Camping

Norah and I joined the high school youth for our annual camping trip.
We had two new high schoolers this year who were just as great to hang out with as seasoned campers.

Family Photograph

I cornered them today! Roger and Sara have both been home since Jackson and Tabitha have bee home, but it is hard to get them all together. Finally, today, I did it. Got all four of them to sit down for a family photo. Of course it turned out beautiful! But then again, they are a beautiful family.

Lines on the Feet

Today I took a wonderful picture of a baby foot. No, seriously. It's awesome. There's a reason. Some preemies are born before they get those little lines on their hands and feet. This picture has them - finally! My little tomatoes are finally getting their lines!! Grow tomatoes! Grow!

Matchy-Matchy

Today I was naughty. I dressed Jackson and Tabitha alike. Their paternal grandmommie sent these adorable overalls, character based, so not my style, for them. They are growing so well that I was worried they'd grow out of them before we got a picture of them together.

Moved In, kind of.

Norah and I moved the last of our stuff into the new place today. I don't know where it's all going to go. We only have one closet in the entire apartment!!!

The Chickens

So great to see Madison and Addison, my 31 weekers today.

Twins and Twins

Today I took Madison and Addison to meet Jackson and Tabitha at Sara's request. We had a lovely picnic outside and everyone seemed to have a good time. I was a little tense though, Jackson and Tabitha are only a few months old, both born so early and so susceptible to infection right now. But, not even having started with working for them yet, I shouldn't be giving parenting advice. Right? I just made sure that Madison and Addison didn't get too close to Jackson and Tabitha with their two year old germs, snacks and signs of love.

New School

Today I met Clover and Stephen at Madison and Addison's new school. I have to be honest, I was a little disappointed. I know that it is going to be slightly expensive and they are going to be there everyday. Having worked at two preschools and a day care I know what I like, I also know that I have high standards and want my little chickens to have the best. This was not all I'd hoped. But Clover seems to like it so who am I to complain? Madison and Addison will do fine wherever they go, right? (reassure me, right?!)

Coming to an End

Madison and Addison and I went to the science museum today. It is one of their favorite activities but I generally save it for their Pop-Pop and Mam-Mee. They love taking them. But, as our time is nearly at an end, we need a few more memories, Pop-Pop and Mam_Mee get them for the rest of their lives, I only get a few more days with the chickens I've spent each week with since they came home from the hospital two years ago. 4400 hours together and people think nannies aren't important. I'm not saying I've had a lasting impact on them, I'd love to think so, but I know better.

I spent three years with Zander. She was a newborn when I started, her brother Rowan was a toddler, she was collicy and he was the apple of Beckett's, his mother's eye. I arrived and was handed little Zander so that Beckett could spend some quality time with Rowen, mind you I'm not knocking this, mothers NEED this. But little Zander didn't need to be away from Beckett for 60+ hours each week. Three years at 60+ hours a week, sometimes more, 9360 hours I spent with that little girl. When I left she was well-rounded, content, spunky, fun and well-mannered, and a light reflection of me. Now? She's the spitting image of Beckett. Yo would never know that I spent more than an hour with the girl except for the way she responds to me, emails, hugs and loves to be around me.

I know that nannies don't really have a long term effect on kids, not like parents, but think about the nanny. About her life. Those 9000+ hours? They have shaped my life. Those 4000+ hours? Have affected me, who I am, the way I see things. Every family affects me, every family changes me just a little. And, if I'm good enough, I change them, jut a little I help the parents see things just a tiny bit differently. I love my work but it isn't easy, it's so much harder caring for someone else's kids than for your own.

Chicken (plural) worries.

They are so cute!!
The chickens are going to be going to preschool and I won't get to see them four days a week. How will they handle it? How will I handle it/ I'm starting to get a little worried, I don't want to think it will be anything but wonderful, but what if it isn't? What if, oh I hate to think it let alone write it, what if... they can't sleep at school? And they tired all of the time and never really have any fun? We have so much fun together, Madison is so tiny and such a good little sleeper, I'd hate for her growth to slow because she can't sleep. Oh the chickens!

Back to Work

Yep, we are, back to work.

Norah and I both get to spend the day with Jackson and Tabitha, it was great, crowded, but great. They are adorable little tomatoes and I love sharing them with their happy, sleep-deprived, loving parents!

Last Sunset

Tonight we watched the sunset on our last full day of vacation.
Why oh why does it have to end?

Dinner and a Hottie

If only you knew how hot my wife is! Tonight we did (another) fancy dinner. I love being seen out with Norah, she is truly beautiful. Again I ask, does this vacation really need to end?!

Still Scootering!

Beaches, historical sites and time together - can we vacation forever?!

Scooter Power!

We rented a scooter today!! It was very thrilling. I've never driven a scooter before but I learned and drove Norah and I all over! Sadly the rain poured down on us but it just made our vacation all the more adventurous! I love Norah!

Exploring

Off exploring today! Norah and I are going to check out some local history.
We're still loving our vacation!

Yippee-Hooray!!

Loving our vacation, time together, no dog and no kids!!

Yippee-Hooray!!

Vacation!

We're on vacation!!!!

Norah and I are taking a more needed, much earned and worthwhile vacation - just-the-two-of-us!!
She's finished her time with Cameron and will start with Jackson and Tabitha while I'm finishing with Madison and Addison after which she's off to school and I'm on the job!

Derek visits

Derek, Norah's brother, visited today. He hadn't seen our new place yet. I think he liked it...he's a tad competitive and I think what he really liked is that ours is smaller than his and Amy's. Oh well, I like ours better.

Swim, Swam, Swum - we sure had fun!

Such an amazing day!

Even though they can't swim, at all, we took Addison, Cameron and Madison swimming today. It was a great way to beat the heat! They love going swimming so much. We let them play on the big stairs. Addison loves it more than the other two. They will get in a bit, to humor us, then get out and play with shovels and pails on the side of the pool. As long as each of them cools off we don't make anyone swim. One day they will all be interested, it doesn't have to happen right now.