Happy New Year!

Here we are, the final blog update for the 2011 year. I know that it is officially 2012 but this update will wrap-up the final days of 2011. What a year it's been! A very special thank you to all of you--my day care families. I love my job and I wouldn't be able to do it without you (and your wonderful children, of course!) Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to care for your children and to be a part of you and your families lives. You hold a special place in my heart and I am grateful for having all of you in my life! Thank you!Now, on to the final blog for 2011...

The last days of November and the first days of December shared the same week.  On Tuesday, November 29th, Alex and Parker were here.  Here are two video clips taken that day.  The first one is Parker telling the names of her pet dogs at home.  My nephew and I couldn't help but laugh!  It's so cute!

The second video is of Alex and Parker together.  Parker was having fun copying everything Alex was doing.  Monkey see, monkey do!  Very cute!

Wednesday, November 30th, Maggie and Jackson were here for the day, Livy was here for the morning and Alex for the afternoon.

Jackson plays with Maggie.

Train time!

The boys were playing so nice together.

Even Livy joined in on the fun.

Livy loves playing with the kitchen set.

Maggie loves her bib!

Jackson and Alex enjoyed coloring their pictures.

I received a package that day (something I ordered for the children to play with during the Christmas season) and was excited to see what the boys would think of it.  It is a children's Christmas tree that they can put together and decorate (and re-decorate) themselves.  The two boys really enjoyed playing with it!

The children's tree was a big success!

 The month of December began on a Thursday.  Alex, Jackson and Parker were here for the day.  Later that afternoon, my two nieces got to come over for awhile too!

You can't tell from this picture, but they're dancing!

Enjoying the sparkly, glitter tree.

Later, Norah and Aleena got to play with the special Disney Princess castle that I bought for very special playtimes for the day care children.  They loved it!

Aleena and Norah playing with the Disney castle.

Friday, December 2nd, we had Shelby and Alex, Maggie and Parker here for the day.  Maggie had a "blow-out" day and went through her regular outfit and her back-up outfit!  Here she is in the Bumbo chair waiting for her clothes to finish being dried after I washed them.

A happy Maggie.

Later that afternoon, Shelby and Alex got to play with the Disney castle.  They also had fun working on their arts and crafts project.

Castle play time!

Proudly showing their Sheep on the Hills projects.

Parker gives Santa a kiss.

Tuesday, December 6th we had Alex, Parker and Livy here.

Buddies--Parker and Alex.

Aren't they cute?

Livy and Parker

Livy brought over cupcakes to celebrate her birthday.  They were really good!  Thanks Livy (and Livy's mom)!

Livy enjoys her birthday cupcake.

Wednesday, December 7th, was a kind of quiet day around here with Luke being here in the morning and Alex in the afternoon.

Luke loves playing with the Star Wars toys.

Luke and I read some Christmas stories.  This is a favorite.  Snowbears Christmas Countdown.

Thursday, December 8th, Alex and Maggie were here all day.  Jackson got to come and spend the afternoon with us too.

Play time with Maggie.

Jackson and Alex had fun coloring that afternoon.

Jackson and his picture.

Alex shows his pictures.

Friday, December 9th, Alex and Maggie were here for the day.  My nieces Norah and Aleena were also here for the afternoon.  Unfortunately, the only picture I took that day was one of Norah in her dress-up outfit.

Princess Norah

Tuesday, December 13th, Alex, Parker and Livy were here.

Best friends Parker and Livy.

Alex + Parker + Livy=Adorable!

Parker who was just tall enough, loved adding an ornament to the Advent Christmas tree.

Wednesday, December 14th, we had Maggie and Alex here for the day and Drew and Luke here for the afternoon.  The boys had fun coloring Christmas ornaments to take home and put on their trees.

Playing with the racetrack.

Coloring Christmas ornaments.

Luke and one of his ornaments.

Alex and his ornament.

Drew and one of his ornaments.

Luke and Drew show off some of their finished ornaments.

Maggie is getting so close to crawling!  She can "army crawl" around right now but she has started getting up on her hands and knees and rocking back and forth.  It won't be long before she figures it out!

Starting to get up on her knees.

Back down on her tummy...

Back up again...

A little rocking, back and forth...

and back down again!

Thursday, December 15th, we had Alex, Maggie and Parker all here for the day.  Alex had fun playing with the legos that day.

Alex and his rocket ship.

CUTE PICTURE ALERT!!!

Maggie, Alex and Parker in front of the Christmas tree.

Maggie and Alex.

Friday, December 16th it was Maggie and Alex here for the day.  I took just one picture that day.  It's of Maggie.  She's really getting around with her "army crawl" and now she's starting to reach at things and wants to pull herself up.

Tuesday, December 20th, we had Alex and Parker here for the day with a visit from Livy for the morning.

Later that afternoon, I remembered to bring the camera with me when Alex and Parker enjoyed their outdoor time and snap a couple of pictures.

In the net.

Wednrsday, December 21st, Alex and Maggie were here for the day.  Alex worked on an arts and crafts project that afternoon during quiet time.  He made a snowman door hanger.  I think it turned out very cute!

Ready to start his project.

Adding glue to the scarf.

Finished!

Thursday, December 22nd, was a busy but fun day with Alex, Maggie and Parker all here for the day with a visit from Baylee and Livy.  It was the last day everyone would be here before Christmas (day care was closed on Dec. 23rd) so the children were really excited!

Parker, Livy, Baylee, Alex and Maggie

Taking out the children's tree to play with.

Baylee and Alex decorate the tree.

Livy and Parker playing with the puzzles.

Sister love!

Alex watches over Parker as she decorates the tree.

We read a lot of Christmas stories that afternoon.

Story time!

Aren't they cute?

Maggie in front of the tree.

We finish off with the final week of 2011.  On Tuesday, December 27th, we had Shelby and Alex, Maggie and Parker (and Andrew) all here for the day.

A cute group of children.

Alex and Shelby showing off...

Parker joins in on the fun.  Silly children!

I had to include this video clip of Parker saying, "I love you".  It makes me smile every time I see it!

Wednesday, December 28th, brought Shelby, Alex and Maggie here for the day.  Shelby and Alex both worked on snowflake ornaments for an arts and crafts project during quiet time.

Shelby and her snowflakes.

Alex and his snowflakes.

Thursday, December 29th we had Shelby, Alex and Maggie here.  My niece Rachael also came over and spent some of her Christmas vacation with me.  I really enjoyed her time here with me! 

Rachael and Maggie

Andrew, Alex and Shelby enjoy their afternoon snack.

Finally,on Friday, December 30th, it was a quiet day with just Shelby and Alex here.  They had fun playing with Andrew for most of the morning.  In the afternoon I took them up to McDonald's to play in the indoor playground there.  They loved it, of course!  It was a very good way to finish off the year.  Unfortunately, I did not bring the camera to take pictures.  Oh well!

That's the end of the pictures for the year of 2011.  Thanks for checking out the blog to see what we've been up to all year!  See you soon!