Monster Mash :)

The girls had a Monster Mash at their school on Friday night. They had so much fun!

Keira and a good friend from her class.

Maia, Brianna and another girl coloring...

Games

and Lots of Dancing!

Little Pumpkin Beeswax Candles

Yesterday we made these adorable little pumpkin candles...


I bought real tiny pumpkins and asked Brian to drill a hole in the top the size our candles typically turn out. Then we rolled beeswax candles with the daycare children.

Each child put his or her candle in its pumpkin holder...

And took it home to light at dinner time :)

Then we did a little yoga ;)...

Tree pose :)

Played boat...

Later we each got a piece of beeswax modeling material to hold and warm during nap time...

Sweet dreams!

Woodworking with Daddy...

The girls love hanging out in Brian's workshop.

They decided to make their very own toolboxes.

Keira knows how to use the electric sander ... we need to get her some protective gear - luckily I came out and threw a scarf on her face as Daddy didn't even think of it!

Keira's toolbox!

Brianna hanging out...

Busy, busy..

Brian made Brianna a smaller toolbox - here she is with Maia playing with it.

Second Walk for Alexa

So sad that an entire year has past since Dee has lost her best friend to suicide.

We attended another 'Out of the Darkness' walk in memory of Alexa that is done through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Suicide is something that cannot be ignored or hushed. Depression is real and many times suicide can be prevented if a loved one steps in or a friend speaks up before its too late. It is OK to talk about it. It is OK to ask about it. It can make all the difference.

Alexa kept her sad feelings separate from her friendship with Dee... so Dee had absolutely no idea what her friend was going through. But others did know.... and even after Alexa's passing, people remain too afraid to talk about her suicide.

Alexa's loved ones are now left behind to live with the sadness and pain that she once felt.

We miss you, Alexa. Your smile, your energy... the many happy times. We will move forward in love for you and try to create awareness to help others who feel hopeless and alone.

If you suspect a friend or loved one is depressed or if someone makes comments that concern you, speak out. Its worth the risk if it will save their life.

Balancing Bridge

(I didnt tell this to these children - they are too young - but their bridge reminded me of this Grimms story...)

THE THREE BILLY-GOATS GRUFF

Once on a time there were three Billygoats who were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all the three was "Gruff."

On the way up was a bridge over a burn they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll, with eyes as big as saucers and a nose as long as a poker.

So first of all came the youngest billygoat Gruff to cross the bridge.

"Trip, trap; trip, trap!" went the bridge.

"WHO'S THAT tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.

"Oh! it is only I, the tiniest billygoat Gruff; and I'm going up to the hill-side to make myself fat," said the billy-goat, with such a small voice.

"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.

"Oh, no! pray don't take me. I'm too little, that I am," said the billygoat. "Wait a bit till the second billygoat Gruff comes; he's much bigger."

"Well! be off with you," said the Troll.

A little while after came the second billy-goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

"trip, Trap! Trip, Trap! Trip, Trap!" went the bridge.

"WHO'S THAT tripping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.

"Oh! it's the second billy-goat Gruff, and I 'm going up to the hill-side to make myself fat," said the billy-goat, who had n't such a small voice.

"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll.

" Oh, no! don't take me. Wait a little till the big billy-goat Gruff comes; he's much bigger."

"Very well! be off with you," said the Troll.

But just then up came the big billygoat Gruff.

"TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP! TRIP, TRAP!" went the bridge, for the billygoat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.

"WHO'S THAT tramping over my bridge?" roared the Troll.

"It's I! THE BIG BILLY-GOAT GRUFF," said the billy-goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.

"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," roared the Troll.

"Well, come along! I've got two spears, And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears; I 've got besides two curling-stones, And I 'li crush you to bits, body and bones."

That was what the big billy-goat said; and so he flew at the Troll and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the burn, and after that he went up to the hill-side. There the billy-goats got so fat they were scarce able to walk home again; and if the fat has n't fallen off them, why they're still fat; and so, —

"Snip, snap, snout,
This tale's told out."

Sweet Little Birdies...

Upstairs in the pine boughs
Where the cradles say,
Little birds are sleeping,
Mother bird’s away.
Careful breezes rock them
Busily, all day,
Careful breezes rock them
Busily, all day.

(I love this little verse we are sharing at circle time so much - it reminds me of how the children are in my care all day while their mommys are away)

Today we made pinecone birdfeeders from my October childcare guide!!!

Special thanks to Lilah's mommy for donating all of the beautiful pinecones from her yard.

First we spread peanut butter on our pinecones...

Then we dipped them in birdseed for a special feeder to hang outside when we go home!

Kyla REALLY loved this activity - she was SO excited and couldnt stop talking about it - so cute.

Today was also VERY special because it was Tyler's first day at Little Acorn Learning!

Tyler had a great first day... he played hard and laughed a lot at the big kids being silly :) He loved circle time and doing the craft. It was a long morning for him so he got tired quickly but then he power napped in the afternoon until I woke him to go home.

Welcome to Little Acorn, Tyler!!!

Bird Watching Binoculars...

Did you know that we are learning about birds this week? We made our very own binoculars to go bird watching :)

We talked about which way we would look for the birds... up or down? ;).... we decided on 'up'...

and 'in the trees'...

and 'in nests'....

Watch Out :)