Links

I figured it out... why didn't I think to just type in "link tutorial" on the Google Search engine?? Sometimes I baffle even myself. But I finally figured out how to link to another blog. I can type in the stuff I need to and be able to let people know where to find some of the GREAT idea's I get from the many, many, many Mom Blogger's out there who are interested and excited about educating their own children and other's!!! I have found so many great things and I am excited to be able to implement them into my life... both with my own kids and my daycare kids. Keeps me busy!! Though, I can get pretty preoccupied with surfing the web for more blogs about teaching young children in a home setting. I thought there would be sooooo many more of us, but I seem to find mostly those who teach in a preschool setting within an organized company or church. But the idea's they have are great... I just wish I had the access to their supplies.
Being a home daycare, I can't seem to find a grant or such to help off set the cost of new playground equipment, art supplies, or sensory table... we would love to have a light table... but at $290 a pop... it will take me a long time to get that money. I need a new rug in the family room (due to daycare wear and tear) and extend the hardwood in the playroom/classroom as the rug in there is getting worn fast... those are priorities before the "extra" supplies. Getting there is half the fun. Anyway.. off topic again!! :)
I am off to go to bed, as I have 4 boys who will be awake before I know it!!!

Weigh In

Well, the girls and I weighed in again today... I actually thought the scale was broken today. I got on and it said I was 154.5 lbs. No way. I haven't exercised at all, except running after the daycare kids, going to the pool and running and swimming after them there too :) But, I haven't been to the gym, or done my 30 day shred in probably 2 or so weeks. I just knew I was going to be gaining this week. So, I made Beth bring her scale over and we tested the two. Her's is 1 lb higher than mine. That being said, she said I probably still lost the 2 lbs, because mine is the scale we were using. Risa lost the same amount on my scale as well as Beth's, so I think it is safe to say I lost 2 lbs this week. YEAH!!! I am so happy.
I have had a stressful week, so I know that has something to do with it. I have been very anxious and not hungry. I have to make sure I don't forget to eat, or my body will go crazy again. I will keep making myself eat, just the right things and not the wrong. Or eating because it soothes the emotional stain we are all going through right now.
But for now, I will take the loss and be happy.

New Blog

I have started a new blog. It will be just about the Daycare. I am excited to have a place now for writing about Tot School, summer fun, and curriculum ideas. I can keep my family stuff for this blog and the school/kid stuff for that blog...
It is Kozy Kids Family Daycare... but I had to use kozykidslc.blogspot.com for my web address... I sooooo need to figure out how to add that into my post. I have some addresses and links under my blog list, but I want to be able to let people link from my post... if anyone knows how to do that... PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

http://kozykidslc.blogspot.com/2009/06/getting-ready-for-summer.html

That is my first blog (and only so far). Hope everyone has a Great Week!!! Mine has started off great... a date night with hubby... both J & L's baseball teams made it into the post season playoffs, and my daycare kids love the new summer playroom!!! We go to the early, cheap movies on Wednesday and it is supposed to be hot this week... so lots of time at the pool!!! I think this week will pass fast!! Take care!!!!

Weigh In

I weighed in today........... 157lbs!!! WOW!! I am so surprised! I didn't think that I lost anything this week. I have been soooooo bad about exercising. Plus, I have been kinda splurging on some not so healthy foods. I know I should be eating better, exercising... but I don't feel like it!!!! I want to lie in my bed and sleep in the early morning and sit my (getting fatter again) butt on the couch at the end of the work day. ARGHHHH!!! I am so disappointed in myself. I feel like if I had just done some more exercising I could have lost at least a pound. Why do I do that???
So I will go to The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans... and try to get some inspiration, and maybe find a exercise buddy to chat with or just be accountable to. So when I hit that snooze button in the morning, I actually get out of bed instead of turning over because I will have to tell someone at the end of the day that I didn't work out.
I will get up right now, put the leash on the dog and get my butt off the couch. Then I won't feel so bad about not getting up this morning. I also need to look into healthy crock pot meals so I can have dinner waiting when the daycare kids go home, because I just don't have it in me to make a big healthy dinner after a long day. So that is what I will do. A short term plan... because I need to take it hour by hour from now on.

Summer Sadness

Summer is upon us and that means that the kids begin spending time with Mom and Dad at home. Most of the daycare kids Mom's are teachers and I won't see them until mid August. I will miss them terribly. After spending so much time with these children, 8 or more hours a day, 5 days a week... you really start to feel like they are family.
Yesterday was the last day for 4 of my "kids." I miss them already.
I Miss:
1. The Laughter!!
2. How they were in constant motion.
3. How they felt like this was their home.
4. The Snuggles
5. The Friendships they formed
6. The sound of my name from a 2 yr olds mouth
7. The Hugs... so many hugs everyday
and
8. "I Love You" said to me at least 5 times a day, everyday!!

I know they will have a great summer with their parents, and I will get them back in 2 months time, but for now I need to transition myself into not having all those things for the summer. I will spend my time giving and receiving love from my own 4 children and reconnecting with them after these long months of sharing with the daycare kids. I look forward to that.
But anyone who has worked with young children, knows what I am going through right now.

Tot School: Week in Review

Well, Tot School this week enveloped a whole lot of chaos!! We did so much outdoor stuff, I think that I was so water-logged by the weekend I didn't want to see water for a week.



Here the "Big" kids are teaching the Tot's how to go down the slide into the water pool. A fun time was had by all.

Here Little M was looking for her toys... she has a cookie that the kids hide for her and she goes and finds it... She loves it and is surprised every time she finds it. The Tot's love it and laugh and laugh each time she has that surprised look on her face.

I have been wanting to do this activity for so long. I keep reading it on different blogs... not sure which ones, sorry, but I loved it. We didn't have the right heavy weight paper, but we loved it anyway. The Big's & Tot's worked together to make the Shaving Cream Prints and then they made them into cards to send home on the last day of Daycare for some of them. The Big's wrote for the Tot's and they all had a great time. They also loved playing with the Shaving Cream after the prints were done.

We walked to the Community Pool in our neighborhood this week each morning. We all did a great job, and the Big's were a lot of help with the Tot's while walking. Especially on the way home, when all the Tot's were tired and hungry. That pool really wiped them out and they slept through everything each afternoon.

We have a big pool and a kiddie pool, we used both. The Tot's tolerated the kiddie pool, but wanted to spend the whole time in the big pool. We had upward of 8 Tot's that day (To 2 adults and a 16 year old helper) so we were able to take them in the big pool for a little while, but not long enough. They had a great time regardless!!

We also took the crafts outside this week. We had a field day and thought that the play-doh table would give the kids a nice quiet area to relax if they wanted to. It was great. We had a lot of great creations and a lot of fun was had. We also made Chocolate Play-doh, recipe from Preschool Daze, and I can't believe how much fun they had with it. Even the Big's loved it and played with it for a long time on and off throughout the day.

Here is the creation that A (28mths) made. I was very proud of him. Playing with the dough was great enough, but making this "monster" was even better!!

Lastly, here is shot of part of our field day. We also had horse shoes, bowling, badminton, and the water activities. We had a field day picnic and the kids had a blast. I am sorry to see some of my kids leave for the summer (their Mom's are teacher's), but will enjoy the low number of kids I will have and the ability to take them on field trips to the park, museums, & pool this summer. Plus, I will be able to spend some quality time with my own children and give them some of my undivided attention :)

Have a Great Week!!!!

Michelle

Weigh In

The girls and I weighed in today... I was very happy... I weighed in at 158lbs. YEAH!! I lost 3lbs from last week. I don't really know how though :) I went away and ate quite a bit. Not to bad, but food that wasn't really healthy. I haven't even been getting up in the morning to workout. I keep saying I will go to the Y, but don't happen to get there. It is across town and I wish I could get the energy to go because I know I will feel so much better, but I don't. After a full day with the daycare, I am beat at the end of the day. It is all I can do to go to the store for grocery. As you can see from the picture though, I am still hiding behind the kids. I got to stop doing that!!! I can't help it. Some habits are hard to break.

I finally found a picture of me from the party that was "all" of me. I couldn't believe that someone shot this one without my knowledge. But I am glad they did as I can see what I look like. I can still see that extra tire above my waist, but it looks so much better than it did a couple of months ago. I have to make that commitment again to wake up in the morning and get movin... but that alarm sounds and since I have no one really but myself to be accountable to, I just roll back over and say tomorrow I'll get up. So... I know tomorrow is Friday, but I am making the commitment to myself to get up and move... that bathing suit I have to wear in July and that bridesmaids dress I need to wear in September are laughing at me and saying I'll need a bigger size :)

Oh... and the picture of L and I was taken behind a netting... that's why it looks so foggy. Like I said, I am lucky to have found this one. I will take another one in a few weeks to see if that extra tire thins out a little. Hopefully it will.

Michelle