"What We're Up To" Blog

January Newsletter

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:01:00 -0500

Happy Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday to Travis on January 18th.

Themes

Click on the blue text below for craft ideas!

January 4 ~ Three Kings Day

January 11 ~ Snowflakes

January 18 ~ Winnie The Pooh

January 25 ~ Puzzles

Holidays & Events this Month

National Thank-you Month

New Year's - January 1st

Three Kings Day - January 6th

Snowflake: Wilson Bently Photographed a snowflake for the first time on January 15, 1885.

A.A. Milne's Birthday (creator of Winnie The Pooh) - January 18th

National Pie Day - January 23rd

National Puzzle Day - January 29th

Three Kings Day (el Día de Reyes)

On January 6th el Día de Reyes is celebrated. It is the biggest and most important of all for the children in Latin America, Spain, or other parts of Europe.

Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany or Twelfth Night, marks the end of the Christmas season for many families and many of us have special memories of this celebration. The Gospel tells of magi or magicians who traveled looking for the new king who was going to beborn. In those days they were called magi because they were following the star of Bethlehem, which predicted the coming of the new king. The Bible doesn’t provide many details but it’s believed that they were wise men or astronomers. Tradition describes them as 3 kind hearted kings because they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts for baby Jesus. In the VII century, they became known as Melchior, Gasparand and Balthasar.

The Tradition

Many families get together on January 6 to enjoy a meal that ends with a traditional crown-shaped cake. In Mexico, a small doll is hidden inside this delicious cake (a dry bean is used in France and other countries). The doll represents Jesus and the need to find him a safe place so he would not be killed by King Herod’s soldiers. According to tradition, the person who gets the slice with the doll will have to throw a party on Candlemas, February 2 (exactly 40 days after Christmas). Traditionally, tamales and atole (a hot drink thickened with corn flour) are served at this party. Some families put away their nativity scenes and Christmas decorations on this day. In Spain and other countries, the Three Kings parade through the city giving candy to children.

Also, many children get presents from the Three Wise Men instead of Santa Claus. Kids write letters to the Three Kings with their requests and place them in one of their shoes by the door in hopes of getting presents. They also leave water and fruit for the Kings and grass for their animals. The following morning, children are delighted to find small gifts inside their shoes. Children who have not behaved very well find an onion or a piece of coal instead of presents.

Continuing the Tradition

Whether you celebrated Three Kings Day as a child or you want your family to adopt this tradition, here are some ideas to celebrate this holiday:

Have dinner with your family and friends on the night of January 6.Prepare a simple meal and have a ring-shaped Three Kings cake for dessert. The person who gets the slice with the doll wears a home-made paper crown and is queen or king for the day. And don’t forget the hot chocolate!
After dinner, read books about the story of the Three Kings to your children. Find books at the library so you won’t have to buy them.
Leave water for the Three Kings and grass for their animals in a box outside your door. If you have children, they can write a letter to the Kings assuring them that they were good the previous year. Each one of them can leave one of their shoes by the door with the letter inside it. The next morning, the children can find simple gifts inside their shoes like new socks or fruit wrapped in shiny paper. And they will find that the grass and water they left for the animals has disappeared.
If you celebrated Three Kings Day as a child, tell your kids and friends about how you celebrated this day. That way you’ll continue your family’s cultural traditions.

Source

Menu Plan Monday ~ November 30

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

I don't know if it is the time of year or the ages (18 months to 3 years) of the group I have; whatever it is they have all become terribly picky eaters and it's driving me bonkers! Hence the boring menu ... at least I know they'll eat it!

Monday

Snack ~ Grapes, Crackers

Lunch ~ Bananas, Cheese, Chicken Breast Deli Meat, Waffles

Snack ~ Pretzels, Oranges

Tuesday

Snack ~ Grapes, Crackers

Lunch ~ Apples, Yogurt, Tuna Sandwiches

Snack ~ Multi-grain Cheerios, Oranges

Wednesday

Snack ~ Grapes, Crackers

Lunch ~ Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Bananas

Snack ~ Fruit smoothies

Thursday

Snack ~ Animal Crackers, Applesauce

Lunch ~ Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Grapes, Yogurt

Snack ~ Waffles & Blueberries

Friday

Snack ~ Graham Crackers, Bananas

Lunch ~ Chicken Nuggets, Cooked Carrots, Toast

Snack ~ Pudding, Apples

Check out more menus at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday ~ Nov 16-20

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Monday

Snack ~ Rice Crackers

Lunch ~ Apples, Cheese, Tuna Sandwiches

Snack ~ Pretzels, Carrot Sticks, Ranch Dip

Tuesday

Snack ~ Multi-grain Cheerios, Oranges

Lunch ~ Yogurt, Zucchini Pie

Snack ~ Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Butter

Wednesday

Snack ~ Vegetable Crackers, Grapes

Lunch ~ Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Banana

Snack ~ Fruit smoothies

Thursday

Snack ~ Animal Crackers, Applesauce

Lunch ~ Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Grapes

Snack ~ Waffles & Blueberries

Friday

Snack ~ Graham Crackers, Bananas

Lunch ~ Chicken Nuggets, Cooked Carrots, Toast

Snack ~ Pudding, Apples

Check out more menus at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

September Newsletter

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0400

Themes

Visit the Activity Calendar to find out what we are doing each day for our theme!

August 31 ~ Ice Cream

September 07 ~ Rainforest & Jungle

September 14 ~ All About Me

September 21 ~ Fire, Fireman & Safety

September 28 ~ Leaves

Holidays & Events this Month

Back to School!

Read a New Book Month

International Literacy Day - Sept 8th

Child Safety Week - September 6th - 12th, 2009

Teddy Bear Day - September 9th

Grandparent's Day - Sept 13th, 2009

Make a Hat Day - Sept 15th

Collect Rocks Day - Sept 16th

National Dog Week - September 20th to 26th, 2009

Monthly Menu

Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for other menu plan Monday ideas.

August Newsletter

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0400

Comings & Goings

Natalie (1 year old) and Miles (3 years old) will join us at the end of August. We are excited to have them join us and we have gotten to know them very well over the summer with several play dates. Welcome Natalie and Miles!

Happy Birthday

Hanna, happy 3rd birthday at the end of July!

Connor, happy 2nd birthday at the beginning of August!

Miles, happy 3rd birthday this August!

Themes

August 10-14 ~ Smiles

August 17-21 ~ Locomotives

August 24-28 ~ Airplanes

Holidays & Events this Month

National Golf Month

National Water Quality Month

National Smile Week - August 3rd to 9th

First Steam Locomotive - August 10th

Wizard of Oz Premiered - August 18th, 1939

National Aviation Day - August 19th

Be An Angel Day - August 22nd

Mid Summer Night - August 22nd

Strange Music Day - August 24th

Ramadan - August 24th - Septermber 23rd, 2009

Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I have a Dream" speech - August 28th, 1963

Monthly Menu