A Little of This, A Little of That

Okay, I know this is from last week, but....
How cute is he, cowboy boots and butterfly outfit!!
I could eat him up!!!

Another visit from Miss Crystal!!! 

We are the luckiest kids anywhere.  Having our very own Story Time, with a professional!!  She picks the best books, books I have never heard of or didn't even know existed.  I love her!!!

Miss Crystal always starts off her time with us giving the kids a chance to tell her all their important information.  She is so patient and kind, the kids feel very special!!

I have to say that this has got to be my new favorite book.
"What's the Magic Word?" by Kelly DiPucchio,
although "The Wide Mouthed Frog" by Keith Faulkner and Jonathan  Lambert is pretty good too!!

Working on Independent or Self Help skills with the little ones can be very timed consuming and result in a lot of mess or frustration, but in the long run it is SO worth it.  We have been working on washing our hands independently for a long time, and Scamp is finally beginning to get it.  She is careful to get ON and OFF the stool, getting the soap has become very popular, and of course the washing can't be beat.  We sing a song when we wash, that way we know we have washed long enough to get all those itty bitty germs, and Scamp wiggles her body when she is singing (or I'm singing) and now that she is doing it herself somewhat, she just wiggles and doesn't sing.  To Cute!!!  Putting the time and effort in to help the kids reach these milestones is really worth it in the end!!  Not only am I proud of them, but they are so proud of themselves.

Busy, Busy, Busy

While Spring has come to NC, today it was downright cold!!  Cold and Rainy!!  I was getting used to the early Spring weather, so much so that when we went for a walk this morning, I was actually surprised at how cold it was, BRRRRRRR.... 

Staying inside is hard on the kids after spending so much time outside over the last few weeks.  They love to move their bodies in the freedom that the outdoors allows.  Being inside this morning was a little hard on some of us ;)  So, what does a provider do in situations like this, you ask???

WE DANCE!!!

And Dance...

Laugh a little...

Dance Some More!!!
What a great way to get the wiggles out!!!

Miss Crystal, our local Librarian, is visiting today and I knew if we didn't get some more large muscle movement it may make for a wiggly, squiggly story time... so outside we went!!!

Had to stop to pick up some flowers for Mom!!

Scamp saw the big girls smelling the flowers along the walk, so...
She had to give it a try.

We directed her and Lil Bit towards the more fragrant flowers on the porch!!

Sniff, Sniff...

Mmmmmmmm!!

Now with all those wiggles out... we are ready!!!

Miss Crystal shows us what's in her special bag!!
We are getting excited!!

Miss Crystal ALWAYS remembers our littlest friends!!
She always has special books just for them to touch and look at!!
She is the BEST!!!

Miss Crystal also always remembers to bring the coveted STICKERS for the end of Story Time!!

Comparing is also fun :)

We began an art project today that will be finished tomorrow...

I wonder what it could be??

What a busy morning!! 

 My little friends were very tired by lunch time and could not wait for a snuggle and nap time.  

All that movin, shakin, and learnin, means our bodies and mind need a rest...

So we can do it all over again later!!!

A Little Sensory Fun

We had the Easter Sensory Table ready today!!  

What fun!!

Just a glimpse into our day!!

We also had the Librarian come for a special Easter Story Time today, too.

You really can't ask for more fun than that.

A Visit From the Librarian

 Oh My... are we one lucky daycare!!  We live in such a great little town because our library has an outreach program that allows one of their wonderful librarians to visit local schools, daycare homes, childcare centers and preschool programs.  Now, it took me a while to learn about Miss Crystal, but I am so glad I dropped by the library with my young son one evening and there she was, not only with a world of information about visiting the library with my kiddos, but the outreach program.  We talked, set up a time, and the kids and I began the wait and the anticipation of having our very own STORYTIME, right here at the house!!!  See what I mean... aren't we soooo lucky!!!

Miss Crystal was so great with the kid.  I think I was more nervous about the kids getting up, moving, talking, touching, etc... than she was.  I guess she's a pro at this, because she did such a great job with the little ones, even helping to dry the tears of one of the kids (yes, brought on by my asking them to sit down.  I should have just left it up to Miss Crystal :) )  I am so happy to have this program available to us, and we look forward to when Miss Crystal comes again!!!

I had to post this picture of our morning snack!!  

Aren't they the cutest muffins you've ever seen?? 

We thought so!! 

And they tasted as good as they looked ;)

Our Morning Out

I haven't been to the library in a very, very long time!!  Our library went through a time where they cut some programs and I had a bad experience at a story time with my childcare kids, so we didn't visit often.  Well, it's been almost 2 years since I brought my childcare back and I am sorry I haven't gotten there sooner.  The new Librarian was amazing, welcoming, and understanding, not just of us, but of ALL the Moms & Dads of young children.  We went to a 2-3yr old story time and it was amazing!!  The kids loved it.  There was dancing, singing, and of course story reading.  The books were all quick, engaging and funny.  It was a fun time!!  We also went on our Orange Finding Field Trip through the children's library and found some great Orange Things!!

Stretch....

This could have been the highlight of the morning :)

An ORANGE book

An ORANGE tag

This ORANGE bow held together a piece of a beautiful little hanging quilt

ORANGE beads...
All at the LIBRARY!!!

These are not quiet toys, so you know the Librarians had to be  great!!

Working together

Wow... so much to see and do

Shakin Eggs during a song... I'm not sure they were comfortable getting up and moving during the story time... it was interesting.

But we still got into it!!

Leaving with some books!!!
What a great time at the Library... we will definitely be back!!!

Now the library is fun, but we all knew we couldn't run, jump, climb, or yell when we are there.  So, what would be a better way to finish off our morning but with a trip to the park!!!

We are all very hungry after our trip to the library... so we started off with snack!!!

WEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Playing Peek-a-Boo

"Shell, I'm stuck!!"

I see you!!!

Hanging from the ladder is another totally favorite thing to do!!!

"I don't want to go!!"

 What a great morning... the kids really enjoyed both the library and the park.  This weather makes me yearn for Springtime when we can do this more often.  We will enjoy it while it is here and hopefully Spring will come sooner than later :)