Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Siler brought a little red wagon to share.

Rub a dub dub, Elijah in a tub.

Gabrielle, McLeane, and Soleil groom Lily Belle.

All of the letters are complete at the petting farm, thanks to Sarah Justice!

Hudson got some cactus needles in his socks and shoes. Nurse Catherine wheeled in the injured victim!

Siler, Wacy and Soleil helped chop broccoli to make quiche.

Kari reads a book about spiders.

Sophia wore her peacock costume to school for fun--beautiful!

We did "spider web rubbings" with beeswax crayons. Catherine did a nice job, and added a spider!

Here's another nice one . . .

To say something unexpected happens every day at farm school is an understatement. Today, poor Janie dropped an entire pan of quiche! Bummer!

Catherine dressed Leilani up--Little Red Riding Hood????

Ari, Hudson, and Elijah enjoyed building a large track with the train set!

Monday, November 16, 2009

We have moved to one lesson plan each week for our Toddlers, Twos, and Prek classes. Miss Kari is preparing the plans and making modifications for each class and its level of development. She is also assembling the week's kit of materials for each class. This has streamlined our curriculum, and we really appreciate your work, Kari!

This week, our kids are talking about spiders and weaving.

Kari brought a beautiful kite to share on this very windy day! The children had a good time trying to steer it in the petting farm area.

Ellen took Maya, Ali, and Maddy on a wagon ride, and the girls' enjoyed seeing the beautiful kite!

Go Ari!

Go Austin!

Go Asa!

Catherine and Austin made black bean nachos.

Painting with black . . . spiders? webs?

Leah works with magnets.

Working with nuts and bolts.

Our chalkboard drawing for this week . . .

Learning to braid . . .

Isaac loves the train set.

Menu for Nov. 16 - Nov. 20

Good morning! Please note that the menu will be labeled "Farm Cooking" on the blog from now on. Each week, I'll identify the small group cooking projects the children will be involved in. This Wednesday the children will be baking bread braids as part of their weekly curriculum and bread braids will go home for families to enjoy as a snack or as part of your meal. Have a great week and look for cooking project photos for the week to be posted daily!

-Janie

Monday 11/16
AM Snack: Bananas, water bottles
Lunch: Organic black bean nachos, steamed organic mixed veggies, organic milk
PM Snack: Organic strawberry-blueberry yogurt smoothies**, organic animal crackers, water bottles

Tuesday 11/17
AM Snack: Organic red delicious apples, water bottles
Lunch: Organic broccoli-cheese quiche**, whole grain wheat bread with organic butter, organic apple juice
PM Snack: Organic applesauce cups, pretzels, water bottles

Wednesday 11/18
AM Snack: Whole grain cereal, water bottles
Lunch: Lasagna, organic baby spinach and tomatoes tossed with homemade vinaigrette**, organic mik
PM Snack: All natural veggie straws and organic raisins, water bottles

Thursday 11/19
AM Snack: Cantaloupe, water bottles
Lunch: Homemade chicken salad**, whole grain crackers, organic baby carrots [steamed for toddlers], organic milk
PM Snack: Air popped popcorn, giant raisins [prunes], water bottles

Friday 11/20
AM Snack: Organic red delicious apples, water bottles
Lunch: Turkey sandwiches, cucumber salad**, organic milk
PM Snack: Make-your-own snack mix, water bottles

**Asterik denotes daily cooking project that children will assist with. Cooking projects will involve small groups of 2 - 3 children daily. Wednesdays are baking days where all children will have the opportunity to bake bread.

Hope for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum

Thoughtful House is located in Austin, and has the mission of: "Fighting for the recovery of children with developmental disorders through the unique combination of medical care, education, and research."

It takes great courage to consider the work of people like the folks at Thoughtful House, especially when pediatricians and even family members question "new thinking". When you are the parent of a child, it is wise to: "Respect and value your instincts about your child - never ignore them, no matter what anyone tells you. Holding a loved one's life in your hands means that you have to accept a position of power even when you don't want it. You must become an advocate for your child, even if it means standing alone against the world." (Karen Siff Exhorn)
That's power and responsibility, but most of all, hope!

Bless all families dealing with austism spectrum disorders. These children are warning us of the consequences of personal and environmental pollution, and we can learn so much about what clinics like Thoughtful House find effective. It could be a lesson to us all.

www.thoughtfulhouse.org

Toy Store Ideas . . .

The thought of Toys 'R Us near the holidays makes me a little nauseous--bright lights, big city. Here are some ideas for fun places to pick up unique gifts. Also, put together your own fun for little dough. An apron, a whisk and stainless steel bowl from somewhere like Dollar Tree, and some wooden or cut-out play food would be nice. How about some sheets and wooden clips? Animal figures and wooden cars/trucks?

~Leslie

Sassy Pea Market (Leander)
www.sassypeamarket.com
Store Hours Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-5:30 PM
Fun ideas for kids--stick horses/unicorns, children's purses, handmade wooden tree blocks, children's aprons, hair bows, lip balm.

Kaleidoscope Toys (Round Rock alongside I35)
http://www.kstoy.com/
Store Hours Monday - Saturday: 10am - 7pmSunday: 12pm - 6pm


Terra Toys (North Austin)
http://www.terratoys.com/
Store Hours: 9-8, Sunday 12-6


Toy Joy (Central Austin/UT Area)
http://www.toyjoy.com/
Open 7 days a week, Sunday - Thursday 10 am - 11 pm and Friday and Saturday 10 am- 12 midnight. Extended hours Christmas Eve.

Anna's Toy Depot (South Austin)
http://www.annastoydepot.com/
Store Hours : Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5

Kid to Kid (Round Rock, Cedar Park--near Lakeline Mall)
http://www.kidtokid.com/index.php
Find details about the closest location. Great kids' consignment shop with new toys, aprons, hair bows plus great used toys and books.

Tiny Bird Organics (Round Rock near 79/I35)
http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/
Store Hours Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 12-6pm (central time)

Tuesday Morning (a national franchise, I know, but a great place to find German blocks, wooden doll houses, play kitchens, train sets--lots of wooden toys). The best is off of Burnet Road in Central Austin, but the closest locations would be Round Rock or North Austin)
http://www.tuesdaymorning.com/indexCatalogOff.asp

IKEA (Round Rock--another biggie, but great open-ended toy section. I especially love the play dishes, children's furniture, and train sets. Don't forget the kitchen department for cooking items to stock a play kitchen for very little $.)
http://www.ikea.com/
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-9pm Sun 11am-7pm

Sassy Pea Market Website

www.sassypeamarket.com

Twos' Day Yesterday, in Reverse Order!

Vaccination Events in Austin

Are Vaccine Mandates Good or Bad for Public Health?

Tuesday, November 10th 7:30-9:30 PM
(Doors Open at 7:00 pm)
Open to the Public, free of charge
Where: The UT Art Auditorium, located at the corner of 23rd Street and San Jacinto just north of the stadium. Parking is available in the garage labeled SJG just north of the building on San Jacinto.

"Vaccine Developers: Heros or Villains?"
Wednesday, November 11 10 AM-12 PM,
(Doors open at 9:30 AM)
Open question and answer session afterward.

Where:
Casa De Luz in the Cielo Room South, 1701 Toomey Rd.
Austin TX 78704 MAP

Cost: $20 per person; $30 per couple

For more details on both these events:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs023/1101364019044/archive/1102810647369.html

Childhood Vaccinations

Vaccines--so much debate about when to give them (if at all), whether there is any link to autism in some children, their long term effect on gut health . . .

The Good Earth Day School's position on this subject is that each family should make their own well-informed choice. Families are welcomed to our school who do not vaccinate, who vaccinate on a delayed schedule, as well as those families who receive all recommended vaccinations.

Did you know that it is your right to delay or not accept vaccination for your child? Did you know that children must be admitted to any public school or registered or licensed childcare home or childcare center with an Affidavit (Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience) issued by the Texas Department of Health Services? If you are someone who needs an affidavit, here's what you need to do:

Online requests must be made through the web submission form posted at http://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm

Written requests must be submitted through the U.S. Postal Service, commercial carrier, fax at (512)458-7544 , or by hand-delivery to:
1946DSHS Immunization Branch1100 West 49th StreetAustin, Texas 78756

Hand-delivered requests may be submitted to the DSHS, Immunization Branch, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. ALL affidavit forms will be mailed to you via U.S. Postal Service. No requests will be filled at the time of hand-delivery.

Affidavit form requests will be processed and mailed within one week from the receipt of the request. If additional information is needed in order to process the affidavit, you will be notified;

The letter must include the following information:

Full name of each child for whom a form is requested(first, middle, and last);
Date of birth of each child for whom a form is requested;
Parent or legal guardian's complete return mailing address, including zip code;
Number of forms needed for each child (not to exceed five forms per child)
Electronic mail or telephone requests will not be processed.

The official Texas Department of State Health Services affidavit form must be notarized and submitted to school officials. The form must be submitted within 90 days from the date it is notarized.

Affidavits that have been notarized are good for two years from the date of notarization.

Sonya's Toy Garden--Christmas and Hannukah, and Anytime Gift Ideas!

We have ordered several times from Sonya's, with fast, friendly service every time. Favorites at school are play silks, wooden clips, and beeswax crayons. If nothing else, this site provides lots of great (quiet!) alternatives and ideas to parents and grandparents alike--especially crafty ones! Note the discount for ordering by 11/15 as well as the free shipping offer.

~Leslie

From Sonya:

Holiday Gift Picks!We know that many of our customers read Mothering Magazine regularly, but for those of you who don't, we have exciting news. Mothering has selected 15 toys we sell for inclusion in their recent article on "Best Natural Toys of 2009."We think that you might agree that these are winners! Here are a few from this year and a few favorites from last year:

Felt Mail Set
Colorful Doll House Stacker
Mouse Family
Fruit Tree Puzzle
Birthday Ring & Flower Stacker
Walking Blocks
Felt Flower House
Recycled Recycling Truck
Foldable Gnome House
Stockmar Deluxe Paint Set
Music Maker
Bird Tree Puzzle

A few brief updates:

We are fully stocked with woolen undergarments and rain gear (Puddle Pants, etc.) but they are selling quickly, so please order soon for best selection of styles & sizes.
We are constantly restocking our most popular items & always adding new items, so check back frequently – we have wonderful new handmade treasures arriving daily.
For Hannukah, Christmas, and other holiday/birthday orders, please always order as early as possible for best selection & to allow time for delivery. Shipments take longer around the holidays – please tell us if you need an order for a specific date.

CPSIA update: The seriously flawed consumer product safety law passed by Congress last year continues to have tragic, unintended consequences for small businesses that make and sell handmade toys. We have lost many wonderful crafters who were making safe toys and using all natural materials but could not absorb (or pass on) the high costs of testing and labeling & tracking their products and the materials they use. In addition to many U.S. businesses closing, many of the best European companies that make beautiful, safe wooden toys and natural fiber garments will no longer export to the U.S. because of the CPSIA. If you see favorite products disappearing from our website, this is probably why. We encourage you to visit the Handmade Toy Alliance (www.handmadetoyalliance.org) for more information, updates, and ideas of what you can do to save handmade toys in America. In addition to offering lead and phthalate free toys, we want them to be beautiful, natural, unique, handmade, and a joy for children and adults to play with by for decades to come. For almost 10 years, we have offered one of the largest selections of handmade and quality toys available. We are committed to this mission and will continue to make, and search the world for the best, safest handmade and natural toys.

We are truly thankful for your continued support over the years. Without such wonderful customers we would not and could not continue in business. To show our appreciation, you are welcome to use a special code, “thankful1009” for 10% off your order over $50 placed by Sunday night, 11/15/2009. This only applies to new orders placed using this code (it is not retroactive).We appreciate your business and look forward to filling your orders for birthday presents, stocking stuffers, holiday presents, tooth fairy gifts, etc. Remember we always offer free gift wrap (within reason, please!) and the always popular Free Shipping for US orders over $200.Happy Playing! Sonya

Please visit our online store at:www.aToyGarden.com& forward this email to your friends!
In order to insure that you receive our periodic emails, please add "Sonya@aToyGarden.com" to your address book or safe sender list. You gave A Toy Garden permission to send you periodic email announcements. If you'd prefer not to receive emails from us, please reply with "remove" in the subject line.

Menu for 11/9 - 11/13

Monday
AM Snack: Bananas, water bottles
Lunch: Tuna salad, whole grain crackers, organic baby carrots, organic milk
PM Snack: Organic Z bars, water bottles

Tuesday
AM Snack: Whole grain cereal, water bottles
Lunch: Black beans and organic brown rice, steamed organic broccoli, organic milk
PM Snack: Cheddar Pirate Booty and organic raisins, water bottles

Wednesday
AM Snack: Fresh pineapple, water bottles
Lunch: Homemade organic vegetable soup, fresh baked bread with organic butter, organic milk
PM Snack: Yogurt cups and organic animal crackers, water bottles

Thursday
AM Snack: Organic apple slices, water bottles
Lunch: Organic pasta salad with ham and peas, organic milk
PM Snack: All natural colby cheese sticks and pretzels, water bottles

Friday
AM Snack: All natural granola bars, water bottles
Lunch: Turkey sandwich, organic apple slices, organic milk
PM Snack: Make your own snack mix, water bottles

School Closures

Our school closures for the next three months are as follows:

Wednesday through Friday, November 25-26, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 through Friday, January 1, 2010

School reopens Monday, January 4, 2010

Menu, 11/2-11/6/09

Monday
AM Snack: organic grapes
Lunch: pasta with lentil sauce and parmesan cheese, organic milk
PM Snack: rice cakes, nitrite/nitrate-free ham

Tuesday
AM Snack: bananas
Lunch: turkey meatloaf, organic broccoli, organic brown rice, organic milk
PM Snack: homemade guacamole, pretzels

Wednesday
AM Snack: fresh pineapple and oranges
Lunch: colby cheese cubes, tomato soup, homemade bread and butter, organic milk
PM Snack: organic vanilla yogurt w/organic blueberries

Thursday
AM Snack dry cereal
Lunch: homemade macaroni and cheese, green beans, organic milk
PM Snack: homemade pear tart

Friday
AM Snack: homemade pumpkin bread
Lunch: pizza, mixed vegetables, apple slices
PM Snack: granola bars, apple juice