Friday 6/19

Well, the weather certainly kept us guessing on Friday! It rained just long enough to call off our field trip to the raptor center.

dark clouds approaching

since we were stuck indoors all morning, we decided to build a fort at the top of the stairs

It was quite a challenge to get it big enough to fit all the kids, but we did it!

we had our picnic lunch indoors

After lunch, we decided to go to a movie that's not on the list of free movies this summer

After the movie, we went over to Half-Price Books to redeem our reading logs for our very first reading awards - everybody got a card worth up to $3, and they did a great job picking out books to purchase with their cards.

When we got back to the house, we raced over to the pool and got in just in time for the thunder to start back up, so it was out of the pool and back to the house, and everybody got picked up right after that, so we had an early (rainy) start to Father's Day weekend!

Thursday 6/18

The day started with thunderstorms, so we played indoors.

Then Harrison held a balloon animal workshop and taught everyone how to make their own balloon art.

After balloon art, it was time for lunch, then we had to take Harrison to Franklin for cello lessons.

While Harrison was at cello lessons, the rest of us read and played outdoors at Franklin.

We went straight from Franklin to the Hy-Vee Garden Center, to pick out flowers for our "adopt-a-pot" for the pool. Then it was planting time!

Piper

Keigon

Keigon watching Justice

Justice

Haley

Harrison

Finished Product

We finished the day with a hard-earned swim.

Wednesday 6/17

What a HOT day! We kept busy and managed not to get heat stroke, at least!

We started the day with a nice walk / run in the neighborhood. We got so exhausted, we fell asleep on the picnic table (at least long enough to snap a photo)!

after some free play time, we got busy with a special secret painting craft project

after painting, it was time for lunch.

after lunch, we took Harrison to his cello lesson at Franklin, and played on the nearby playground while we waited for the lesson to be over

when we got back to the house, we played with Littlest Pet Shop toys, and learned how to play "Treasure Quest" - a game of counting, spatial quantification & strategy that's fun for all ages

Piper got picked up early in the afternoon, and Keigon decided he wanted to watch the first part of a movie before we finally headed to the swimming pool. Meanwhile, Harrison was busy with his own project and also didn't want to race to the pool the second we had the chance. How ironic that they wanted to go swimming so badly yesterday, and finally on a day so hot that everyone in the city seemed to be at the pool, our kids wanted to wait until later!

Monday 6/15 & Tuesday 6/16

We got an air hockey table at a garage sale - the playroom isn't ready for it, yet, so it's right in the middle of our living room for now - the kids love it!

Monday 6/15

We went to the Barnes & Noble Summer Kickoff - fun activities included face painting, balloon animals, craft tables, temporary tatoos, a scavenger hunt, taekwando demonstration, a preview of "Schoolhouse Rock" by TCR Lindale, and each child received a free book!

After lunch, we headed over to the Hiawatha Library, to sign up for their summer reading program, and to attend a Summer Safety presentation. We learned about a police officer's job, and bicycle safety.

We got back in time to do some crafts before we headed over to the pool.

Tuesday 6/16

In the morning we went to see the Movie "Madagascar 2" at Collins Road Theaters. There were so many people there it started SUPER late! We just had time to race home for lunch before we packed up our books and took Harrison to his Cello lesson at Franklin. We used lesson time to practice "quiet reading", so we could mark off half an hour on our reading program charts.

When we got back to the house, each child chose a book for Stephanie to read aloud. After reading time, we got out some toys and games and had free play time the rest of the afternoon. We were very disappointed not to go swimming, but still managed to have a great time together!

2009 SUMMER MENU

As with everything, this is merely a guide. We usually serve what is on the menu for lunch, but there are times when time or last minute schedule changes can cause us to have something other than the scheduled lunch. This menu is being posted as a courtesy - so if there is a meal scheduled that your child doesn't care for, you have the option to send a sack lunch with him/her. If your child brings a lunch and then we change what we're serving to something he/she would rather have, we can store the sack lunch for a later time, or send it back home.

JUNE

M15 - Quesadillas, Tomato Soup, Green Beans

T16 - Corn Dogs, Applesauce, Peas

W17- Pizza, Peaches

R18 - Chicken Breast, Ramen Noodles, Broccolli

F19 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

M22 - Walking Tacos, Refried Beans, Rice

T23 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

W24 - Hot Dogs, Mac 'n' Cheese, Pineapple

R25 - Chicken Nuggets, Tater Tots, Grapes

F26 - Spaghetti, Garlic Toast, Salad

M29 - Ravioli, Crescent Rolls, Mandarin Oranges

T20 - Corn Dogs, Applesauce, peas

JULY

W01 - Quesadillas, Tomato Soup, Green Beans, Applesauce

R02 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

F03 - Chicken Nuggets, Corn, Applesauce

M06 - Chicken Breast, Ramen Noodles, Broccolli

T07 - Walking Tacos, Rice, Beans

W08 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

R09 - Ravioli, Crescent Rolls, Pears

F10 - Pizza Peaches

M13 - Quesadillas, Tomato Soup, Green Beans

T14 - Sloppy Joes, Cottage Cheese, Mandarin Oranges

W15 - Hot Dogs, Mac 'n' Cheese, Pineapple

R16 - Corn Dogs, Peas, Applesauce

F17 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

M20 - Pizza, Peaches

T21 - Chicken Breast, Ramen Noodles, Broccolli

W22 - Quesadillas, Tomato Soup, Green Beans

R23 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

F24 - Walking Tacos, Rice, Beans

M27 - Spaghetti, Garlic Toast, Green Beans

T28 - Chicken Nuggets, Corn, Peaches

W29 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

R30 - Hot Dogs, Mac 'n' Cheese, Applesauce

F31 - Ravioli, Crescent Rolls, Pears

AUGUST

M03 - Pizza, Applesauce

T04 - Chicken Breast, Ramen Noodles, Broccolli

W05 - Hot Dogs, Mac 'n' Cheese, Pineapple

R06 - Walking Tacos, Rice, Beans

F07 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

M10 - Corn Dogs, Fries, Pears

T11 - Chicken Nuggets, Peaches, Tater Tots

W12 - Old Country Buffet

R13 - Spaghetti, Garlic Toast, Salad

F14 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

M17 - Quesadillas, Tomato Soup, Green Beans

T18 - Pizza, Pears

W19 - Chicken Breast, Ramen Noodles, Broccolli

R20 - Hot Dogs, Mac 'n' Cheese, Applesauce

F21 - Sack Lunch (Sandwich, Chips, Juice, Cookie)

M24- Ravioli, Crescent Rolls, Pears

2009 Activities Calendar

Please remember that everything on this list is subject to change, based on weather, availability and other considerations. In some instances, there are several overlapping events - we will choose which ones to go to on that day, depending on what else we have going on. This list is only intended as a general guide to give you an idea of what kinds of things we'll be doing.

I would recommend that you not get your child excited about an upcoming field trip until after I confirm that it is ON (the day before the field trip) - if they are all excited and the trip gets canceled, they get very disappointed and don't enjoy the alternate activity.

B&N = Barnes & Noble

HPL = Hiawatha Public Library

CRT = Collins Road Theatres*

MPL = Marion Public Library

G16 = Galaxy 16 Theater*

* Movies begin at 10am. When we go to the movies, you are welcome to send money with your child to purchase concessions. Kid's trays are $3 per child at CRT, $4.50 per child at G16.

June 2009

M - 15
B&N summer kickoff party
HPL summer safety with officer Chuck

T - 16
CRT Madagascar 2
½ Price Books Reading Program

W - 17
T-Shirt Tie Dye & Father’s Day Crafts

R - 18
HPL bubbles

F - 19
Raptor Center/Fossil Gorge


M - 22
HPL musical fun with Todd Frank

T - 23
Wickiup Hill - 10am Toad Adobe

W - 24
CRT Horton Hears a Who
½ Price Books Reading Program

R - 25
HPL stories from Granny’s attic

F - 26
HPL K9 Ambassadors


M - 29
HPL Hiawatha Fire Dept.

T - 30
CRT Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything
½ Price Books Reading Program
MPL stained glass jars

July 2009

W - 1
G16 Stuart Little 3
1pm MPL Great Mouse Detective

R - 2
History Center

F - 3
Decorate Bikes/Pool


M - 6
CRT Tale of Despereaux
½ Price Books Reading Program

T - 7
MPL Create a Scrapbook
HPL TCR Teen workshop

W - 8
Linn Co Fair - Poster Entries At Gate 9-5

R - 9
G16 Marley & Me
MPL bead it
HPL sound science

F - 10
Lindale Museums (Science Station & Czech Museum)


M - 13
HPL prehistoric rock art

T - 14
MPL Toys in Space I
HPL TCR teen workshop

W - 15
CRT Hotel for Dogs
½ Price Books Reading Program
MPL Sword in the Stone

R - 16
G16 Space Chimps
MPL make a journal w/K.Hoyt
HPL balloon art

F - 17
HPL learning safari – Cinderella in Africa


M - 20
HPL save the planet with Joseph

T - 21
MPL Toys in Space II
HPL TCR teen workshop

W - 22
CRT Bee Movie
½ Price Books Reading Program
MPL Jungle Book

R - 23
CR Museum of Art scavenger hunt

F - 24
HPL American Indian crafts & games


M - 27
CRT Kung Fu Panda
½ Price Books Reading Program

T - 28
MPL Toys in Space III
HPL TCR teens

W - 29
Johnson Co Fair
MPL Aristocats

R - 30
MPL craft day
HPL Butterflies 101 (kids under 10)

F - 31
IC Museums (natural history, old capitol)

August 2009

MAKE A MOVIE MONTH!!! (**During any day without a scheduled activity, we will be producing our own movie, writing, building props and costumes, scouting locations, and acting in the movie)

M - 3 **

T - 4
CRT Battle for Terra

W - 5
G16 Coraline
MPL Rescuers

R - 6
G16 Coraline alt.

F - 7
Herbert Hoover Library & Museum


M - 10 **

T - 11
CRT Charlotte’s Web

W - 12
Iowa Children’s Museum

R - 13 **

F - 14
GlenCove Kids’ Carnival


M - 17 **

T - 18
CRT Water Horse

W - 19
Thomas Park Frisbee Golf

R - 20 **
(Herbert Hoover rain date)

F - 21 **
(GlenCove Kids’ Carnival Rain Date)


M - 24 **

T - 25
CR Schools 1st Day

(Field Trip rain out options include: Bowling, Playstation, Skywalk Tour, Planet X, African-American Museum)

2009 Summer Letter

As a reminder if you lose your "Summer 2009 Kickoff Letter" - here is the primary text:

9 June, 2009

Parents of Summer Daycare Students:

The time has come to make final preparations for the summer daycare session. Let’s get the business end out of the way first thing, so we can get on to the more important part: having a GREAT summer break! Please read this letter carefully, and hold on to it for future reference.

1) Please complete and sign the attached childcare information sheet and return it to me with your activities fee of $50 per child included with your first payment, which you can bring when you drop off your child this coming Monday, June 15. The activities fee is critical, as it enables me to purchase supplies for the coming summer, including field trip t-shirts and crafts. It also helps fund admission for field trips (though it doesn’t cover all such admissions, it does defray the cost for me and makes it so we can do more fun activities). Please make checks payable to Stephanie Martinez.

2) Please pay for each upcoming week the Friday before service is rendered (or whatever day is your child’s last day of daycare for that week). This works particularly well if something should come up over the weekend and your child doesn’t come on Monday, so you don’t need to make a special trip over here just to deliver the check. (Why this is necessary: I barely break even during the summers, and I purchase food and supplies for each upcoming week over the weekend, so I need to get that money deposited first thing Monday morning to cover my costs and keep my daycare account from becoming overdrawn.) To keep my rates low, I must be very strict about this policy.

3) Unfortunately, I can not afford to waive payment for sick days or holidays and keep my weekly rates low. For this reason, as with other daycares, the weekly rate will be constant throughout the summer, regardless of attendance.

4) Please call me at 389-5078 between 8am and 8:30am if your child will not be coming to daycare, or if you are running late. We don’t want to be gone when you drop off your child, but we also do not want to delay an outing or activity because we’re waiting for somebody who isn’t coming.

5) Summer daycare hours are 7:30am – 5:30pm. There will be an additional fee for late pick ups. (Please note: 5 minutes late is still late. Our family often has evening activities and late pick ups create a huge inconvenience. I know from experience that it can’t always be helped, but please extend every courtesy if a delay is unavoidable. The sooner we know you’re running late, the easier it is for us to make accommodations.) I really don’t want to assess any additional fees, as it is awkward and uncomfortable for both parties - so please make every effort to be sure your child is picked up before 5:30. I will use the time on my Verizon cell phone as the “official” daycare time. Arrangements can be made in advance for an occasional early start or late pick up. As long as these arrangements are made early, they won’t result in any additional charges.

6) We will be doing a lot of swimming this summer. Your child will need a swimsuit and towel on a daily basis, as well as any goggles/noseplugs/earplugs you want them to have. If your child has an extra suit & towel, you can leave them at the daycare and they will be rinsed out daily and laundered weekly. Each child must have their own sunscreen, spf 35 or higher. A pair of sandals or flip-flops is also recommended, as we will be walking on gravel to get to the pool.

7) We will try to take a weekly field trip as regularly as possible (weather permitting). Field trips will generally be taken on a Friday, and you will be notified in advance of our field trip destination. Be sure your child is properly dressed for each field trip, including footwear, jackets, hats, and other appropriate supplies for the weather and activity. We use vanilla as a natural insect repellent. If you want another form of repellent used for your child, please provide it on the first day, and we will keep it here for use throughout the summer.

8) A cereal breakfast will be provided to all who arrive before 8:30am. You are welcome to provide microwavable breakfast foods for your child (up to 1 weeks’ worth can be stored here). A child arriving after 8:30 will be expected to have eaten breakfast before coming.

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions. My family and I are really looking forward to sharing the summer with your child - it will be full of fun, adventure, and learning!

Checklist for Monday, June 15:
___ Information Sheet/Permission Form completed & signed
___ $50 Activities Fee
___ Swim Bag including:
___ Swimsuit
___ Towel
___ Waterproof Sunscreen (spf 35 or higher)
___ Goggles/Noseplugs/Earplugs/Waterwings (if desired)
___ Insect Repellent (if desired)

Summer 2008 - A Look Back

2008 Was a summer to remember, even with over half of our favorite field trip destinations being wiped out by the floods! Here are a few slideshows of the fun (Note: Many of these albums are "Harrison-centric" - they were created before I had permission to use the likeness/names of several of the daycare kids, and were originally intended just for my family blog):

Make Your Own Pizza

Fun With Twisty Balloons


Kids Carnival


Linn County Fair

Johnson County Fair

Kernels Game

Herbert Hoover Museum & Historic Village