We've only been with her a short while (in fact, this is week 2) but things are going SO well with her. Cora gives her the big smile when we get there and today, Beanie didn't even cry when I left, that is HUGE!
We met her through our old neighbor on Schuylar, Lisa, who also watches kiddos in her home.
She plans fun days of crafts and activities for the kiddos and had SUCH a special day for Amara's birthday last week. They made cookies, did a craft where they made crowns, took a walk, and she even made Amara all her favorite foods for the day! It's so fun for her to get to try new things and make new friends :)
She's also homeschooling her son, so Amara (and eventually Cora) will benefit from her background and experience as well. She'll be coming home smarter than mom and dad at 3 I'm sure!
I feel so lucky that we found her and so happy she watches over my lovelies during the day. THANK YOU, THANK YOU Ms. Sarah!!
Doesn't this picture say it all? 
I was inside with Cora at the time, but Eric came in to tell me she had figured it out. I guess they got the supports on the thing and she said "I think they are building me a trampoline!" Eric said "oh really?" and left it at that...stinker :) She waited patiently for them to finish and pack up, but as soon as they were gone, she was already climbing the ladder!
She started running in circles, doing flips, and asking us "what next..." which is the trampoline equivalent of me begging my poor mom to "tell me what to do" at the pool for I don't know how many summers in a row. Kids really do 'pay you back' in that way. I mean how many different tricks can you have a 3 year old do? I guess I'd better start getting creative!
Running around in circles was pretty fun. I asked her to run in the other direction and (as most of us do) she struggled with the mechanics of it and quickly went back to her more comfortable direction.
Jumping as high as she can--or as high as her 34 pound body will allow her! It will be fun to watch her grow with this, and eventually Cora--assuming she is sharing by that point. I'm so glad she had exposure to the trampoline with Tumble Bears last fall and up at Recreation Outlet where we found this. I'm sure we'll have many more fun evenings with friends ahead!
Beanie's big birthday zoo trip day! A day we (at least Eric and I) look forward to, and this makes our 3rd year! This year (as it will about half of the time) her birthday fell on Memorial day weekend, so knowing it'd be packed, we headed for the zoo at 9 when gates opened. Grandma Young surprised Beanie with doughnuts at home and followed us up there, and we had a warm day, just slightly overcast, perfect for the zoo!
After visiting the polar bears and finding them still sleeping (LITERALLY) we headed towards the carousel. The flamingos were out and prancing around though, so we stopped to watch them for a few minutes. We watched the weirdest exchange though, one of the zoo keepers snuck in and took one of their eggs from the exhibit! When they came back over, they were looking for it and certainly didn't "miss" what happened. We kind of felt badly for them!
At the carousel, we all took turns riding with Amara and Grandma got some time with Cora when she woke up. I'm not sure if we rode it 3 or 4 times, but it was field trip day, so it was very full of kids--she loved to watch.
One of the trips Amara wanted to ride on the bench. This was a surprising first for us, never even asked about it before!
Waiting outside to see the Lorakeets, this was the face I got when I asked her to look at me--HOPING to get a picture of both girls at the zoo. Silly mom. I have to say, this was right before we left, having clearly pushed past our "fun" window for the zoo. We know we have about an hour and a half, but we were all the way in Australia, 20 minutes from the car, and overstretched our welcome, so to speak.
A trip to the zoo is never complete without the gift shop. A bucked hat for Cora (that in this picture looks HUGE on her, but in reality fits her perfectly) and a flamingo for Amara--oh, and the tiny blue tiger from Grandma :)
We got this little cot for Amara to use at Miss Sarah's, similar to what she uses at preschool. It's like those fold up sports chairs, so it's very portable and cute. Amara was thrilled to see me get it out and set it up, so being as it was SUPER hot and we were all in the garage working anyway (and she had been spraying Ily with the sprayer in the yard) I put it on the porch.
While I rocked and nursed Cora, Bean laid there and listened to the fountain trickling and nodded off. Heck, I was sleepy too! They enjoyed a little cat nap on the porch, even in the heat, and I think it's safe to say she likes her new cot (which, incidentally, she calls a "pot"--even though Eric has tried to correct her :)) 
Mother's day for me is all about spending time with my girls. I don't need or want to go out to dinner, or anything fancy, just something fun with all of us. This year, Eric surprised me with a number of great treats--a hand made garden stone, complete with Cora's fist print, Mrs. Prindables apples (a favorite for both of us) and a beautiful Lilac bush.
On a cold, rainy, Spring Ohio day, we decided to hit up COSI before running out of leave time with the girls. We hadn't been in a while, but this time we decided to hit up some of the exhibits, not just the kids play zone. I didn't get any pics of the geckos, but those were a HUGE hit for her! 
After church on Easter morning, we headed to grandma and grandpa Jahn's to meet up with the cousins. Amara had her hunt with the older boys first, then she decided to jump in and help Gideon with his eggs too.
