February 7th

Hi All-

I hope you had a wonderful week! I'm sorry this took so long to get out for the 5 people who read it each week 😉.  No baby goats have been born yet, so there's that update. Any day now we should start having our first kids though! 

On the bird front, many of you have noticed that the geese have been getting a little more aggressive each week. It is not just because of the baby ducks, but also because it is breeding season, so we will be putting them back in the dog run each week for those of you who have been uneasy around them. 

Just a reminder, Valentine's Day lands on a Friday this year AND it is also the week that I am anticipating several goat births, so (for my sanity) I have decided we are going to have an old-fashioned Valentine's Day party, complete with exchanged Valentines.  We tend to have between 15-30 kids in each group each week, so I think it would be fun for everyone to prepare 30 Valentines, and we'll exchange them within each group (Group A exchange with Group A, Group B with Group B, Group C with Group C). Any extras can be dispersed in the other groups as the kids see fit.  I think we will also dance a few reels that day because Valentine's Day sounds like a good day for a group dance. 💃 After that, we will plan to have free play.  

So just letting you know in case you want to get started on those valentine's cards now 😉Please remember that co-op is a boyfriend/girlfriend-free zone, so make sure your Valentines are "friend" Valentines--this is not an appropriate place to declare your undying love, and getting a Valentine does not mean someone "likes likes" you 😉.  

As for this week's activities...

From 10ish-Noon(ish) we will break into group activities:

Please Note: if one of my goats goes into labor on a Friday morning, all plans for the day will be cancelled and we will have a free day

Group A-- Ages 5-8

You will be doing Project this week. We will be talking through Psalm 23 and learning how that relates to sheep and goats, as well as learning about goats in general. Who knows? God might give us a few kids to play with as well!  

Materials Needed: 

A water bottle to drink out of (if you think you may get thirsty)

Sunscreen...if you so desire. 

Gardening gloves...if you so desire. 

Clothes/shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.

Parents, if your little ones tend to wander, please stay close by. You are responsible for taking your child to the restroom or providing them with water if they get thirsty. Try to remind them that this is a group activity, and they should try to stick with their group as much as possible. That will really help keep things flowing smoothly for everyone. 💗

Group B--Ages 9-12

You will be doing the P.E. this week. Once again, you will PROBABLY do kickball. It seems to be always the popular game... if you want something else, make sure you tell Mr. D!

Materials Needed: 

• Athletic shoes of some sort
• A water bottle--if you think you'll want something to drink
• Sunscreen, if you so desire.
• A great attitude!  (That is mandatory!)

Group C--Ages 13-18

You will be doing Gardening this week. Not sure what Ms. Paula has planned, but I know it will be fun and you'll learn a lot! Come prepared to get dirty!

Materials Needed: 

• Sunscreen and Water Bottles...if you so desire. 
• And clothes/shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.
• Garden gloves if you think you want them.

Those teenagers that do not feel like participating in P.E. are welcome to volunteer with Group A. Please NOTE: you WILL be put to work if you volunteer in that capacity! 

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Picnic Lunch

Everyone is welcome to stay and have a picnic lunch in the backyard area. You are responsible for bringing your own lunch. Please do not feed any animals with that lunch and please make sure all garbage is disposed of in the dumpster or garbage can.