Sensory Table

It's here! My sensory table for the day care. We've (my hard working husband and I) been working on this for some time now due to busy schedules, but we did it!!! I am so excited to watch and over hear the children make believing in the sand or rice or noodles or water or whatever fun I put in the bin for the week. 

This bin came with a lid which is very handy in order to keep in unwanted sand, rice or whatever filling I add in for the week.

It started out being a coffee table I found at Goodwill for $20. 

Then, I bought a gift wrapping plastic storage bin with cover. 

My husband measured and cut a space for the bin and dropped it in the space.

 It is easy to take the bin back out for cleaning and refilling purposes!

I bought some paint and gave it a whole new clean look. 

There you have it! One good looking Sensory Table! 

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DROP IN CARE!

Click on DROP IN CARE

Wonderful Preschool Site!

WOW, I feel like I hit the jack-pot on this website! You can bet your children will leave my house with a ton of new art work, lessons learned and a healthy belly!

Preschool Express by Jean Warren - Click Preschool Express

Ideas for Toddler Gross Motor skills

Check out this neat site I discovered ... It's called Toddler Station by Jean Warren. Click on "Toddler Station" to go to the site.

Daily Happenings!

Everyday I will be filling out a similar form for your child so that you know what he/she's been up to!

There will be an area for diaper changes and feedings as well!

Safe Sleeping for your baby

I thought this was very good information. Please take a look.

http://www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs/index.html..

This Sleep Sack is wonderful to use in place of a blanket. I put one on my daughter to keep her warm at nap times and through the night! LOVED THEM!

Pumpkin painting..

Apple Orchard time!

Today we went to Whistling Well Farm to enjoy a great day of apple picking and to search for the perfect pumpkin. We didn't get to apple pick due to lack of apples, but we did find MANY great pumpkins.

Doodler (my sweet little 4 yr. old) had a Blast feeding the hens and roosters.

The resident donkey and goat. Very lazy today!

3 Gourds for $2.00

In a million (maybe a hundred) years would you expect to find a little fuzzy caterpillar in a hay stack? She did! She wouldn't hold it at first but then we said it tickled and she was all for it!! It was cute to hear her little giggles while the caterpillar almost crawled up her sleeve.

I feel like this might have been the most perfect pumpkin I've ever seen.

Infant Activities

As you look at my site you'll probably notice that I have a lot of toys and things for older children. It's true, I do have a lot of fun stuff, however, I have few fun things for infants and young toddlers as well. I have a Fischer Price Jungle Jumpy seat with attached toys (my daughter LOVED this thing!), a infant/toddler music leap frog table, an infant swing and bouncy seat and many hand held toys appropriate for infants to hold onto and play and discover. I also have one  high chair and will be getting more when I know how many I'll need. I have many "big" toys for the babies to play with as well. I have one pack n' play with tight fitted sheet that will be inspected.

Here are some fun Infant and Toddler activities that I will have planned!

1. Ball Roll - http://www.productiveparenting.com/aspx/Activities.aspx?aid=143
2. Here is a Large list of fun activities - http://www.productiveparenting.com/aspx/ActivityLibrary.aspx?aid=0A

I'll add pictures soon!

Thanks!
Rachael

Here are a few of the toys and baby gear that I do have! 

Leap Frog Music Table

Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies and Lights Deluxe Gym

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo

Fisher-Price Rainforest Healthy Care High Chair

Pertussis Information!

I found myself in a very strange position this summer. My daughter was coughing and then a couple weeks later I was coughing and pretty soon I realized that 4 weeks had gone by and I was still coughing and wheezing. I went to a local store in St. Paul and questioned the "pharmacist wanna be" (there was no pharmacy just a homeopathic area) there and suddenly I hear a gasp and a voice say, "OH! Stand BACK". I was a little startled and felt really, whats the word, INFECTIOUS. Wow, I couldn't believe that someone could be so malevolent (well, maybe not that bad, but definitely insensitive!). I was fearful for my life as she  was clearly afraid for hers. I thought maybe I just infected the lady. I covered my mouth with my jacket and I frantically bought some soothing, natural couch syrup to sooth my throat pain and ran out the door and made beeline for an Urgent Care Clinic. Do I have pertussis, even more scary, does my daughter have pertussis? Well, good news, 2 throat tests later (one for Pertussis and one for Strep), we walked out of the clinic with NO Pertussis or Strep (received tests in the mail). Just a lingering cold. MY point for this rant.. well, I don't know, merely to vent I suppose. If you have any question about whether or not having Pertussis, please go get checked or take a look at some good information I received today on Pertussis "Whooping Cough" !

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/pertussis/pertparents.html

I'm going to get my shot!!