Co-op - August 2012

With our original co-op triad moving on to Kindergarten and Preschool programs and the younger siblings coming of age to enjoy co-op, us co-op mommies decided that it was time to change how our co-op worked.  While hosting all 6 kids (ranging in age from 1 to 5) was POSSIBLE, it did get chaotic and with the age span, and there was a limit to the types of activities we could do.  So we decided to split it into two separate days, one afternoon a week after school for the original 3 big kids, and one morning a week for the little kids.  It is the case that the hosting mom's little kid is also around for the big kid afternoon (although the other two little ones do actually take a nap during that time too.)  Similarly, the hosting mom's big kid is sometimes around for part or all of the little kid co-op too.  For example, when I host the little kids, we take the double stroller and the Ergo to pick up RJ from school.  It sometimes gets tricky to schedule when we have other stuff going on, but we all like that the kids have some regularly scheduled playtime with each other, and the smaller, split age groups makes it easier to have projects and activities planned that will work for that particular age group!

This month, one of the big co-op activities was signing the floor at Zach's house when Lisa was hosting.  While no one WANTS to have their dishwasher flood the kitchen, requiring new cabinets and flooring, the plus side (other than a nice remodel) was that the kids got to draw all over the sub-floor, and now their drawings will forever be a (hidden) part of the house.

I managed to take a bunch of pictures when I was hosting the little kids (which may have been the first time or the second time, I don't remember which) when we were using sidewalk paint.

It started off great with all three little ones happily painting the sidewalk.

Then they ran away.  (Don't worry - I rounded them up again immediately after taking the picture.)

They returned to painting, but then each one of them spilled their paint, and it became a full body experience for Austin.  I love how Logan looks like he's saying, "Look dude, that looks fun, but you're doing it wrong".  It's just not fun unless you get messy!

Then we walked to pick up RJ from school.  Logan sat in the top seat of the stroller, while Austin got the bottom seat, where he quickly made it apparent that we had a busy morning, and Natalie got to ride on my back in the Ergo, since she's the lightest!

More co-op pictures from August are here and here.