Help spread the word!!!!! Referral bonus! PLUS OCTOBER SPECIAL

Being a new business; my first goal is to get the word out that I am here. Could you help? I am offering $10 Kwik Trip gift cards to anyone who refers a family to A CHILD's Haven. 

Details:
No limits on number of gift cards
One gift card per child enrolled ($5-part time; $10-full time)
Child(ren) must be enrolled for 30 days prior to granting gift cards.

Share my website that houses details about my childcare program:
A CHILD's Haven - http://achildshaven.blogspot.com/

Share my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/A.CHILDS.HAVEN.WI

References available upon request.

Thank you!

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OCTOBER ENROLLMENT SPECIAL

1 week of free childcare!  

Free week redeemable 30 days after enrollment.
Offer valid for full-time care only.
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Halloween fun

 There are so many fun activities to do for Halloween.  I have recently discovered these magnet pages you can use on a cookie sheet, fridge, or magnet board. (I picked up one of the drip pans from Walmart and attached it to my wall with velcro strips).  I found a couple of magnet sheets here: http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/PumpkinMagnetPages.htm

I also created a simple pumpkin magnet sheet that can be used to create jack-o-lanterns using the circular magnets.  You can find my make a face pumpkin and download it for free here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Make-a-pumpkin-face-magnet-sheet

 Today we finished up our adorable little spiders.  We painted the styrofoam balls yesterday and they were not quite dry in the afternoon so we added the eyes and legs today.  P loves his little spider!

 I will post more of our Halloween activities and crafts over the next couple of weeks.  Stop by again soon to see what we have been up to!

Fire Safety Week - Days 1 and 2

This week is national Fire Safety week and I am excited to be pulling out my Sesame Street Fire Safety curriculum.  This curriculum is available free through the U.S. Fire Administration for schools and fire departments.  For more information follow this link: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/teachers/sesame.shtm

I used my cricut and Sesame Street and Friends cartridge to create some fun puppets to go along with the stories in the curriculum.  The book does include some pages to photo copy and color as well.  I just got word that the CD is on its way to me....next year for fire safety we will be upgrading to a cd (no more waiting while Sara finds the right song and story on the cassette tape. ;) )

 

DAY 1 - HOT THINGS BURN

We played a fun game with post it notes and bingo markers (red and blue).  I put a post it note on items around the house and my little seedling used the red bingo marker if it was hot (not safe) and blue if it was cold (safe to touch).

We also threw together this fire truck out of a cardboard box that has been sitting in my breezeway just waiting for the perfect project.  This was a big hit!  We have a jump rope for a water hose too.

DAY 2 - MATCHES AND LIGHTERS ARE FOR GROWN-UPS

We read a story about Big Bird and learned to find an adult if we ever see matches or lighters.

DON'T TOUCH ~ FIND A GROWN UP

Here are my fake matchboxes I made that were placed around the room for my seedlings to find and practice calling a grown up for help.  Just a simple piece of card stock cut and folded in 3's and some wooden sticks I had that I trimmed and colored with the red bingo marker.

Then we painted FIRE!  Finger painting with red and yellow. 

More fun planned for the rest of Fire Safety week so come back soon to check it out!

Delicious Gluten Free bread - we found it!!!!

After a few failed attempts to find a gluten free bread recipe that we like, I stumbled upon this amazing Millet and Quinoa bread.  When my hubby first tried it he asked me if I was sure it was gluten free.  :)  It is moist and airy and the closest thing we have had to "real bread" since the kiddos were diagnosed.  I found it here http://glutenfreemommy.com/baking-gluten-free-bread-millet-oatmeal-bread/.  Then I followed a link on her blog to another blogger who altered a few items on the recipe as her pantry didn't not have everything it called for (neither does mine ;) )...so here is her version http://glutenfree.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/gf-millet-quinoa-bread/

I am not changing the recipe at all other than typing it up with the few alterations that Kate made and I have to change it a bit as I prefer all the ingredients to be listed in order of use in the recipe.  Just making it a little more reader friendly for myself.  I know....I am becoming a bit particular lately.  LOL

My hubby has requested that I attempt to make this into a version of cinnamon bread.  Hopefully I will have time to do that soon!

Millet & Quinoa Bread

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sorghum flour

1/2 cup quinoa flour

3/4 cup millet flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/3 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup sweet rice flour

1 tablespoon xanthan gum 

3 tablespooons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 eggs (room temperature)

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon molasses

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/2 cups heated water (120 degrees)

1 tablespoon active dry yeast (1 packet)

1 teaspoon agave nectar

1/2 teaspoon sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make sure all dry ingredients and eggs are at room temperature!

2. Grease the bottom of your pan.  I have made this in a loaf pan and I also made rolls in cupcake/muffin tins.

3. Heat Oven to 200 degrees and then turn off.  (I place my dough in the oven to rise and this slightly heating of the oven gives a nice warm environment for the dough to rise nicely)

4. In the bowl of your stand mixer (using the paddle), sift together the dry ingredients.  

5. In a seperate bowl, mix eggs, molasses, vinegar, and melted butter together.

6. Heat your water (120 degrees) for proofing the yeast. 

7. In a small prep bowl, stir together active dry yeast, agave nectar, and sugar.  Add 1/4cup of the heated water to the yeast mixture.  Let the yeast sit for 10 minutes.  It should be foamy and active.  If not, start over with another packet of yeast.  Once your yeast is ready.....

8. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients, then add the yeast mixture.  Then slowly add your remaining (water which should still be warm) to achieve the right consistency in your batter.  The dough should be like a very stiff cake batter.

9. Beat dough on high for about 15 minutes in the stand mixer.  If you accidentally add too much water simply add a little sorghum flour until you achieve the dough consistency you are after.

10. Put the dough in your prepared pan and place in oven to rise for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours.  Once the dough has risen to the top of the pan, bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until internal temperature reaches 190 degrees.