What could be more perfect than ending our Around the World in 55 Days in the great state of Texas? Tomorrow, Elliott’s folks will take us on our final trip to the Lone Star State! Yee-haw!!! We can’t wait!!!

Breakfast: Chex and fresh peaches. Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with ham, peas and pear slices.

Have a great day.

Happy Friday!

**Since the weather is starting to cool down, we are asking that parents bring in ONE fall outfit for their child.

**Just as a reminder, Wee Wee Friends will be closed for Labor Day which is Monday, September 3rd.

**Also, we’re asking if any parents could bring in pony tail holders. We prefer the medium sized ponies. Thanks so much!

Today, we say good-bye to Chloe as this is her last day here at Wee Wee Friends. Chloe has grown into an amazing child and her spirit will be missed very much. Good luck and we’ll miss you, Chloe!

Marina and Zoey spent some time this morning playing with one another. Marina loves talking to baby Zoey! Zoey always listens intently and ultimately she’s being stimulated by her friends and their conversations at Wee Wee Friends.

Our friends participated in baby yoga this morning. Miss Marty lead a session where children stretched and exhibited different poses.

Our friends stretched their arms up high.

Emma loved feeling the pebbles as well as listening to the pebbles make sounds when they hit the ground. Chloe used a shovel to put sand onto a plate and she said, “It’s birthday cake!”

Children went off into different parts of the yard to indulge in various toys and activities.

When Daniel arrived, he went down the slide with his friends. At first, he was hesitant but he enjoyed the slide and had a big smile on his face!

Marina used her arm and leg muscles as she climbed up the wooden house.

Daniel used a big blue shovel as he dug up stones and pebbles and dumped them into a bucket. He enjoyed the fill and dump part of this activity!

Zoey’s upper body strength is getting better every day! Whether she’s on the ground or in her car seat, she has started to lift her head up off of the surface.

While their older friends had naptime, Emma and Zoey had bonding time while playing on the floor. Emma used soft, nice touches on Zoey’s arm. Zoey smiled when this took place.

For breakfast, children had apple muffins and apples. AM snack was apples. Lunch consisted of bagels with turkey, cheese, and tomato on top, snap peas, and applesauce. PM snack was brought in by Chloe and her family! We had yogurt and fresh blueberries. Thank you for the wonderful snack!

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Mindy

It’s the time of year when we have to say goodbye to friends as they move on to their next chapter. Today, we say goodbye to Vivian, who is leaving to start kindergarten at St. Anthony’s. WE WILL MISS YOU VIV!!

Wee Sprouts: Pea pods. Breakfast: Cheerios and raisins. Lunch: Whole wheat bagels with melted mozzarella and turkey, roasted pea pods and applesauce.

Have a great weekend.

“We are different, but we are also the same.”

This is what Judy-san, Sloane’s Grandma, taught us today when she came to visit Wee Friends. In the late 1960’s, Judy spent two years, in a town outside of Tokyo, teaching American kids whose parents were associated with the Vietnam conflict. Today, Judy shared her memories, her stories and a box filled with cultural materials, with Sloaners and her Wee Friends.

“We are different, but we are also the same” is how she began. In the US, friends take backpacks to school. In Japan, traditionally, kids used large scarves stuffed with their belongings.

Japan is so far away, she explained, that she had to bring two maps to show us!

In the US, we like to make a wish on a wishbone. In Japan, they make wishes on a Daruma Doll.

In the US, we (usually!) send manufactured cards. In Japan, cards are hand painted works of art.

Even Japanese wrapping paper is an artistic creation.

When Nate saw the argyle socks, he yelled out: “My dad has some of those!”

Judy-san taught us that traditional Japanese socks (tabis) have a split in them, unlike Nate’s dad’s socks, to accommodate commonly worn sandals.

In the US, we have Mother’s and Father’s Days. In Japan they celebrate Children’s Day, Boy’s Day and Girl’s day.

While kids in both countries read books, in Japan, kids read from the back of the book to the front of the book.

In the US, when you catch a fish….you might celebrate by taking a great photo….

In Japan, it is an opportunity to create another work of art: a painting of the fish.

Kai: “I heard Japan won volleyball in the Olympics!”

Japanese children wear robes, too! Japanese grownups call their robes “Happy Coats”.

First Judy-san compared Japanese chop sticks to a Dairy Queen spoon, then she shared some interesting Japanese snacks with us.

Poured in homemade origami bowls, friends sampled rice crackers, roasted green peas, rice candy (friends could eat the inside rice wrapper!) and cookies.

Sydney: “I love origami! It came from Japan!”

Judy-san bowed to us and we practiced bowing to Judy-san, thanking each other for a wonderful trip to Japan.

Thank you, Judy-san, for sharing your love of Japan with our Wee Friends!

Wee Sprouts: Pea pods. Breakfast: Chex and bananas. Lunch: Tuna fish on whole wheat tortillas, Cassie’s Garden tomatoes over romaine lettuce and apple slices.

Kai: “How do they say storm in Japanese?”

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon!

Zoey had a great time on her baby jungle gym this morning. She is getting more strength which is allowing her to tilt her head up to reach different toys that she finds interesting. She’s rolling and flipping over all around the house.

Photographer Marina took candid shots of her friends today. She enjoys taking pictures of Zoey and often says, “Smile!”

Before the rain came pouring down, we got some valuable outside time in today. Our friends loved going down the slide! Not only is it an enjoyable activity but it’s helping our children with coordination when they walking up the logs to the top. Some of our friends hold onto the side railing to help as they climb up.

Friends sat together as they played in the sandbox. This is a great activity to do individually or as our friends chose to do, work together to make various items such as a sand castle! They informed everyone that it was going to be a little castle.

While the sky darkened, Legos were the spot to be. Children made various sized ‘choo-choos’. Ellie found a big Lego that she could see through!

Daniel sat with his shades on watching his friends! He later joined in as they took their trains around the deck.

Well..the rain came and we headed inside! Emma got right to bouncing to a song that was playing! Her movement skills are improving and she loves to dance!

The soft, velvety white scarves got hung from the doorway this morning. Children had an opportunity to feel them and of course they were used as a dancing prop!

Marina took the scarves and had them close to her body so she could feel the texture. Emma took her hands and ran them gently across the fabric.

P.K. drove the school bus all around Wee Wee today! He pushed the button near the front of the bus and it started to play a song. He took off and went to pick up his passengers!

For breakfast, children had Kix and banana. Lunch consisted of pita bread filled with tuna, fresh apples, and scrumptious tomatoes! PM snack was strawberry/peach smoothie and apple muffins.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Happy Wednesday!

Marina was very fascinated with babies this morning. She mimicked Miss Marty while Zoey was getting fed. She also sat by Zoey as they watched the fish swim by.

Ellie spent a good deal of time on a gross motor activity. She slide down the stairs and slide and then continued by running to the top.

We made amazing artwork this morning with neon watercolors. Everyone picked out the colors that they wanted to use. There were five colors that were available to paint with.

Strokes were made with paintbrushes.

Straight lines were also made.

Dots and smudges also captivated the paper.

Chloe rode a tricycle this morning with much grace! P.K. sat in the back of the bike carrier. He was waited for someone to give him a ride.

Marina indulged in the sandbox. She enjoyed filling up buckets and glasses to the very top.

Legos were a main stay outside. P.K. built a ‘choo-choo’ and pushed it along the ground. Chloe followed and pushed her Lego cars along the deck.

P.K. spent quality time with his brother Nate as they swayed back and forth together on the teeter-totter.

For breakfast, children had malto-meal with raisins. AM snack was snap peas. Lunch consisted of egg casserole, banana, snap peas, and whole wheat bread. PM snack was fresh apples and rice cakes with cream cheese.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Day in and day out Wee Friends spend hours riding the Wee Friends backyard bike trail.

What really happens on the bike path, day in and day out?

Today, Elliott’s bike wheel got caught on Lea’s bike wheel. Kai immediately noticed a problem, moved closer to his friends and guided the rescue. Other friends had to wait. They expressed their frustration, but they remained patient until Elliott could freely move. Patience.

Next, Jada needed to cross the road. With Elliott coming full speed, Jada problem solved: I must move quickly to avoid getting run over. She did it. She saw, she assessed, she solved. Problem solving.

“There’s a problem with my bike!” Elliott shouted out. He pulled over and Lisa said “Pull over to the full service pit!” Roadside (teacher) assistance.

Many times, on the WF Bike Path (and playground), friends are able to resolve, independently, the obstacles they confront, but roadside assistance is there. Support.

 

Sometimes friends can breeze by carefree, on the path….other times, the pea gravel slows ‘em down.  Today, Ada recognized the rocky path and set out to fix it for her friends. Thoughtfulness.

 

Sophie smiled. Happiness.

Sometimes friends pedal in the opposite direction. It’s not a problem until another friend, pedaling in the established clockwise direction comes upon them.  New direction is negotiated and the fun continues. Safety Rules of the Road.

 

The rickshaw always provides invitations and inclusion. And a great gross motor workout. Friendship. Exercise.

“This is my cup. You can have it when I’m done.” Finding their voices and negotiating, at the same time. Confidence and Compromise.

 

“Red means stop, green means go.” Giving directions and taking directions. Teamwork.

There’s a lot of learning happening on the Wee Friends path. The path to being a big kid.

“This is my laptop. Sydney made it.”

“I’m a pre-school teacher and I’m Nate, Sophie and Jada’s mom.”

“I’ll take the picture.”

And finally, today, the sparkly, pink Play-Do.

Wee Sprouts: Pea pods. Breakfast: Cheerios and apple slices. Lunch: Farm fresh egg casserole, bananas, and whole wheat toast.

Good Afternoon!

Emma is starting to stand on her own and showing the determination to start walking! She lifted her arms up this morning to show that she wanted up! She hops all over Wee Wee on her knees!

Friends enjoyed painting this morning using different color paint including purple, green, blue, and yellow. Some children chose to mix the colors while other kids stuck to one color per piece of artwork.

We used brushes to paint the paper.

When we were done, we decided to paint the table!

Zoey was dressed in a lovely checkered dress today! She is getting more advanced every day. She has started to stretch her arms straight to hold herself up. She has showed the first signs of rocking by slowing tilting her legs up.

While on her baby jungle gym, she enjoyed looking at her reflection in the mirror.

One of our favorite books lately has been ‘Baby Beluga’. Friends took turns reading the story aloud to themselves then we formed a big group and read it together. Ellie can read the book almost word for word by looking at the pictures and from memory.

Marina took a picture of Miss Mindy! She watches what her teachers and friends are doing and imitates them such as feeding the baby. When baby Zoey is getting fed, Marina will grab a baby and fed her baby!

For breakfast, children had raisin bran. Lunch consisted of hummus sandwiches on whole wheat bread, mixed fruit (mango and banana), and mixed vegetables. PM snack was pretzels and sliced cheddar cheese.

Have a wonderful evening!

-Mindy

“There is fungus among us.” – Lisa

There is also music among us.

…and within us.

There are salt dough sculptors creating bone necklaces with funky colors, among us.

There are shoes and community organizers among us.

There are bugs and future bug scientists among us.

There are artists and expressive beings among us.

There are linguists among us, studying Spanish.

There are future readers and writers among us.

There are engineers, architects and articulate, collaborative leaders among us.

A Wee World of Diverse Wee People. All in a day’s work….a day’s play.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Chex and raisins. Lunch: Whole wheat tortillas with peanut butter, mixed veggies and mango/banana fruit salad.

Enjoy your day.

Happy Monday!

Zoey loved floor time this morning. She kicked her feet and pounded them into the ground. She is beginning to scoot on the floor. Her laugh and conversation skills are growing rapidly.

P.K. called friends and family using a play phone! He used his fingers to press the numbers in.

Our sensory activity for the day involved shaving cream. Children loved running their hands through the shaving cream that was provided on the table. Our friends took the shaving cream in their hands and squeezed!

Daniel clapped his hands together as he listened to music!

Emma jumped up and down on her knees as she watched her friends dance during our movement session this morning.

While children napped, Zoey enjoyed laying under her baby gym in the darkness. She used her hands and feet to hit and kick the material over her head.

For breakfast, children had corn bran and raisins. Lunch consisted of whole wheat penne pasta with beans, mixed fruit, and cucumbers. PM snack was animal crackers.

Have a great night!

-Mindy