Quote of the Month

"It is easier to build a strong child than to repair broken men."

Fredrick Douglas



































































Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Our Snowman/Winter Gear Reminder


You don't need snow for a snowman! :) The kids had a fun time yesterday creating our snowman out of leaves in the play yard. Now we are hoping for some snow so we can make the REAL thing! :)

Speaking of being outside, I just wanted to remind you all to make sure your child comes with gloves(they will keep on), a stocking hat and coat each day. We WILL continue to go outside each day, weather permitting, and I want each child to be warm and comfortable so they can get some fresh air and run around with their friends. Please, please remember to pack these each day, no matter if it looks nice and sunny or not. You know what they say about Colorado weather, wait 15 minutes, it will change!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..inside the house anyway!

Though the bright sunny weather and lack of snow makes it feel like spring, not the middle of December, we've been having a jolly-good time getting ready for Christmas! Today we decorated this"tiny tree" together. I was a little nervous about setting out a bowl of Fruit Loops; that the "decoration" would soon become someone's second breakfast....haha. However, all the kids listened well (hooray!) and either used their fine motor skills to make fun colored garland or practiced finding the correct colors of fruit loops from the bowl. It was a little messy(but messy=fun in preschool land, right?) and we had some crushed fruit loops in the carpet, but nothing a little vacuuming couldn't clean up. When the tree was all done, we had a countdown to the lighting of our tree and shouted "Merry Christmas!" The rest of the day we plan to continue practicing our "Christmas Tree" song...Perhaps by the end of the week your child will be able to perform it for your family at home! 

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Blizzard in the Playroom!!

There is a blizzard in the playroom!! This week we are busy welcoming winter and a blizzard has been created in the corner of the playroom...Glad it's a nice and warm blizzard and we aren't really getting cold and wet! :)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A Still Butterfly

A couple of weeks ago we were out in the play yard and amongst the yellow fallen leaves the kids discovered this yellow butterfly. It did not move, probably because its chilled fragile wings would not allow it. The kids marveled over it for about 15 minutes though it did nothing but sit there. It was delightful to see their faces filled with wonder and awe. Butterflies usually don't sit still for them to observe, so they took advantage of it, soaked in the beauty of the tiny creature that usually flies away as quickly as it lands in the summertime. This little moment in our day got me thinking about how sometimes the kids are like butterflies in the summer.. their days filled with activity, flying around from here to there, so often I am just trying to get them to slow down long enough to eat, do an activity, wash their hands, take a nap that I forget to soak in the more calm moments and marvel at who they are and let them know what amazing little people they are becoming. Sometimes I get so busy with all the "doing" and forget to marvel at their "being." Each of your children are so special, unique and growing soooo fast. I truly treasure each one. It is my prayer that each day I will remember to (as they did with the butterfly) get down on their level and marvel at their wonderful, unique nature. 

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Using sight, sound, touch and taste to experience the ocean and its creatures!!

This week we are learning about the ocean and its creatures! Early in the week we watched a video online of a real, live octupus underwater...well, we watched it about 3 times because it was REALLY fascinating and the squeals of delight and amazement were too precious to not be repeated! Then we tasted salt water and talked about how the ocean is very salty and not very good water to drink. On Wednesday I was very excited for our little tactile experiment using plastic bags, blue hair gel and gummy fish to create an ocean and fish we could squish. The kids definitely LOVED squishing around the fish in the gel, the only problem was that eventually the fish disolved into the hair gel creating a nice purple mush that you all got to see when brought home! At least it was kept contained in the ziploc! :PWell, hopefully all the way home..:)  We also listened to different nature sounds; the kids did a great job distinguishing between a babbling brook and the ocean. Of course we also read some sea creature themed books(Commotion in the Ocean and an underwater animal pop up book) and sang our fish song with hand motions each day, along with craft projects. Now if only there was a Red Lobster nearby for a field trip..now that would make our week complete! :P

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I am a little scarecrow, ragedy and worn, I wear a hat and a shirt that is torn....

Hello all! I hope you are enjoying fall!  I was so sorry to have to cancel Fall Family Night due to illness, but would much rather have everyone, including myself, feeling healthy ALL WEEK LONG. I would love to reschedule, however, our schedule on the weekend is pretty booked all the way until Thanksgiving. Perhaps we can all get together for the Parade of Lights the first week of December; we could tailgate it with hot chocolate and snacks! :) Let me know your thoughts!


This week we are having a lot of fun learning about scarecrows with a week-long project where each child is making a lifesized scarecrow of themselves! We started this project today by tracing around their little bodies on paper and coloring them. We will add patches to their knees and elbows, a picture of their face so it truly looks like each of them, a hat and of course some straw! I am sure they will be proud to bring home their scarecrow twin later this week! Here is the start of our project; can you tell who is who?!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip & Update on Family Night!

We had a great time on our pumpkin patch field trip last week! It was a beautiful, but hot, fall day at Devries Pumpkin Patch. We were very blessed to have Papa Jack and Grandma Carolyn (Mason's grandparents) accompany us on the trip to get our $5 pumpkins. The kids were soo anxious to get out there and choose a pumpkin! White, large, long and skinny, and classic round orange pumpkins were chosen after much tromping through the pumpkin patch. After each child had chosen a pumpkin, we had a seat on some hay bales for a snack while Papa Jack entertained us by pulling some hay from the bales, placing it on his head to become a scarecrow and danced around. :) Then it was time to pile into the van, wave goodbye to all the pumpkins awaiting to be picked by other little ones and head to the meeting spot to see another favorite "p" , our parents!

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Family Night now has a firm date! It will take place on October 24th at 5:00 PM.  Chili and corn bread, some sort of pumpkin dessert and drinks will be provided. Feel free to bring an appetizer if you'd like. We will have games, a short video of the kids and just a really great time! Hope to see you there! :) If you have any questions, please let me know.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Happenings this Week & Fall Family Night!!

October is coming soon! Hooray! To me, there is no better season than fall! I am always getting a jump start at decorating for fall and start wanting to bake all things pumpkin usually mid-September! This week we have been learning about the 4 seasons!
"Winter,
 Spring,
 Summer,
 or Fall,
which is your favorite season of all?"
This was our song/chant of the week. We've studied what attire you wear in each season, gone on a hunt for stories that take place in each season, had an "indoor blizzard" using the swamp cooler and homemade snowflakes and today were the "Kings and Queens of Fall" with our leaf crowns we made! Such a fun time we've had learning about the seasons! Next week we will study leaves, taking us right into the fall season.

Fall Family Night!!! 


 I am planning our Fall Family Night and am looking at the evening of Sunday, October 24th. Family Night is a time for all the families to get together, eat a bit, play some silly games and get connected, as well as a time for you to see some of the things we have been doing. The kids seemed to have really enjoyed it in the past and are already asking if it will be soon. I definitely look forward to the night and hope each of you can join us!  Please let me know how this works for you. Sunday nights seemed to be the best for everyone last year, however, we have a few new families so I want to make sure this is a good time before I set a firm date.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Teddy Bear Take Over!!

Oh no! This week while Miss Christi was picking up the kids, the teddy bears took over! Eating breakfast in the highchair, driving our yellow car, and even making a den to hibernate in under our table! Silly bears!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Welcome!!!

Welcome to our blog!! This blogspot will keep you informed on what's going on at Nurturing Nature Family Child Care. Each time it is updated, I will send you an e-mail. Please note that I WILL NOT post pictures of your child on this blog. I will e-mail pictures directly to your e-mail, if you wish, just let me know if that is something you'd like me to do. So,here ya go......our first blog!!!!
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Hooray! It's that time of year again! Bring on the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, crisp lined paper and squeaky new tennis shoes...it's back to school!That means it's back to early mornings at the bank for pickup, planning themes that will engage your child and learning all over, or for the first time, what your child's needs, interests, talents are and how to help them thrive! I am truly looking forward to this year with your child. Watching him or her grow, learn and explore is truly a privilege. Thank you for allowing me the honor!




This summer we have repainted, rearranged and reorganized the playroom! It definitely feels more like a preschool with a library area, a dress up corner, fine motor skill/play area, a table in the center of the room and a new chalkboard wall! The new supply cabinet will definitely help me to keep all of our art supplies handy and organized! We were also very blessed to receive a TON of new books,puzzles and learning tools from a former Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher.




We also have a unique raised garden in our yard made from an old International truck bed. We look forward to sharing the joy of harvesting/eating tomatoes, eggplant, kale, green peppers and cucumbers from our little garden. Below Mason has an armful of the kale (this week known as Dinosaur food!) that is going crazy in our garden!





* A bit of housekeeping*
We will be having a Fall Family Night in early October, to welcome you back/celebrate fall! I will let you know specific details as it gets closer. Please  remember that I am available to care for your child during Back to School Night and Parent/Teacher Conferences in the evenings, just let me know ahead of time!