In the Jungle

Our cool weather continues to hold and makes our days so pleasant but it also means we really have to use our imagination to pretend we are in the hot and steamy jungle! Today was a jam-packed day making monkey masks, giraffe spots, our very own stuffed snakes as well as starting our Father's Day presents (shh - they're a surprise!) Miss Sandrea brought in some artificial trees and comfy cushions to make an "jungle book corner" outside.



Some of you were pleasantly surprised to see an old friend from the 07-08 school year back at school, Sofia is back for the rest of summer session! Say hi to her mommy, Carla, when you get a chance!



Just a reminder that Summer Blast is next week. There's still time to get your registration in if you forgot! There will NOT be any preschool next week!

Tips on making your own stuffed snake: start from the skinny end (the tail) and push small bits of stuffing down the tie (a dowel or chopstick is a great tool to use). Do not stuff the tie too full. Some like to leave the head (pointed end) flat or just lightly stuffed. If necessary, repair seams and stitch the end of the tail to keep stuffing in. When the tie is stuffed, fold over the head and stitch or glue down. Glue on googly eyes and a felt tongue. Decorate with a ribbon tied around its neck. Great way to use up old ties!

Camping in the Great Outdoors

Kids, tents and flashlights....they make a great combination! Add in some chocolate and marshmallows and you've got a guaranteed recipe for success! We finished up our Camping week with the children playing with flashlights while Miss Chris read stories around the "campfire" in the gym and eating ooey-gooey-chocolately-messy s'mores outside!

Here's the easy directions for making lots of s'mores at once in the oven:

Have children break graham cracker rectangles into squares and break chocolate bars into little squares or rectangles. Heat the oven to 300. Use a shiny silver metal pan or line your pan with aluminum foil. Have children line up graham cracker squares and place a marshmallow in the center of each. The adult puts the pan in the oven to bake 5-10 minutes (watch them carefully - pull them out when they swell and get golden). Next adult job: Pull out the pan and quickly top each marshmallow with chocolate squares and another graham cracker square - press down lightly so marshmallow squishes out a little. The warm marshmallow will melt the chocolate and seal the graham cracker lid on. These cool quickly - eat and have fun!

Variations: use mini marshmallows and chocolate chips instead!

Welcome to Summer Session!

Hard to believe we are almost finished with our second week of Summer Session! This week we have been Camping in the Great Outdoors at our own First Cov Camp. The kids have really gotten into camping! Miss Christi set up a tent in the playyard and we have our cook-out gear and lanterns all set for some great pretend grub. Miss Talacey helped the children make their own canteens and lanterns this week and Miss Pat made campfires and fish prints with the campers. Miss Chris did a great language activity with the children, asking them who was in their tent! On Thursday we will finish off our camp week with s'mores, of course!

Today is our first official water day and it is still a bit too chilly to get out the big pool. The children are out there in their swimsuits splashing in the water table and having fun with the hose. I love listening to their squeals as they get wet outside!

We have two new friends who are joining us for summer session only: Styer and Wyatt. Styer is the son of Pastor Jesse and his wife Holly and the grandson of our Senior Pastor, Pastor Ted. Wyatt's mommy and daddy, Cami and Nick, are in Sacramento for an extended job assignment and will be returning to their home in Indiana in the fall. Please say hi to these new families when you see them!

Next week we will be going on a jungle safari. Miss Pat will be in Oregon celebrating her son's commissioning into the Navy so Miss Sandrea will be here instead. :)