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 Look at this awesome bedhead!

Starting Daycare

 Our kiddos started daycare on August 14th. It's a big center, so I was a little nervous as to how they were going to do. Their days are going to be long.

They were all pretty excited to go, especially Riley. They are going to have preschool activities throughout the day. She has been itching to go to preschool for a year now.

I dropped them off at 7:30 am. The girls did fine, but Ethan shed some tears. He was better when he was able to wave as I drove away. I called to check up on them and their teachers said they were doing well and getting along with the other kids. I was relieved! I felt bad leaving my crying child in a strange place.

I came to pick them up at 5:45 pm. It was a little weird. They weren't in their preschool rooms so I had to walk around the center to find them. The girls were outside playing on the teeter-totter. They were happy to see me! Riley ran up to me and said with a huge smile on her face, "Mommy, everybody didn't laugh at my hair, Mommy, they didn't laugh at my hair!" It made me laugh but it was kind of sad at the same time. I don't want her worried about people laughing at her hair. :(

Ethan was playing in the school-age room. It surprised me that they weren't playing together. He must not have felt like playing outside. He was watching, "Aladdin", with a group of kids. He was excited to see me! He had fun but wanted to go home.

They were completely filthy, exhausted, and hungry! They all said they had fun. It was really easy getting them to bed that night. My work schedule changed a little, so one week, I work two full days, and the next week, I work 3 full days. It's going to be a little bit of a change for the kids. I hope they do well!

The Palisades

 Mike had a bachelor party to go to in Minneapolis last weekend, so I had the kids the entire weekend. I wanted to do something fun with them that didn't cost a lot. We have never been to the Palisades, which is a state park near Sioux Falls. It is beautiful! They have some hiking trails and lots of rocks to climb on.

We had such a good time. I took lots of pictures, so this post is a little picture heavy.

 We packed a picnic lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and chips.

It surprised me that there were cactus there.

It did not surprise me that Ethan had one stuck to his leg. I had to pull hard to get that thing off. It was on there good. Ethan didn't cry although it had to have hurt.

 Ethan gets sick of me taking pictures. He starts making faces.

I can't wait to go back in October when the leaves start changing!

Children's Museum

 Warning! This post has a lot of pictures in it. I took Nathan, Jude, and my kids to the Children's Museum in Brookings last month. (Aren't I brave?) It is such a neat place. The kids had so much fun. I bought a yearly membership so we will definitely be back.

 Riley and Jude were trying to copy the Native American dancing in the video. It was pretty funny. They need to practice a little more.

 Ethan's eyes lit up when he saw this thing! He jumped right in and climbed to the top. The girls were more cautious. They look like giant surfboards with a net surrounding them.

 They have a dress-up section. Mia liked trying the clothes on. Riley and Jude put some on too.

 Ethan sat on the conveyor belt and Jude turned it until he fell into a big box. They enjoyed themselves a lot. Though, it dawned on me a little later that all of the other kids were putting fake food on the conveyor belt and watching it fall into the box. Parenting fail.

 I thought this was kind of weird. A momma pig and her babies. The girls took turns latching the piglets on. Does anyone else think that's slightly strange?

 A big Brite-Lite! This reminded me of being a kid. I used to love playing with it.

 We, of course, had to stop and paint. Ethan is a little Michelangelo. That kid would paint all day long if I let him.

 They also have a couple of robotic dinosaurs. The kids stayed at a distance!

 They have these little pool-pond things. I let my kids get in with their clothes on. It was so hot that day and I didn't really care at that point. They had fun splashing around. And then we had to walk them through the museum soaking wet. Parenting fail.

I had them strip down before they got in the car. I was praying I wouldn't get pulled over. I would have had some explaining to do. :)