News

-Progress reports have been put in your child's bins
-Potty Training awards have been also placed in the top three potty trainers in the group. Each child will be able to take their potty chart for the month home to proudly display!
-Would like to thank Hayden's mom Tami for the donation of books. The kids love to read!

Friday's Menu 1-30-2009

Breakfast
Pancakes
Bananas
Lunch
Chicken Sandich

Wheat Bread

Mixed Vegetable

Pears
Snack
Yogurt

Thursday's Menu 1-29-09

Breakfast

Waffles

Bananas

Lunch

Peanut Butter Sandwich (Or Yogurt alternative)

Whole Wheat Bread

Carrot Sticks

Banana Slices

Snack

Granola Bar

Tuesday's Menu 1-27-09

Breakfast

Cinnamon Toast

Peaches

Lunch

French Toast

Turkey

Bananas

Pears

Snack

Shredded Wheat

Monday's Menu 1-26-09

Breakfast

Waffles

Bananas

Lunch

Mac and Cheese

Hot Dogs

Peaches

Green Beans

Snack

Granola Bar

Lazy Day

All the kids today are showing signs of being sick from coughs, sneezing, runny noses or just plain miserable. Because of this it's been one fight after the other. So today will be an offical lazy day of mostly cuddles, relaxing and some TV. If any of the children show signs of getting worst I will notify the parent.

Friday's Menu 1-23-2009

Breakfast

Wheat Bagels

Clementines

Lunch

Fish sticks w/cheese

Wheat Bread

Corn

Apples

Snack

Applesauce

Tents and Tunnels

News and Reminders

-Tomorrow we wrap up the color of the week-BLUE. Please dress your child in this color tomorrow. Continue to ask your child how to spell these words and to find these items in your home or on an outing.
-The following children will need diapers for next week: Tre, Hayden & Zohar
-Cabin Fever is starting to set in and I'm hoping to resume our weekly field trips sometime in late Feb-early March. It is very difficult to take the children out in the weather especially when there is still ice and snow on the ground.
-Progress report will be given out next Friday! This will give you a sense of how your child has progressed over the last 3 months. Several of you have stated that their child may be leaving in September for a pre-school program. I do encourage this as it seems the older children in the group are extremely smart and will need more of a learning environment to expand there capabilities. I do ask that you let me know definately by July 1st if your child will not be returning as I will be accumulating a wait list for those spots available.

Thursday's Menu 1-22-09

Breakfast

Pancakes

Bananas

Lunch

Spanish Yellow Rice with gandules

Baked chicken cutlets

Apples

Snack

Graham crackers

Wednesday's Menu 1-21-09

Breakfast

Wheat Bagel

Peaches

Lunch

Hot Dogs

Wheat Bread

Stacey's Superpower Smoothie-Kids thought it was ICECREAM!

(Frozen Peaches, Pineapple, Strawberries, mango, honeydew melon and red grapes w/milk)

Snack

Crackers and cheese

Scholastics for Valentine's Day!

You have already received the Firefly flyer and now the Honeybees flyer. This book order will be due on Jan 30th.

Presidential Inauguration

The next generation of Obama Fans!

Tuesday's Menu 1-20-09

Breakfast

Cheerios

Bananas

Lunch

Cheese Ravoli

Mixed Veggies

Pears

Snack

Applesauce

Monday's Menu 1-19-09

Breakfast

Egg w/cheese & Toast

Lunch

Mashed potatoes

Meat Loaf

Green Beans

Snack

Goldfish

Weekend News...

-Your annual income childcare report for tax purposes is complete and waiting for you in your child's bin. If you have any questions please let me know.

-Cereal maker Kellogg Co. has halted sales of its popular Keebler and Austin brand peanut butter crackers in the wake of a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 430 people in 43 states and may have contributed to five deaths. I have purchased the Austin brand from BJ's wholesaler over a month ago and the children have not have any problems. But in the interest of safety the reminder of packaged crackers will be discarded and I will not purchase any of these products until the FDA has cleared them. I advice any parents who have these products to discard them as well.

You can find more information here:
http://www.kmov.com/news/asseenonnews4/stories/kmov-national-news-090116-kellogg-salmonella.bab919a.html
http://kelloggs.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=230

Monday-Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The daycare is open. Please let me know if your child will not be attending.

Basic Facts about this great leader:

Martin Luther King, Jr. led the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. He organized nonviolent marches to protest segregation and racial injustice. This peaceful means of protest is known as passive resistance. His 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech dealing with peace and racial equality is one of the most powerful speeches in American history. Dr. King was assassinated by a gunman in 1968.

Reminders

Next please bring in the following items
-If you have done so already please bring in 3 packs of wipes
-A bottle of juice (something other than apple juice)

The color of the week will be BLUE. Please discuss blue with your child this weekend while also reviewing the color RED.

Currently only one child in our group (Zohar) as been receiving homework. If you would like your child to start receive age appropriate work please let me know and I'll be happy to provide.

Friday's Menu 1-16-2009

Breakfast
Pancakes

Bananas

Lunch
Fish Stick

Wheat Bread

Corn

Apples

Snack
Animal Crackers

Thursday's Menu 1-15-09

Breakfast

Cheerios

Clemintines

Lunch

Mac and Cheese

Hot Dogs

Green Beans

Peaches

Snack

Peanut Butter Crackers

The Color of the Week...

This week we have been discussing the color RED. Most of the children have learned to spell it. Clapping out the letters helps them remember it. Please continue this lesson at home. Even the younger ones help put away the legos and can distinguish which colors go in which coordinating bins. Tomorrow I ask that all the children wear something red.

Wednesday's Menu 1-14-09

Breakfast
Wheat Bagels
Bananas
Lunch
Meatball Sandwich
French Fries
Pears
Snack
Tortilla Chips

Any orders?

Did anyone want to order scholastics and forgot about it?

Please let me know by today if you still wanted to order books.

Tuesday's Menu 1-13-09

Breakfast
Oatmeal

Applesauce
Lunch
Pancakes

Yogurt

Peaches

Bananas
Snack
Cracker and Cheese

Growing up....

Now that the youngest members of the group (Tre and Aiden) will be turning 2 in less than 3 months it is now time to transition them into "big boy" beds. This will be essential when any new babies come in. I'm all for cold turkey and this was no exception. This weekend we changed Aiden's crib into a toddler bed and bought up Eric's old twin bed. Today Tre and Aiden both slept without any problems in their new sleeping arrangements. This will make it an easy transition into cots.

Monday's Menu 1-12-09

Breakfast

Hash Browns

Wheat Bagels

Lunch

Chicken Patty Sandwich

Mixed Vegtables

Clementines

Snack

Goldfish

Karissa is a big Sister...

Karissa and family welcomed the newest member Lila Grace on Friday Janaury 9th at 5:16pm. Lila weighed in a exactly 7lb and 20 1/4 inches. Mom and doing well as she said the labor and delivery was pretty easy.

Another Item to bring....

Since this potty training has started I've gone through a ton of wipes teaching the children that after they go potty they must clean there hands. I would like everyone to bring in a dispenser of Purell (sanitizing hand liquid). The kids get a kick out of rubbing there hands together and feeling clean. Also try at home and watch how your kids respond! THANKS!

Friday's Menu 1-9-2009

Breakfast

French Toast Sticks

Bananas

Lunch

Grilled Cheese

Hard Boiled Egg

Broccoli

Pears

Snack

Cookies

The Potty Club

Reminders

-Scholastic Book Orders are due Monday
-Please provide diapers next week. Those who are doing well with potty training may bring in pullups. Check your child potty chart to see their progress. It's exciting to see them actually going and happy about it!
-Please wish Happy Birthday to my better half tomorrow Nelson (35th). He is starting to feel old (or so he says! lol)

I wanted to say thanks to Osi (Zohar's Mom) and Christi (Lucas' Mom) for the toy donations!

Thursday's Menu 1-7-09

Breakfast
Cheerios

Clementines
Lunch
Breaded chicken cutlets

Mashed potatoes

Green Beans

Snack
Peanut Butter Crackers

Breakfast

Cinnamon Toast

Apples

Lunch

Fishsticks

Bread

Mixed Vegetables

Berries

Snack

Cheese Crackers

Tuesday's Menu 1-6-09

Breakfast
Pancakes

Apples
Lunch
Mac & Cheese

Hot Dogs

Green Beans

Peaches
Snack
Applesauce

Circle Time

Here are some things the children and I discuss at circle time. Thought this would be helpful for you to practice and go over at home.

Songs-Let me know if you do not know the song
The wheels on the bus
The Days of the week
The alphabet
Old McDonald
Monkeys jumping on the bed
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Ring around the Rosie

Talk about the weather-Look out the window
Is it cold or hot
Cloudy or sunny
Rainy, snowy or clear
If they wore a coat, hat, boots etc

Talk about the senses-ask them for examples
Eyes are for seeing flowers
Nose is for smelling poopie diapers
Mouth is for tasting cookies
Ears are for listening Ms. Stacey
Hands are for touching toys

Look for colors-Colors are everywhere make it a game
Show them a color and ask them to find something in the house
Go over colors with flash cards
Talk about the colors they are wearing today

Talk about Numbers-count objects in the home together
We will count to 20
I will put up my fingers do simple math ie. 1+1, 2+1 etc
How many ears do I have, hands, fingers, eyes etc

Talk about Body Parts-never to early to discuss good touch and bad touch
Ask them to point to certain body parts

Self Image-Very important that they know they are beautiful inside and out!
Have them look into a mirror and ask them what they like about themselves

Monday's Menu 1-5-09

Breakfast

Cheerios

Bananas

Lunch

Speghetti and tomato sauce

Mixed Vegetables

Fruit Cocktail

Snack

Animal Crackers

Interesting Morning

Sorry for the delay but apparently the water pressure built up and a hose broke so we woke up to a nice wet mess this morning in our kitchen and basement. Everything has been fixed and cleaned.

On another note, our potty team has been assembled and they are off and running. They sat on their potty after snacks while watching some cartoons from 11-11:30pm. The youngest of the group Tre did manage a couple of drops!! YAHOO! Well try again later today.

News

Here is information on 2-1-1 Child Care January Training Calendar for parents and providers:

The 2-1-1 Child Care January training calendar provided by our Early Childhood Specialists is available online http://www.211childcare.org/docs/TrainingNewForm1205.pdf. If you would like to attend the training or would like a training/workshop provided please contact the Early Childhood Specialist listed on the calendar. For general or additional training opportunities contact us directly at 2-1-1 Child Care at 2-1-1 or 1-800-505-1000 Monday - Friday from 8-5. If you do not have Internet access, please contact 2-1-1 Child Care. Have a great day!

We just installed a dishwasher in our home! This may not sound like much for the parents but it does free time spent on washing dishes to be with the kids. Image doing dishes 5-8X a day! The additional benefit is when you hand wash dishes you cannot possibly wash them in hot enough water to remove all germs hence my must have applicance --not that I needed these excuses :-)

Friday's Menu 1-2-2009

Breakfast

French Toast Stick

Bananas

Lunch

Cheese Ravoli in Tomato Sauce

Green Beans

Apple Slices

Snack

Yogurt and Graham Crackers