a whole week?

It's been 7 days since my last post! I can't believe it - sheesh. Well I guess you can say things have been turned upside down a bit here. I started a job on the 20th - working part time at an after hours/hourly/drop in daycare. They are open until 10pm Mon-Thur and until midnight Fri & Sat. Plus they open at 7am during the week for before school care. I do have 2 nights that I've been working until between 8 and 9pm so Darren is having to do a lot more around here with the kids!!!! He's doing great - no worries on that end...but it's hard to have such a big change and here's why:

I've been a stay at home mom for 8 1/2 years (minus the 5 months 6 years ago that I worked at this same daycare!). We have a routine and we like it. We eat dinner as a family, at the table, EVERY night....even soccer nights. It works for us and we all enjoy it. Stability has always been a major focus and it something our kids need and expect.

Now bring in my job LOL My schedule is not yet permanent - there's a stomach virus going around like crazy (I caught it Sunday) and it's making for a lot of employees calling out sick - so I've been asked to fill in quite a bit...and I don't mind at all - but it causes the crazies for sure. Also add in that Darren picks up the kids at the daycare when he gets off work, then makes dinner, bathes them, gets them to bed, and wonders what time I get off (I work until "slow" so that's never the same). We're all a bit tired...a bit cranky (for the little people)...and a bit sore (for the OLD people who aren't used to this work thing) :)

now that being said - I'm really really really enjoying the job! Yes, I wish I wasn't working - but winter can get tough so the extra money will be good "padding" - but those kids! ack! I love 'em! I have a few favorites I'll admit - and there are a couple that I always wonder how long they're staying - but when you have SO many kids coming and going they can't all be perfect! hee hee but it is rewarding - I have people, other than my 3 here, depending on me. I have people telling me "thank you" and "we appreciate you" and I think I've missed that. I love that I'm doing a good job, getting the hang of things, and meeting some great women along the way.

then bring in Braden - he can kill my "high" rather quickly with "but when you go to work I won't have a momma".....that makes it hard - but he's doing SO good and he likes when he can go and play. and he especially likes when he has to take the daycare van instead of me picking him up!!! He adjusts so quickly to change and this has proven to be his most difficult challenge yet. We are proud of him and being patient....

Hailee - she could care less!!! LOL some days she is happy that she has to come to the daycare other days she says she doesn't want to LOL but we don't see any effects from the change for her - that's good...she is older so it makes sense....and I made sure that I wouldn't be scheduled on soccer practice nights or game days so really, as long as she's covered she's happy!!

We're all looking forward to Saturday...I am not working AT ALL (lucky this week!) so we are going to make waffles for breakfast, then go to Hailee's game, and after that we'll head to the orchard and get some peaches and do all the pumpkin patch festivities!! Hay rides, pumpkins, and mazes!!! It's early in the season but this is our only chance with Darren's work schedule plus camping on the 22nd. Should be a super fun day and I can't wait to post photos!!!

okay - enough rambling - going to go edit some videos so I can get them posted!!!