The Things She Does...

Joy does many cute things, I can't always remember them all when I sit here to type. I am going to try to at least get some tonight...
Conversations we have had:
Joy: I luv it!
Me: You love what?
Joy: I luv school bus (you can replace school bus with just about anything she has seen or heard in the past couple of weeks, she luvs everything!)

Another Conversation:
Me: Joy, do you have an opinion on what you want to eat for lunch?
Joy: Hmmm *serious thinking look on her face* Quesadilla

Her vocabulary has increased exponentially this summer which if you had heard her talk before it's amazing really. She is talking to her animals sometimes if I catch her I just smile cause she sounds just like me! She will answer questions when you ask. She can sing her ABC's most of the way through most of the time, and count to 10 when she feels like it. People do a double take with her size still being a little on the small size and her vocabulary so big. Tonight at a friend's party she was playing and another baby came beside her and Joy was telling the Mom she was bouncing and the Mom looked at her and said "Wow I didn't expect her to talk so well" Her son is 14mo old, and from the looks of things just learning walking.

This past couple of weeks she has really gotten braver than ever, although she is still my quiet reserved girl. Last Friday at a friends she actually petted the puppies and the kitty! She was also telling the kitty who was sitting on the couch to go home, we tried to tell her it was the kitty's home, and she was the one out of place! That same day she went swimming. Up to that point swimming meant getting her feet wet and screaming or just being very nervous if she got water past her knees. Well at Tracey's house she about jumped in the water! It was great, but I had to have both eyes on her at all times! She got out of the pool and went to the hot tub and "got in" on her own, luckily she hit the step just right and only got a small mouth of water, and didn't freak out at least not as much as I did! Then tonight at the party, she was not her usual shy self. She started out that way, but then made friends with the girl who was working in the room with the party. She was crawling on her and talking to her! I was amazed! She also had a great time with Mary's crew (Mary's boys, her nieces, her cousin's child and 2 more adults Renee and Tia) she was talking and playing with the girls like she has known them forever!

The other big event of the summer has been her introduction to and trying out of the potty. She started the summer only being interested on occasion. Then we had the 3 kids over 2 of which are actively potty training, and she sees Mom give them attention for going, and they get to wash their hands when they go (a reward in her books). So she is trying it out more. Tonight she was getting ready for bed and I was about to put a fresh diaper on, and asked if she wanted to go potty, she jumped (literally) at the chance and ran to the potty. She sat for a little bit, and said she went poopy. Now she has said this many times, so I said you went pp? She said yes, and I told her to come get her diaper (I was in the living room). Then Daddy went to check the potty, and announced she had pooped on the potty! Yeah Joy!! This is the milestone I needed to really think about the potty training. I am done with the other kids in 2 weeks, so maybe we will try it out in 3 weeks? If things keep going in a positive direction, no promises!

My other news is we registered Joy for "school" in the fall at a local daycare. She will go 3 days a week while I substitute teach in the school system. I was hoping to get into an August training, but didn't get an email on Friday, which would indicate I got in. I am going to wait and see if something comes on Monday and if not, then I will call and see what I need to do. In some ways I am unsure of the substitute thing, but I also know I don't want to be away from Joy full time, and it will let me know allot about the schools in the area. It's not bad money either. So I begin my adventure hopefully sooner than later!

For those of you wanting pictures tell Rob, he has on monitor and 2 computers so I have to move the cord to get to the mac which has the pictures, and well he's on the computer every night! Sorry maybe someday I will get more up here!

More Summer

Summer is still happening and we are still having a grand time. Joy is getting use to her new pool and playing in the 4 inches of water there. Today we had a big adventure to a friend's house for a pool party. First Joy played with the little swing and slide, then moved to the water table. Finally she was brave enough for the kiddie pool (which was very cute with an elephant face on it). Then as others were in the big pool we decided it would be okay to check it out. First I got in and just chased her around from inside the pool as she played with things outside the pool. She finally let me get her in the pool and hold her. We were even able to use our floaty device from last year. In all she did a great job, she napped extra long, but I believe I hear her now so the blog over :) Maybe some more summer pictures including our newest hairstyle will come soon.

Summer Fun

So far this summer we have learned about some new summer activities:

Popscicles

Okay not really a summer activity but Lego opened a store in our mall and we helped build a giant Yoda to celebrate the opening. Here is the master builder working on the head.

Here is Joy enjoying the Duplo table

Yoda getting the top of his head

Fixing the ear they knocked off while getting the head on

Yoda and his Mini Me

Joy's new pool

Eating corn and a hot dog bun in her swim suit

I like the back as much as the front of the swimsuit.

Eating at the windowsil

A Week of VBS...

This week as I stated before was VBS week. I had a good time doing the crafts with my friend Michelle. I was a little disappointed with Joy's class. The preschool VBS director thought she could do it after asking and getting turned down by multiple people she quit asking and decided that she would do the Toddler class. Well on Monday she tried for a little bit then between the other kids not staying in the wagon when she got stopped (Joy stayed in, she loves the wagon at church) and getting pulled in 100 different directions she finally found some reluctant volunteers. I don't remember if it started Tuesday or Wednesday morning, but as we were driving to church when we got to where she could see it or if I told her where we were going she would start no church no church. This broke my heart. This also frustrated me. I am volunteering at the VBS something I love to do and is simple for me to do the only thing I need is someone to care for my child. I was asking and wanting her to have a curriculum this year, and I understand not everyone is great with toddlers, but in the whole church no one would do it? Anyway by the end of the week she was okay with the situation and we are done with that for now. Next week is a free sew camp at church and I have arranged a teen to take care of Joy and one other child. I am going to do my home care on Tuesday, and be at the church the rest of the week. I will let you know how the sewing goes later!

This and That

Well it is VBS week and Joy is not sure about going to church again every day this week. This is only day 2 but Sunday and yesterday she has woken up from her nap in a bad mood. She wants to do everything and nothing at the same time! Then when you get her set to do something (that she begged you to do) she refuses to do it! That is when I give up and say your on your own you can come do this with me, or you can play by yourself. That gets me about 10 minutes of no whining, then it starts over! I am hoping she will do better today when she wakes up because she was a grump this morning!

I do have some pictures for you so here instead of me rambling how about some pictures!


This is how I caught her sleeping one day, criss-cross applesauce with her legs in the air! Just a fun outside picture!

Happy Daddy! That was all I could get from her on Sunday in an attempt to say Happy Daddy's Day.

They like to play piano together on Daddy's piano.

Other happenings, our Moody Garden's passes will expire at the end of this week so we went for one last time this weekend. We had a good time, and I am sure we will miss the fishies this year. We did renew our Zoo pass so I can still go to the zoo and take one other person in for free, and get a discount on additional beyond the one free. Wanna go to the zoo?

No Geneva I haven't stopped blogging...

It however is summer, which means more home time, which means more mess which means less time on the computer, and when I do get here I prefer to do other stuff first. So for now blogging is on a back burner, but if something exciting happens I will let you know.
As for our recent excitement, I started watching 3 other kids this past week. It went well except that 2 came on one day and one on the other, and it made it more difficult on the day with only 2 kids (Joy and one other). This week they are all coming on Thursday, which will I think be better as it will keep me more focused on what we are doing. This week is beach/ocean week so we will be painting the ocean and putting fish in the ocean. I guess I need to make those fish!
So far from this Joy has learned she doesn't want to share. This week at the library on Tuesday she was very adamant in saying that the library's toy was hers and she would not share with another child. Then today at the beach she was again very sure she did not want to share her sand and water toys with the other kids. I told her it was fine and she allowed it begrudgingly. She has also learned "hold you" from one of the other girls. I will call her "C" so she remains anonymous. C's Mom had just dropped her off and she was a little sad, although never full out cried about it, and so she asked me "hold you" and I told her I would be glad to hold her. Now Joy says "hold you" when she wants you to hold her. If Daddy happens to pick up and she wanted Mommy she will say "Hold you, Mommy" I don't correct her yet, as I like this grammer mistake, it's just sweet and cute!
I think that is about it. We have been to "the beach" which is really Moody Garden's white sand pool beaches a couple times this summer, and we tried the pool once. She is not a fan of the water right now, but we can't really do swim lessons as it isn't in the budget, and I would hate to pay and then her hate it the whole time! We will do the swim lessons at some point, just not this summer.
The next 2 weeks will be busy, I am doing the VBS at our church again this year and I am in charge of the crafts, which I am very excited about. Then the following week I am attending "Sew Free Day Camp" where I hope to learn a little more about sewing. One of the Mom's from my Mom's group will also be going and her child is one I watch once a week, so I look forward to getting to know her more.
I think that is all... let me know if I forgot something!

It's Official

It was voted upon tonight at the church business meeting to close the PDO. I am saddened, however I also believe that the the program or the church had to change to be a true ministry of the church. I am not saying that it was not a ministry to the families that attended, the children heard of God and Jesus on a daily basis, some whom may never have heard of him otherwise were taught about God. This is the part that is sad to me, however these parents sought out a church for their preschool and their are many others on the same road which also teach the same basic principals. God will provide for those families.
Some teachers were upset, and I can see their point they poured the last 1, 2, 5, 30+ years into the program. They have every right to be upset with the church for not properly supporting the program. I hope that the church sees that preschool and children's ministry is a need, and we can't grow our church without having something for the children.
My opinion, it's a good thing. I told the children's minister after the meeting that my heart is for kids. I want the best for the children. I chose to put my ministry into the PDO this past year. I won't say it was a wrong decision. I don't regret it, other than the time lost with Joy and the issues with Joy's classroom. I am now going to turn my efforts and my focus back into the church and find ways to serve to grow the much needed children's ministry. This is my 3rd summer at this church, and my 2nd one to work at the VBS (the 1st I worked summer school). I mentioned to the children's minister that I have 1,000 ideas running through my head and I hope to start something next year for stay at home mom's. Keep tuned in and we will see where God leads!