Updated Blog

Hello parents!

My blog is now fixed -- still not sure what happened but everything seems to be lining up better now. Please remember to actually visit the blog as there are things on the sidebar - like dates I am closed - that are important to know.

The address is:

http://juliaschildcare.blogspot.com/

If you are having trouble accessing the blog, please let me know.

Information to help parents claim valuable tax credits...

The working families, whose children you care for, may be eligible for federal tax credits worth thousands of dollars when they file their taxes for 2009. These credits are more valuable than ever so make sure your families don't miss out! Here are the credits:

Federal Tax Credits:
• Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps provide a wage supplement for low and moderate-income families. This credit is worth up to $5,657.
• Child Tax Credit, designed to help families offset some of the costs of raising children. This credit is worth up to $1,000 per child for families who earned at least $3,000 in 2009.
• Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, designed to help with child care costs that families pay in order to work. This credit is worth up to $2,100, but can't be more than the family's federal tax bill.
• Making Work Pay Credit, designed to increase families' take-home pay. This new credit is worth up to $800 for couples.
Oregon Tax Credits:
• Oregon Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, designed to help with child care costs families pay in order to work. It is worth up to $1,800 but can't be more than the family's state tax bill.
• Oregon Working Family Child Care Tax Credit, worth up to 40% of
qualifying child care expenses.
• Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit, worth up to $339 for low income families.

Even if a family doesn't owe income taxes, it may still be eligible for a refund check!

Families can get FREE help with their federal taxes by calling the IRS toll-free at (800) TAX-1040 or (800) 829-1040. Or go to www.irs.gov/individuals/topic . For help with state taxes contact the Oregon Department of Revenue at (800) 356-4222 or www.oregon.gov/DOR/ .
Families can also contact the AARP Tax-Aide toll-free at (888) AARP-NOW or (888) 227-7669. To find AARP Tax-Aide help in your area,
https://locator.aarp.org/vmis/sites/tax_aide_locator.jsp .

Vaccine

Dear parents,

As some of you have already received the booster for your child I need a count as to how many will be receiving it on January 5. I need there to be at least 4 in order for them to come out. Please email me or respond here with a yes or no if you have not already done so.

Thank you!

Booster for the H1N1

The Yamhill County Health Department just called and scheduled the H1N1 booster for Tuesday, January 5 at 3:00. Forms will be delivered to me this week and I will get them to you asap. If you are able to come and be here at that time to help comfort your child it would be greatly appreciated!



I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas and

Second dose of H1N1 vaccine

I contacted the Health Department today and my contact, Annie, said that they just finished the first round of the vaccine and will most likely be starting the second round late December or early January and will contact me at that time. She assured me that this is a booster and most likely the children are protected but if you have concerns to please contact your own doctors.

Another funeral

I heard yesterday that Den's uncle was put in the hospital for pneumonia but had heard that all vital signs looked good. Today, they are saying there is nothing they can do and he probably only has a day or two. I know that having to take another day off is coming at a very bad time for many of you so I wanted to let you know that this seems likely to occur. Unfortunately, my back-up providers would also be going to the funeral but I will do my best to see if I can find someone who can help.

This has certainly been a tough summer for the Fieger family.

Preschool updates....

We have enjoyed this first week of preschool! The preschoolers have been learning about the letter A and how it sounds and also "All About Me."

A new focus this year is I will be taking a particular book each week that is somewhat related to our themes, or a virtue (kindness, etc.) and they will do activities related to the story. This week it was the story "I Like Me." Yesterday the children looked at themselves in a mirror and then drew their face on a precut shape. Today we talked about what is the same and what is different as well as what makes each of them special.


The children also went on a red hunt and a circle hunt -- there are many, many, many, many red as well as circle shapes in our room! Did I say many:-)

The Littles are also going to be "learning" and the focus this week was on Trees. We will be doing lots of singing, fingerplays, large motor and sensory activities. There will also be art but as they are very young it is mostly an introduction.

Song/language development - Rock-A-Bye Baby
Large Motor - Tall as a Tree (the preschoolers LOVE this one too as we all do them together)
Fingerplay - Five Finger Trees
Sensory - Tickle Me Tree (feeling a leaf and tickle their chin)
Sign Language - Tree

In case you would like to do Tall as a Tree at home:

Tall as a tree
(raise arms high over head)
High as a house.
(stretch arms out wide)
Thin as a pin.
(arms next to body)
Small as a mouse.
(squat down and huddle, and you also have to use a tiny voice when you are a mouse or it just isn't as much fun!)

I hope to post our focus as the beginning of each week and the fingerplays and songs that are related so you can do them with your children at home as well.

And again, thank you all so much for the supplies. They will be WELL used!

Closed August 5

We were notified yesterday that the funeral will be August 5 -- I will be closed for the whole day. Thank you so much for understanding.

Upcoming closure...

We had a close family member pass away today so I will be needing a day off to attend the funeral - most likely this week -- and I will let you know as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Build a helicopter at Lowe's

Just a fun thing you might be interested in doing with your kiddo(s) on Saturday, July 25, 10:00 - 11:00...

To find out if your Lowe's is participating go to Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic, you will be able to sign up as well. On August 8th the project will be a power boat. I checked and it seems McMinnville is participating but I did not check on Tigard and Hillsboro.

The 8 Rules of Toddler Play

This is cute...and true!

The 8 Rules of Toddler Play (and maybe a wee bit older as well!)

1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take if from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little time ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way, shape, or form.
6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I think it's mine, it's mine.

Wednesday, May 27

Future architect!

Scarlett taking a picture of me taking a picture of her!

Ali in deep negotiation with Kiley regarding the red hat:-)

Kiley playing the part of her Dad's fire boss (yep, that' s what she said) and the boys doing what the boys love doing....trying to keep everyone out of the way of their cars zinging (is that a word?) against the wall.

Jocey and Addie all dressed up. Jocey trying to convince Addie that it would work better if she turned the smock around, LOL.

Checking my settings...

Really just checking to see if you get notified when I make an update. Still trying to work out all the bugs...

Here is a picture of number/counting cards I made and laminated to go along with our butterfly theme. The children count the number of butterflies then place a clothespin on the correct number...

A butterfly has landed....

Today the children arrived and we noticed that one chrysalid was a very dark color...darker than the others which means it's ready to emerge. We made predictions and each child made a guess as to when the butterfly would come out. Some thought today, some tomorrow, Saturday and "soon." We were getting ready for lunch and they all took a look as they sat at the table. A few minutes later they all start screaming that the butterfly was out! Using Den's fancy dancy camera here is an up close look at our first butterfly......

Pictures from yesterday....

The children are working on their butterfly wings. They colored coffee filters with markers and then we sprayed them with water so the colors would blend together. Jocey is giving me the "look" as I had a hard time getting the picture...this was take four or five, LOLOLOL!!!!

Taylor and Scarlett looking their cutest. Scarlett is eyeing Taylor's new hat!

Ali drawing with the animal blackboards - notice the intense concentration and the tongue! LOL The children have enjoyed the boards but I think they get a kick out of "erasing" much more than the drawing or writing:-)

At group time the children all shared their paper plates for our caterpillar. We discussed what they chose, how they used the glue and then everyone got a turn touching and said what each one felt like...soft, hard, bumpy, prickly, scribbley (new word for me, LOL), smooth, puffy.

The finished product...our Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Welcome family and friends....

As you know I've tried many ways of keeping you informed of "happenings," etc. and as you can see...I'm still searching for something that works best. I have put restrictions on this blog so only those that are invited may view and right now that includes you parents and a few of my child care provider friends. Please feel free to email me any email accounts (like home or office) that you would like me to include. If you have any others you would like included (like grandparents, etc.) please check with me.

TGIF and Pancake Friday

What a beautiful day! The children started asking when we were going to go outside the second they walked in the door. I can certainly understand because I was ready to get some fresh air and sunshine too. After snack (and the 100th "when are we going outside") we headed out. The children ran, and ran, and ran, and rolled, and chased, and pulled grass and then................."Can we go inside...it's too HOT!" Too funny!

Here are the kiddos eating pancakes. I started pancake Friday when Sydney was here. She LOVED pancakes and would ask for them each day so I finally declared Friday as pancake day.

And here are the littles....just too precious!

Have a wonderful weekend...the weather is going to be gorgeous!

New fun coming soon....

Den and I have discussed my need for new materials and I want to share a few items that will be arriving in the next few weeks.



Dramatic play activities enhance development in many areas...really all areas, social, emotional, cognitive as well as physical. I have wanted a new kitchen set for quite awhile - I can't wait for this to arrive. I did not, however, buy the little microwave sitting on the corner counter as it alone was like $70.....thinking my crafty husband can make one for us. Sorry the picture is so tiny but I couldn't find one bigger or figure out how to enlarge it without making it fuzzy.


I'm excited to have a new sensory tub. I had one years ago but it was a bit bulky and I ended up taking it out. This tub will also have a lid so it can double as a table for puzzles, legos, etc. Items I've used in the past...rice, cornmeal, shredded paper and water. I have started collecting shredded paper (thank you Gretchen) and could use some that is colored. If you have a resource please let me know. I know the children will enjoy this!