School got out for the preschoolers last week and the big kids got done with school on Tuesday…so it’s summertime childcare for me.  I don’t have a lot of kids but it’s a new routine.

Wednesday Kelli had her six-week check-up so I had her kiddos here.  Much of the morning was spent passing the babies from big kid to big kid as they all wanted in on holding them.  Here is Carver with Eli.

We spent time outside too.  Here Georgie is working on her scooter skills.  This style of scooter is great for kids just learning.  It has three wheels vs the typical two.  HERE is where I found the scooter.

I had told you that I bought new scooters with my Amazon affiliate dollars.  That is the commission money Amazon pays me from purchases you make using the links from my blog.  I so appreciate your using the links.  The 25 cents here and there ads up.  I often use the money to buy goodies for the kids.  Our outside equipment has had a wonderful overhaul thanks to you all.

The kids asked for a picnic…we had one using the wonderful eye spy quilt a  sweet blog reader, Christi, made.  I sent the kids in to get a quilt for the picnic and they brought out this one.  I almost sent them back in to get a different one but then I remembered.  I like seeing the quilts I made being used…this one did get used.  After the picnic, they wrapped Georgie in it like a burrito.

…and then carried her around.

The boys were here too…Both of the boys will randomly raise a hand in the middle of sleeping.  We call in hallelujah hands.

I just happened to snap this picture of Georgie… Continue reading →

AH…I am having the worst time.  Maybe you all can help me.

With childcare I used to go to the park all the time in the summer so the kids could use the play equipment.  I had a triple stroller.  This one you see below and I loved it.  It was great for kids once they reached about a year old.

I’d load them all up and go to the park.  For the most part, it was pretty good.  I didn’t keep a swing set at my house…if we wanted play equipment, we went to the park.

Well…That got to be a challenge.  The park equipment wasn’t really the best for my kids.  There was only one baby swing and as you can see by the picture above, I likely needed three baby swings to accommodate this group.

The other problem, they use small rocks as surfacing.  Well…as you can see from the kids in the stroller, those small rocks weren’t the best for my kids as I’d always have one or two that would put the rocks in their mouth.  UGH.

Then…insurance and liability became more of a concern.  The park is next to the river that runs through town.  I changed insurance for my childcare business and it seemed a little more frowned on.

Then…my kids in the stroller starting aging.  I filled those spots with babies.  As I went along, it became harder and harder to leave the house when I had babies….So, I saw this swing set on a for sale group for $25 and talked Kramer into giving it a try.  It was been wonderful.  I can’t tell you how much I have loved having this swing set.  We have a wonderful play place now.  It’s so cute.  The kids call it my “playground”.

The glider on the right is a big favorite with the kids.

We are outside almost every morning once the weather gets nice.  We’re either playing in the big tire sandbox, swinging or playing with water once it is warm enough.

The best part of this…there is something for the babies to do.  I can push them in the swing.  I can take an exersaucer outside.  Being at my house allows so many more options so that everyone can be entertained…and a bathroom is close and safe.

Well…my wonderful $25 swing has last for four years.  It’s gotten WAY more use than any other normal swingset.  Best of all, we’ve had it long enough to know that I am happy to have one here, and having a swing set here is a good option.

Well…that $25 swing has also seen better days.  The flooring of the basket swing is no more.  Something has to be done about it…so I started swing set shopping.

Oh my.  I didn’t know how good of a swing set I had until I started shopping for a new swing set.  I had THREE places to put swings.  I had TWO slides.  I had a glider and the basket swing.  There were LOTS of places for the kiddos to play.

I went through a bit of a debate.  Do I get a wooden set?  Do I get a metal swing?   I thought and thought.  I know the guys in my life would build me a wooden set but they are so expensive.  I know I can find them on sale sites like Marketplace but I think I’ve convinced myself not to get a wooden one.  So many of them come like this… Continue reading →