It's a WILD LIFE....

Especially when you spend the day at Wildlife Prairie Park with tons of children under the age of 5. I take the twins to a 'playgroup' Tuesday through Friday for a little socialization. Since they are not in kindergarten yet, it is important that they are around other kids (because they get sick of one another quite easily). East Peoria High School has a Child Development class and they request to have small children brought in for an hour and a half four days a week so the high schoolers can learn. Most of the HS students want to go into early childhood education when they start the program....Needless to say, not all of them stick with that career choice by the end.

Anyhow, the girls LOVE the program and their 'teachers'...as do I. Because it gives me at least an hour to run an errand without two little ones begging to do what they want to do. Another thing I love about the play group is that there are 2 fieldtrips. The first fieldtrip was to the Bloomington Children's Museum (Wonderful place!!!) and I got to go along. The second fieldtrip was to Wildlife Prairie Park. Since it is impossible to enjoy these places for just an hour, the fieldtrips last from 8 AM til 3 PM. And the best part is...i get to watch the girls without having to really watch them because they each have their own 'teacher.'

This is the whole group of munchkins with their HS teachers. We were missing a few kids this day. And it was chilly and sprinkled on us....but no one seemed to mind :o)

They started the morning with a Pre-School educational program which was awesome. The kids liked it, but I think I enjoyed it more :o) They talked about senses and about different animals and how they use their senses. So there was an owl (MY FAVORITE....I almost went over and hugged it I was so excited, but thought better of the situation), skunk, toad, and snake.

My Pretty little Owl Friend....its name is Oliver :o) And he hooted numerous times and the kids when wild. It was too cute.

Mr. Skunk...don't remember her real name because i was too busy watching the owl. But she was a cute also. The kids all plugged their noses when they brought her out, and one little girl hid under her chair. Rather amusing since the skunk didn't stink, and just laid there the whole time. Oh Kids...

Since it was such a nasty day, most of the animal outside were hard to find. But around lunch time they can out to feed....I think all the children we looking mighty yummy to the wolves. They were pacing along the fence. The kids didn't stay far from their teachers while we were here.

After all the walking and animal watching, it was time to ride the train and then head home. But before we headed home, we needed a little more excitement. SO we headed to the HUGE slide which the kids loved. Well, most of the kids. Delaney loved it, but Caitlin....she didn't get to enjoy it much.

The story goes like this. The first time we took a bathroom break, Caitlin had a little...freak out session (that's putting it nicely). If any of you have been to the Wildlife, you know the bathrooms in the museum area are not 1st class...or 2 class for that matter. They are basically glorified port-a-potties. Huge holes in the ground made to look like toilets. Well, Caitlin has sensory issues anyhow and these toilets were not too appealing. But when you have to pee you have to pee...so she went into the stall. About 30 seconds later we hear screaming...and this is not just a little squeal or two, I'm talking there is a bear chasing me kinda scream. Of course she was so frantic she could not unlock the door and we could not get in. Finally she came out in tears and informs us that there was a bug crawling up the toilet to get her. Well we survived that one but the second bathroom break was not as fun. Since the first event had her so worked up, she would not even go into a stall the second time. Finally I was able to get her into the stall as long as i was in there too (just in case). Well this still didn't help because she would sit on the toilet and cry and then jump off. But eventually i got her to go. Have I said lately how much i love children...I really do.

When we are at home, Caitlin probably goes to the bathroom about every hour. So i didn't let her drink too much because i knew there were going to be issues on this trip. But that didn't help much. Just as we were about to leave, Caitlin's teacher comes and gets me while everyone else is sliding...as i turn around to go with her Caitlin comes walking over to me. SOAKED...not even kidding. The child wet her pants. She was sooo scared of the toilet she would not even say that she had to go to the bathroom in fear of having to go back. So she peed her pants. I must say she handled it better than i would have. Didn't cry or anything just stayed by my side the whole way home....as i made her sit on a cardboard box (i know i know but i didn't want to clean the seats when she got up) So a 40 minute bus ride home and a 10 minute car ride and we were showered and clean once again. I wish i would have gotten a pic of her standing because it was priceless....but i could only snap one of her sitting on the bus with me. She allowed just one picture as long as her face was not in it. So here we go...

And as you can imagine, it was all down her legs in her shoes....everywhere. I just cannot WAIT to have kids of my own. Never a dull moment. But lesson learned....even at the age of 5 you should pack extra clothes when going on a fieldtrip.

Job #1

In January, I started taking a class at ICC (need it to get into PT or PA school). It took up a little bit of time, but not enough so it was time to get a job. Since there are about 5 jobs available in Peoria and I qualify for zero of them, I started looking for the childcare jobs. Well turns out a friend of mine was thinking about using me if she kicked her nanny to the curb...haha but after discussing the fact that i would not be available once i get into full time school we decided it was not the best plan because she would be stuck without childcare. So she is dealing with her nanny and Her sister decided i would be perfect for her kids. So I am not the proud teacher/playmate/nanny/babysitter/caregiver/mediator for her twins. She has 5 year old girls who I am attempting to prepare for kindergarten.

Little Miss Caitlin

My morning starts by getting them showered and ready for the day. Now this should not be a difficult task but when you have 2 high maintenance girls it can be quite the chore. Delaney's hair is very curly and needs special shampoo and about 3 different products after the shower. Caitlin's blond straight hair must be blow dried and curled under to her satisfaction (with a special shampoo). And of course they have bows to match every outfit....that is once we find an outfit. They are polar opposites so it is rather had to get them dressed. Delaney is very style oriented and she does a rather good job picking out her outfits on her own...Caitlin on the other hand...she will have about 20 outfits on before she finds one that is just right. My assistance is requested however i don't think she really listens to anything i say and is almost always appalled by my input. Reminds me a lot of a little Sophie Ann in England. But it makes me smile.

Sassy Delaney

Then of course 2 hours later we can eat breakfast and basically run out the door to get to playgroup on time. So for an hour I can relax before I pick them back up from playgroup. then it is off to the house to clean our rooms, make our beds, decide what we want for lunch, and then begin the battle of eating veggies. Delaney likes her vegetables but Caitlin is not the biggest fan. She will spit them in the garbage when I'm not looking. hide them in her pockets, under napkins, or on her sisters plate. So when she says she is finished i usually have to frisk her before she can get up from the table... seriously healthy eating habits should not be this hard to teach but i guess if her parents don't make her eat them then she really doesn't know why she has to for me.

Trying to take a picture but Caitlin got distracted (very common occurrence)

Once lunch is over it is time for 'school'. They girls know the routine and get their school stuff and are ready to learn. Through this time i have discovered that I am not going to be a homeschooling mother because i would rip my hair out...and I am not having twins because it is quite the challenge....and I have realized that Marti (in England) is a SAINT.

Sometimes we get to sit in time out for coloring on the counter...

After school they get to play inside or out depending on the weather...I am not a fan of TV so they only get to watch if they have been perfect for the whole day, the weather is horrid, or i have a sprained ankle and cannot chase them around like I normally can. The girls are not ones to play with each other or on their own...I am 99.9% of the time forced/asked to join in on whatever crazy fun they are having. The other .1% of the time I am doing dishes and cleaning for their parents. (I would rather clean up in your house Holli, your kids didn't make nearly as big of a mess, and you were tidy yourself so i didn't have to clean up after you too haha). But the girls have caught on the cleaning and i am so proud. They now pick up after themselves (sometimes i must remind them kindly that nothing new can come out til the other toys go 'home') But with my organization obsession all their toys have a home and the girls know where the home is so it doesn't just get tossed around. I think their parents were rather shocked when they first came home to a clean house, but i guess the girls only stay organized for me and when I'm gone for the weekend I come back to a disaster. But they pick it up rather quickly once i get there...they know better they just don't have anyone else reminding them so they would rather not keep it clean.

We take field trips...Whitney errands are their favorite because they get to see what I do as a 'big kid', but we also LOVE the park and Library.

It keeps me busy and I love their sweetness. They are quite sassy at times but it is always entertaining. I will be sad when summer comes and I am no longer needed. But they assure me that i will be able to swim at their house with them all summer (haha yea maybe once but that will probably be it).

It's been a year....and I miss it

Some of the memories that make me wish I was there once again....

My girls and Queen Elizabeth's slave ;o)
Three of my favorites ladies in the world!
Little Sophie graduating from reception...and spending quality time reading with mom

The MONKEY at the Safari park
My favorite picture of Kevo....going to work (haha just kidding, at Sophie's birthday party)

Some of my British Loves who treated me as their own. I miss you all and am SO thankful for your friendship.
Two of my little 'sisters' and Miss Emily (missing Hannah in this pic!! Love you girl)
Mini me and myself playing.....in the tub i guess
My favorite memory from Paris....Brittney falling in the fountain outside the Louvre...oh wow My favorite architectural structure in the world....

favorite shot of my beautiful girls swinging

Playing chubby bunny with the small group friends at my going away party....I SO won

my little baby girl swinging


babysitting....i think this was wiggles time

One of the cutest little guys ever!!

Babysitting...Lets see if I remember their names: Leah, Cason, Tristan, Andrew and Drake. the other 6 kids were running around or taking naps i think

My little ghost... Cutest picture of her EVER
my favorites
Sophie and her 'normal' hairstyle that she would NOT let me fix...so i just got a good laugh out of it.

Big Ben...another favorite building
The girls in the fountain
I think I'm too big for this now but thats ok. I still love it
Elise....cutie

Kendall (i think....cameron was in the other room if i remember right)

Miss the places...and miss the faces....so many memories it would not all fit in one blog, but I'm sure more will come and I try to convince Micah to take me back ;o)

This one's for Holli....

So I forgot to make a CD of your kids pics and such (No worries it will be coming in the mail to you shortly because i have more time on my hands than Martha Stewart in Jail!!)



Haha So enjoy the following for now...I still laugh a lot every time i see them.

Watching for Mommy to come home...

Drakes ingenious hiding place

Stealing my shoes...

No worries Holli, this was before the bath :o)

I miss your beautiful children; and I cannot believe how much they are growing. I had some of the best times playing with them, begging drake to not hate me, and being entertained by Drakes Houdini maneuvers (where he went to bed in one outfit + pull up, and woke up with a different outfit and no pull up) Amazing.

Love You Holli, Andy, Drake, Gwen...and the future kiddos!!

the loves of England.....

It has been quite a while since I have updated everyone on my England adventure. So first let me say that I am safe and well. There were some car bombs in London and in Scotland however I am not in danger and everything seems to have settled down. This was some terrorist plot but I guess you have those wherever you go. So bottom line....I'm safe and happy.

The last time i posted Cathy had headed off for the weekend in order to get a break from the kids as well as attend a conference with Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) thus leaving me in charge. Kevin had some adventures of his own with the other families for a Wine tasting night so i stayed home with the kids. Brittney, being a typical 7 year old, was bored and her sister was not a good playmate so she invited her British friend Emily over to spend the night. Sophie too needed some entertainment, so Elise came over for a sleepover as well while her parents went to the wine tasting. Needless to say it was a late night. And it did not help that be beginning of the Duffy Plague happened the second Cathy left. Sophie decided i had enough training in the diaper changing area, so she challenged me with a 103 fever as well as puke all over the kitchen, her room, and myself. Needless to say I am well trained to take care of children and all of their bodily functions. But i survived the weekend! and we topped it off with an ISE 4th of July picnic. For some reason (hehe) this is not an observed holiday here in Great Britain, but we were sure to celebrate anyhow.

And the week then produced one sick family. From sore throats, fevers, headaches, coughs, runny noses, and just about everything else, I became the nurse of the family. I managed to remain unaffected until Thursday when it hit hard, but only lasted a day. And i babysat and pulled thought alright although today....a full week and two days later, Cathy and Kevin are still suffering.

The usual babysitting took place...of course...this including some new families with Jenny and Dan leaving me to Max and Blake. These boys are more than perfect and lovable....they are the sole reason i have changed my mind and think that boys are fabulous. Probably the easiest children to babysit thus far. They got to jump on beds and play soccer....it was a good time. Gwen and Drake got some of my attention as well with another fun filled evening, sleep over, and full day of Whitney. Marti and Steve also decided to entrust me with their 5 children. So for 5 hours I was reminded why I only want two kids :o) but they were fabulous cuddle bugs and quite the excitement at lunch and dinner. It is amazing what patience their parents have with them. It's no wonder the kids are so well behaved. And Elise also entered the realm of the babysitting world.

Other than babysitting, a ton, there have been a few adventure. The family and I attended the Peterborough festival which is designed to make a family go broke. There are tons of rides but each ride costs about $2-$8 for one child to ride. And it is hard to say no to crying children, so eventually we were able to escape after the pocket books were empty.

Thus bringing us to today...Kevin's father was supposed to arrive this morning from the states, and stay with us for a month. However this morning at 5 AM we were informed that his flight was canceled and he would be arriving tomorrow morning at 6 AM. So Cathy booked a hotel by the airport so we could spend the day in London and then get him in the morning without a 2 hour drive. But then after the bags were packed, car was loaded, and we were ready to head to London, the phone rang and we were informed that Pappy (aka Bob/Kevin's dad) had become frustrated with the wait and continued to be delayed and freaked out. So he flew back to Pensacola Florida and will now not be arriving until next Tuesday. This obviously produced two very upset young girls who were missing school and not getting to see Pappy, so Cathy and i canceled the hotel and loaded the girls up for a day of shopping. with an hour in the car and two moody children, we played at a playpark for most of the day, but were successful in purchasing a new pair of shoes for all of us, thus making everything ok. After getting home Brittney and I spent some 'sister time' riding bikes, playing in the park, playing soccer, talking, and doing gymnastics in the fields. It was a wonderful day for sure!

A Weekend On My Own....

My weekend with the girls to myself....so we had a playdate with Emily and Elise. It was a sleepover

Emily....my favorite British child

Sophie got married

Elise trying to prove it was not bedtime

My favorite bilingual child Elise...

A head of curls and a mouth full of grinning teeth

A day with Max and Blake.....

my favorite view so far....yes it is just a field, but i liked it (Jenny and Dan's house)

Blake and Max loving each other

Maxwell jumping on the bed....(sorry Jenny, it's every child's right)

Blake tackled Max while they were jumping around

Jump Jump Jump

and we all fall down

Just a little brotherly love

Too cute for words...

The Peterborough Festival.....

Sophie and the Tiger...her hair looks beautiful like always, but she swore this is how it was to be worn

Sophie and Brittney riding the dragon roller coaster...this cost 2 pounds per child = $4 which is $8 for both girls to ride. YIKES

Another money waster but smile maker.....

The Day of Shopping and The Playpark.....

A beautiful Church on the way to the mall....

More of the HUGE church. it was breathtaking and quite phenomenal

Cathy swinging with Brittney at the Play park

Sophie, as cute as ever swinging on the swing

Playing together....

Another one of my favorite pictures

Brittney testing out the slide