Being a stay-at-home-mom (I hate that term!) is always an adventure. This week was full of more adventures than most. Perhaps in an attempt to make up for the crappy mom that I was last week, I may have out-done myself over the last five days. I'M TIRED.
Here are 4 pictures that tell 4 stories of our week.
Tuesday we went to a small local airport for a field trip with friends from preschool. It was so interesting to get a backstage tour of an airport that included the TSA screening area, the security camera room, the luggage-mover-thingy, the airport fire truck, the boarding area, and watching many small planes takeoff and land. Well, the moms were interested. The kids pretty much just liked the fire truck and the Frisbees they got at the end.
Wednesday I did "circle time" in Sam's preschool classroom and talked about Kenya. At home we have been talking about Kenya and Somalia and the famine there (in preschool terms). Sam took it upon herself to collect coins around the house to cash in and send to Kenya with World Vision. She brought up the topic of Kenya with her preschool teacher last week and when we came to class this week we discovered that it was "learn about Kenya week". Go preschool teachers! Her class made Kenyans flags, they did pottery, and one of the play-centers was turned into an African safari table. I was the Kenya props and story lady on Wednesday and I read them one of our favorite books: For You Are A Kenyan Child.
Here's the thing...I have a BA and a MA in Communication. I'm comfortable with public speaking. I have taught classes to college students about topics with which I am fairly unfamiliar. But as I sat down in front of 15 four year olds to share about a place I love, and simply read a book, I got NERVOUS. I think I even broke a sweat at one point.
I have always admired teachers, and never wanted to be one, both those thoughts were reinforced for me on Wednesday.
On Thursday I took the girls to the zoo. We have season passes that we should be using much more. The summer tourist crowds have died down and the zoo isn't a zoo anymore - meaning you can actually navigate a stroller through the dwindled crowds and you don't have to elbow your way to the front to see an animal. The baby hippo was definitely the highlight of the day for me. That, and having some quality, undistracted time with my girlies.
And then there was Thursday afternoon when I went upstairs to get Sam out of her quiet time and found her with this new haircut. I hadn't thought about hiding those scissors in the bathroom...dangit. Her new bangs and single sideburn are kind of unfixable, but hey, it could be much much worse. I'm torn between being bummed out that picture day is coming soon, and being thrilled that this look will be captured forever by a professional.
So there you have it, a week in the life of one mother, a 4 year old, and a 17 month old.
What do they say? The days are long, but the years are short. Yes...yes they are.
