Cheap dates -- share your ideas

OK, I promise I will not regularly turn this blog into a forum for gathering information for work purposes; however, on occasion it seems like the perfect way to tap into a wide array of people’s brains which is exactly what I need to do today.

For the upcoming Valentine’s season I’m putting together a story for The Spectrum newspaper’s entertainment guide on inexpensive date ideas for people of all ages and all relationship stages.

Kind of “recession-proof dating,” or something along those lines.

If it’s been a while since you've had to be cheap/creative in your dating, think back to the younger days and those ideas would be welcome. Or, if you’ve been clever recently, way to go! I want to hear from you too!

I won’t be using your name or anything in my story, so don’t worry about that. I’m just generating a list of ideas from which my colleagues and I will compile the list and then we’ll actually be trying out some of the dates and writing about them. The ideas can be general (as in your geographical location does not matter) or if you know of things specific to Southern Utah, that’s great too.

Can’t wait to hear from you. In a way, you’ll be helping plan a fun date for Derek and I so send me something good :)

We survived... and thrived!

Our first week of pre-preschool has come and gone and we all survived. Not only that, I couldn't be happier with how things have gone.
(If you're wondering what I'm talking about, check out the post below this one.)

Our first morning went off without a hitch. Lydia was excited as we got in the car.

We've been preparing for a week or so by talking about school and what they'll do and by reading a special book her teacher, Miss Gay, provided called "Bye Bye Time." It is so simple and yet adorable and it is now one of Lydia's favorite books to read. I'd recommend it for anyone because even if you don't have to take your child to daycare, you're inevitably going to have to leave them sometime. (I think Scholastic prints it, if you are interested.)

When we got to Miss Gay's Lydia seemed to remember the place from our initial visit to the facility. I tried to get her to stand still for a "first day of school picture" but she is a very busy girl and does not usually have time to indulge her mother in these kinds of things lately.


She went in and was only slightly clingy when I said goodbye, then she got distracted by Miss Gay and her cat and suddenly she wasn't worried about me leaving.
Her teacher was so nice to call me mid-morning to let me know Lydia was doing just fine. In fact, (warning: brag time) she told me that Lydia seems to be a very secure, well adjusted child. Ah, that is just the kind of thing a worried mother wants to hear :)

Meanwhile, because it was Martin Luther King day, Derek was able to accompany me on a work assignment to review a really good restaurant on the east side of Zion. I almost felt like we were playing hookey because it was such a treat to have a midday date like that but it was an assignment for me so it was totally legit :)


When I came to pick Lydia up she was so busy playing with the toys that she wasn't even that excited to see me. Although I was a little sad about that I'd much rather have her happily playing than upset and wringing her hands until I arrive.

She is going to Miss Gay's two days a week and today went just as well as Monday, with only a little crying as I left. Miss Gay was once again so kind to call me a few minutes later to let me know Lydia had stopped crying and was settled in and ready for a fun day. I really appreciated that.

Both times I've picked her up her teacher has commented on (warning: more bragging here) how well adjusted Lydia seems, how beautifully she lays down for her nap and what a good eater she is. In fact, in the little note she sent home the first day it said: "She takes her eating seriously!" Boy, do I know it!
Today Miss Gay asked if she'd spent a lot of time around cousins or other children. Sadly, the answer is no, but this surprised her because she said she is very good at interacting with the other children. What a relief! I hope it lasts!

I don't credit any of Lydia's apparent good behavior to myself or Derek, I think we were just blessed with a really good child. I am also VERY aware that this kind of a phase could be short lived but I will take the positive feedback from her teacher as long as she wants to send it along!

Pre-preschool

Recently, I embarked on one of my most challenging parental experiences to date: The search for the perfect daytime childcare.

(Note the avoidance of the word "daycare." I don't know why but "daycare" has such a negative connotation for me, and many people, that I find it easier to call it something else. But more on that later.)

You may be wondering how I have avoided this daytime childcare quest so long considering Lydia is almost 18 months old and, as many of you know, I work part time. The answer lies in the heroic and unfailing generosity of my husband’s mother and grandmother. There are very few concerns that crop up in the mind of even the most protective mother when you know your child is in the care of someone who truly loves her as their own. However, recent circumstances beyond anyone’s control dictated the need for a change that has thrust me into a world of newfound empathy for so many other parents who have dealt with this before. After all, like a quest for the elusive Holy Grail, it seems there is no such thing as perfect childcare.

My goal then was to find something incredibly close.

After spending several days allowing my mind to wander through the jungle of “what ifs?” and horror stories that seem to readily fall from people’s lips when they learn you’re looking into daycare possibilities (as if the self-inflicted guilt wasn’t punishment enough) I once again found strength in the support of family and friends, this time in the form of references.

One suggestion seemed particularly promising: a woman in my neighborhood who runs a full-time childcare facility in her home. A preliminary meeting with her revealed this is not just a daycare. This woman has a structured program that seemed more like a preschool for younger children with regular activities, lessons, meals, naps, plenty of outdoor playtime and more.

Sort of a pre-preschool. It sounded promising.

Thorough research on my end that included several comfort-seeking phone calls to my mother and sister, a multitude of questions for the care provider and for her past clients revealed nothing but glowing endorsements. Additionally, I popped in twice unannounced and was impressed by how clean and orderly things were, how well behaved the kids seemed and how her home didn't smell like a daycare, in fact it smelled like freshly baked bread one day and something else so delicious the next time that I wanted to stay for lunch. Could it be this harrowing decision had a solution that was so… perfect?

The jury is still out on an official verdict since I haven’t actually left Lydia in her care. But tomorrow I will and while there will undoubtedly be tears shed the first few times (both Lydia's and mine) deep down I am excited to see how she grows and develops as she interacts with other children in this “pre-preschool” setting that I cannot provide in my home.

By the way, I realize referring to this new daycare situation as “pre-preschool” is nothing more than a euphemism, but I don’t care. I’ll do anything to make it easier to walk out that door.

Faces of a new year

There's something that is so wonderful about the fresh feeling of a new year. I love the cozy clutter of Christmas holidays (both literally in the extra decorations and figuratively in the additional items on my social calendar and daily to do list) but I also love the stark contrast that January brings.
It feels clean. I feel renewed.
This feeling was further enhanced when we awoke on Jan. 3 to a blanket -- albeit a thin blanket -- of snow. This is usually a once-a-year treat for us in St. George so I enjoyed it. Not everyone in my family (read: Derek) finds this part of nature quite so enjoyable but every now and then it's really nice. I was sad I had to go to work that day as I would have loved to stay home and play in the yard with Lydia. Snowmen and hot chocolate... mmmm... But it was not to be. Instead I got to hear everyone who walked in my office door griping about the weather. Seriously people -- its once a year. I think you're going to be OK.


After an incredibly low key New Year's Eve (which was perfect for us this year) I have done the following:
* Recommitted to my running regiment after seriously faltering the latter half of December. What can I say -- I am as human as they come.
* "Celebrated" Lydia's 17-month birthday on Jan. 6 by actually remembering to take photos of her on that day.
* Trying to read more.
* Started on my lengthy list of organizational projects and myriad other resolutions.
* Fell off the fitness wagon (yes, just days after re-committing) and have since re-re-committed once again. Jan. 10 is as good a day as Jan. 1, right? I guess we'll see :)
* Tried to document a few of the adorable faces and phases of Lydia in the last week.

She loves wearing these glasses. I think they are absolutely hilarious.

17-months old today (Jan. 6).
This is an adorable phase. She has started to really mimick a lot of the things Derek and I do. One day Derek was peeling and eating an orange with dinner. We looked over to Lydia, who was eating mandarin orange slices, and she was pulling pieces of them off and putting them in a pile just like Daddy was doing with his orange. She also loves to use my extra brush to brush her barely there hair. One day she kept walking over to the trash can and kind of pulling at the bristles, then letting her hand dangle above the trash for a moment. I realize that is exactly what I do whenever I'm done to clean the loose hair out of my brush too.
She's not talking yet but she communicates really well with sign language (more, please, water, milk, all done, thank you, apple, cheese) and she makes some sounds that we recognize as words even though we are fully aware they are not anything the average person could decipher. My favorites are her sounds for keys and cheese (which sound a lot alike) and her sounds for kitty, blanket and binky.

Lately she wants to sit in very tight little spaces. Like under this table or in a corner behind a chair or in her toy box or other things. I don't know why but it's kind of cute. (By the way, she wasn't actually mad in this photo, but my camera's delay didn't capture a regular face).

Some days she just looks so grown up to me. Today we were walking out the door for church and I had to grab the camera. She is just so big lately.