April 11-15

This week we will start our Zoo theme!  There are a lot of fun crafts, activities and songs we will be doing to learn about different animals at the zoo!  I think the kids will love it!

We also have Travel Tots on Tuesday with Ms. Beth at 9:00.

It looks like we should finally have some more Spring-like weather later this week!  Looking forward to spending more time outside and hopefully going for a walk to the park for some fun!

I just received that Erin has accepted a more full time job for Summer, meaning she won't have much availability to help out here as often.  I am in the process of starting my search for a part time substitute for summer so I can spend some more time with my kids during their summer break.  If anyone knows of someone looking for a part time summer job (about 10 hours a week, once in a while more that that to cover a few vacation days) who is great with kids let me know or feel free to pass my info along.  It is primarily Fridays and one other day a week!  Would be great for a teacher, a stay at home mom or a college student home for the summer.

I will be using a personal day and Closing on Friday May 27 since the kids are off school that day.  A little extra time together for Memorial Day weekend! Please mark your calendars!

MENU:
Monday- Tacquitos, mixed veggies, apples and milk
Tuesday- Pancakes, sausage, pears and milk
Wednesday- Chicken Patty Sandwiches, carrots, fruit cocktail and milk
Thursday-Spaghetti, garlic bread, peaches and milk
Friday- Pigs in a Blanket, corn, oranges and milk

April 4-8

April Showers Bring May Flowers!  That is our theme for this week! We have have fun learning about Spring showers as well as other types of weather!

This week we will also be having PURPLE day on Wednesday, Bring something from home that is PURPLE as show and tell!  This will be a fun way to start learning about this month's color!

We are having fun getting to know Lana!  Our newest daycare friend!  She is Eva's little sister and is almost 16 months old.  Lana is having fun playing with all the kids!

Last week we had a great time riding bikes!  Please remember that we do try to get outside every day so send your kids with appropriate outerwear for the weather forecast for the day.  Some days we may be in T-shirts, other days we may need winter jackets, hats and mittens...the joys of spring in Minnesota!

We also celebrated Ian's 3rd birthday last week!  

 Menu:
Monday- Chicken Nuggets, mixed fruit, corn and milk
Tuesday- Macaroni and Cheese, peas, berries and milk
Wednesday- Sloppy Joe's, green beans, peaches and milk
Thursday- Turkey and Cheese wraps, brocolli, applesauce and milk
Friday- Corn Dogs, Tator Tots, bananas and milk

March 7- March 11

We're headed to the Beach!

This week we will be continuing our beach and ocean theme!  WEDNESDAY WE WILL HAVE A BEACH PARTY!  Come dressed in your beach wear (but remember we will still be going outside to play!!!) Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, hats...etc. We will have play some fun beach games and pretend to hit the waves!

Friday we have music class with Tasha at 10:00

NEXT WEEK DAYCARE IS CLOSED! 

With the in between weather we have here in Minnesota, send whatever you would like your child to play in outside.  The snow is gone from the yard, and for now, the mud is mostly dried up, but they will still get messy out there!  I would definitely suggest boots!

Menu:

Monday-Rotisserie Chicken, berries, carrots and milk

Tuesday- Sloppy Joes, corn, peaches and milk

Wednesday- Tacquitos, apples, green beans and milk

Thursday- Macaroni and Cheese, mixed veggies, oranges and milk

Friday- Grilled Cheese, peas, bananas and milk

Week of February 29th- March 4th

Can't believe it is March tomorrow!  Dare I say Winter is on its way out?!!!  Saturday's warm temperature and sunshine sure felt like spring!  The snow in the backyard has mostly melted, but please still be sure to send snowpants everyday to help stay warm and to keep clothes dry and mud-free!  It's a mess back there!

This week we have Travel Tots on Tuesday with Ms. Beth. 

We will also be starting our first march Theme- OCEAN COMMOTION!  It'll be a lot of fun learning about ocean creatures and the beach!  NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE A BEACH PARTY on WEDNESDAY 3/9!  Stay tuned for more details! It's perfect timing for all these beach vacations everyone is going on!

 

Menu:

Monday- Fish sticks, fresh fruit, peas and milk

Tuesday- Cheeseburger macaroni, green beans, pears and milk

Wednesday- Hot dogs, carrots, oranges and milk

Thursday- Ham and Cheese Rolls, peaches, corn and milk

Friday- Spaghetti, garlic bread, pineapple and milk

 



Week of Feb 15-19

I hope all the kids enjoyed an extra day off!

This week we will be talking about Teeth!  The kids will love making some dental related crafts!

We also have Travel Tots on Tuesday.  They will be learning about Mexico and will have a fun little FIESTA!

My computer is out of commission once again, must be time for a new one!  So I apologize for the brief and picture free blog posts.  Hopefully I will be up and running fully again soon!

In the meantime, if you haven't already, "like" my daycare Facebook page to see some fun pictures and receive reminders of what we have going on.  'Gretchen's Family Childcare'

I know many of you have vacations coming up, please let me know the dates so I can plan meals and activities accordingly!  Thanks!

Reminder, I will be CLOSED for vacation March 14-18.

MENU:

Monday- CLOSED

Tuesday- Grilled ham and cheese, carrots, apples and milk
Wednesday-Spaghetti, garlic bread, fruit cocktail and milk
Thursday- Eggs, sausage, oranges, broccoli and milk
Friday- Tacquitos, corn, pears and milk

Week of Feb 8-Feb 12

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  The basketball tournament was a lot of fun.  Logan's team won first and Aidan's team played well! ;) Thank you all for being accommodating and picking up a little early last Friday so we could get on the road.

This week we will be having our Valentines Day party on Friday.  Please send a valentine for each of the kids.  There are 10.  It is easiest if you just leave the "to:_______" field blank then the kids can just give one to each of their friends!  Dress in your best Valentines Day colors or clothes for the party!

It looks like its going to be pretty cold this week!  We'll have to be creative and come up with some fun ideas to burn off some energy inside!  Please send snow stuff JUST IN CASE the forecast is wrong and we get the opportunity to sneak outside.

One last reminder that daycare is closed next week on Monday for President's Day. 

Menu:

Monday- Peanut butter and Jelly, watermelon, veggies/dip and milk

Tuesday- Hot dogs, green beans, mandarin oranges and milk

Wednesday- French Toast sticks, Ham, cottage cheese, pineapple and milk

Thursday- Sloppy Joes, carrots, peaches and milk

Friday- Chicken nuggets, pears, corn and milk

Week of Jan 25- 29

Hope everyone survived their weekends and that no one else picked up the stomach flu... PHEW- glad that's over!  Figures crossed we don't need to do that again this winter!  This season has been pretty brutal on the illnesses.  Lots of bad colds, coughs, pink eye, ear infections, stomach flu, fevers, sore throats...everywhere!!!!  Please continue to work with your kids on covering coughs and washing hands. I think it would be a good reminder for everyone to could look at my illness policy and review it, that would be great!

Illness policy:

If any of these symptoms are present, your child may not attend daycare:

*A fever of 100 or higher in the last 24 hours (may not come back until 24 hours FEVER FREE WITHOUT MEDICINE)

* Has vomited in the last 24 hours (may not return until 24 hours after LAST episode of vomiting)

*Has had more than one diarrhea in the last 24 hours (may not return until 24 hours after the last loose stool)

* An unexplained rash (must get checked out by a dr, if rash is contagious, must remain home for 24 hours after antibiotic)

* Pink eye -red, irritated eyes and/or yellowish discharge in eyes (must be on antibiotic drops for 24 hours prior to return)

*Sore throat accompanied by fever (if a positive strep test, must be on antibiotics for 24 hours prior to return)

* Lice or nits present in hair (must remain home until no longer present)

If any of these occur in the evening or in the morning while your child is at home, please keep them at home until none of these symptoms have been present for 24 hours, or until they have gotten the approval of a doctor to return to childcare.

If any of these should happen while your child is at daycare, you will be called and told to come pick up your child and they will be temporary isolated until your prompt arrival.

I do not have a sick room for children at daycare, so if they are not healthy enough to participate in our daily activities, they should not be here.  They should be at home getting the care and rest they need so that they can make a speedy, healthy return to daycare.

Also- if any of these happen at home over the weekend, please let me know.  That way I can be on the look out for signs in other kids and notify parents of the potential of it spreading.  If it showed in your child on the weekend, chances are people were exposed on Friday.

This week we are going to celebrate Landon's 4th birthday on Tuesday (actual Bday is on Wednesday, but he gets to stay home with his mom for a fun day!)

Then on Friday, we will celebrate Mason's Second Birthday!

I did finally get a chance to go through everyone's paperwork packets and there are a few spots that need to be completed for a couple of you.  I will send them back home (or just have you do it quickly here if it's minimal) to be completed.  

MENU:

Monday- French Toast Sticks, Cottage Cheese, apples and milk

Tuesday- Meatballs, Dinner roll, green beans, oranges and milk

Wednesday- Corn Dogs, Mixed veggies, cantaloupe and milk

Thursday- Ham and Cheese sandwiches, fruit cocktail, peas and milk

Friday-Spaghetti, garlic bread, bananas, pear and milk