We got back from the beach on Monday and Hollon started daycare on Tuesday. Jake was staying home with me that first week. I was nervous about Hollon doing daycare this summer. Mother's Day Out is perfect for us. Small class size, very one-on-one interaction, relaxed atmosphere. Just a few hours a day a few days a week. Unfortunately, they don't go during the summer and mamma doesn't get a summer break. Hollon is at an age that there is no way I can work and have her home with me. It is not fair to her and not fair to my job. We really don't need the 40 hours of daycare that we are paying for (goodness gracious I forget how expensive daycare is!!) but we just didn't really have any other options. So we were lucky enough to get a temporary summer spot in a daycare that we think really highly of. We love the daycare Hollon is going to this summer. It is one of the best in Birmingham and we were extremely pleased when Jake went there the summers before he was old enough to go to summer camps. But Jake was older when he went to Covenant. I knew it would be an adjustment for Hollon (& for me!). The class is a lot larger (they have 3 teachers). Because it is daycare (the kids are there more days of the week, for longer hours, year round) they of course have to be on a much stricter schedule. Which includes taking naps in the classroom on the floor on a nap mat. (Something Hollon has never done!)
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| Ready for her first day |
She cried when I dropped her off. When I picked her up, they said that she had a good day. She only cried for a few minutes and then was fine. She was fine all day except when they came inside from playing outside. They said she sat by the door crying "home" & "mamma". But once they got her playing with some toys, she was fine once again. She still cries a little when I drop her off, but it is getting better. Hollon is not attached to me at home, but when we are out in public she can get clingy to me. So I do think this is good for her. She is in such a small class for MDO & in our church nursery, that being around this many different personalities is good for her. Even if she doesn't seem to care for most of them. (#pickyfriend)
Wednesday evening, Jake's baseball team had their end of the year party. It was at the bowling ally. Hollon ran wild the whole time while the boys bowled.
While dad stayed with Jake, I chased Hollon around the place. She didn't care that much about actually playing any games, but did like putting the coins in the slots. We played one game that you pull the handle down and it lands on either 1, 10, 20, 50 or 100 tickets. Somehow, we ended up on the 50 ticket reward. So the machine is spitting out all these tickets. Hollon wanted to tear each one off one-by-one.
She also kept trying to do a somersault
Jake with his medal
(I totally missed medals being handled out due to chasing Hollon all over the place)
2016 Pelham Braves
Thursday when we got home from daycare it was raining. Hollon has a new fascination with rain.
Later that evening, we went over to Mimi & Granddad's. Granddad Jake & GG Kathy (Chuck's dad & his wife) were coming through Birmingham on their way to North Carolina for the summer. So we all went over there for dinner and to hang out.
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| Exploring Mimi & Granddad's backyard |
Hollon's favorite place to sit is on this glider
She likes for Bruiser to get close enough for her to pet him, but not too close
Of course she had to "act shy" at first around Granddad Jake & GG Kathy.
She warmed up enough to let them smell the mint she picked from the garden
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GG Kathy showing her pictures from the iPad
Hollon was staring intently |
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| This was the picture! |
Along with iPads, another way to Hollon's heart is playing peek-a-boo
Jake had summer baseball practice, but afterwards he & dad came over as well
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| GG Kathy showed him a new game |
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| The best I could get of the 4 of them |
Hollon's daycare has tee shirts that they wear each Friday. I'm not a big tee shirt person, so this is only Hollon's 2nd or 3rd tee shirt. But she looked so cute!
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| She loves simple books that just name the pictures |
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| Her very favorite book right now |
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| No more pictures! |
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I had taken the book away to try to get a picture of her shirt.
She was not happy with me. |
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| I gave the book back and the smile returned |
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Her other favorite thing -
a bowl full of fruit and watching Curious George |
On Saturday, we were actually home all day with no plans. Hollon loves to wrestle Jake and he does a pretty good job playing along.
It rained once again, so the kids wanted to go outside and play
Jake always wore this brand of sandal (much to Rob's dismay) (they were at least in boy colors). But I never knew until now that if they get wet, they will fit a little better and more comfortable to the child's foot.
Sunday, we were running around getting ready for church, and Hollon came out wearing my shoes.
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| Excuse the wet hair, she had just gotten out of the bath |
After church, we went out to eat. The kids got a cookie with their kid's meal. Hollon hated hers.
Yea right.
Jake was going to spend the upcoming week with Mimi & Granddad and go to their church's Vacation Bible School. So Sunday afternoon we took him over to their house. Hollon once again was trying her somersault.
She will just keep kicking you until you help her
