I can't tell you how excited I am for fall. This is my personal favorite time of the year. I love the way life settles back into it's routine and my home goes back to being a cozy haven for my family (including my daycare family, of course!)
We're still taking advantage of every warm and sunny day, but even the kids seem glad to settle back into the comforts of the play room and the fun of crafts and indoor activities.
I'm especially excited that all of our "big kids" (3-4 year olds) are spending a couple of hours at the local pre-schools each week. I'm working on getting journals together so they can come in and record their favorite moments at school (via drawings and a sentence written by Julie or I describing it) so they don't forget to tell mom and dad all about it. We'll see if they are as excited about this as I am. (Jordan's usual response about what he did at school today is "play on the swing in the gym". Priorities.)
Take a look at the Upcoming Learning Themes page to see what September has to offer.
You can also check out the Weekly Menu page to see what we'll be eating this week.
I took a trip to the farmer's mercantile near Tri-Cities and got some fantastic peaches for jam! I can't wait to see what the kids think of my homemade jam (Let's not tell them it's low sugar.) :) I know I'm excited!
Here's to a great fall Moms and Dads.
Summer Newsletter
Hello Parents and Perspective Parents:
I am so excited for this summer’s program for school-age kids! We have so many activities planned and are looking forward to a fun (and occasionally educational) summer. Here’s a few things we’ll be doing, and I’m constantly hearing about more ideas.
Weekly trips to Surf and Slide Waterpark
The Moses Lake Aquatic Center
Moses Lake Library’s Summer Reading Program
Many parents/teachers are concerned about their kids losing reading levels over the summer. The ML Library offers a great summer reading program for kids of all ages. Children get small rewards for adult-confirmed reading throughout the summer and the child with the most time at the end of the summer wins a new bike. We’ll be taking regular trips to the library to get a library card if the child doesn’t yet have one as well as check out books and record our times/collect rewards. Children will be encouraged to spend at least ½ hour a day reading. (Smaller children will be read to by adults/older children.)
LakeBowl Free Bowling
LakeBowl offers two free games of bowling per day all summer long! Please go to kidsbowlfree.com and register your child asap. It only takes about 3 minutes. We will be bowling as much as possible this summer! (Hello! It’s free!) You can either print the bowling coupons they send you weekly or forward the email to me so I can print them. We definitely won’t use them all so I will share them with you whenever you want them! If you would like me to register your child for you, just let me know! (I’m not sure if it will let me, but I’ll certainly try.)
The ML Movie Theater also offers Free Movie Day throughout the summer. Once that schedule is out, we’ll decide with parents which movies we’ll be going to see.
In addition to our weekly field trips, we will also have sprinklers going, bikes to ride and lots of fun around here.
Summer Program
This summer our babies will be home with their lucky mommies. So, we're getting ready for a summer of big kid fun! I'm excited to say we'll be visiting the aquatic center with our school-age kids around once a week, taking lots of trips to the park and participating in other local summertime activities. We are also participating in the ML Library's Summer Reading Program. If you haven't contacted me regarding signing your big kids up, please do so right away, we only have a couple of spots left!
Only a few more days of school left. Hooray!
Only a few more days of school left. Hooray!
Technical Difficulties
Parents,
I'm sorry I'm not able to post photos and fun things about the past couple of weeks. As you know, we are having "communication technical difficulties" around here. I promise to post as soon as possible!
In the mean time, I'm storing up lots of cute photos to save for a rainy day. : )
I'm sorry I'm not able to post photos and fun things about the past couple of weeks. As you know, we are having "communication technical difficulties" around here. I promise to post as soon as possible!
In the mean time, I'm storing up lots of cute photos to save for a rainy day. : )
oh my, mud pies!
I'm not sure how I tied making mud pies into an outside/bug themed week, but I'm so glad I did! These kids had an absolute blast digging their hands in the mud! And boy were they dirty.
Here's a couple of interesting facts about me: I don't do bugs and I don't do worms. Yech! So, I went out and bought some dirt for the occasion. You should definitely use clean dirt when making mud pies, right? We had a bucket of dirt, a bucket of water and plenty of utensils and containers. I turned the kids loose and was amazed to see what they came up with. I had an awesome time watching them discover what happens when you use too much or not enough water, realizing the ultimate power of "capacity" (you can only add so much water to a pie tin before it runneth over into your lap) : ) and getting an overall picture of their personalities at work.
Little Miss was all business and concentration the whole time... measuring, strategizing, and problem-solving. She was one serious chef.
Here's a couple of interesting facts about me: I don't do bugs and I don't do worms. Yech! So, I went out and bought some dirt for the occasion. You should definitely use clean dirt when making mud pies, right? We had a bucket of dirt, a bucket of water and plenty of utensils and containers. I turned the kids loose and was amazed to see what they came up with. I had an awesome time watching them discover what happens when you use too much or not enough water, realizing the ultimate power of "capacity" (you can only add so much water to a pie tin before it runneth over into your lap) : ) and getting an overall picture of their personalities at work.
Little Miss was all business and concentration the whole time... measuring, strategizing, and problem-solving. She was one serious chef.
Then there was Lady A... she was all squishing and giggles and a big ball of mud by the end. She was one inspired chef!
Fortunately for me, the babies slept right through this activity. : ) They did have a good time keeping each other entertained most of the day though. I am so lucky!
Hooray for Sun!
The weather has been so nice this week, so we took advantage of being outside as much as possible. Here's a few shots of the kids playing in the water.
outdoor... bug week
This week we're learning about outdoor life, mostly bugs. Today the kids and I took a "nature hike" {to the end of our block} to visit the horse and look for some bugs. The only bug we found was a bee, but we put him in our little bug catcher and watched him under a magnifier. *It was FREAKY* (according to the kids, of course). Here's a few shots of our adventures.
In the 'back 40', looking for stuff.
Talking to "Lightening/Sugar". I'll let you decide who named her what.
"Sugar" decided Lady A needed a kiss in the middle of the pic. Too funny!
I think she's a cowgirl at heart.
Bugs hide under rocks, ya know.
At least we have cool equipment.
Since we couldn't find any real bugs, we decided to make our own.
All the while, Baby B was full of cheese.
Since we couldn't find any real bugs, we decided to make our own.
ocean week wrap-up
making peekaboo aquariums
whale watching
We watched a tale of whales today and then the kids made their very own from paper bags and googly eyes. Any craft that involves googly eyes is a hit with these kiddos!
And then there was a dance party with Alvin and the Chipmunks. SO cute!
I think this was some break-dancing moves. A-Dorable.
And then there was a dance party with Alvin and the Chipmunks. SO cute!
I think this was some break-dancing moves. A-Dorable.
ocean pudding
We made some vanilla pudding today and tried to dye it blue. {Note to self: vanilla pudding is yellow and when you add blue it only makes a disgusting green.} But the kids loved it anyway. I guess... they ate it. Here's a couple of cute pics with their gold fish graham crackers swimming around.
Lady A really knows how to "Vanna White" her pudding!
Not sure what jj was up to.
Baby B was less than impressed at first.
But then decided to cheese it up a little. : )
Lady A really knows how to "Vanna White" her pudding!
Not sure what jj was up to.
ocean week
This week is Ocean/Marine Life week in America. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many holidays there are that most people aren't aware of. At least I was never aware. Well, in looking for educational themes to tie into what could be mundane learning for kids... you learn lots of holidays and QUICK! This week we'll be making projects and learning things that have to do with marine life and the ocean. Check back for more photos.
Here's what we made today. {An octopus made from egg carton cups (and boy do I have plenty of those the day after Easter), felt and pony beads.} Making these wasn't a huge hit with the kids, but they sure loved the finished product. They named theirs Sponge Bob and Patrick. Oh my! We also watched Finding Nemo and tried to name as many of the "fish" as they could.
Here's what we made today. {An octopus made from egg carton cups (and boy do I have plenty of those the day after Easter), felt and pony beads.} Making these wasn't a huge hit with the kids, but they sure loved the finished product. They named theirs Sponge Bob and Patrick. Oh my! We also watched Finding Nemo and tried to name as many of the "fish" as they could.
milestones
I love it when babies start doing new things. Baby B stood up and cruised around all of the furniture today. It was too cute. Oh boy! Walking is just around the corner. Look out world!
Such determination!
And Pretty Darn Proud Too!
Such determination!
hoppy easter
Our last day before Easter was full of fun. There were lots of crafts and activities. Here's a few, but I was too busy running around to snap very many pictures!
Painting Flower Pot Hats
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