Ahh, Saturday!

Lovely Saturday spent with Norah and Basel.
Ahh the weekend!

Growing.

Jackson and Tabitha are growing! Grandmommie brought them gifts, and tiny colds, and they don't all fit! They used to be unable to wear anything and now somethings don't fit!!! Hooray!

Floor Snoozing

With all of the activity around here, everyone is a little tired. Went to check up on Jackson today and found he and Roger asleep on the floor! They are too cute!

Grandmommie Visits

Jackson and Tabitha spent some time with their maternal grandmommie today. She was thrilled to see them so much bigger and adorable. Her plane ride was so long and we were all extra careful about germ-transfer when she arrived. She'll be here for nearly a month! Roger is starting back to work now and Sara plans to as this month comes to a close.

Lots of activity and excitement around here!

Two in One

Back to work today. Can you believe it has been six years? Wow.

Today I swaddled Jackson and Tabitha together and they snoozed in the bouncer, together. I know it won't be long until they need seperate bouncers, but for now their sweet little tomato selves really enjoy the closeness and snuggles.

Water Balloons!

Norah, being the amazing wife that she is, trotted off to the market and bought us more water balloons!

The kids, excuse me, youth and I went through 200 water balloons!
(of course we picked up every.single.broken.piece.of.balloon before we left our campsite.

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?!