Blog, Slowed Down, for a while anyway

Well, I started w/a new nanny position this week. Not actually a new family as this new position is w/Nanny Family #3, but instead of very sporadic days/evenings, 

I'm now FULL-TIME again (though I gave them a fairly large discount on my rates!) 

I'll be working the 2023-14 school year, M-F, 10 hours/day starting @ 6am, w/one 4 yr old girl (E) for the majority of those hours. When there's a day off from school for holidays, vacations or snow... I'll also be watching her older brother, N, age 8 & her older sister, A, age 6.

It's going to be exhausting! I can tell just after 3 days!

I just keep telling myself... Pay the bills, pay OFF the bills!

They live in a 2 bedroom apartment attached to their grandparents home, a few minutes from my home. Only thing I don't like about the job is I feel like I'm being watched all the time. There's a lot of people going in & out of the grandparents home (they run a produce farm/stand). 

I know they have better things to do than to watch me watching kids. I know it's paranoia but... 

I just don't like feeling like I'm being watched whether I really am being watched... or not! 

And I KNOW I'm not being watched! The grandparents are wonderful people!

Their Dad lives within our ward boundaries so I'm getting to know him, slowly. The Mom has been very good about keeping her own opinions about him to herself. I think that's best for my position since I'll have to deal w/both parents & I'd like to be able to get to know both of them on my own.

He's currently dating a friend who used to be in our ward but now attends Georgetown due to recent ward boundary lines being changed. She (his girlfriend) will become my in-laws landlord next month since they just sold their house this month in a downsizing move. Since they'll probably hear about my life through this new relationship, my entries on this blog won't have to happen as often!

Unless something earth shattering happens or something very humorous... I'll be away for a while! Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas! Columbus & Veterans Day too! Go Pats! 

Biking Memories

On Friday morning, I picked up 2 young boys (T, age 7 & M, age 6) I cared for this summer & brought them to an "End of the Summer" sleepover @ my house.

I had planned hot dogs & s'mores for dinner, french toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunches. With all the toys I have & the large yard, I knew it wouldn't be hard to keep the happy & occupied. We also had 4 bottles of Diet Coke & Mentos for soda rockets! Awesome!

During Carlotta's recent visit, GiGi & GaGa dropped off a small, red bike for her. Since shipping a bike costs too much, they are planning to deliver it themselves to Carlotta in VA on their way to another adventure! I also have a small blue Schwinn bike waiting for Carlotta to grow into it! It is blue & too big for her right now.  Both have training wheels! Good thing I had those 2 bikes here!

Both T & M got on those bikes soon after getting to my house! In the 32 hours they were here, 9 hours were used for eating, sleeping & a little DS game play. 

All the remaining time was spent on those bikes! 

NO JOKE! 

My driveway is sloped just enough for good speed, long enough for a good ride & my neighborhood has very little traffic so they went on 2 bike rides as well! T was easily distracted & ended up in the roadside bushes more than once! He even went down into a culvert & landed knee deep in mud! When trying to rescue him, I realized how lucky he was to have avoided all the boulders & sharp rocks! 

They tried any bike trick they had ever seen in movies or on TV. They thought they could do all of them! M tried standing on the seat & doing skateboard moves! T kept trying the "No Hands" move. 

I didn't have helmets for them (their Dad said it was OK) so I wouldn't let them continue the more dangerous moves (dangerous, in my opinion) & was labeled, "The Meanie" for a while. 

But w/hotdogs & s'mores to cook on the grill, I was super nice & fun once more!

Watching them having fun on the bikes did bring back memories of my bike riding days. 

I never had my very own bike. With so many kids, a bike for everyone was out of the question. We learned to share & I never seemed to have to wait very long for a turn. 

I recall speeding down the driveway, going around the bend & trying so hard to leave a very long skid mark in the "dirt area" of our yard. 

note: the dirt area was where a garage once stood until it collapsed under the weight of the snow one winter. 

It later became the pool yard when my parents got an in-ground pool.

We lived close to the local High School. On days off from school, the empty parking lots & sidewalks became places for us to pretend our bikes were race cars & we had to win the race! The wind felt wonderful on my face as I coasted along. I never mastered the "No Hands" move, just the one handed one! I really enjoyed biking back then!

If the boys come over to my house again, I'm going to have to tell them to bring their own bikes. These bikes are for Carlotta & will be gone by then.

Back to Full-time!

Well, my life as a part-time nanny is coming to a close, at least for the school year!

It has been an interesting time! My house/yard will probably notice my absence the most! B will miss the meals & I'll miss the sleep-in mornings, but I couldn't pass up a chance to get us out of debt, faster! B did well & continues to do well in the overtime area of his job. I thank him for that! I was able to try the part-time thing w/o worrying too much about our finances! Now, together, we can really clobber this debt before we get too old!

The job will be 50 hours a week w/1 four year old girl. On school vacations, holidays or snow days, I'll also watch her older siblings,  6 yr old girl & 8 yr old boy. I've been given permission to take the little one to my house whenever I want. I can do my errands w/her & go on outings as I see fit.
It's only 10 minutes from my house, about 6-7 miles. No big hills or twisty roads to worry about in bad weather! I did give this single mom a discount on my rate, but since I'll be using less gas it works out in the end! I'm not liking the fact I must be up, ready & out the door BEFORE 5:45am... everyday!
It's just for the school year, I keep telling myself!

Wednesday morning! Here I come!

A Recap of Events during Carlotta's Summer Visit 2013

So I don't repeat too many events on her next visit, I'm posting what we did during this visit.

THURSDAY NIGHT: 

Carlotta & T arrived safely @ South Station in Boston. My day was made when she ran to jump in my arms on the platform! She was a little shy & didn't use her words right away, but I'll always remember that greeting! T was nearby to "translate" for Carlotta (T does it out of habit & in my opinion, she needs to stop! I'm talking from experience. So, Momma.... Shhh! Let those around her figure out her language, on their own. She needs to use her words w/o you speaking for her!) Papaw was in the truck waiting for us. She didn't talk to him but told me he was too loud. Arriving in Epping late at night, she remembered where all the good toys were & made me lots of meals w/plastic food before drifting off to sleep.

FRIDAY:

Our big thing we did today besides playing w/the many toys in my house... a trip to the pet store to replace my ONE fish that died. We left the store w/FOUR fish & by the time we got home, one of the fish gave birth! All the babies except for 1 was sucked up into the filtration system. Now, over a week later, "Lucky" the baby Dalmation molly, is doing well & has grown so fast! Carlotta picked me out a pink neon tetra called Aurora, a yellow neon tetra called, Belle. T picked out a pair of Dalmation mollies & chose the names Pongo & Perdita.

SATURDAY:

We attended a baby shower in the morning & Carlotta got to meet several of her mommas friends & leaders from her youth. The afternoon was spent at Pawtuckaway Lake w/Papaw, GiGi & GaGa as well as T & myself. You can read my post about this time. The weather was a bit on the cooler side but still nice! A wonderful change from the hot & humid weather we've endured all summer thus far! Weather-wise, this week was PERFECT!

SUNDAY:

T, even on vacation, wanted to attend Church & we obliged her! Carlotta went to Nursery but wanted me to remain w/her. She was a bit cranky (tired from all the excitement of being @ Nonie's!) so we left during the 3rd hour to let her have some quiet time before people (family) who had never met Carlotta began arriving. From 2-6ish, family visited w/her. My sister CA was great! She took the time to play w/Carlotta & I appreciate that! GiGi & GaGa came over too w/a small bike for her. They'll deliver it to VA in September.

MONDAY:

Papaw flew out to Bermuda today & will miss the remaining time w/Carlotta. "To Your Arts Content" was our Monday activity! Carlotta painted a pink dinosaur while T painted a dinner plate w/an octopus design. Carlotta wasn't too happy that she had to leave the dinosaur there to be fired in the kiln! I promised her I would mail it to her. She likes getting packages in the mail, so she was happy again! Later, our Monday night friends came over for Frogmore Stew & cards. Carlotta kept coming up to me for hugs! She asked her momma why Nonie wasn't playing w/her! She even suggested I say "bye-bye" to my friends so I can play w/her!

TUESDAY:

C was w/us today! She's been working, a lot! Off to Chunky's for lunch & a movie! "Turbo" was the show. Carlotta had chicken nuggets & fries, again! She has lots of fries. At least she getting the calories, she's such a tiny pipsqueak! I tried to get healthier stuff in her all week w/limited success. She'll get there eventually, kids can be picky eaters at this age. Keep trying, T! We visited w/Nanny Family #1 & played @ Field of Dreams before a Toys R Us was spotted! I indulged her toy fix w/a new Lalaloopsy doll! C was pooped out & went to bed soon after returning home! Carlotta does have a lot of energy!

WEDNESDAY:

Thanks to my youngest brother, J, & his rented house on the beach, we were able to comfortably visit York Beach in Maine. I had planned on visiting the zoo there as well but was beginning to be worn down from all our activities, so I suggested just the beach today. Thankfully, T understood! The weather was AWESOME! The tide was LOW! Carlotta was AWESOME too! Funnest day yet! Also, T got her LOBSTER! J's sons were AWESOME w/Carlotta! She even declared their house to be more fun than Nonie's when it was time to go home!

THURSDAY:

My original plans for Water Country were scrapped. Weather has changed to hot & muggy again so I opted for an indoor activity. We went to the Children's Museum of NH in Dover. I'm not sure who enjoyed this trip more... T or Carlotta! This was there last day in NH so we stayed at home the rest of the day, just playing & reading books. A glow stick bath has become a tradition here! She threw many of my cat toys down the basement stairs (where the cats retreat whenever Carlotta gets to much for them). She called it her cat playground. I'm still finding cat toys in the basement! T got even more seafood today! I pan seared some scallops & spinach for dinner. I made Charlie some pasta & broccoli which she ate!

FRIDAY MORNING:

Early in the morning, I dropped T & Carlotta off at South Station. She clung to her mothers shoulder, sobbing, when she realized I would not be coming w/them! Even now, as I type this, my eyes are tearing up w/that memory! This was the hardest farewell yet! I got text updates all day as their train headed back to VA where an excited M waited for them. He missed his girls! On my way back home, I got a call for a babysitting job on Saturday! I took it so I could keep busy & not dwell on my sadness. She was so much fun this visit!

Now, I must begin saving for our trip in February down to see her for her 4th birthday! Then in early May, we hope they will be here for C's college graduation! B & I will be working like crazy to make it all happen!

Our Last FULL Day This 2013 Summer Visit!

Went to The NH Childrens Museum today.
This was in the Castle Room. We got to make stained glass patterns w/triangles in the windows!

Both T & Carlotta enjoyed the Musical Wall. Touch the patterns on the wall & it made sounds as well as lighting up designs on the adjacent wall.

The masks were a big hit w/Carlotta! This is one of several she modeled for me!

Not sure why she had her sad face on. Perhaps she knew her life jacket was on incorrectly?

I liked this tree house, even w/the fake snakes! Carlotta was wanting to return to the dino fossils!

Green screen fun w/T & Carlotta.

We had to get a dinosaur egg at the end of our time here because she enjoyed the chipping of the dirt & brushing the dust away too much! She & T worked on that egg fossil when we got back to Nonies house.

A little short maybe, but she still had fun racing Lego cars!

She really enjoyed The NH Childrens Museum!

Other exhibits she enjoyed, though not pictured... the yellow submarine where she was the pilot. She sat in front of 3 monitors & had to steer the sub away from the dangerous fish such as sharks & squish. Squish is how she pronounced... SQUID. 

How a river flows display was another she liked. Balls would plink down & depending on where the barriers had been set up, the balls continued to roll down.

The glow tubes in the Cave System made her want a glow stick bath tonight! I obliged her!

She left this place w/her dinosaur egg & a felt pizza kit from the Melissa & Doug collection. 

No, I have NO IDEA how a pizza had anything to do w/what we saw & did in this museum though it did make us hungry & we went out for pizza!

The Beach! And Cousins!

3 years ago, cousins met for the 1st time!

Carlotta met this cousin for the 1st time! He is the younger brother of T & M & his name is E! He took a fast liking to me & attached himself a little to close for Carlottas comfort! After all, I'm HER NONIE! Love the look she's giving him!

A mermaid? A merman? Uncle J & T were the creators of this sand creation!

The nice man in the background had just helped her put water in her bucket for her sand castle!

Swimming w/Momma @ York Beach

Having fun with "the boys" as she called them. M had to pee so he was trying to be in the photo & let his needs be known!

This was a 3 curve slide. Pretty high up for a little girl, but it was her favorite thing at the playground.  I LOVE the fact her cousin, T, is lying in wait under the slide to scare her. I only noticed that when I downloaded the photo or I would've taken another photo of the scare!

Carlotta declared this house to be more fun than Nonie's house!

York Beach Day on Wednesday! The weather could not have been more perfect! Last 2 hours were the best when Carlotta finally let her inner self come out & play w/her cousins!

We built sand creations, gathered crabs & snails. Climbed on rocks, went in the ocean, played at the playground, got T her lobster she'd been craving (I had a haddock sandwich) played w/cousins & met Uncle J for the 1st time. Not enough hours in the day to have been able to go to the zoo there, but there's always next time!

Carlotta's Day W/her Auntie C

All Aboard! A fun hour at Field of Dreams playground, begins!

She's very happy to be the only one of us that could fit in the caboose!

Not quite Disneyworld, but it got a smile anyway! And she left w/a new Lalaloopsy doll AND a lamby!

The movie "Turbo" was a success w/her & C! Went to Chunky's for the whole dinner & a movie thing!

Carlotta gave Nonie an evil look for using a flash in the theater! In my defense... the movie hadn't started yet!

Breakfast in front of the TV @ Nonies house.

Choo! Choo!
Carlotta & her Aunty C!

This day (Tuesday) began w/everybody sleeping in! I know I needed that to happen! I'm pooped!

We went to Chunky's for lunch & a movie. The movie was "Turbo" & not bad. Not good, either, but perfect for a 3 yr old! A quick visit to Nanny Family #1 (they are so big now!) then it was off to Toys R Us! A new Lalaloopsy doll w/stethoscope was the treat! 

This was supposed to be "The Carlotta & C Day", but somehow... Nonie paid for all of this day! 

I didn't mind, just saying.

Returned home to a meal of hot dog pennies in brown beans (sticking w/the New England theme of the week) & playtime w/C before bedtime!

Visiting York Maine on Wednesday (I'm writing these a day behind because I'm sooo tired!) 

Bear w/me! 

A Fun-filled, Packed w/Activities Monday @ Nonie's House!

One, Two, Three... JUMP!
T is showing Carlotta the rocks in my yard where she & C used to jump off from!

Arms open wide, for balance.

Hey, Nonie! Momma can still balance on your rocks!

Carlotta calls my yard & the toys in it... HER PLAYGROUND!

Perfect size house for a tiny 3 yr old.

We went to a pottery painting store where she chose a dinosaur to paint. She used 3 different PINK colors & took an hour to cover the whole thing!  

She wasn't too keen on the fact she'd need to wait a WEEK for them to fire her dinosaur in the kiln AND then wait for Nonie to mail it to her. It will be a very pink dinosaur though, when fired! 

A quick stop at the local Burger King indoor playground! I know, my photo is out of focus, but I really liked the "monster" effect & she's in a cage where monsters should be, right?

Later that evening, my Monday night dinner & cards friends stopped by. T took B's place as he's back in Bermuda!
I think Carlotta did well for having so many people over taking up her Nonie's time. She did ask her Momma why Nonie wasn't playing w/her! Also she asked me to say "Bye, Bye" to my friends so I could play w/JUST HER!
She did have 2 potty accidents. Oh, well. Pee cleans up.
Got to read her the bedtime books. She LOVES books read to her, just like her momma did! She will also keep busy by "reading" to herself as she falls asleep (which she does wonderfully!)
Movies today & visiting w/kids closer to her age (from Nanny Family #1) & Aunt C will be w/us!

First Meetings

She was born 3.5 years ago. Since she lives so far, visits where I'm willing to share her w/others are very rare. After all, I paid for the tickets! Many extended family members hadn't met her yet.

That changed a little today. 

She met my mother, J, my younger sister CA, her spouse, DeeDee & dog Roxie. Also, my older sister DD & her husband, K met her. 

I was too busy socializing, hosting & watching Carlotta interact that I didn't take any photos!

GiGi & GaGa came w/their dog Shadow & they got a few photo ops. 

My sister, CA will be sending me a few pictures she took! Thanks in advance, CA!

When I get them, I will post a few on this site!

Papaw & Carlotta's Day O'Fun!

Carlotta is not too sure about getting in the lake just yet.

A quick look to Nonie who gave her the "thumbs up" sign & she soon made up her mind to swim!

Momma says this is the 1st time she swam w/o an adult actually touching her! Yes, she was in a swimming ring, but she was kicking around!

The lake sand is a bit rough on the feet, even w/water shoes on!

The weather was perfect for me, but Carlotta was shivering when wet!

She may have been chilly, but she kept on swimming!

Sharing toys w/Papaw in the lake.

Papaw made me a s'more w/o any chocolate! I got sticky & only took a taste or two.

Ready to build a sand castle!

What's this thing for?

My GiGi & GaGa came to see me too! She helped me w/my sandcastle!

Papaw! You shocked me! (the slide caused a static shock every time she slid down!

I'm a big kid now!

Wheeeee!

Don't let go Papaw!

A little help here! 

Thanks for the help, Papaw!

Pawtuckaway Lake was where this day took place.  B was wishing he had suggested to spend an hour w/Carlotta instead of a whole day (noon to 6). He was completely exhausted after an hour! He had forgotten how active & demanding a 3 yr old girl could be!

This visit has been a lot of fun so far! She's old enough to do things, talk, laugh & skip naps! Five more fun filled days are planned for her! Here's hoping the fun continues!