A Very Special Birthday

Today we celebrated the birthday of a very special person.

 Amelia, Isaac, Sam, and Alex anxiously await a cupcake to celebrate Miss Ellen's birthday.

"Miss Ellen," as the kids call her, and I used to work together. She retired not long after I had the boys and she signed on to help with our 9:30 p.m. feedings.

God love her, she's been coming back ever since.

She came back to walk babies who wouldn't sleep. To feed babies who made an enormous mess of themselves and the person feeding them. To chase down toddlers who wouldn't listen. To teach the boys, "No fits, no fights!" To watch more episodes of Dora than any friend should have to bear. To break up wrestling matches and wrestle the kids down for naps.

Miss Ellen even came back after a recent afternoon when my boys refused to nap for her. When she said, "If you don't nap, Mommy won't let me come back and babysit anymore," the boys responded by naming off all their other babysitters.

She laughed. And later texted me, "Life lesson: Everyone's replaceable."

Thanks for everything Miss Ellen. We love you!

© Trippin' Mama 2011