We began our morning with the Dress-up Box. I fixed our standard Thursday Breakfast, Cheesy Eggs, and tried to help everyone with boas, tu-tus, cowboy hats, and other assorted garments. Finally, it was time to eat! Here's what it looks like at a meal time. (And don't I need to "de-clutter" my kitchen! If I weren't so busy having fun and caring for kids, I'd be ashamed of myself.)
Cheesy Eggs, Cantaloupe & Bananas, Wheat Toast, and Milk. Everyone has their favorite part: The Prince loves the fruit, Smiley the eggs, Sweetie Pie the wheat toast, and Baby Cakes (no teeth - yet) The Company.
You certainly can not tell by the picture above, buy Baby Cakes is getting over her first really bad cold. She is such a trooper - still smiling and trying so hard to be the Happy Baby she truly is. I'm not sure in all my years I've ever seen a tiny baby with so much congestion - such a terrible cough - and this is the "up side". Her poor First-Time-Parents had the roughest days of her cold (last Friday through Monday of this week). While I missed her Monday - I'm glad I did not see her then, it would have broke my heart. God Love Her, I hear she ran low on smiles and high on misery - absolutely the opposite of her usual cheerful self.
This week (and next week's) theme was "Our Five Senses". I was set on finger-painting today. It's been awhile since we broke out our finger paints, and it seemed like an ideal activity for our "fingers to feel". I've never done this with 5 toddlers under the age of two. But never fear, God sent us an angel just in time - here is from today's Daily Report:
"We had a fabulous morning. Grandma Patty showed up (like a blessing from Heaven) just in the nick of time! Baby Cakes got hungry right in the middle of a big diaper changing session (we had a Synchronized Pooping Incident). So once we got past the diaper changing, and got Baby Cakes happy – we BROKE OUT THE FINGER PAINTS. Everyone had a good time playing in the mushy cold paint – of course the majority of time was spent in the set-up and clean-up phase with only about 10 minutes tops actual “fingers-on”. Once I cleaned up one, and they realized it was hand washing time they were all running across one another’s artwork (taped to the floor) to beat each other to the soap and water in the bathroom!"
Like the title of this post reads, I'm worn out - so here is some more about our morning from our Daily Report...
"We even had time for Circle this morning. Grandma Patty joined us. We sang our songs (she was very impressed) and did some Jingle Bell and Dance Moves to a few of our tunes. We read Barnyard Banter (again, she was impressed), Words About Me and Mine, Skippyjon Jones 1-2-3s (counting with the book) and Skippyjon Jones Up & Down (hand motioning to the opposites). It was a bit crowded in the Circle Room so we made it back to the FR and Grandma Patty lead some small block play at the coffee table while I fed Baby Cakes, then some counting of bears and balls while I got lunch together."
Then it was time for lunch: Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes, Peas, Bread, and Milk. Everyone slowed down - Sweetie Pie nodded off into her potatoes. Where are those nap mats, and why don't the Regulations allow for the Provider to nap too?
We tucked in our shoes, and we laid down for nap about 12:30 today.
And look at that - Sunshine asleep in a sunbeam. Now, isn't that sweet?
As I started this post, I also steamed our carrots for snack. And today for snack? Something new: Warm Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Pretzels, Steamed/Chilled Carrots, and Water. I hope they like it.
I had just put my camera batteries into the recharger when I started this post, now I'm wishing there was a wall-recharger for Child Care Providers. I am looking forward to something along these lines tonight: I get to dash out the door at 5:30, drive like a mad woman to Waldo, and have my "hair appointment" tonight (losing about 4 years of age in roots & gray).
Have a great weekend.
