Chas!

Will has been going to Chas' house for 2 days a week since he was 10 months old!  Chas has been such a blessing to us.  I am very protective about who watches Will (the boys, now) and when he was 10 months old and I needed someone, I didn't know what to do.  The thought of sending him to a daycare gave me hives.  And then our path crossed with Chas'.  At the time I was working for ALS for about 15-20 hours per week.  She was babysitting 2 days a week - so it was perfect.  Chas and Craig Stidd have 3 kids: Caleb just graduated from high school, Christian is a freshman, and Kaitlyn is in 5th grade.  She only watches 1 other little girl - it was Will's good friend Avah, and is now her little sister Macey.  After I stopped working for ALS I transitioned right into my job with Luke's mom, so it was perfect.  The boys have become like part of their family and vice versa.  I can not express how grateful I am for her. I don't have a second thought about leaving the boys there, ever.  I know she takes such excellent care of them, loves them, and doesn't let them get by with one single thing.   I recently learned from one of her relatives that the family refers to her as "Sarge."   :)

She gets teary when she talks about "losing" Will in the fall when he goes to school.  I'm sure he will continue to go there in the summers and on breaks, but it's going to be a tough adjustment for us all.  She has become a good friend of mine as well.  Thank goodness Dane will still be going there!  

Work With Mom

Will had been asking me if he could come to work with me.  I finally decided that one day I would pick him up from school at 11:30 and let him come to my office for the day instead of going to Chas' until 5.  So we picked the day and he was most excited.  We went back to my office for a "working lunch" and he watched a movie and did some worksheets while I worked.  About 3 he said he was bored, so we knocked off early.  We walked over and got some ice cream instead.  :)  
I figured the days when I can do this with him are limited.  In the fall he'll be in school all day every day! 

First Fishing of 2013 - Lake Lemon

The first fishing outing of 2013 was a success!  This was the first time I think that Dane ever fished.  (or at least was an active participant)  They both did well and caught a few thanks to Grandpa's help. 

New Schools!

Spring is in full swing and we are so happy!  Warmer weather has meant lots of outdoor time for us, late evenings, late bedtimes, tractor watching, deck time, and new little critters.  Will has 1 1/2 weeks of Pre-K left and then he will I guess be officially considered a Kindergartener!  (eek)  His new elementary school offers a summer school program for incoming Kindergartners and I've heard it's great.  Unfortunately, it begins the week after Pre-K ends, so he won't get a summer break for another few weeks but he's excited about summer school.  It gives the kids a chance to go each day, meet one another, get used to going to the new school - drop offs and pick ups, the new classrooms, all before the hundreds of other students are there with them.  So that will be from 9-11:30 Monday - Friday for two weeks beginning in June. 

And then little Dane had his Preschool open house last night at Prince of Peace.  Will hung out with Pa Paw while I took him to see his new classroom and talk to his teacher.  He will have Mrs. Lester, like Will has had and we are thrilled.  We absolutely LOVE her.  Dane was pretty shy at first and didn't want to talk but warmed up a little bit toward the end.  He hasn't expressed any hesitation yet about going to school so hopefully that won't change.   

Big changes coming for both my big boys!

 

(I don't have a pic of Will at his new school yet - but I will soon!)

My Sweet Angels

You know its been a long couple of weeks when you go to pour a glass of wine and you get out a sippy cup instead of a wine glass.

New Addition

We had leftover stone from when they did the corners/accents on our house. Its been sitting in a pile for the last two and a half years, us not knowing what we wanted to do with it. This week I transplanted part of the incredible lilac bush from our old house to our new one when it occurred to me...why not use the stone to do a fire pit!  So we did. And tonight we are enjoying our first fire. So nice!

Payton Army

My little protectors were out today patrolling the Payton grounds for intruders. They apparently found some aliens that they were taking care of.

Zoo Trip

We went to the zoo yesterday. Had a great day!  We went with Pamala and Fisher and also our friend Paula and her two daughters Avah and Macey.  Avah is Wills friend who was at his babysitter Chas' house with him for years. Now Macey is there w the boys.  They are moving this fall :( so it was good to spend the day w them.