Marking Time with a Snow Globe

A favorite holiday tradition of mine is to mark the year with a picture next to a particular snow globe. Never mind that the snow globe's music box was broken by a daycare kid the first year in business, it's the globe not the music, that holds the true meaning of the season and the reminder of each year passing for me...

Girl4 2007/2008

Girl3 2007/2008

Little

2008 (right)

2007 (below)

The Prince 2007/2008

And a "fresh batch" of babies in 2008 to start marking with our snow globe: Baby Cakes, Smiley, my 1st God Baby, and Sweetie-Pie.

And, if your head is "absolute perfection" - you can get you a second picture on the post...

I would say that I can't wait to see Baby Cakes Snow Globe Picture next year, but I know too well that babies grow up way too fast. I'm going to savor every day of "baby-dom" with her that I can - I can wait until next Christmas - and I will love every minute of the wait.

And, even if you move on from Marty's you may come back anytime (especially at Christmas) to visit, play and to "Pose with the Globe".

Mister C

2008 (right)

2007 (below)

Ham-samwich 2007/2008

Miss Bliss 2007/2008

And I couldn't resist these next two pictures. The Prince as "Daycare Baby 2007" (right) and Baby Cakes "Daycare Baby of 2008" (left, and yet a 3rd spot on this post). And what of 2009? We await the arrival of The Princess - goose bumps.

And then, there are always my "biologically involved group" of babies - My Girls.

• Girl1 - home from college for Christmas Break. (upper left)


• Girl3 now firmly established in her role as a Kindergartner Diva. (upper right)


• Girl4 about to head off a couple of days a week to Preschool. (lower left)


• And Girl2 about to graduate and leave the nest. Too fast, way too fast. (lower right)

Merry Christmas from our Daycare Home (and Home) to you.

2nd Annual Children's Holiday Party

2nd Annual Children's Christmas Party - 2008

What a fabulous time we had Sunday afternoon! Here is a shot of all the children - minus our two babies who had reached their personal limits on the amount of flash they can tolerate in two hours. Santa sure did notice all that "extra weight" this year - everyone has been busy being good and GROWING...

1st Annual Children's Holiday Party - 2007

And I just can't resist posting these two shots of my "second set" - Girl3 & Girl4. On the left is last year, this year on the right. I especially wanted to post the shot on the right since I don't think I will be able to figure out how the heck to purchase prints off Flickr and create Christmas cards this year....

This is such a season for traditions. Ornament making, cookie baking, the giving of PJs (Girl2 absolutely HATES this tradition - Christmas presents should not be practical), just to name a few. One tradition I think especially sweet is the tradition of Little's Family - Santa bringing a special book - now this will make some PRECIOUS MEMORIES.

We will be so busy this week and next following a crazy blend of my own childhood/family traditions with some of my "daycare" traditions. As each year passes, the lines between these blur more and more and there seems to be no real line between the two - my family and my daycare family. Maybe I'm just an old softie, maybe it is the Christmas Spirit, but the blurring of this line feels good to me.

And I just can't help but post about this year's Christmas Party Miracle. Last year, too young and niave to know better, The Prince posed fearlessly with Santa. You see, The Prince suffers from a unexplainable ailment known by those who witness it as Man Fear. Nobody knows where it came from, what started it, but it is definitely a "pure baby fear".

Even with ongoing exposure to many BABY MAGNET MEN, such as my husband and other daycare daddies, The Prince becomes quite nervous when one of them enters to close to (or into) our primary daycare space. The Prince has just recently begun to accept "treats" from my husband. However, as soon as The Big Guy offers to pick him up (usually with the promise of a better treat, or maybe airplane races on TV) he runs for cover behind my legs. Secretly, I kind of like this reaction - the running to me part - not the baby feeling fear part.

So the miracle part? This year, when Santa arrived and was swarmed with greetings from a dozen little children - The Prince was right in midst of it all. He went right up and checked Santa out! As I like to say, "He knows who butters his bread."

Something about a BIG RED FUZZY BEARDED ELF with a bag big-enough-to-stuff-you-in doesn't freak him out? Go figure, chalk this up to a Christmas Party Miracle (my husband was noticeably upset).

Next post? One of my favorite traditions of this season is my annual Snow Globe Shoot to mark the growth of my kids each year so stay tuned and MERRY CHRISTMAS...

P.S.

Thank You to The Queen (The Prince's Mommy) for updating your blog and linking to mine. That was what it took to take this post out of "drafts", finish it - and then publish it. Linking, that's cool - but over my head. Oh yeah, watch for a slide show of Santa and Kids Pictures. It's been a long time since I made a slide show and I will try and "re-learn" it out today at nap time.

What a Great Morning

Okay, so I'm slow on the Thanksgiving Post and then I post the next day!

What's up with that?

Another New Friend has joined our group today! Meet "Sweetie Pie". This seems to be an appropriate Blog Name, given her sweet disposition. And I wouldn't want her Blog Debut to be overshadowed by a Holiday Party if I let myself get too busy in party preparations to post her arrival.

Yesterday, I was a little blue calling in Girl4's confirmation for part-time preschool. She's the only one of my four children I've spent every day with since birth and I'm particularly fond of her, especially knowing she is "the last of my Mohican's" biologically speaking. A little blue, until today. Now I am riddled with a tinge of guilt over being excited Girl4 will be gone a couple of Daycare days a week.

I HAVE A WONDERFUL FEELING ABOUT MY GROUP OF KIDS - and these little toddlers are all so close in age - I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST TOGETHER. Good things do come to those who wait - I'm believing that today (thanks to Baby Cakes Mom for telling me something like this a few weeks back). And (I'm reminding myself) Girl4 will still be here 2 Daycare days a week, and she and I will still have our Fridays together.

So this is kinda quick, it's just some notes from our Daily Report today. Names have been changed to protect the innocent:

"Morning Circle just didn’t happen this morning. The kids were having a great time playing with all the “new toys” we rotated in yesterday along with the Big Trucks and books that we started our morning with. Each child seemed to take turns drifting to Sweetie Pie to get to know her. I think, had she been swarmed, it could have made for some tension – but they all seem to sense to be quiet and gentle. She stayed pretty close to me, drifting off into the play areas then floating back – I guess checking to see if I was still there. I sat on the carpet with a view of the hall and FR. Everyone could have some lap time. We did sing a few songs, and when Grandma Patty visited she tried to read a story, but nobody seemed very interested. It all seemed very relaxed and calm.

I need to remind myself not to underestimate the importance of “free play” – it isn’t always just a “filler” in between our “important activities” it is, in itself, a very important activity too.

There was a bit of a morning nap time going on for part of all the fun. Sweetie Pie conked out on me about 10:00 – shortly thereafter joined by The Prince who climbed up on my free lap and rested. Grandma Patty thinks I’ve spoiled them all – she’s probably right.

Just a couple of small bumps in Sweetie Pie’s initiation into the group: The Prince almost got her glasses - and got upset when I had to pry his fingers from them – Sweetie Pie who did not seem fazed by his attempt, did get a little upset when he did. Another tender-hearted kid – I LOVE IT. Smiley tried his “get-to-know-you-wrestle” with Sweetie Pie, I interrupted just before he could get a hold of her (I’m beginning to recognize a “wrestling twinkle” in his eye). He seemed to be thinking “It works for Little, why not Sweetie Pie?” as I separated them and explained we need to play gentle with each other. He and Little were wrestling 5 minutes later – they seem to know their limits – more rolling than really wrestling. Now that I think about it, maybe I’m misinterpreting a “horizontal hug” for wrestling…"

There were no bumps from Girl3 & Little with Sweetie Pie this morning. Sweetie Pie is the "baby of the group" today and both Girl3 & Little are the "Big Girls" of the house - they took a very maternal role leading her into play areas, sitting next to her at morning snack, and otherwise putting Sweetie Pie at ease. Little Mommies those two are, I'm so very proud of all my "babies".

Thanksgiving Week

When you do Daycare, a Holiday is never for just one day! Why, we are always looking for a reason to PARTY around here. Themes of the Week are fun, but a HOLIDAY? Now there is a reason to party.

Not only was it a Holiday Week - we had a new friend join our group - doubly good for a party in this world. "Smiley" is just what we needed around here. Now The Prince has a buddy he can bang toys with and do other fun "boy stuff" with. I forgot how much a second boy can add to the volume of this house. Sweet, sweet volume. And a "first day" is a really good reason for Cookies & Milk for snack time.

I am thankful for boys with beautiful eyelashes.

I am thankful for my Great Aunt Mary's picnic cloth -
when the kids see this, they know an extra-special snack is coming.

Our week was full of "Cornucopias" (the Word of the Week). We talked about all the things we are thankful for - Mommies & Daddies, Grandmas & Grandpas, Aunts & Uncles, Cousins, Our Homes, Our Beds, Our Toys. You know you are thankful for something when you feel all warm and cozy just thinking about it. We made Turkey Hats and played in them for two days - I think these are the cutest turkeys I've ever seen...

On Wednesday, Girl3 and Hamsamwich did not have school. Hamsamwich came for a Day at Marty's - it was so sweet to hear her singing in Circle! We had a Thanksgiving Feast of stuffed turkey breast with fruit relish, mixed vegetables (and edamame), mashed potatoes, bread and grapes. Everyone was ready for nap at the end of our big meal.

This time of year just speeds by too fast. Halloween rolls into Thanksgiving, then Thanksgiving rolls right into Christmas. Seems there isn't much time to think about all the things we are thankful for in our lives. That's why it is best to remind yourself all year long, besides I really like that warm and cozy feeling. If you pull along side of me in your car at a light and there are tears in my eyes - that's what I'm doing - counting my blessings. Counting my Blessings and singing at the top of my lungs are my two favorite things to do when alone in my car. Trust me, you'd rather see the tears than hear the terror.

"Winter is Coming" (this week's theme) and we are gearing up for Christmas. Our Annual Children's Holiday Party is this Sunday. I can't wait to see all my old Daycare Babies, family, and friends and share some hugs and cookies.

Who knows...if they have been good little girls & boys, maybe an especially round,white bearded, red & white dressed elf (and his wife) will drop in with presents.

Stayed tuned...