SO MUCH FUN!

These smiles make my day brighter, EVERY DAY!!  I love it when they have so much fun playing together, and when a toy makes it even more enjoyable!

Another "New" Favorite Toy

As we were eating dinner for my dad's birthday, we saw a lady walking into a consignment shop, next door to the restaurant.  She was bringing in the coolest toy!!!  We went to talk to her, and got a serious bargain!  I did not know how much of a bargain it was, until I got home and looked it up.

We named it Cocoa...easy enough name for the littler ones!

This shows you a bit more about what it does!!

Tree Trimmers

Recently, the owner of our mobile home park had some dead trees removed.  This, of course, sparked a ton of curiousity in the kids.  The picture above is from right outside our window.

Curiousity had them in that window for a LONG time!!

We LOVE to be silly!!

I know that everyone likes to be silly now and then.  In our daycare, that is so true!  I have a GREAT group of kids and I love to see them smile!!

Parachute Tent

What do we do when there's "nothing" to do?  We create SOMETHING.....

like a parachute tent!!  The kids had an amazingly fun time! (not sure if amazingly is a word, but it sounds good!)

Bible Blessings

Having a Bible in the hands of each of the kids has been a huge goal this past year.  I am still looking for more so that all of them have one, but the oldest do right now and they love them!


After nap time, one day, I was changing diapers and getting the boys ready for snack.  I looked in the daycare room, and this is the PRICELESS sight that I saw!  Lexi was doing her best to try to read Israel the stories according to the pictures.  I love this!

Making the Best of a Cold Day

I think we all know how hard it is for children to be cooped up inside all day.  We spent some time having some unusual fun!  We moved all of the kids tables and we had a miniature dance party.  The kids had a GREAT time burning off energy! 
While the tables were moved, the kids enjoyed laying on the floor and coloring!  We have foam mats on the floor, and they really enjoyed seeing the texture show through on their papers!

We also took some plastic tissue paper from one of my birthday gifts and put them on the window.  It is especially fun watching the littlest ones experience even the slightest changes!  They couldn't get over how it looked through the plastic!

I looked at one of the kids tables, and Braxton had left a toy on it when he went home.  I think he thought Cookie Monster was in bright sunshine!  Too cute!!

Practicing Our Names

One of the things that we practice a lot is the spelling of our names!  Some of the preschoolers can tell you their name, and some even can spell them.  We start out, as Owen is doing, by coloring them and beginning to recognize the letters that make up their name.

Our next step is tracing the names in really large letters. 

Ali is on the 3rd and final stage.  She can write the short version of her name, but still struggles, at times, with writing her whole first name.  For some reason, she decided to do it upside down!  Whatever works!!  It is a lot of fun watching them progress and learn!!

Welcome Owen!!

Friday marked the first day of our newest little friend!  His name is Owen!  He fit right in with the kids and he acted as if he'd been here forever! 

WELCOME OWEN!!  WE LOVE HAVING YOU!!

He has amazing eyes!!

Lexi and Owen have already started bonding!  (Owen was saying CHEEEEEESEBURGER)

Watching a movie at nap time

All About Me Theme

This is always one of my favorite themes!  I love watching the kids discover things about themselves, and the other kids.

M IS FOR ME.....

Nickolas

Alexis

Greyson

GOD MADE US SPECIAL....

We Love Our Friends!!

We always enjoy the times when our friends come to spend time with us!  Playdates are AWESOME!

This is Caleb and he is 4 months old.  He came to visit with his mom, and his brother, Josiah.

Caleb and Jackie read a book about cows together!

This is Josiah and he is 3 years old!  He was more interested in the train than the camera!

This is bright-eyed Jeremiah and he is 6 months old!  He loves the camera!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Braxton!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAXTON!

At SonShine Kids, we try to make every child feel special on their birthday!  Last week, we celebrated Braxton's 2nd birthday!!  As you can see, he wasn't totally into it, at first.  He had just woken up form his nap, and wasn't ready to go yet.  He woke right up when we handed him his cupcake!

YUMMY!!! 

All the kids wear party hats, but the birthday child wears a special headband.  We have 3 to choose from and it makes them feel so special!

YEAH!!!  PRESENTS!!!!

Fine Motor Time

As part of our day in Son Rays Preschool, we spend time working on our fine motor skills.  I try to give the kids puzzles that challenge their skills.  They really enjoy puzzle time!!

My Prayer (Mother's Prayer)

A friend of mine had this posted on Facebook, and I thought it was perfect!  I think it's what should be in all of our hearts, whether parent, teacher, or whoever is involved in the life of a child!

My Prayer (Mother's Prayer)

Oh give me patience when wee hands
Tug at me with their small demands.
And give me gentle and smiling eyes.
Keep my lips from hasty replies.

And let not weariness, confusion or noise
Obscure my vision of life's fleeting joys.
So when, in years to come my house is still
No bitter memories its rooms may fill.

Author Unknown

If anyone were to ask me why I do what I do, it would be easy to give them an answer.  Children are my life, next to God and my family, of course.  Follow this link to see my heart for children!

Thankful for GREAT Friends!

I have amazing friends that love to give to the daycare!  Because of them, we have a lot of new toys, and a lot of new things!  Tim and Rachel have been a special part of our lives for the past year and a half.  Sunday, they gave the daycare 2 boxes of toys, including playdough and tools, pretty necklaces, etc.  The kids have been having a blast!!


PRETTY GIRLS ENJOYING PRETTY NECKLACES

Ocean Life Theme Favorites

Ever heard of a Spaghetti and Hot Dog Octopus?  Our kids have now!

It doesn't take much.  4 pieces of raw spaghetti stuck through chunks of hot dogs.  The kids had a great time making them!  We had to be careful of giving the littlest hot dogs, but he loved the spaghetti!

Lexi worked hard at making them!

Braxton did his best!

Papa helped Greyson.

The cooked product!

It was a lot of fun watching Braxton try to figure out how to eat it!

First Snow Day of 2011-2012 School Year!

I do not need to say much in this post.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves!!  Enjoy!