DECEMBER newsletter

Alecia, Hailey, Amelia, Daniel and Brody enjoying a special mac and cheese lunch!


Well, we are winding down until the new year. I hope everyone is enjoying the little gifts. On Wedesday we will decorate some star cookies.

I just want to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my families. Thank you for "taking the plunge" and allowing me the pleasure of welcoming you and your little ones into my home this year. It means so much that you have faith in me as a home daycare "newbie" and were willing to let me find my bearings during my first few months in operation.

All of the children have become an integral part of my life and our family. I can't wait to see how they grow and change in the new year.

Best wishes for a safe and happy Christmas, full of love, joy and laughter.

It sure will seem quiet around here!

"Off to the Park" Dec 4, 2009

So you can see from the pictures why the kids are coming home all covered in mud everyday! Our attempt at growing grass this fall was foiled by the cool nights. Hopefully it will work better in the spring!

We struck out to explore a new park this morning. After a challenging time getting dressed and out the door, we had a quick play in the back and then piled into the wagon. We crossed Adelaide and played at Constitution Park on Grenfell, because it is actually a shorter walk than going up the hill to the neighbourhood park.

What fun to have 4 little swings for 4 little ones! We all got to swing at the same time (and I didn't have to worry about somebody being knocked out! haha) Then we all took a few turns on the smaller slide before cheering Amelia on for the ride home (sometimes a bike ride just isn't the best choice!) Today was a PD Day in the elementary schools, and Amelia was excited to do an activity with "the babies."

We also spent some time today working on a Christmas craft to bring home, and telling our new favourite story "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" by Eric Carle on my new felt board. (Thanks mom!)

Stay warm!

Hey Look--I'm all caught up! I hope you are enjoying the new blog!

Feel free to share it with your friends and family, I bet they would love to see what the munchkins are up to!

"Let It Snow" Dec 1, 2009

Today was the first day we got to explore snow. What a way to welcome in the month of December!

We had a little dusting on the ground that was mostly melted by noon. The sun was out and it was a great day to play outside!

The kids liked to draw in the snow, pick it up, feel it melt and exclaim over how cold it was!

They also got some wet bums discovering how fast it made our little slide go.

NOVEMBER Newsletter

Oh dear, look at the date!

I apologize for my lack of blog entries in the last month. There are a couple of reasons I was SO SLOW this month (besides the obvious reason of moving) mainly that this site builder has informed me that I have uplaoded as many photos as I am allowed. I thought about shrinking all my photos and deleting some unneccessary ones, but the file manager isn't very user friendly. SO I am looking at a blogger page and should have that up and going in the new year.

In anycase, I can give you a little update, boring though it may be without any beautiful pictures of the little darlings.

On November 9th we welcomed a new little munchkin into the group: her name is Sophie, she is 2 years old and is setting a great example in language and communication skills for the rest of the toddlers (I used to call them the babies, I guess I will have to give that up)!

It was also our first open day after the big move, and everyone adjusted VERY VERY well. Don't worry, we won't move again for awhile.

We have still been attending our usual Tuesday playgroup and Wednesday storytime, and getting out as much as possible while the days are still not too cold. Sorry about the muddy clothes. The walk to Amelia's new school is quite a hike, but so far everyone is being a good sport. We are looking at a different weekely routine to be starting after the holidays.

We just finished our "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" theme, which we finished by tracing our bodies on big paper. We also learned a new verse to the song which makes everyone laugh: "Head, shoulders, tummies and bums, eyes, ears, fingers and thumbs!"

This week we started a theme on colours and in a couple weeks we will start looking at winter holidays. If you have any holiday traditons you would like to share, please let me know!

Please note that I will be closed Thursday December 24th which is not a stat holiday, so ne fees will be due this day. I will also be closed on Friday December 25th which is a stat holiday, so your fees will apply if you usually come on this day.

Please make sure your children have enough outdoor clothing so that they will be comfortable outdoors for about an hour. Obviuosly if the weather is very wet, cold or windy we will not spend very time outside. However, we do like to have at least one extended outdoor play everyday, even if it is muddy--splashpants are great!

"The Book Nook" Nov 11, 2009

The greatest thing about our new house is the convex window in the playroom we are using as the "Book Nook."

We start and end almost every day reading stories together.

Amelia likes to call all the kids over when I am getting lunch together and "read" to them from the books she knows by heart.

It's just a cozy pile of pillows in front of the window, but we love to sit there and watch the squirrels, birds and snowflakes while we are sharing books. We are going to get a bird feeder so we can share with the birds through the winter.

"Pumpkin Carving" Oct 28, 2009

Some of us are a little tentative around unknown substances like pumpkin innards. Others just dive right in.

The little ones helped me scoop and clean the pumkins. They looked at the strings and seeds and smelled that pumpkin smell. (Did you know that the smell of fresh pumpkin can completely erase the stink of many poopy diapers? haha)

Then Amelia and I carved them in the afternoon.

Happy Hallowe'en!

"Craft Time" Oct 22, 2009

The kids love gluing, and glitter!

Hailey did an excellent job getting all the features in the right spot--I was "super" impressed!

Brody just wanted to paint with glitter, and Daniel tried to eat his pumpkin. :D

"Leaf Jumping" Oct 20, 2009

Playing in the wet leafy muck. Such joy!

"Woooo Goes the Wind" Oct 15, 2009

Check out all the pictures I just posted in the gallery from out trip today to O'Shea's farm.
If you wave your mouse around it will pop up the title and comments on the photos.

We started learning a pumpkin rhyme today.

Five little pumkins sitting on a gate,

The first one says "Oh my, it's getting late!"
The second one says "Lets go and have some fun!"
The third one says "I want to run and run and run!"
The fourth one says "There are witches in the air!"
The fifth one says "But WE don't care!"

Then "WOOOO" goes the wind
And OUT goes the light
And the five little pumkins roll out of sight.

Playing Hooky, Oct 8, 2009

Today we skipped playgroup so we could enjoy the warm sun and beautiful fall weather. We looked for leaves turning red, orange and yellow and for brown leaves on the ground. We looked for lovely fall flowers, and tried to stay away from crazy fall bees!

After our walk we stopped at the park to get out and stretch our legs. Everyone had a turn on the swing, a trip down the slide, and a good explore.

Daniel learned a pretty good lesson about NOT running behind the swings. I learned to carry a first aid kit ALL the time.

What a great walk!

I just posted a really good article under Curriculum Philosophies about finding teachable moments at home. Check it out!

Also, if you would like to bring in some splash pants for those in-between days, when it's wet out but not wet enough to keep us inside, that would be great!

Happy Thanksgiving! "Gobble gobble."

"It's My BIRTHDAY!" Oct 7, 2009

Today was my birthday!
Amelia and my mom and dad got together to throw me a super surprise party at snack-time!
They brought me cards, cupcakes, balloons and gifts! What a treat!

Thank you SOOO MUCH! That made me feel GREAT!
Thanks to thoughtful parents too, you make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Hailey had a great time at the party ("BA looon, BA looon" ), even if she only likes the sprinkles.

OCTOBER Newsletter

Hello Everyone!

It's definately fall, I just turned on the furnace! eek.

We are all decorated up and ready for October fun! Can you find the black feather boa?

I have touched base with all of you now about our exciting news--we are moving to a new house! It is on Philbrook Drive, across form Sobeys and PharmaPlus. It is bright, has a nice kitchen (with a dishwasher!) and a great main floor layout for the daycare. We are all "super-happy!" I will make sure you have the exact address closer to moving day.

Now that the seasons are changing, it's time to restock the cubbies so everyone has a smooth day. Please make sure I have:
Pack of diapers
Box of wipes
Sweater, socks and slippers to keep in cubby (it's getting cold!)
Change of clothes to keep in cubby.
A couple of bibs (I will keep them and launder them)
An extra pair of mittens.

There are a couple of things coming up I wanted to touch base with all of you about:

Monday, October 5th, is Brody's first day of full-time care! Hooray and welcome little guy!

Monday, October 12, is Thanksgiving Day. The daycare will be closed, this is a statutory holiday. Enjoy your time with your frinds and family. Gobble gobble.


Thursday, October 15th I am planning a field trip to O'Shea's farm to visit the pumpkin patch. Yeay!
My mom will be coming with us to give me a hand!


Friday, October 23rd I am going to be doing the craft show at Breakfast for Brescia. I will be home around 9:30-10:00. My mom will be here for drop offs and to play until I get back, and my dad will be walking Amelia to school. I hope that's okay--when I decided to to the show, I thought the 23rd was a Saturday.

Friday, October 30th is Orange & Black Day! dress up with some Hallowe'en spirit. I will be sending baby friendly treats home with the children.


Finally, Friday November 6th I am trying to get everyone to make other arrangements so that I can get packed up for a smooth move Saturday morning. If this is very difficult for you, please let me know and we will try to work something out. I don't want to leave anyone stranded.
I will be open and ready for fun at the new house on Monday November 9th.

Have fun discovering the fall season, and Happy Hallowe'en!

It's new, but it's not ALL new

Welcome to our new Blog!

I will be copying over some of our more recent entries, and then working through the rest of October and November. Hopefully we will be all caught up by the new year.

I have added a photostream of some of our pictures that I got loaded onto the computer Before The Move. I have taken a couple After The Move, and will add them in soon.

Add the RSS to your computer and keep checking in for fun stuff!

Thanks,

Megan