Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Wee Wonders! The first year is over and really it has flown by so quickly. Now it is time for the speech....

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents who have supported Wee Wonders throughout the year by bringing your wonderful babies and toddlers along to my classes or had me entertain your little ones at their special birthday parties! I have really enjoyed meeting so many new people and have absolutely loved watching the children grow and develop every week. It really is a fantastic job and much too fun to be called work!

My family and friends also need to be thanked for all their help and support both practically and by just lending an ear if I needed a wee moan, advice or a kick up the posterior! I value your continued support and encouragement!

It has been a year of up and downs (mostly ups). Starting a business is quite daunting especially in this shaky economic climate but positive feedback has encouraged me and kept me motivated. I hope to build upon my learning and strengths this year and want to continue realising my dream of making Wee Wonders a much loved household name!

Thank you!

Spring has sprung

Once again time has managed to pass me by and it is now nearing the end of March-how on earth did that happen? I am very excited that Wee Wonders will be one in April and I may just have to invest in a delicious sponge cake to celebrate! I have enjoyed the first year and look forward to growing the business in the coming years as I really love what I do!

I am currently in planning mode and have new week day classes coming up in May. I am also going to build upon the success of my summer workshops last year by providing a greater number in several locations this year; I have found that activities for babies and toddlers are sadly lacking in the summer months and would like to provide kiddies and their parents the opportunity to socialise whilst learning through fun activities!

My little one is now 17 months and is speaking much more than she signs, although when she wants to emphasise what she wants for example 'MORE BISCUIT' she says the words while also signing it furiously- she certainly knows how to get her point across!

I have been enjoying providing sessions for my eldest child's nursery school and will be taking my puppets Wendy and Will Wonder for another session based on the theme of Fairy Tales next week- I must get my thinking cap on as to which story to concentrate on.

My favourite quote of the week-

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shovelling the pavement before it stops snowing. ~Phyllis Diller

Oh my goodness I can't believe how slack I've been as my last post was in July! To be fair it has been a very busy few months but no more excuses I will faithfully make time to blog regularly.

August was a blur of Babies and Beyond show activity, myself and my co organiser Sharon worked late nearly every night to get everything done and to make sure it was a great success. There were a few sleepless nights on the run up to the show but we had everything planned to military precision so we needn't have worried. The big day arrived and we had a full hall of traders, loads of planned activities and the public came in their droves- the feedback from traders and public has been fantastic so it was well worth doing. I was never so tired in my life though as that evening and was so glad to be able to sit and just relax for a change!

My Saturday classes started the next week and oldies and newbies arrived and seemed to have a great time. It has been wonderful to watch my Wee Signers growing and changing every week and some going from non mobile to mobile very quickly! The Wonder Kids classes have been great fun with lots of games and icky sticky arts and crafts activities. I can't believe we're down to the last week already- roll on January!

My baby is now 13 months and signing so much at home. She must have nearly 50 signs when she chooses to use them and nearly as many words. Her favourite sign at the moment is 'more' while also shouting more while sitting in her high chair;twinkle twinkle is also a firm favourite and her attempts at 'diamond' are very cute!

The summer holidays have arrived and so have the commencement of my first Wee Wonders summer workshops. The theme of the first class is 'summer', quite an obvious choice but plenty of ideas to choose from.

The Wee Wonders Babies and Beyond show organisation is going well and keeping me very busy. We've been down measuring the hall and working out our floor plan- so exciting! I'm really looking forward to the baby disco, should be really great fun with loads of fabulous tunes to dance to. Some brilliant businesses have signed up, I know I'll end up spending a fortune on Christmas presents, but still September is the perfect time to start and not leave it to the last minute like usual!

My wee-est Wonder Cal is still signing away but I think she is interchanging 'milk' for 'mummy' which is understandable really as I represent both. I have also been teaching her big sister signs and she's really sweet showing them to her sis, I can't wait til Cal signs 'E' for Eleni and El will be so chuffed!

Mid June already??

It's now well into June, the weather has been great and Wee Wonders is keeping me very busy. The last class of the first term was on Saturday and it was lovely to give out the certificates to all my 'wee wonders' and momentous in that baby Conor did his first proper crawl. Although it will be nice to have my Saturdays 'off' during the summer holidays so I can do lots of fun family activities especially as El is off to nursery in September (sob!)

I have decided to do a few workshops in the summer holidays, mostly because the parents asked me to as there is not much on in the summer for tiny tots and definitely not during the week. Also wanted to trial my new class Wannabe Wonders for 3-5's , quite nervous about it as have only ever taught drama to teenagers but I'm sure it will be good fun.

The Babies and Beyond Show is really coming together, stands are booking up and we are getting new ideas everyday to make it as fantastic a day out for everyone involved.

It never rains but it pours

Well no one can say that I don't like to keep myself busy! As well as looking after the girls and their hectic social lives whilst building a fledgling business, I have decided to organise a baby show in September with the help of a friend. I'm so excited, I just love getting stuck into organising things and hopefully it will spread the name of Wee Wonders a good bit as well... Any ideas and suggestions always welcome...

I can't believe there are only four weeks of classes left of this term, it has just flown by, I suppose that shows how enjoyable it is. Callia has really been signing 'more' loads this week especially when eating yoghurt, loves the stuff! I'm also thrilled that two of the babies in my class have started signing as well. Alpha kids is great fun too but I always seem to leave covered in glitter- 'C' this week- C is for 'carrots' 'cars' coat' 'can can'......

Well things are ticking along nicely my only problem is that I really don't have the time to do everything I need to do- I'm hoping that come September when daughter number one starts nursery that daughter number two will develop longer napping habits so more can be achieved rather than snatching the odd 15 minutes here and there.

I'm really enjoying the classes and can't believe that we have done four weeks already. The renditions of 'I'm a Wee Wonder' are getting louder as parents and toddlers starting to know the words, it's a good job as they need to drown me out-I'm becoming decidedly squeaky especially during 'Peter Rabbit has a fly upon his nose' ...

Right must go to bed as I'm useless without a full eight hours sleep!