Playful Poppies Learning Co

We have decided it's time to close this chapter of Playful Poppies for now. 😭

I (Serena) need more white space for my family in this season. Miss Kimberley, too, is needing a little more margin as well.

It's time for an intermission. For how long? We're not sure. All we know is our families need us right now. ❤️ The final class meeting for Parent & Me Literacy will be held on 02/24/25, and the final meeting for Parent & Me Art will be held on 03/15/25.

To say that this decision was hard would be an understatement. Playful Poppies really has been a dream become reality. It's where so many of us have turned strangers into friends, and friends into family. It's been an absolute honor to partner with each of you in this chapter of parenthood and watch your babies grow up at Playful Poppies. 🥹

Our hope is that this isn't goodbye forever though.

Sooner or later (in a year or two or ten, lol), we'll probably be back at it. But for now, we'll be busy snuggling our babies while they're still babies, and looking forward to the day we can bring them along to a Playful Poppies class once again.❤️

My dining room table right now. This is real life with three under three.

It feels like my house will never be orderly again.

But my family is clean, fed, and happy. We have a home full of life. The little mess-makers are MY mess-makers. 🥹

I'm still learning to appreciate this season. I know that by the time that I fully grasp the sacredness of it, it will just be a memory. So in the meantime, I meditate on the mess and pray that God gives me new eyes to see the beauty in it. ❤️ May He grant you new eyes to see the beauty in your mess today too.

The babies are home!

We are even more smitten with them than ever 😍 but also more tired than ever. 😂

Mostly though, we are overjoyed to have our whole family in one place again. 😊

Our two little babies made their debut a little ahead of schedule!

Please welcome Clara Joy and Aurelia Hope. 🥰 Born 10/28/24, 9:02 PM and 9:28 PM.

Since they arrived early, they still have a little time in the NICU ahead of them, but both girls are healthy and growing stronger every day.

Big sister Elaine is beside herself with excitement that her two little sisters are here. And daddy David is thrilled to have two more sweet cherubs to adore.

And as for mama? I'm tired as any parent of newborns would be 😂, but thankfully recovering quickly from the birth. I'm settling into the new rhythm of making milk around the clock for TWO babies and participating in their special care routines while they're at the hospital. I am so, so blessed to have a HUGE village supporting our family right now and making it possible for me to be with the babies 24/7.

The addition of two tiny preemies to our family is a bit of a curveball we weren't expecting, but frankly we're thrilled that the babies are here for us to hold and love. We can't wait for you to meet them soon. 🥰

Did you hear? Get in on the BIGGEST sale of the year!

This November, rather than our usual 6-week series, we're running one epic 12-week series (with breaks for holidays, of course). And instead of our usual price of $27.50/class meeting, you can register for this special series at just $21/class meeting!!

This deal is only valid through 10/31/24. Snag your spot at the link in our profile or at playfulpoppies.com/book before it's gone!

The best part about Parent & Me Art?

You get to reap the brain-building benefits of process art and sensory play for your child, without having to scrub paint off your living room walls. Plus, you get the strategies you'll need to maximize those benefits.

At each class, you'll explore a themed art experience inspired by a children's book or the works of a real-life artist — complete with group sensory play, a process art project, and creative fine motor activities. In our next art series, we're exploring art themed around winter fun! We'll explore wintery folktales, tales of winter friendship, and even learn about some snow-loving creatures. ❄️⛄️🌲

Join us for a free class on November 2nd. Come explore the fascinating world of snow, ice, and everything nice through art with us. Save your spot at www.playfulpoppies.com or at the link in our bio!

Next at Parent & Me Literacy, we'll be exploring celebrations! From birthdays to weddings, Hannukah to Chinese New Year, and everything in between! 🥳️🕎🐉

Imagine laughing your way through child-led vocabulary activities, introducing your child to letter sounds through play-based pre-reading games, and smiling as you dabble together in engaging process art.

You get to follow your child's interests as they grow their mind and cultivate curiosity. To top it all off, the class is packed with tools to help YOU become a confident literacy partner for your child. Come check it out at a free class on October 28th!

This play-based class WON'T teach your child to read, but it WILL help your little one grow their love of literacy while building critical pre-reading and early writing skills. Save your spot at www.playfulpoppies.com or at the link in our bio!

Join us for our LAST free classes of the year! (The next ones won't be until March 2025! 😲)

🌱Parent & Me Literacy (Monday, 10/28): Play-based vocabulary and phonics exploration, themed around a core book. Builds pre-reading, pre-writing, and fine motor skills. Open to ages 12 months - 6 years. Location: MyMedSupplies Community Room in Lacey.

🌱Parent & Me Art (Saturday, 11/2): Process art and sensory play inspired by real-world art and children's books. Builds pre-writing skills, fine motor strength, and creativity! Open to ages 12 months - 6 years. Location: MyMedSupplies Community Room in Lacey.

Join us for a free trial class (or two!); save your spot at the link in our bio, or at www.playfulpoppies.com !

Come see us TOMORROW from 11 am - 2 pm at Huntamer Park for Lacey Children's Day!

Enter our FREE raffle; make a magic color-changing painting ✨; and enjoy some of Children's Day's dozens of activities and games, acrobatics performances, live music, and more!! Fun for the whole family! ❤️

See you at Children's Day!!

This epic bag of travel toys could be yours!!

Come and see us at the FREE Children's Day event this Saturday, October 5th at Huntamer Park! Make a magic color-changing painting, get info about our fall classes, and enter our raffle for this travel toy gift basket worth over $350!!

It includes:
- a travel-size magnet tile set
- a mess-free LCD drawing pad
- two "hidden pictures" books
- two sheets of adorable stickers
- travel snacks (Pirate's B***y and Spindrift 🙌)
- a $275(!!) gift certificate to Playful Poppies!❤
..all tucked into this huge tote bag!

The raffle is FREEEE to enter, just come visit us at our craft booth at the Fun Fair! See you there!!

It's almost time for Lacey Children's Day! It's one of our favorite fall family events!

Free games, activities, inflatables, performances, and more for the whole family.

Come see us on October 5th at the Playful Poppies craft tent (pictured here; you can't miss it!) to get your art fix.

PLUS enter our free raffle for a gift basket worth over $250(!!)— don't miss the info about it next week!

For more info about Lacey Children's Day hop over to the Children's Day website at laceyparks.org/events/childrens-day/ .

See you there!

A little peek at one of the many fun projects we've been having in Art class lately: painting hanging butterflies!

Besides the novelty and challenge of painting on a suspended canvas, did you know that painting on a vertical surface improves motor planning, hones concentration, develops spatial awareness, and builds shoulder strength and stability?

Plus, it's just plain fun! 😍

What are you painting this week?