Spring Break

I am back!! I love traveling to see my family in NY, but the actual driving of 11 to 12 hrs over 2 days, with 4 boys (who love to pick and nag at each other), sometimes can be a little much. It was also quite rainy and I found that my sun roof has a leak. I didn't let it put to much of a damper on my trip, actually, after a quick temper tantrum, I was good to go. I got to NY and had a wonderful time with my sister and her family. My own boys love spending time with them and never want to come home. Getting them to leave is always a chore in itself :)

Now, we are home and baseball awaits us, cleaning the laundry 4 boys accumulate (even though I did laundry while there) and spending time getting ready for the new week and back to school. Oh, getting the boys up in the morning, I can't wait.

We will be back to posting next week and I think we will all be ready to get back to our routine!!

Ending our Easter Celebration

Today was our last day together before a 2 week break. I am going on a school trip with my son, and then we will be on Spring Break. So, we have been completing our Easter themed week this week instead of next week.

The girls worked together to complete the Easter Tree work.

Dying Eggs is a tradition at Kozy Kids... lots of work, lots of mess, lots of fun!!

It started out nice, with those little metal wire egg holders...

Then came the mess, opps, I mean fun :)

You can't have an Easter celebration without an egg hunt right??

But... before our hunt we all gathered on the carpet and read "The Easter Story" by Patricia Pingry. We talked about the real meaning of Easter, and then said, "but chasing the Easter Bunny is always a fun way to celebrate."

Where is the egg??

(The kids were looking all over for the last eggs, hints were given, we played the hot/cold game, and finally it took pointing up to get them to locate the egg!!)

Even Little Man got to hunt for eggs. He only needed one, and he was done.

To end our celebration, we will munch on these yummy cupcakes Sprout and her Mom made for us!!! Yummy!!!!

Have a great couple of weeks.... See you May 2nd!!!

Easter Bunnies

Back in February I got a random email from my youngest sons Kindergarten teacher. She was my 3rd sons Kindergarten teacher also, and I was lucky enough to get to volunteer during his time with her. She is soooo crafty!! Besides being the best Kindergarten Teacher Ever, she always had the cutest seasonal crafts. So, I was excited to get her email, it had a picture of the cutest Easter Bunny Basket made out of a milk carton. I don't know how she knew I would love this cute little project, because the only thing in the email was the photo. I am so glad she sent it though, because we loved making it, and the kids have been talking and cooing to them all day!!

This one's cute, but wait to you see it with the grass in it!!

Kids kept looking at the pieces, wondering what in the world it would be when it took shape. I love to keep them in suspense.

"Is it a scooper??" or "I bet we will take them outside for the sandbox or water table," were some of the guesses.

Don't you just love that tongue!!!!

"I got it Miss Michelle!!"

(I've got to remember how competent they are becoming!!)

She was very proud of her bunny.

Aren't they sooo cute!!!

(I mean the kid too, of course)

Wednesday

Here is one of our new toys that came in the mail!! Yeah... we love new toys!! I didn't an get a photo of our Mystery ABC game (from Lakeshore Learning) that the kids absolutely love!! The mystery box is such fun, they love to put there hand in there and find an object. Some are still having a hard time matching it with it's letter, but this sure is a fun way to learn beginning sounds!!!

This is a favorite Easter activity. In the little wagon is the mini-ornaments for the tree.

This is our mini Easter/Spring sensory tub, another favorite.

Here is our "Box" with it's new window. They are enjoying playing so many things, and the little ones love just popping their heads out.

I always knew that an old brown box was a favorite play toy for kids, but I never thought ours would have so many uses and would be taken care of so well by the kids. I hate to think what will happen when it does wear out. Hopefully we'll be able to find a new one :)

300 posts... Wow!!

This is my 300th post... WOW!!! It seems like yesterday I got on this computer and even realized that there were "blogs" out there to follow. What an amazing concept... online journals that I get to take a peek at, whenever I want!! I have learned so much, from SO many people. It has brought a new level to my Child Care Home, to me as a Parent and Provider, and to my as a Person. Thank You to All the Bloggers out there that take the time to share with the rest of us what you do in your homes, preschools, day cares, and churches!! Thank you to ALL the people who visit and read my blog also!! I appreciate it!!! May God Bless Each and Every One of You!!

• What did we do today?? I brought out our Easter Tree, with all the little ornaments to put on it. It is so cute. The kids inspected all the little bunnies and eggs before putting them on the tree. As always, a hit!! I also make an Easter Sensory Box. It has these little time fluffy chicks that I usually find at the Dollar Tree or Big Lots. They come in 2 different sizes and the kids really enjoy stuffing them into plastic eggs, or filling up the little baskets with them. The Sensory Box also has different size plastic eggs, with some opening and others not. Plus, the little tongs that you get in some of the egg decorating kits... they love those!! They love those tongs so much, I can hardly keep them in the box. As of this minute they are missing :)

• I also added a window to the House/Boat Box, it has now become a Puppet Stand and a Store. The kids took all the fake produce and began selling it through the window... very cute. The puppets were the store keepers (ok, the store keepers wore the puppets to help move the produce, but if they want them to be the store keepers who am I to argue :) ) We also went outside today, it was a little muddy, but we managed to stay pretty clean today. I think because I didn't turn on our water source and the jugs of water were empty... need to get that fixed if the weather is going to stay warm. Water really is the best part of being outside. There are no real rules (besides drinking it). They can fill, transfer, scoop, move, pour, or mix anywhere in the yard. There are buckets, bottles, jugs, wheelbarrows, slides, cubbies, holes, and lots and lots of dirt, grass, twigs, and pine needles. What an oasis, huh :)

• So, hopefully tomorrow I will have our camera back. My boys all started Baseball Season this week so 1st games need to be photographed, right!! The camera has been in the car, I will remember to get it out tomorrow!!

• **Thanks to all those who commented yesterday, that poem is one of my favorites. It just seemed fitting for our day yesterday!! Thanks Again!!!**

Play

We played today...

When I am building with the blocks please don't say I'm "just playing".

For you see, I'm learning as I play, about balance and shapes.

Who knows, I may be an architect someday.

When I'm getting all dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies, don't get the idea I'm "just playing".

For, you see, I'm learning as I play;

I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay, please don't let me hear you say, "He is just playing".

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I'm expressing myself and being creative.

I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair "reading" to an imaginary audience, please don't laugh and think I'm "just playing".

For, you see, I'm learning as I play.

I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs, or packing my pockets with choice things I find, don't pass it off as "just play".

For you see, I'm learning as I play.

I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some "plaything" at my school, please don't feel the time is wasted in "play".

For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate.

I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods, please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is "just play".

I'm learning to follow direction and see differences.

I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body, please don't say I'm "just playing".

For, you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning how my body works.

I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I've done at school today, and I say, "I just played", please don't misunderstand me.

For you see, I'm learning as I play. I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in my work.

I'm preparing for tomorrow.

Today, I am a child and my work is play.

Author Unkown

Water, Rain Sticks, & Walking

There are pro's and con's to warm weather for a baby who isn't walking yet...

Pro... Con... Got the water table going outside today. Water is such a wonderful Early Childhood tool. It add so much to our program. They use so many skills: Vocabulary, Problem Solving, Experimenting, Investigation, Patience, Independence, Cooperation... the list could go on and on. I am just glad we have more than one water table, inside, outside, in the mud pit, and near the sand box. It is such a valuable tool.

(Looks like someone is having fun!!)

Rain Sticks were also on our agenda this week. We haven't gotten to them until today. I set everything out and they worked on them for a few minutes before the water pulled them away again. We will try to finish them after nap, if not, we will do them Monday morning. Flexibility... that is our mantra here!! I try not to lose sight of each child's childhood... Play, that is the most important job of our young children. That is where they learn the skills that will follow them throughout life, skills that will lead them on a successful journey.

Our Little Man is getting so big, so fast!! I think he will be walking soon. Here he is looking so big. He has started standing and pushing on anything that will move, to practice his walking.

Let me tell you, he is very proud of himself too!!

A little Science, A Lot of Fun

Busy, Busy, Busy... that's what we are. We had a busy, fun morning completeing some crafts we didn't get to yesterday and doing our Tornado "experiment." I bought one of those little plastic pieces that you attach 2 soda pop bottles to, then twirl it around and it makes a "Tornado" inside the bottles. The kids enjoyed making it, but when they firgured out what it did, they thought that was even cooler. We first watched a You Tube video on Tornado's and then watched one that showed an actual Tornado touching down in an open field. The kids loved watching it, and trying to guess where it would show up on the screen. On some of the video the Tornado seemed to come out of no where. Very interesting.

Yesterday we didn't get to do our Cloud craft, so we finished it today. Glue, cotton balls, & construction paper... they loved it!! We will spray the Rain Cloud with diluted black/gray paint so the cloud is not a fluffy white. Princess loved making the Rain Cloud, but it was her who said to me that the "cloud" part needed to be darker, not the white from the cotton ball... Love Her!!!

Exploring the letter Ww has been a lot of fun this week. I found this on my camera when I downloaded the photos, not sure who took the photo, a childcare child or one of my sons, but I like the colors so I put it on.

We really love our I Spy Letter bags. We have been using them to play different letter games, sound games, I Spy games, and even gross motor activities. Today we threw them back and forth, and when you caught the bag you found an item and said it's name. It's a great game for the Toddlers, for both their vocabulary and gross motor skills. The preschoolers loved throwing and catching the bag too.

I hope we get in all the activities I have planned this week, but I am not sure we will get to our worm activities. We will be doing a planting activity soon, so maybe we will make the connection to worms, dirt, and the letter Ww as a review later in the month. We'll see.