(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
I know I'm behind on my posts
The Christmas season always generates a bunch of photos, though.
Here are Andrew and Matthew decorating the tree. Our tree has two well-decorated quadrants; bottom-right and bottom-left, Andrew didn't seem to feel like decorating the middle. Matthew did his best effort in looking really cute.
Okay, I must admit that this ornament is actually mine. It's about 25 years old right now. I remember making it in school and thinking it had to be one of the coolest homemade ornaments ever. I still have an irrational soft spot in my heart for it to this day.
The only reason that I took this photo and posted it, though, is that Liz has never liked it. I don't know why. Maybe she projects all of her frustration from me onto this ornament, maybe she doesn't like spools, maybe she doesn't like my artwork, or maybe she's just a grinch©.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Here are Andrew and Matthew decorating the tree. Our tree has two well-decorated quadrants; bottom-right and bottom-left, Andrew didn't seem to feel like decorating the middle. Matthew did his best effort in looking really cute.
Okay, I must admit that this ornament is actually mine. It's about 25 years old right now. I remember making it in school and thinking it had to be one of the coolest homemade ornaments ever. I still have an irrational soft spot in my heart for it to this day.The only reason that I took this photo and posted it, though, is that Liz has never liked it. I don't know why. Maybe she projects all of her frustration from me onto this ornament, maybe she doesn't like spools, maybe she doesn't like my artwork, or maybe she's just a grinch©.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Andrew coloring
These are actually a couple days a part. The first one was taken just before the holiday parade here in town. The Cultural Arts Fest sponsored a Christmas card activity for the kids. See some other random kids here. 
And this was a grab shot while he was coloring at the house a couple days later.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
And this was a grab shot while he was coloring at the house a couple days later.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Matthew eating and me playing with my flash
Matthew's starting to figure out this finger food thing. He's not good at it yet, but he's trying.
Andrew loves it when I break out my flash and try some new setups.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Andrew loves it when I break out my flash and try some new setups.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
More Christmas tree hunting
Andrew picked out our Christmas tree this year all by himself and he chose it quite rapidly. I think he just wanted to get back on the tractor and was willing to take the first tree he found.(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Despite hope against hopes, it happened anyway
I just ushered Child Protective Services out our front door. I'm absolutely dumbfounded that they had to come out here, but they did. I supposed a little back story is needed.
We were in VA over Thanksgiving, as you probably well know. We got back on the December 1 and the kids went back to daycare on December 3 (I work Wednesday through Saturday, for those of you who don't know). When I picked the kids up from daycare that evening, Matthew had a some loose stools (he's going to love reading this post later in life), but nothing else that would generate concern. His bowel movements remained loose for the rest of the evening and we wrestled with whether to send him to daycare on Thursday. Eventually we decided that since he had no other symptoms at all, he would be fine at daycare the next day.
Liz dropped them off on Thursday morning and the daycare told her that they meant to tell her to keep Matthew home that day, but since he was already there and in good spirits they'd take him. Liz told them that she'd be back to nurse him at lunch and if he was not able to stay, she'd be happy to bring him home.
Over the course of the morning, he had a couple explosive poops and the assistant teacher determined that he should probably go home. She brought this up to the Master Teacher in the infant area who disagreed with her; he still wasn't running a fever or was fussy, just poopy. The assistant teacher continued to press her case and took it to the Assistant Director, who happened to be either busy or out of the office at the time. She continued on to the Executive Director, who sided with the Master Teacher. At this point her discussion with the Director became quite heated and animated. It sounds to me like she got somewhat belligerent and he doesn't tolerate any actions outside of the chain-of-command. She was summarily dismissed.
The next day, Friday, we kept Matthew home. I found out that evening that the Daycare Licensing board showed up at the daycare, referred on an "anonymous" tip that children were being neglected and Matthew was at the school ill. They interviewed all the parties involved and decided that no action was necessary. Not 30 minutes after they left, CPS shows up referred on an "anonymous" tip. The Assistant Director showed CPS their visitors' log entry for the Daycare Licensing board and explains the situation, seemingly to their satisfaction.
On comes Monday, when CPS showed up at the daycare again. They wanted to see Matthew. Of course, he wasn't there and wouldn't be until Wednesday. The Assistant Director again explained that she has no concerns for his welfare and that of all the kids in their school, they probably the last they'd consider in peril.
Wednesday rolled around and we don't hear anything. I went to talk to the directors, but they were in interviews. Thursday rolled around and we don't hear anything. I got a hold of the directors and explained my concerns and heard their explanations. They seemed to think that situation had been put to rest. Friday rolled around and we still haven't heard anything.
Today I spent most of the morning cleaning the house (It really looks like a tornado ripped through. Who knew a 4-year-old and a 10-month-old could cause so much damage?) when the doorbell rang. I though, "Great. A Jehovah's Witness."
She introduced herself and I invited her in. She started the conversation by saying with her first sentence, "We really think this is a load of BS, but we have to follow up anyway." Comforting words, but I still am anxious.
Although the interview went well and she left saying that they'd send me a letter to sign so the whole incident could get expunged from the system, it still made me question everything I have done as a parent. You hear all the horror stories about CPS taking kids with very little cause and even though you rationalize it intellectually, when you deal with them you wonder, "Will that be me?"
The part that gets me about the whole thing is that the assistant teacher, who had been charged with the care of our child and seemed to have done a good job, thought that she would be best served exacting revenge on her former employer and get us personally involved in CPS. How does this benefit anyone?
I hope this is the end of it.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
We were in VA over Thanksgiving, as you probably well know. We got back on the December 1 and the kids went back to daycare on December 3 (I work Wednesday through Saturday, for those of you who don't know). When I picked the kids up from daycare that evening, Matthew had a some loose stools (he's going to love reading this post later in life), but nothing else that would generate concern. His bowel movements remained loose for the rest of the evening and we wrestled with whether to send him to daycare on Thursday. Eventually we decided that since he had no other symptoms at all, he would be fine at daycare the next day.
Liz dropped them off on Thursday morning and the daycare told her that they meant to tell her to keep Matthew home that day, but since he was already there and in good spirits they'd take him. Liz told them that she'd be back to nurse him at lunch and if he was not able to stay, she'd be happy to bring him home.
Over the course of the morning, he had a couple explosive poops and the assistant teacher determined that he should probably go home. She brought this up to the Master Teacher in the infant area who disagreed with her; he still wasn't running a fever or was fussy, just poopy. The assistant teacher continued to press her case and took it to the Assistant Director, who happened to be either busy or out of the office at the time. She continued on to the Executive Director, who sided with the Master Teacher. At this point her discussion with the Director became quite heated and animated. It sounds to me like she got somewhat belligerent and he doesn't tolerate any actions outside of the chain-of-command. She was summarily dismissed.
The next day, Friday, we kept Matthew home. I found out that evening that the Daycare Licensing board showed up at the daycare, referred on an "anonymous" tip that children were being neglected and Matthew was at the school ill. They interviewed all the parties involved and decided that no action was necessary. Not 30 minutes after they left, CPS shows up referred on an "anonymous" tip. The Assistant Director showed CPS their visitors' log entry for the Daycare Licensing board and explains the situation, seemingly to their satisfaction.
On comes Monday, when CPS showed up at the daycare again. They wanted to see Matthew. Of course, he wasn't there and wouldn't be until Wednesday. The Assistant Director again explained that she has no concerns for his welfare and that of all the kids in their school, they probably the last they'd consider in peril.
Wednesday rolled around and we don't hear anything. I went to talk to the directors, but they were in interviews. Thursday rolled around and we don't hear anything. I got a hold of the directors and explained my concerns and heard their explanations. They seemed to think that situation had been put to rest. Friday rolled around and we still haven't heard anything.
Today I spent most of the morning cleaning the house (It really looks like a tornado ripped through. Who knew a 4-year-old and a 10-month-old could cause so much damage?) when the doorbell rang. I though, "Great. A Jehovah's Witness."
She introduced herself and I invited her in. She started the conversation by saying with her first sentence, "We really think this is a load of BS, but we have to follow up anyway." Comforting words, but I still am anxious.
Although the interview went well and she left saying that they'd send me a letter to sign so the whole incident could get expunged from the system, it still made me question everything I have done as a parent. You hear all the horror stories about CPS taking kids with very little cause and even though you rationalize it intellectually, when you deal with them you wonder, "Will that be me?"
The part that gets me about the whole thing is that the assistant teacher, who had been charged with the care of our child and seemed to have done a good job, thought that she would be best served exacting revenge on her former employer and get us personally involved in CPS. How does this benefit anyone?
I hope this is the end of it.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Swing Swang Swung
The big swingset in the backyard came with two of these sling swings and one tandem swing. We had all three of those on the swingset while the infant swing that Andrew used and Matthew's currently using stayed on the tree where it was. Andrew asked us to move the little swing so that he and Matthew could play at the same time. Added bonus: the yellow swing went onto the tree limb and hangs down far enough for him to swing on his belly. Sweet!
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Coming to getcha!
I have no idea what was on the paper. It really doesn't matter. This child is obsessed with paper, cardboard, card stock, anything made from wood pulp.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Last day in VA
Andrew took the opportunity that our last day in VA presented and tossed some rocks in the Cherrys' driveway. As you do.
I thought I'd experiment with these. Thoughts?
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
I thought I'd experiment with these. Thoughts?
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
What an exhausting trip and other photos
This one was a grab shot, so please forgive the focusing. I held the camera with an outstretched arm while I held Matthew in the other. I couldn't see through the viewfinder, just pressed the button, and got what I got.
(c) 2008 Scott Everett
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)