please pray that God puts in my heart what He wants me to do, not what I want to do.

My Child

Should I be worried that my child likes to take the heads off of her dolls?
She's been doing this for a while, but this was the funniest because she actually gave it a different body by sticking it on a bottle. She brought it too me and said, "Now she has a bathing suit". It's all about swimming in this house. She can make a bathing suit out of anything.
I am starting to freak out because she was moved up to a different class at her school. Now she rotates in centers all day. For those who are not in the child care profession, this means that she spends about 10 minutes in one center and then they move her and her group to another center. The centers are writing, library, music, art, etc. I guess it's official. She's growing up regardless of what I want..
Anyway, I am ready for Monday. All of my students are enrolled, the room is ready, and we have lots of toys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Back

I just completed my first week back to work. I was frustrated to learn that all of the work I did before I left for the summer has to be re-done. I was told that I had to take everything out of my room because they were coming to strip and wax all of the floors in the building. Well, that's what I get for trying to be prepared. So, here we go again. While trying to do enrollment conferences, I also had to try to get everything outside or up off of the floor. My newly organized closets are now cram packed with as much stuff as we could possible get in there. But, on the sunny side, my floors will look really good!

Anyway, I did get to meet some of my new children. Some are already giving me hugs! I am so excited to get to know them. We are going to have the best year. When I returned to my class Monday, we had 4 huge boxes of new materials for the classroom. (The word materials in this case is translated into the word TOYS!!!!!) Also, a huge box of new children's books!

So, one more week of moving furniture and doing conferences, and then the fun begins!

Back to School

Tomorrow I go back to work after seven weeks off. You know how after a holiday weekend it is hard to get back into the groove? Well, I am hoping that I wake up a little more motivated tomorrow.
Mostly, I worry about Izabell's teachers. She has also been off for seven weeks. As a teacher, I know how children can act when they get out of their routine. She has had too much "Mommy time". In other words, she's spoiled rotten. So, you might want to pray for Ms. Jan and Ms. Cheryl because they are going to have their hands full for a week or so until they get Izabell "whipped back into shape".

Anyway, if you don't hear from me for a few days, don't worry. I may have a hard time keeping up after I get back to work. I don't usually have time for much of anything after coming home from work, trying to catch up on house work, and getting everybody fed and ready for bed. I am not griping, I'm just letting you know that this will no longer be a priority. But I will try to keep up as best as I can.

Too Much Fun

Is there a limit on how much fun you should have in one day? And at what point is it considered child abuse? I mean, if they are begging for a nap, have you gone a little too far?

Yesterday, my mom took the girls and me to Siloam Springs to visit her cousin, Katie. We started out the day by driving to Alma, shopping and then continuing the trip to Siloam. This means that the girls were worn out before we got there. Then, we spent several hours in the pool. I was beginning to think it was way past time for the girls to take a nap, when Katie loaded us up in the car and said we were going somewhere for a surprise. We ended up at the drive-through Safari at Gentry. This was great. We played with a baby tiger, a lemur, a snake, and many other animals. And, oh my gosh, was it hot! Well, we made our way around the place petting goats and feeding prairie dogs. I should have probably given in and asked to take the girls home when Izabell started staggering around as though she were drunk. However, I didn't give in until she laid down and tried to take a nap with a kangaroo. I am telling you, this girl is a hoot. She treats these animals as though they are just any other play mate.
So, we finally loaded up, went to Sonic and got slushes, and then headed home. Nap time? Not quite. Did I mention that it was hot? Well, when we got back to the house, the electricity was out. So, back to the pool we went.
As much fun as we had, the best part of the whole experience was this morning. Izabell slept in till 9:30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We might try that again soon.

By the way, in case you wondered, the picture has nothing to do with my post. I just thought it was too cute not to share.

I am beginning to panic. I go back to work Monday. I thought I just got out for the summer a few days ago. Yet, I have not done anything that I wanted to do, except spend time with Izabell. My secret goal was to have her potty trained before she went back to school. She's close, but not quite there. Not close enough to send her to school in panties. And anyone who's been through this knows that putting her back in pull ups is not going to help her progress at all. Okay, I know this sounds trivial to the rest of you, but this is my first child and I don't have much figured out yet. It's funny how having a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and taking dozens of classes on child development does not help in the least when it comes to my own child.
One thing that I did get to do yesterday was visit with a friend of mine. He is a 76 year old man who has been there for me during the hard times. He helped me during college by bringing me a care package of food each week along with a $20 bill. He is one of the most giving and caring people that I have ever met. I am blessed to have him in my life. It's funny how God places these people in your life. I am talking about the people who love you even though you don't necessarily deserve it. People who give without expecting to receive.
So if you have one of those people in your life and you don't always take the time to appreciate them, please do. Make time to thank them. Usually all they really want from you is your time.