Babysitting and Volunteering

I know, I know. Only three posts in and I am already falling behind. So, this one is for all my loyal fans (ok, maybe it is just one fan, Tom) out there that have been patiently waiting! Ha! Ha!
On Saturday, my sister and brother-in-law, Jenny and Andrew, had their 10 year class reunion. So, I got to watch my three nieces. For those of you that don't know, Mckenna is 3, Kaedyn is 2, and Brea is 9 months. As you can imagine, it can be a bit chaotic and I am a little out of practice when it comes to toddlers and babies. Josh, Breck, and Braydon went to a birthday party, so I was on my own. McKenna and Kaedyn kept themselves entertained most of the night playing with Breck's Littlest Pet Shop pets. Brea entertained herself by crawling EVERYWHERE very quickly and keeping me on my toes. I had to keep her away from outlets, stairs, and the precious TV. Apparently I did not do a good job of protecting the TV, because Josh discovered numerous handprints (I saw two, he saw hundreds) and he had to get out the lint free cloth and screen cleaner when he got home. Later, McKenna found some grapes on the counter. She asked me, "What about those grapes?" I took that as a hint and gave them both a bowl of grapes. Overall, the night went well. Then it was bedtime. It took me about an half an hour to put up the pack n play, while poor Brea was following me around crying because she was tired and hungry. That goes back to the out of practice thing I mentioned before. Breck, Braydon, McKenna, and Kaedyn all slept in Braydon's room. Braydon let them both borrow stuffed animals to sleep with. Kaedyn got a crab. She attacked me with the crab and in her best demonic voice, she yelled, "Crab! Crab! Crab!" They all went to sleep within 10 minutes after a minor incident. McKenna had snuck some of Braydon's cars into her sleeping bag and was playing. Braydon told her to put them away and she started crying. We compromised. I told her she could have Lightning McQueen. Brea decided to wake up at 10:30. She slept all night for my mom the night before! I told Josh she likes me more and just wanted to see me. She talked and played and I got her to sleep again around 12:30, right before mom and dad got home to take over! As Jenny was rolling up McKenna'a sleeping bag, I told her to check the little pocket on the outside. They told us they usually have to pat McKenna down before they leave someone's house, because she tries to take toys home that she likes. The pets she was playing with before would fit perfectly in that little pocket. She opened it. There were not pets, but a little flashing diamond. I told her it was not Breck's. She said it wasn't McKenna's. McKenna had stuffed it in there the night before at my mom's house, so my sister Jacey is short a little light up diamond! Like Josh said last night, McKenna may clepto, Kaedyn may talk in scary voices, and Brea will not sleep for us but we love them all! It is so fun when they come over!
Yesterday, I got to go volunteer in Braydon's kindergarten class. I just did some cutting and hanging of pictures. If you ever get the chance to spend some time in a kindergarten classroom, I suggest you do it. You will have new respect for teachers and paras. It is amazing that they can keep 22 five and six year olds all moving in the same direction. And they all know the routine so early in the schoool year. My baby looks so grown-up sitting at his table working on his schoolwork and lining up for lunch. The kids say funny things too. When I was in Breck's kindergarten classroom once, a kid raised his hand during storytime. The teacher called on him and he told her, "My mom had to get a job because we ran out of money!" She just said, "That's nice." and kept on reading. I cracked up, quietly of course. But she just went on reading. I guess that sort-of thing happens all the time in kindergarten. Mrs. Kvasnicka (Braydon's teacher) did tell me that he is doing really well and he is a good leader. I see those leadership qualities at home when he is screaming at his sister that she is not playing the Wii right! Breck also has some very good leadership skills :)!
Now I have done my duty! Hope I got you all caught up!