Our Favorite April

It's the end of April and so only fitting that we take a moment to highlight my family's "April."  We spent a lot of time and effort finding "the perfect day care" after we moved to our current hood.  We wanted the kids to participate in some sort of learning during the day.  No background television clouding their growing minds.  No cat hair on every surface their little hands touched.  A nice backyard for outdoor play.  Structure but not a jail.  Room to move and play inside and freedom to be who they want to be.  Healthy food and rules and crafts that we can hang up at home.  Time for naps and enforcement of manners and kindness to others.  And it needed to work with our schedules.  And it needed to be close to home. 

Yeah right huh?  Well, a neighbor referred us to her provider.  One mile from our house.  April, a retired pre-school teacher has been doing in home daycare for years.  Her home is clean and pet free.  Her backyard is one that a kid could only dream of.  Her garage holds not cars but toys and activities for her kids to grow their brains with.  And I mean that literally.  Anything you can think of, April has already thought of or is planning to think of soon.  The crafts Dude comes home with are astonishing and creative and heartwarming.  She feeds them healthy meals.  She's strict with manners and obeying and being kind to one another.  She lets them sleep and have down time and boy does she let them play.  She insists on it.  She's open the days I work and doesn't charge an arm and a leg to care for my little ones.  My kids love April's house - never once have either of them cried when we drop them off, but more than once they have cried when we drag them home.  In fact, Squirt now runs, in her hobbly way, away from us, as fast as she can, upon our arrival at the end of the day.  We pick them up happy and dirty.  And this tidy and clean mom has grown to believe that the dirtier they are, the more awesome day they had. 

This was a sampling of what Dude came home with from Pirate Week.  A kid's dream come true.  His own green treasure box, which was hidden in April's yard.  He received a customized hand made treasure map, leading to his treasure box.  All the children had their own special maps - no two alike.  He decorated a ship, a hat, a hook and a pictured of himself as a pirate.  Can you imagine possessing this much creativity and patience?  I can't.  Not even for one second.  Thank goodness we have April. 

This came home during dinosaur week and the puppet below, you guessed it.  Monster week. 
We bought a special artwork wire just to showcase our April creations.  Blessed in the day care department? I think so.