Dreamy daycare

So I feel it necessary to give you readers a little daycare update. You shared the pain, so you should also get to feel the joy. And believe me, there is much joy.

Switching Olan to a new daycare was the right decision to make. He settled in no problem and we all love it to bits. The people, the facility... everything just feels right. The old place seems like a bad old dream that we won't think about any more.

When we drop Olan off, he doesn't cry. It should be noted that morning snacktime usually coincides with drop off. This kid of ours could care if we cartwheel out the door once he spots the morning snack trolley coming :) And he LIKES it. He loves playing with the other kids, he loves his teachers, he loves his music class... it's all good. Today when I picked him up I got to hear "Olan had an awesome day. We cut a big pumpkin up and let the kids explore. He was the only one who took a spoon and started flailing away." Adam and I are ridiculously proud of this by the way :) "He made some pumpkin art and really enjoyed himself and when we had afternoon snack (crackers with cream cheese and salsa) he ate 12! We kept thinking that he would get full but he was still hungry, it was amazing!"

It feels SO good to have him be so happy in such a happy place. It feels right. I knew that the other place didn't feel right and we were so right to go with our feelings. You gotta trust that intuition people.

Adam passes his bee secrets to Olan, future Collins beekeeper


At the park

Santa Claus came to town

Last night was the "Parade of Lights" a.k.a The Santa Claus Parade. It was quite chilly but we bundled up and headed out. Olan loved it... the drums, the music, the lights, the little baton twirlers. And when I say baton twirlers, they numbered in the thousands. Adam, Meredith and I had no idea that we were living in the baton twirling capital of Canada, or perhaps the world. It was insane. Without the shriners and the baton girls the parade would have been pretty thin. We've decided that while the Parade of Lights might be super-duper exciting for Olan this year, the year will come when we'll have to take him to a "real" parade in a bigger city.

Our little Rudolph

Meredith tries to keep warm

Olan checking it all out

What you would expect to see at any Santa Claus parade, a float by the correctional institution. I mean, it sure puts me in the seasonal mood.


We should have had our own float, we were THAT good.

When the mayor passed out the glow sticks, Olan was first in line.


Santa!!!