more decorating....

today we made a daycare tree--- what makes this tree special??? It has all of our friends personal hand print on it!

each of our friends took turns painting their hands with a sponge and green paint (yes, I helped the little ones)- and we filled our tree full of hand prints.

it's new home is on the back of the front door (parents be sure to check this cuteness out)

I am a little bummed we had to bundle up to go outside and play. I know- it is almost December, I guess I was spoiled! Heavy coats, hats, and gloves. The kids are doing very well with getting their coats and shoes on by themselves. We are practicing this awesome skill!

random thoughts...

Thanksgiving has come and gone... and I am certainly not ready for the Christmas season. Maybe a little Humbug(ish) this season. I am sure this will change after the first trip of Christmas shopping.

Our Thanksgiving holiday was great- we hosted a dinner at our place and all of our family was there. We even snapped a picture with Great-grandma and the great grand-kids. This was the least worst picture out of all of them.

We did find out that day that Dustin's grand father was in the hospital in Texas (they live here in Topeka but were visiting family for Thanksgiving) because he had 2 seizures (?), they ran a bunch of tests and still can not find what caused them. He is on medications and still in Texas.

Our van is fixed- we had the transmission go out on the one vehicle that a) was working and b) fits our family. It was a major blow to my attitude and our budget. You never plan for huge repairs like this and it just made me an emotional wreck for sure. But it has worked out- and we are driving the family van again!

I am trying to fill a part time (up to 4 days a week) spot. I know with holidays a lot of people are not really looking for child care but- I am putting it out there in case you know of someone!!! Drag them to my blog to show off some of the fun things we do everyday!!!

This past Saturday went to the Christmas parade downtown. Hmmm, 31 years of living in Topeka and I never knew we had a Christmas parade. But we do! Some people from the Topeka Bible Church light show got together and decked out the church van to advertise and get the word out about the show coming up. We rode to the parade in the van- then walked or should I say ran in the parade handing out fliers and candy! It was a fun time and great weather!

Yesterday was spent getting outside decorations out... Dustin had some help.

And, today is back to our routine... 5 days off sure did take it toll. I have 6 loads of laundry waiting to be folded and about 8:30am I was ready for a nap. Gaby was up and fixed her own breakfast--- love this girl.

Christmas... really, Christmas???

As I saw from a LOT of facebook posts, everyone has started putting up decorations, lights, and trees. Today at daycare is no different. This week is actually one of my favorite weeks... decorations. I still have several hand made decorations and ornaments that I made while at preschool. It is a fun time to get them out every year (and laugh) and remember my childhood. What is even better is getting out the hand made decorations and ornaments that my children have made and remember our family memories! Okay- enough snappiness...

Our brand new book of the week... (let me just stop and say how excited I am to finally be able to read this book to the kids. I love this series and I love this book- so cute)

Today we made holiday wreaths. We started out by gluing some fun shaped pasta onto our plates.

This was our hard work before the paint...

And after the silver paint and red ribbon... so flippin' cute!

Day 23

Today I am thankful for music...

(Santa's helper picked this up at Walmart last night- it's a keeper)

Today, we are thankful for music...

Thanksgiving Meal for daycare...

We had a super busy morning. We have been setting the table, making place cards, and cooking our food for our Thanksgiving meal...

Everyone had jobs... no free loading here! Passing out the plates...

and napkins...

and forks and spoons...

and most importantly the food...

Each child (and parent) signed up for a food, drink or paper goods. We had an awesome lunch. We worked on our manners, setting the table, and passing food around (with help hence no pictures of this) family style. However, no one signed up for the clean up crew... (note to self- put maid down on sign up sheet).
Each of my friends, said what they are thankful as we were at the lunch table (see video on my FB). I am so proud of them, one is thankful for a little guy that has cancer, some are thankful for friends and toys, and some are thankful for their mommy and daddy. At such a young age, they understand what giving thanks is all about! And as I have said before, I am thankful for each and everyone of my daycare kids. They make my job fun, rewarding, challenging, and satisfying. I hope as we approach Thanksgiving Day, you'll remember what you are thankful for as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 21: I am thankful for hearing at message at church that I really needed to hear- I love it when the Paster takes a look at my life and decides to preach on it! (okay- just kidding but still, it felt like that) It was a simple and really made me think!


Day 22: I am thankful for some family time (and time off) coming up. I enjoy the holidays and I enjoy hosting. I don't enjoy the cleaning for or after- but it will still be a fun and memories will be made!

here are some fun picture... (nothing to do with my thankfuls... just from this weekend)

Today will most likely be our last Thanksgiving art project. Today we made a Turkey Keepsake. Again, I am super excited how cute these turned out. The last week we have done a lot with our feet and hands for our art!

We painted our plates yellow- they weren't real even, so after they were done, I might have helped them out. Then we did our hand prints.

After they dried, we put clue all around the edges and used brown tissue paper for the borders.

Our finished turkey keep sakes all hanging up... so festive and cute!

Today's book was a "kids choice". They all choose to read, "Thanksgiving is for giving Thanks". Such a cute story!

Day 19 and 20...

Day 19a: I am thankful for traditions we have in our family. Traditions that take place around the holidays and in our everyday life. Kendal is wearing the coat that Mema bought Gaby her first winter. It is a Fluke tradition to wear this coat. So excited that it is now Kendal's turn!

Day 19b: I am thankful for never having a dull moment in our house. To walk into the kitchen to find my no good, sassy pants trying to fix a snack is just priceless. And of course being the good mom that I am I said, "Mia, hold on and stay there, I want to take a picture".

Day 20a: I am thankful for my health. It is such a blessing I can play on the floor, roll around with my kids, and be on the bottom of a Fluke pile up! I love active play!

Day 20b: I am thankful for life. It still amazes me how 2 people can "make" a life. As we celebrate Gaby on this day, I am thankful for her awesome 9 years with us. I am not a perfect parent by any means and she still loves me no matter what. Her life is such a gift to Dustin and I. I am thankful for her and her sisters. My life is complete because they were born!

2 successes today...

Kendal is 10 months old

Mia finally going to sleep... today Mia is sleeping in my bed instead of in her room. Needless to say, it was a work out to get her to sleep. But my 2 year old bundle of sassy is now sleeping!

Day 18: Today I am thankful for a lot today. Thankful for miracles because they do happen. Thankful for the WW program, I am learning that I can have my cake and eat it too- I just need to make the healthier cake to eat!Thankful for the 7 kids that walk in my door everyday that love to sit in my lap and make me smile. Thankful for situations working out when I had no way of knowing how. I am thankful!

Our second vehicle is now broken... getting pulled out of our drive way so it can get towed!

Day 17...
Today I am thankful for our my mother in law, who loaned us her car on her day off so Dustin could still go to work. I am thankful for neighbors that own a repair shop that can tell us what is wrong with our van. I am thankful for a husband that stays calm when I panic. I am thankful for Dustin's grandparents having a second car that we can borrow until we get D's car going and know what's up with our van. And, most of all on this gloomy day, I am thankful I can handle this, for I am never given more then I can take.

Today we talked about Tepee's. We also made one... that looks very tasty!
We used ice cream cones (again), added frosting and fall colored candies.

We had lots of fun... and some of the candies might have ended up in our mouths.

We then painted our hand for our turkey feathers...

then pressed them down, I am bummed my battery died before getting the final result. Final pictures will have to wait until tomorrow...

Today we are Thankful for:
C: "my mommy"
AN: "my brother"
E: "my mommy"

Today we talked about some Thanksgiving history- which went right over their heads... even some of the basic details, they were just not feeling it-which is okay, we'll try again later this week.
Today we are thankful for:
C: "my buzz light year toy"
K: "my toys"
AN: "food and snack"
E: "my dollies"
AW: my daddy"

We worked on finger print corn on the cob- again a cute little project. No one project will look the same. Today's art project was a huge lesson in listening. A lot of times we do painting projects one on one. Today they all sat down and had their own paint and had to listen to directions. It was awesome and they all did wonderfully! I was proud- no paint spells, none on our clothing, and we have cute corn on the cobs.

Today was also talked about cornucopias. What a fun word to try to get toddlers to say. I still don't think they know what it is but they had fun coloring one and making one out of a ice cream cone and fruit snacks.

Then we ate it for snack... our favorite part.

Working on our color sheet while others finish up our snack.

Day 16: I am thankful for these kids. I am blessed to have a great group that is eager to learn and love the activities we do.

1 point popcorn balls from WW...

Sevres 6
1 popcorn ball = 1 point
Preheat oven 350

What you need:
1 bag of 100 calorie Jolly Time (I used what I had) Healthy pop
5 Weight Watchers Carmel Medallions
1 teaspoon of low fat/fat free milk
5 marshmallows
non stick spray

pop popcorn(according to directions), set aside in large bowl
melt candies in a small bowl in microwave for 15 seconds (don't over do it- they will burn)
add milk into melted candies, stir until smooth

pour mixture into bowl of popcorn, mix with hands until lightly covered

Spoon mixture into a pan (8in or 9in) and pat down so it is even. Place marshmallows on top (I used 6- guess I can't count). Bake in oven for 5 minutes or until mellows are softened.

Spoon mixture back into the bowl, letting it cool for about 1 minute. After it has cooled, spray your hands with non stick spray. Form the mixture into 6 balls. Spray your pan with non stick spray and place the 6 popcorn balls back on the tray and bake for another 5 minutes.

You can place popsicle sticks in them if you want... cool and eat. Yummy sweet treat!
"Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Lollipop" is the WW name for this!

15 things to be Thankful for...

If you are one FB, a lot of people are posting what they are thankful for each day...
I can come up with a million things but since we are on the 15th day of November, I thought I would list 15 things... may or may not be the same that were on my profile!!! Let the fun begin.

15. Thankful for diapers and wipe... w/o these, I would have never had children-no ruffing it here!
14. Thankful that Gaby had a great b-day party with her friends yesterday
13. Thankful for my workouts- I totally enjoy the hour a day I get to myself, to see friends, and to get motivated to keep going.
12. Thankful for my washer and dryer- again, without these I would never be seen in a clean outfit because I would never wash things by hand- laundry for 7 people, by hand is just plain ol crazy talk.
11. Thankful for my kids school and teachers. I could never " home school" just because it would be doing my kids harm- I could never teach the subjects like they are being taught- our school really is a blessing.
10. Thankful for small group. During our meeting last week, one of our friends while praying said some very powerful things that have weighed heavy on my heart ever since.
9. Thankful for my friends. Some I see weekly and some I don't. Even when I don't see everyone, they are always in my thoughts and prayers.
8. Thankful for the opportunities I have to improve and grow with my daycare. I can not express how lucky I am to be a part of an awesome program that motivates me to provide the best care that I can.
7. Thankful for my slump I have been in... without being at my lowest, I would never grow as a person. I will admit that it is hard to say when I am in a slump since I put it all out there everyday for everyone to see via FB, blog, daycare ect. But, I think I am on the upside of it as I don't know the answers to my worries but I know who does. It is all in His hands.
6. Thankful that I have a holiday road map planned out... without being organized, holiday parties, dinners, daycare parties, Christmas shopping, and school functions would not happen.
5. Thankful for my job. Even though I am stressing crazy like over it- I have it!
4. Thankful for my family... whole family.
3. Thankful for my kids. Some days they age me faster then I would like however, I don't know what I would be doing with my life if I didn't have them. Gaby warms my heart with how big her heart is. Kadyn makes me laugh by the sound of her laughter. Mia amazes me with all that she is learning everyday, and Kendal encourages me as she as she reaches for me and knows I am her parent.
2. Thankful for Dustin. I could write an entire post on him, which I think I have. D is the man behind it all. Everything house, maintenance, car, daycare issue, kid tucking in, bath helper, computer tech, bread winner, best friend, best father... he is it! He does it all! I can not express how blessed I am to have the most awesomest person in the world as my husband! He makes me want to be a better person and strive to grow as a mother. I love him more then words. I am thankful for him!
1. Thankful for my faith. Without my faith in God, I wouldn't be where I am today!

Thanksgiving is for giving thanks...

As we approach one of my favorite holidays, we are reminded about what we are thankful for. Today we started talking about Thanksgiving at circle time. I asked what everyone was thankful for...
AN: "my toys"
AW: " my momma"
E: "baby J'
M: "toys"
They are getting there... each day I will ask them what they are thankful for and see if it changes...

Today we made the cutest coffee filter/feet turkeys.
First step was to color the "feathers", aka coffee filters.

We also worked on some fine motor skills, we had to make sure the marker lids "popped" when we were finished using a fall color marker.

Then we traced our foot onto brown paper which made the turkey body. Here are our finished products. They are so adorable, so are the turkeys too...

This week is another hard week to narrow down a "story of the week". So, we have 2, then we have extra book time at lunch! I have so many favorites the kids will be tired of listening to me read, if that is possible!

I hope as we approach a holiday that almost gets skipped over due to Christmas, you will take the time to talk to your child and see what they are thankful for!!!

Gaby's pool party...

Gaby has wanted a pool party for a year now. We tried doing it last year but it never worked out. Since the poor girl has a November birthday, all outside party ideas are out! This year we went to the YMCA (on the west side) and was very happy with the experience. We had a fun time celebrating Gaby's birthday with her friends.

Gaby... 9 years old (November 20th)

They had the coolest slide...

And a hot tub...

After we swam for almost 2 hours, we got dressed and headed into the party room. Gaby is really into "iCarly" so that was our theme. We had bright colored cupcakes, plates, tablecloth and invites. We opened gifts and had our treats... such a fun afternoon! Gaby friends were such a great group as well. Couldn't have asked for a better time!

This is one day closer to an emotional day... my oldest baby is going to be 9 years old. Can I really be old enough for her to be nine??? This coming weekend we are having her birthday dinner and a movie, then having a family gathering. Can't wait to celebrate this little girl some more! She is totally worth it!