What's sweeter than a bowl full of Jelly Bellys?

A day of snuggling with Shelly-belly! That's just what Shelton's mama Kisha got yesterday when she took the day off to stay home with her little lady who was feeling under the weather. Since the Explorers Academy Preschool rules for sickies apply to everyone (even co-owner Kisha Gandsy!) Shelton's slight bug meant a much-needed day of rest for a very pregnant mama and her little girl! Thank goodness NY City Explorers' jack of all trades Edwin Guzman stepped in to save the day later in the afternoon, picking up Kisha's oldest tot from pre-K to save her and Shelton the cold-weather subway-trek. Thanks Edwin!

Our newest Bag of Tricks Babysitter is already a staff and parent favorite. Andrea Lubrano, who spent the afternoon sitting for adorable neighborhood tot Joshua at our Prospect Heights playspace, did so with joy to give front desk fave Vino much-needed time off to jet to a television show audition yesterday. Good luck Vino! We know "Break a leg!" is the wish preferred by performers, but given the icy state of the city's sidewalks this week, that's not a wish we're eager to pass along. Creative Director Amy Yurcan nearly did just that, her little Olive in tow, slipping while en route to the office on Tuesday morning. Be careful with your Explorers out there!

Andrea, good friends with fellow NYCE sitters Melissa Bayer and Cassidy Petrazzi, recently moved to the city from Westchester County, and now shares an apartment with Cassidy, living the dream of every woman who went to college during Sarah Jessica Parker's reign on HBO!

After an slippery start to the week, Amy finished it wonderfully, with a chance meeting of neighborhood mom of two Georgia, and her little ones Harry and Winnie at our playspace at 399 Atlantic Avenue yesterday afternoon. With a job that gives her the pleasure of being a resource to many of Brooklyn's moms and dads, Amy was appreciative of her side on the receiving end of more info on city daycares, elementary schools and language immersion programs than she knows what to do with, as her own little lady is only 5 months old!

We guess it's never to early to start preparing! For those of you who don't know yet, our Explorers Academy Preschool at 110 Schermerhorn Street offers language exposure classes in french, Spanish and Mandarin, in addition to private lessons in karate, yoga and ballet. Check it out by registering on a tour at http://www.nycityexplorers.com/!