March Break at Sepaq Acquarium, Quebec City

A great outdoor event for the kids ... on this week!  

My son and I went last year ... lots of inflatable slides to play on.  It helps if you have an Annual Pass to avoid queuing.

Pump Up March Break, 2 - 10 March 2013

Home-made Granola

For every 2 cups of large cooking oats (not quick cooking oats);

Mix together:

1-2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup

2 Tablespoons canola oil (or an oil that has a very mild taste)

Then add:

2 Tablespoons coconut (dessicated, unsweetened)

¼ cup nuts or seeds, as you like (eg., pecans, sunflower seeds)

Preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius.

Place the mixed ingredients into a shallow baking pan or pyrex dish and toast for approximately 40 minutes, until golden brown.  It is important to stir the mixture every 10-15 minutes during cooking. 

Allow the toasted granola to cool completely before storing.  If you store this mixture while slightly warm, then the granola will turn soft.

Add ¼ cup of your favourite dried fruits, eg., dried apricots, raisins, cranberries etc.

Note:

• I usually double the mixture and use two oblong pyrex dishes to gently toast the granola.  
• Reduce the sugar and maple syrup to 1 Tablespoon of each, for every 2 cups of large oats, if you prefer.

Sheryl

Butterfly Festival starts February 9th

Located at Centre Jardin Hamel on Boulevard Hamel

http://www.jardinhamel.com/

Nursery Rhyme and Song Favourites

I'm a Little Teapot I’m a little teapot, Short and stout. Here is my handle. Here is my spout. When I get all steamed up; Hear me shout. "Tip me over and pour me out!"	This Little Light of mine, This Little Light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. (Repeat twice) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine. (Repeat twice) Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Twinkle, twinkle, Little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, Little star. How I wonder what you are.	Zoom, Zoom, Zoom Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon. (Repeat) If you want to take a trip, Climb aboard my rocket ship. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …. Blast off!
Hey Diddle Diddle Hey diddle, diddle. The cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed, To see such sport, And the dish ran away, With the spoon. Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake Pat-a-cake, pat-a cake, baker's man. Bake me a cake, just as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it, and mark it with “B”. And put it in the oven for baby and me. Round and Round the Paddock Round and round the paddock; catch a little a hare.  One step, two step … tickle under there.	Star Light Star Bright Star light, Star bright. First star, I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might. Have the wish, I wish tonight.  Itsy bitsy Spider Itsy bitsy spider, climbed up the waterspout. Down came the rain, and washed the spider out. Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain. So, itsy-bitsy spider, climbed up the spout again! This Little Piggy This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home.  This little piggy had roast beef.  This little piggy had none.  And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, all the way home.

Miss Polly Had a Dolly

Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick.

So she called for the Doctor to come quick, quick, quick.

The Doctor came with his bag and his hat.

And he knocked at the door with a rat-a-tat-tat.

He looked at the dolly and he shook his head.

And he said, “Miss Polly, put her straight to bed.

He wrote out a paper for a pill, pill, pill.

“That’ll make her better.  Yes, it will, will, will.”

Baby’s Fingers

Baby’s fingers, up.  Baby’s fingers, down.

Baby’s fingers dancing, all around the town.

Dancing on your shoulders.

Dancing on your head.

Dancing on your knees, then tuck them into bed.

The Rainbow Song (to the tune of “Hush Little Baby”)

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue, rainbow green and yellow too.

Rainbow orange and rainbow red.  Rainbow shining overhead.

Come and count the colours with me.  How many colours do you see?

One, two, three on down to green. Four, five, six colours can be seen.

Rainbow purple, rainbow blue, rainbow green and yellow too.

Rainbow orange and rainbow red. Rainbow shining overhead.

You are my Sunshine

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy, when skies are grey.  You’ll never know dear, how much I love you.  Please don’t take my sunshine away.

Are you Sleeping?

Are you sleeping?  Are you sleeping?  Brother John, Brother John.  Morning bells are ringing.  Morning bells are ringing.  Ding, ding, dong.  Ding, ding, dong.

Shining Stars Programme for Jan-Feb 2013 out now!

Are you keen socialise with other parents of preschoolers? Are you looking for some indoor space to let your preschoolers run around and play, during these very cold days?

You're invited!

Shining Stars Playgroup will meet this Thursday, January 31, 2013 from 9.30am to 11.00am

Venue: Valcartier Family Centre, 1039 Wolfe Avenue, Sainte-Foy, Quebec City

Cost: $3.00 per child, or $4.00 per family

Theme:  "Your favourite Nursery Rhymes" Parents are invited to share your favourite nursery rhyme, during circle time (if you wish!).

What to bring:  Indoor shoes (with non-marking soles please!), morning tea and a drink for your children.

Tea and coffee provided for parents.

Hope to see you there!

Sheryl (T) 418 353 8243

Playgroup is looking for Parents to Lead (Winter 2013)

Playgroup is looking for Parents to get together and help lead a playgroup session this term (Winter 2013).

Can you and a friend help ...? 

• Lead our preschoolers to sing or say our favourite nursery rhymes
• Teach our children how to play games that get us moving (with balls, boxes, scarves, hoops etc)
• Help our kids have fun and mix well with other children
• Choose and read a story
• Prepare a craft or activity that develops motor and sensory skills (cutting, pasting, painting, learning shapes, colours, feeling textures, playdough etc)

Training and guidance will be given (if needed).

Phone Sheryl (T) 418 353 8243 to put your name(s) on the Roster to lead a play-date. 

21 January 2013

Christmas Party pics ...