Friday, December 21, 2012

January Schedule

I am looking to create a list of people willing to host playgroup when it is located at the church. Here’s what I am proposing: One person will be designated as the leader of the month. That person will arrive at the church (on the Fridays it will be held there) a few minutes before 10am, unlock the main door, arrange the cultural hall or nursery for minimal disruption to Sunday activities, make sure everything looks the same when we’re done, and re-lock the door at departure. If you have been assigned a particular month, it will be your responsibility to find a replacement if you have a sick kid, an errand to run, a vacation, or something else.

With that being said, here’s our calendar for January:

January Playgroup Schedule
Playgroup’s designated leader this month is: Lindsey Williams

Friday, January 4th: Trains
Meet in the Church cultural hall at 10am. Bring a train toy to share! (I know the school-aged kids will still be on break, so if you have a different idea for today’s playgroup that would help you to entertain all your children, please let me know.)

Friday, January 11th: Preschool Splash at the RiverPlex (600 NE Water Street, Peoria)
Meet at 10:00 (ends at 11:30). $3 per child over two; adults free. Parents must accompany child(ren) in the water.

Friday, January 18th: Motor Mites at the Franciscan Rec Center (908 N. Sterling Ave, West Peoria)
Meet at 9:15 (ends at 11:15). $2 per child. Kids can play with scooters, balls, hula hoops, and tumbling equipment. (This is not directly on Sterling Ave. You can take University south and go right on Main Street, then right on Heading and a left on Sterling.)

Friday, January 25th: Emily Hardy’s Home (11232 N Jason Dr, Dunlap)
Meet at 10am to play.

Monday, November 26, 2012

December Schedule

Friday, December 7th: Toy Exchange
Meet in the church nursery at 10am. Bring a USED toy (wrapped). Bring one toy per child that would like to receive a toy. We’ll do a craft, exchange gifts, and play toys.

Friday, December 14th:Christmas Party (Jacqie Lewis’ Home)
Meet at 10am at the Lewis’ house (2107 W Winnebago Dr, Peoria). We’ll be celebrating Christmas! Bring a festive treat to share if you'd like, and we'll have a craft or activity and holiday game.

Friday, December 21st: McDonald’s(4007 W Baring Trace, Peoria)
Meet at 10am, and play on their indoor play-place. Don’t feel obligated to order food in order to play.

Friday, December 28th: No Playgroup
Happy Holidays!

Change to this Friday's Playgroup

Friday, November 30th: Church Nursery
Meet at 9:30. The kids can play in the nursery with a few moms, while the rest of us head to the cultural hall to setup for the Ward Party. If you don't want to help, still feel free to come and enjoy some socializing and time for the kids to play together.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

November Schedule

Friday, November 2nd: Motor Mites (908 N Sterling Ave, West Peoria)
Meet at Franciscan Rec Complex at 9:15am (ends at 11:15). Cost is $2 per child, ages 1-5. This winter open gym is a great way to let little ones with lots of energy enjoy the fun of playing freely with scooters, balls, hula hoops, tumbling equipment, and more. This place can be hard to find if you’ve never been there before; it is not directly on Sterling Ave. To get there, take University South and go Right on Main Street, Right on Heading and Left on Sterling.

Friday, November 9th: Wheels!
Meet in the cultural hall at the church at 10am. Bring your toys with wheels: ride-on, toy cars, bikes, trains, etc. While the kids play, willing moms can help with Christmas party decorations.

Friday, November 16th: Chuck E. Cheese (2601 W. Lake, Peoria)
Meet at 9:30am. There is a slide and a climbing thing that are free (no entrance fee). Just buy tokens/lunch if you want them. Check their website for coupons. https://www.chuckecheese.com/coupons/

Friday, November 23rd: No Playgroup
Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 30th: Emily Hardy’s Home (11232 N Jason Dr, Dunlap)
Meet at 10am to play.

Monday, September 24, 2012

October Schedule

It is that time of the year again. As the weather turns colder, it is time to compile a list of people willing to host playgroup in their home.

If you volunteer, we would come to your house to play with your toys (and clean them up!) during the regularly-scheduled playgroup time (Fridays, 10-12noon). Prior to sending the schedule out to everyone, I would check the specific date with you.

I am also looking for people interested in hosting Playgroup “parties.” These would be themed-events where you’d provide a craft, book, movie, treat or game for the children to do. Themes we have done in the past or could do include: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Winter/Sledding, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Poem in Your Pocket Day, Read Across America, Easter. This would be a little more involved than just opening your toys up for the children to use, but really not too hard and super fun. If you have a holiday you are particularly excited about hosting, let me know that too.

Please email me directly (ryanandlindsey1227@hotmail.com) if you are willing to do either service sometime this winter, and I’ll get your name on the list. THANK YOU!

October Playgroup Schedule

Friday, October 5th: Preschool Splash (600 NE Water Street, Peoria)
Meet at the River Plex at 10am (ends at 11:30). Bring a towel and water toys (if you want). Parent must accompany child in the water. Ages 1-5: $3 per child; Adults: free.

Friday, October 12th: Tanner’s Orchard (740 State Route 40; Speer, IL)
Meet at Tanner’s Orchard at 10am. Join us and bring your camera, lunch and some cash (if you’d like). There’s a country market (apples, cider, donuts, pies, etc), play area ($3 for ages 2-12) and petting zoo (feed for 25 cents). For more information, http://www.tannersorchard.com/index.php

Friday, October 19th: Bumper Bowling (4100 N Brandywine Dr, Peoria)
Meet at the Christian Center Lanes at 10am. (Bowling Prices - Adults: $2.50, Children: $1.50) (Shoe Rental - Adults: $2.00, Kids: $1.00)

Friday, October 26th: Halloween Party
Meet in the church nursery at 10am. Wear your costume (moms too!), and bring a festive treat to share. We’ll do an easy craft, eat our snacks and play with the toys.

Friday, September 7, 2012

CHANGE: Playgroup at Church today

Due to the weather this morning, Playgroup will be in the church nursery at 10am. Bring play-dough toys. See you there!

Monday, August 27, 2012

September Schedule

Note: Back to Fridays - Playgroup will now be on Fridays for the school year.

Friday, September 7th: Northtrail Park (1621 W. Meadowview Drive, Peoria)
Meet at 10am to play on the playground.

Friday, September 14th: Riverfront Walk (600 Northeast Water Street, Peoria)
Bring your stroller and a sack lunch, and meet at 10am by the playground beside the Riverplex. We’ll walk, then return to play and eat at the end.

Friday, September 21st: Charter Oak Park (5802 N Orange Prairie Road, Peoria)
Meet at 10am to play on the playground.

Friday, September 28th: Discovery Children's Museum (101 E Beaufort St, Normal)
Meet at the museum on the first floor at 10am. We’ll plan on staying until about 12 noon.
Admission is $6 per person ages 2 and over; under two are free.
Pack a lunch, and bring it inside. They have tables. The only food-for-purchase inside the museum is vending machines.
Parking is usually available in a small parking lot across the street from the Museum, directly to the north. This lot offers free two-hour parking. There is another small lot, located near the intersection of Beaufort and Broadway, to the west of the Museum, that also offers free two-hour parking.
For more museum information, visit their website: http://www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net/index.asp

Monday, July 30, 2012

August Schedule

Note: Playgroup is on Wednesdays in the summer time. Next month it will return to Fridays.

Wednesday, August 1st: Chartwell Park (2828 Willow Lake Road, Peoria)
Meet at 10am by the playground. Please note that this park only has on-street parking in the neighborhood, and then there’s a short walk down a path to the play structure.You may want sand toys, as the play structure is surrounded in gravel/sand.

Wednesday, August 8th: Movie at Willow Knolls (4100 West Willow Knolls Dr, Peoria)
Get out of the heat and enjoy the movie The Pirates! for $1 per ticket (all ages). Movie starts at 10am, but you’ll want to get there a little early.

Wednesday, August 15th: Sommer Park (6600 N. Basket Oak Drive, Edwards)
Meet at 10am (enter off Koerner Rd through Sommer Place neighborhood; left at dead end – Basket Oak Dr). Bring sand toys and a picnic lunch.

Wednesday, August 22nd: Bicycle Safety Town (6518 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria)
It’s been recently remodeled! Meet at 10am and bring your bike / ride-on toy and helmet (required).

Wednesday, August 29th: Linden Hills Dairy Farm (8412 W. Middle Road, Peoria)
Meet there at 9:30, and take a guided tour and see cows, calves, chickens and sheep all while taking a walk around a farm! Expect it to last about an hour and a half. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes for a farm. Bring a sack lunch to eat outside under the trees after our tour. If we have at least ten people, the cost will be $3 each. (Pay it to me that day, and I’ll pay them.) You must RSVP to Lindsey (ryanandlindsey1227@hotmail.com) no later than Monday, August 20th if you’d like to attend. For more information, you can check out their site: http://www.lindenhillfarms.com/

Monday, June 25, 2012

July Schedule

Note: Playgroup is on Wednesdays in the summer time. It will return to Fridays in September.

Wednesday, July 4th: No Playgroup
Have a happy, safe 4th!

Wednesday, July 11th: Grand View Park (3210 Grand View Drive, Peoria)
Meet at 10am at this great, shaded park.You may want to bring sand toys, as the play structure is surrounded in gravel/sand.

Wednesday, July 18th: Riverfront Walk (600 Northeast Water Street Peoria)
Bring your stroller and a sack lunch, and meet at 10am by the playground beside the Riverplex. We’ll walk, then return to play and eat at the end.

Wednesday, July 25th: Water Fun (5816 W Brookmere St, Edwards)
Meet at 10am in Lindsey’s backyard for some splash pool fun. Bring a towel, sunscreen and a lawn chair. I’ll provide popsicles.

Monday, July 30th: Movie at the Rave (5311 W American Prairie Dr, Peoria)
Come watch the movie “Happy Feet” for FREE. Doors open at 9:30 am; show starts at 10 a.m.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

June Schedule

Note: Playgroup will be on Wednesdays for the summer months (June, July & August). Trek Practice will be on Fridays until June 19th.

Friday, June 1st: Forest Park, Trek Practice (5809 Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights)
Meet at 10am by the nature center. We’ll be walking the trail to get ready for Trek.

Wednesday, June 6th: Sommer Park (6600 N. Basket Oak Drive, Edwards)
Meet at 10am (enter off Koerner Rd through Sommer Place neighborhood). Bring sand toys.

Friday, June 8th: Rock Island Trail, Trek Practice (Alta Ln parking lot)
Meet at 10am. We’ll be walking the trail to get ready for Trek.

Wednesday, June 13th: Detweiller Park, Moose Shelter (8327 N Galena Road, Peoria)
Meet at 10am, and bring a sack lunch for a picnic together.

Friday, June 15th: Forest Park, Trek Practice (5809 Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights)
Meet at 10am by the nature center. Last chance to get ready for Trek!

Tuesday, June 19th through Wednesday, June 20th: RS Trek in Nauvoo

TUESDAY, June 26th: Fondulac Farm Park (305 Neumann Drive, East Peoria)
Meet at 10am inside the gates. Admission is free on Tuesdays! Feed is $0.50. Bring a sack lunch, and we can eat outside on the grass after touring the farm.

In case of rain,
- Treking on Fridays will be canceled.
- Wednesday Playgroup will be in the church nursery at 10am.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

May Schedule

Friday, May 4th: Bicycle Safety Town
Meet at 10am (6518 N. Sheridan Road - near Sheridan & Knoxville), and bring your bike / ride-on toy and helmet (required). There is a covered bleacher seating area, port-a-potty, picnic tables, and drinking fountain. If it's raining, we'll meet at the church nursery at 10am.

Friday, May 11th: Rock Island Trail (Trek Practice)
Meet at 10am (Alta Ln parking lot). We’ll be walking down the trail to get ready for June’s RS Trek. If it's raining, we'll meet at the church nursery at 10am.

Friday, May 18th: Detweiler Park (Dogwood/Pine Shelters)
Meet at 10am at the “spider web” playground. If it is too crowded, we’ll move to the Moose Shelter playground. If it's raining, we'll meet at the church nursery at 10am.

Friday, May 25th: Rock Island Trail (Trek Practice)
Meet at 10am (Alta Ln parking lot). We’ll be walking down the trail to get ready for June’s RS Trek. If it's raining, we'll meet at the church nursery at 10am.

Note: Starting in June, Playgroup will be on Wednesdays for the summer (June, July & August). Trek Practice will be Fridays in June until June 19th.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

April Schedule

Friday, April 6th: Good Friday - No Playgroup

Friday, April 13th: Poem in Your Pocket Day
Bring your favorite children’s poem (Need ideas? Google Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein for silly ones for toddlers), and meet at the church nursery at 10am. We’ll have the moms take turns sharing in story time fashion, and then let the kids play.

Friday, April 20th: Chuck E Cheese (2601 W. Lake, Peoria)
Meet at 9:30am. Check their website for coupons. There’s a slide and a climbing thing that are free and no entrance fee. Just buy tokens if you want them.

Friday, April 27th: Rock Island Trail (Trek Practice)
Meet at 10am (Alta Ln parking lot). We’ll be walking down the trail to get ready for June’s RS Trek. Let’s see how far these kids (and ourselves...) can go! If it's raining, we'll meet at the church nursery at 10am.

Friday, March 2, 2012

March Update

Friday, March 9th: Play date at Amy Payne's home (7511 N. Miramar, Peoria, 966-1087) at 10am.

I'll reschedule play dough for another time.

Friday, February 24, 2012

March Schedule

Friday, March 2nd: Read Across America Party
Bring your favorite book to read to your child, and meet at Lindsey Williams’ home (5816 W Brookmere St, Edwards, 369-7519) at 9:30am. Enjoy time swapping titles with other moms and reading to your child/children. We’ll make a “Happy Birthday, Dr Seuss” craft and play with toys too.

Friday, March 9th: Play Dough Fun
Meet at the church nursery at 10am. Bring your play dough toys to share.

Friday, March 16th: St Patrick’s Day Party
Meet at Mirinda Chatfield’s house (6235 N Hamilton Rd, Peoria, 692-4304) at 9:30am for a craft and then play time. Be sure to wear green, and bring a treat to share if you’d like.

Friday, March 23rd: Motor Mites (908 Sterling Ave, West Peoria)
Meet at the Franciscan Rec Complex at 9:15 (ends at 11:15). $2 per child or $20 for 12-visit pass. Under one free.

Friday, March 30th: Easter Egg Hunt
Meet in the nursery at 10am. Bring 6 “filled” eggs per child. We’ll make a craft then search. Afterwards, we’ll play with the nursery toys.

Friday, February 3, 2012

February Schedule

Note the varying start times this month.

Friday, February 3 - Play date at Wood’s
Meet at Carrie Wood’s home (10815 N Fieldgrove Dr, Dunlap, 370-3933) at 9:30am to play.

Friday, February 10 - Valentine's Day Party at Powell’s
Meet at Melissa Powell’s home (3607 W Compton Ct, Peoria; 264-9280) at 9:30am. Bring a Valentine to put in each child's container (we will make the container as a craft). If you’d like, you may bring a treat to share too, but don’t feel obligated.

Friday, February 17: Wheels at the church
Meet in the cultural hall at 10am. Bring a ride-on toy or other wheeled-toy.

Friday, February 24 - Preschool Splash at Riverplex (600 NE Water St, Peoria)
Meet at 10am for Preschool Splash. End time is 11:30. $3 per child (under one is free). Parents must accompany children in the water.