so far, so good (for Sophia)

Well it's been a couple days now and the girls seem to be adjusting to daycare very well. On Tuesday when I dropped them off both seemed slightly overwhelmed by all these children (ok, just three) running up to greet them at the door. Sophia stood very close to the door looking a bit scared, then smiling, then looking perplexed, then smiling again, but never really appearing like she wanted to come in and join in on the party. Anna seemed interested in the other kids and I'm guessing she was just thinking we were there for a visit. Well I didn't stick around long at all and the girls didn't even really see me leave so I think that may have helped with any seperation anxiety they may have had. When Lisa picked them up that afternoon Chickie (the daycare provider) said they did very well, Anna would get sad and started to cry a few times but then she would always stop after a minute or so, while Sophia did eventually warm up to the other kids in the house and enjoyed her time very much. 

 

When I dropped them off yesterday, well lets just say it didn't go quite so smoothly. Sophia had no complaints at all and was ready for another play time and fun. Anna on the other hand was not pleased at all when I handed her off to Chickie. She passed her back to me and the crying stopped instantly but I knew it would start right back up once I walked out the door. I sat with Anna for just a minute but then figured any goodbyes would just be that much harder if they are drawn out longer and since this will be a daily event I figured it was best to just drop them off and be on my way. So as I left yesterday Anna burst into tears as I walked out the door, I don't know who it was tougher for, her or me, just leaving her like that at some strangers house. Needless to say when Lisa picked them up in the afternoon Chickie said that Anna only cried for a minute after I left and was fine after that so I'm fairly certain Anna was just putting on a show for me. Once Lisa left with girls Sophia burst into tears as she put her into the carseat and cried for some time on the way home. I guess that's a pretty good indicater that things are going very well at daycare when they become sad with us taking them home.

A new chapter

Today marks a new chapter in the girls lives with it being their first day of daycare. Lisa was off to work this morning, heading back to Armatage School after a nearly two year absence. It was a wonderful two years off from work and it really gave her a great opportunity to bond with the girls, but unfortunately the school could not guarantee her position any longer and so the time has come for her to head back to work. My work schedule has also seen some changes in the last couple of weeks with a new work bid taking place, which means I am no longer starting work in the wee hours of the morning and am instead working the afternoon shift. This has actually been quite a blessing for everyone in our family because now Lisa does not have to feel rushed in the morning with getting herself ready along with the girls. Plus I get a chance to hang out with the girls in the morning and the best part, Anna and Sophia will only need to endure daycare for a few hours a day, which I think will be plenty of opportunity for them to intermingle with children their own age and bring home plenty of germs which ought to build up their immunities. And who knows, they may enjoy their playtime with other kids so much, they may be disappointed when we arrive to take them back home and away from the fun. It is all certainly going to take some adjusting to for all of us but we're confident it will be an adjustment we're all ready to take on.

backyard playtime

Today our good friends Chip and Margaret stopped by on their bicycles bringing with them some tasty venison brats for lunch, so we ended this Labor day weekend with a good old fashioned back yard cookout. The girls kept themselves busy with playing in their sandbox, climbing up and down the back steps, meandering aimlessly through the yard and fighting over who was going to sit in the chair (photo above). Anna proved herself able to eat a corn on the cob thoroughly and with great efficiency. Both girls managed to find all the dirtiest spots in the yard and got themselves as grungy as they could possibly be, but then isn't that what playing outdoors in the summertime is all about.

summer swim

Yesterday afternoon we headed down to Grandma and Grandpa Benson's place for Auntie Trista's birthday party. The girls had themselves a dip in the pool and hours of fun in the sun. Afterwards we went up to the condo for some taco's and bowling with Cousin Tyler on the Wii. It was all around a great day but a very long one as well. The girls were quite exhausted by all the action and it was good to get home and put them to bed for the evening. Each of them were asleep before their heads hit the pillow.

more photo's from the zoo