When you see the Southern Cross for the first time,
You understand now why you came this way,
…….it’s as big as the promise, the promise of a comin’ day.      

                                      -Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young                

                              

This promising day began with the construction of a bedroom suite.

Sydney and Elise spearheaded the creation of a big bed with pillows, a twin bed, two bedside tables, a TV (with remote control) and a chair.

Friends stretched their muscles and explored gravity by climbing up and down the habitrail ladder and creating more complex block structures.

We put our homemade drums to the test in a drum parade, marching and beating to a George Lee Jr. rendition of “These Boots are Made for Walking.”

Inspired by Lindsay’s carved bone necklace, Wee Friends made their own version of this Pacific Island jewelry. First, they made three batches of salt dough. Later, friends gathered ‘round the table to begin their work, sculpting shapes from the gooey dough. Lisa punched a hole in the top for string.

We talked again about the Southern Cross and filled a piece of paper with stenciled stars. Friends not only found the Southern Cross formation, but drew point to point, creating other geometrical shapes. 

Some friends worked with star stickers.

We practiced nurturing one another.

We practiced the art of listening.

(Wee ) have been around the world, (this summer! and)
When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way.
….. it’s as big as the promise – The promise of a comin’ day.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumber and cantaloupe. Breakfast: Cinnamon Malt-O-Meal and bananas. Lunch: Whole grain cous-cous with ham and cheddar, broccoli crowns and watermelon.

Hope you’ve had a promising day.

Good Afternoon!

Zoey was all smiles bright and early this morning! She had a great time playing with a toy that was set out for her. It makes different sounds as well as having multiple parts to the toy. Her feet were her main play toy for the morning! She loves stretching her feet up towards her head.

While a group of friends formed a reading circle on the carpet, Zoey enjoyed watching the fish swim past her.

Children enjoyed painting this morning. We used our new brushes and different paint such as watercolor and tempra paint. Multiple colors were mixed together to make new colors.

We headed outside where Ellie was a big help! She used a shovel to scoop up the sand that was on the side walk and put it back into the sandbox.

Chloe and Ellie swayed back and forth on the teeter totter. They sang, “Teeter totter!”

Ellie had a great time doing different activities with the bouncy balls. First, she started to throw them across the yard. She then started to kick the balls with her friends!

More friends joined in the fun of kicking and throwing bouncing balls around. Everyone helped out their friends when they needed another bouncy ball.

P.K. scooted along on a small car. He used his feet to push him. While on the car, he looked at various buttons all throughout the car and pushed them and said, “Beep!”

Clara and Chloe opened and closed the window and door to let other friends into the house.

Our older Wee Friend Nate was jumping on bubble wrap and our friends watched intently. Children also imitated his movements and started jumping on the deck!

Miss Laurie brought out Miss Piggy! Our friends loved giving Miss Piggy a great, big, and gentle hug!

Emma played quietly in the cube this afternoon as her friends napped. She rested by putting her head on the pillows!

For breakfast, children had raisin bran and oranges. AM snack was green peas. Lunch consisted of pita bread with hummus, broccoli, and bananas. PM snack was raisins and graham crackers.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

In “The Land of the Long White Cloud”, there is a mountain range that is so long and so high that, on overcast days, the clouds stretch over it’s peaks and rain pours down…lots of rain! In fact, the average annual rainfall in this Land is 10 meters, or 13 Ada’s tall!

This is one of the many interesting things we learned today when Finn’s Dad, Lindsay, took us halfway around the world to his native New Zealand.

He held up the globe, showed Wee Friends where New Zealand is and asked “What do you notice?” Friends replied:

• “It’s tiny!”
• There’s water all around it!”

They asked him questions and made observations:

• “Is it a long way from Notre Dame?”
• “My mommy talked about England”
• That’s the English flag!”
• “Bats sleep upside down, do Kiwis?”

We learned that the four stars on the New Zealand flag represent the four brightest stars seen in the New Zealand sky. If you draw a line down and across, it creates the “Southern Cross”. Sailors used this formation to guide them at sea. Long after the Eastern Polynesian settlers came, the English came and colonized the island. Both peoples are represented on the national flag.

He held up a Chinese gooseberry and asked “Do you know what this is?” Tami cut one open and many friends recognized the familiar kiwi fruit!

And then, Lindsay introduced us to a member of the New Zealand family that our friends our still talking about: New Zealand’s national bird, the Kiwi.

Lindsay taught us that the Kiwi bird is nocturnal and uses his nostrils at the tip of his beak to eat insects and bugs and worms. He shared with us that some of the worms in New Zealand are actually as big as Tami! It is the father who protects the eggs in the nest and often protects his friend’s eggs as well!

Friends got to hold a model “weta”, which is something akin to our grasshopper. It lives like a forest rat and can grow to 6” long.

 

Lindsay told us it takes 20 hours (from LA), by plane, to get to New Zealand. One time he was traveling back to the US on his 40th birthday. He left New Zealand at 8pm one day and arrived in LA on the same day at noon. His 40th birthday, lasted 40 hours! This is how explained the invisible International Date Line!

He read Kapai’s New Mates by Uncle Anzac and Perky the Pukeko by Michelle Osment that introduced us to a few Maori words:

• Kumara: Sweet Potato
• pipis: clams
• pakaru: broken
• kai: food

Home of the Mighty Black Team, Lindsay wore a black rugby jersey and explained that black is the color for all national sports. And then came the homemade Pavalova! Named after the Russian ballerina, this delicious meringue dessert was devoured by Wee Friends and teachers! So good!

 

THANK YOU Lindsay for this amazing trip to your beautiful “Land of the Long White Cloud”! We had a great time!

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Raisin bran. Lunch: Whole wheat tortillas with hummus, bananas and broccoli.

ps: Did you know that 2 nights ago, one of the Island’s volcanoes erupted for the first time in 100 years?!!

Have a great day.

Happy Monday!

Ellie sat quietly on the rocking chair while reading a story this morning. When reading her favorite stories, she recites a good portion of the book from memory.

Our friends hopped on the bikes and took a nice ride along the circular bike path. Chloe rode a small tricycle and pushed along using her feet and legs.

Our vegetables are continuing to grow. The tomatoes are becoming red and the flowers are in a wonderful bloom. Children sniffed the flowers with their nose and used soft touches with the flowers as well as the vegetables.

While Clara stayed stationary on the bike, she rocked her body back and forth as if she was flying down the path!

P.K. became very concentrated as he sat on the porch building with Legos. He put them together and took different pieces apart. Once he was done, he picked them all up and put them back into the container! He shows responsibility for the toys that he’s playing with.

Clara got all dirty as she played in the wooden house this morning! Since it rained over the weekend, some of the playground was still a little wet. She sat with Marina while they filled watering cans up with rocks and pebbles. They pretended to water the flowers and the ground.

While singing ‘The Wheels on the Bus’, Ellie and Chloe focused on the words and the actions that go along with the song. Another favorite song that we like to sing on the swing is of course our ABC’s!

Zoey posed in many ways as she relaxed on her belly. She is now using her arms as a stabilizer and loves laying on her stomach. She reached one hand up to touch a toy that was located on the baby jungle gym. Zoey is very photogenic and has a great time laying with her Wee Wee friends on the floor.

Emma is beginning to walk more and more! She holds on to stable items around her and takes multiple steps. She enjoyed clapping and showing off her big smile this morning. The jungle gym is one of her favorite toys at Wee Wee Friends. She loves working on her gross motor activity all throughout the day whether it’s on the jungle gym or sitting on her knees and jumping up and down.

For breakfast, children enjoyed Chex and apples. AM snack was oranges. Lunch consisted of cheese ravioli with marinara sauce, juicy cantaloupe, and fresh cucumbers. PM snack was raisins and rice cakes with soy butter.

Have a great evening!

-Mindy

Today, we marched to the beat of our own drums……

We talked about our differences: how we look to our favorite songs. Each friend chose their own unique plastic container to turn into a drum. Melinda led a rhythm game and friends beat their drum accordingly.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Kix and raisins. Lunch: Cheese ravioli, cantaloupe and carrots.

Have a great day.

Happy Friday!

Here are a few pictures that were taken throughout the day!

For breakfast, children had cheerios and apples. AM snack was pears. Lunch consisted of turkey and cheese whole wheat tortillas, green peas, and a mixture of raisins and pineapple. PM snack was a birthday treat that Emma brought in for her birthday! She turned one year old yesterday. The treat was wonderful zucchini bread and fruit kabobs.

Have a terrific weekend!

-Mindy

Happy Friday! From the window of the cottage climber, all summer long, friends have been selling things. The currency has been rock and sand. Today, friends discussed which materials would be needed to create a lemonade stand. They created paper tickets, mixed and poured the lemonade, created a banner and headed to the backyard to set up shop.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Kashi and pears. Lunch: Whole wheat tortillas with turkey and mozzarella cheese, peas and pears. Snack: Whole wheat rhubarb muffins.

Have a great weekend.

So today wasn’t your ordinary day here at Wee Friends…   First, it is Kai’s 6th Birthday today.  Kai, who has been with Wee Friends since he was a two month old tiny little infant. Kai who was a joy filled baby who charmed us with his beautiful blue eyes.  Kai, our rambunctious wobbler who showed no fear….ever.  Kai, our emotionally intense toddler who spent his days waffling between jubilation and devastation.  Kai, who as a preschooler was overflowing with curiosity and energy and a love of nature.  Kai , our Kindergartener who has shown a sense of leadership, helpfulness, and stability that has guided our classroom throughout the year.  Kai, who is leaving us at the end of the month (sniffle..sniffle) to move on to his next journey: 1st grade at Good Shepherd Montessori!  Kai, we will miss you dearly and feel blessed that we had you for the entirety of your early childhood years. 

Second, we had a special day in honor of Kai’s Birthday and his love of reptiles.  Miss Lisa, arranged with Aaron and Ryan to come out and teach the children about their reptiles again.  They also left with us an Anole Lizard (named Kai) as our new classroom pet!  He’s the tiny olive green dude in the pics…not intimidating at all I will let the pictures tell the story of our fantastic experience enjoying the hands-on activity!

You can hire Aaron and Ryan for your own reptile show.  Aaron Honchell, at Ra Ra Reptiles can be reached at 574-315-0771.  That were magnificent and worthy of the referral! 

A few quotes we overheard:

Jane, “ Big Daddy, I love ya!’

Arleigh, “ That’s a dinosaur.”

Kai, “That’s what snakes do, they smell with their tongues.”

Vivian, “They can bite your fingers off!”

Elliott, “ I saw a fire truck and dinosaur at the park.”

Simon, “How big do they have to get before they die?”

Sydney,”Oh that feels good!”

Ada, “ Did he burp?”

Taylor, “It feels like a rock.”

Macy, “It’s softer than a feather.”

Breakfast was whole wheat bagels and cantaloupe.  Lunch was egg salad on flat bread, cucumbers and fresh pear slices.

Happy Thursday!

We started off our day outside! The sun was shining and our friends loved the weather!

Chloe took sand from her hand and transferred it into a cup. She leveled it with her hands.

The deck was a popular place to play this morning. Friends loved building with the Legos! Ellie stacked multiple Legos together and called it a ‘big tower’. While playing with the Legos, P.K. was fascinated with bugs! He pointed to an ant he saw crawling in the sand. He became very concentrated as he was putting two sections of Legos together.

Ellie pulled a dump truck along. She said they were going on an ‘adventure’.

Marina took a scooper and dumped sand onto her plate. She then took the scooper and made sure the sand was even. The actions were extremely precise!

Miss Zoey came into Wee Wee Friends sporting her Notre Dame outfit today! She loved her floor time and is having a blast playing with her feet! Her thumb gives her much comfort throughout the day.

Chloe took a car and drove it along the window panel. She kept it straight and then drove it up the side! She said, “beep” as she was driving it fast.

While listening to music, Chloe and P.K. got dressed up in their usual! They laughed as they listened to funny music. P.K. has begun to hum the tune of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. He loves that song and his friends like listening to him.

Breakfast was kix and oranges. AM snack was cucumbers. Lunch consisted of pita sandwiches filled with egg salad, fresh pears, and cucumbers. PM snack was raisins and pretzels.

Have a great night!

-Mindy

Happy August!

We started the morning with a dancing session while listening to a random selection of children’s music. Ellie and Clara danced around in circles to the music that had a good beat.

Clara, P.K. and Emma walked and crawled off to the gate where they laughed with one another! Clara and P.K. were jumping to the music and Emma thought this was very funny.

A few friends gathered on the jungle gym where they jumped with each other while listening to music. They made sure to give each other a turn as they went down the slide.

We all travelled outside after snack. This was the first time that Zoey came out with us in the morning! Our friends loved being outside with her and she felt the same. Zoey gazed at her surroundings and enjoyed the breeze as we sat outside.

Chloe, Clara, and P.K. banged on the sensory table top with their hands. They found that it made a loud noise!

Emma loved crawling around on the ground and observing the different parts of the backyard. A special toy was brought out for her to sit in while enjoying the outdoors.

Many children swayed back and forth on the teeter totters. They asked their friends if they would like to join in on the fun.

Ellie used her arm muscles to throw a blue bouncy ball all throughout the backyard. It bounced and she ran after it as fast as she could.

For breakfast, children had Chex and pears. AM snack was bananas. Lunch consisted of brown rice with cheddar cheese, mixed vegetables, and bananas. PM snack was graham crackers and bananas.

Have a wonderful evening!

-Mindy