What Three and Four Year-Olds Are Thankful for

Mommy and Daddy because they give me hugs and kisses when they leave and when I go to bed and when I get hurt and when I'm sad and just because they love me. Playing because I like all the toys and my friends and my sister. My home because I see my Mommy and Daddy and Sister and Brynn, my dog, and I feel happiest there. Trees because things grow, like apples and oranges and the flowers in my dream and birds in their nest. Mommy cooking dinner so the food is ready when it's ready. School because I like playing with my friend Parker and the other kids- building blocks and making trains. Giraffes because they can eat tall trees and if I was a giraffe I could eat the apples right off the top of the tree and that would be great. Ethan L., age 3

My friends at school because I love to play with them. Mom because she takes care of me and she picks me up and she takes me to the doctor when I'm sick. Dr. Harter because she checks my bones and ears and throat and gives me bad medicine that I spit out but it makes me feel better. My Daddy because he takes care of me and he's going to put me at college. The snow because it's pretty but you have to be careful so the car doesn't slip on the pile in the road. Snacks, because we share at school and they taste yummy. Growing Places because I love my friends and the fish in the pond and my wall because I think it's beautiful.- Macy Q., age 3

My Mom and Dad because they love me and take care of me and give me dinner and brownies. My big brother because he loves to play with me and I love to play with him. My sister because she goes to school and she's really smart. Growing Places because it's my favorite place and I love to play there and eat snack and go in the garden and read stories and I have my own wall for my pictures. My dogs and cats because they are my friends when I don't have anyone else to play with. Sunshine because it's so warm and it's good for people because they are happier when the sun shines. Turkeys because I like to watch them in the woods; they look funny running around and they gobble. Drinks because when I'm thirsty that's just what I need.- Dawsyn M., age 3

I'm thankful for Mommy because she gives me food and strawberry milk and she takes care of me and my baby brother. My baby brother because I feed him and take care of him and he's going to play with me when he gets big. Apples because we can make applesauce. Purple because it's my favorite color. Flowers because they are pretty and they smell good and butterflies like them. Goats because they are so cute. Renee T., age 3

Big stars because they look pretty in the sky. Mommy because she feeds me and takes care of me and plays with me and takes me to school and I love her. Daddy because he takes me to work and where ever he goes I go with him so he doesn't have to go all by himself. Sissy because she's my best sister. Libby because she's my special dog. Gramma's house because that's where she takes care of me. Parker F., age 3

My Mom because she “milks” me. My Dad because he takes care of me and my baby Nettle. Baby Nettle because I like to make her stop crying. My home because Mom is there. My fire place because it keeps me warm. My window because I can see the chickens and it keeps me cool in the summer when it's hot. The chickens because they are friendly. Chocolate cake and chicken nuggets with ketchup because they are sweet. My friends at school because we play with all kinds of toys together. The garden at my school because it has lots of flowers and plants and a rainbow house and a giant caterpillar for hiding in and climbing on and jumping off. Nolan D., age 3

My mom because she gives me cereal and she takes care of me when I’m sick sometimes. My dad because I love to wrestle with him on his bed and play basketball with him. Lindsay because she's my big sister and she jumps on the trampoline and she goes for lots of walks with me. Britney because she takes me to Mike's pool when it's really hot. Buddy Bear because he keeps me company at night. My room because it has a bunch of toys flashlights and my bed. Spiderman because he saves people. My lawn mower because I like to help Dad and sometimes I mow Miss Ruth's grass.- Aaron M., age 3

My Dad because we play and paint the house and wrestle and I hug him. My mom because she's my mom, and she helps Daddy make dinner when I'm hungry. My brother because he plays with me and teaches me things he learns in school. Chinese food because I love it so much. Halloween because I love to eat candy. My school because I like to play soccer and run the fastest and make the huge giant puzzle with my friends. My birthday because Mommy and Daddy give me a cake.- Quinn D., age 3.

Daddy because I love him. Mommy because she takes special care of me. My boys [brothers] because they keep me safe and play with me. Pappy and Gramiere because I love to go to their house. My cat, but she just died. Carrots because I eat them and they're my favorite. Pink and Purple because they are so beautiful, and Mommy is going to paint my wall pink. My room because I like to sleep in my bed and play with my babies and that's where they live. My blankies and my big stroller because I feel warm and cozy. Tops because I want to get food for my dinner tonight. - Lily B., age 3

Sunshine because it gives us sun so we can have morning time and fun playing outside and working to carry firewood so we can have camp fires and toast marshmallows. My body because it works really well for flipping and running around in circles. Mommy because she takes care of me when I’m sick and she loves me more than anybody in the whole wide world. My dance teacher because she is teaching me how to dance. Josh because he's my step dad and I love him so much. My brother and sister and Auri because we all live together. Growing Places because it's a nice peaceful place to be.

Lilyanna C., age 4

My fingers because I can wiggle them, and scratch my back, and pick things up, and suck on them. Mommy because she gives me hugs and kisses and stuff. My sister because she's my friend and I love her. School because I love my friends. Sleeping in my nice warm bed. Butterflies because I can catch them high in the sky and they are beautiful. My garden because it gives me food. Bees because they buzz and make honey, and I love honey because it's sweet. -Kodah C., age 2

Mommy and Daddy and Griffin because they are my family. Growing Places because I play with my kids and we go in the garden and play play play....Horses because I see them when I’m in the car. My house because it has my toys, and I eat dinner there, and go to sleep there. Birds because they eat worms, and got wings, and make pretty sounds. My pool because I can go swimming when it's hot.

Connor M., age 3

Mommy because she takes care of me when I am sick, and takes me to the doctors. She loves me more than anyone and she's like magic. The park because I love to go play there. My friends because we love to play together, and share things, and laugh, and run around. Goats and pigs because I like the way they sound. Firetrucks because they put out fires. Lollypops because they taste good. Cash registers because they help people buy food. The pond at school because it has fishies, and they play hide and go seek in the lilies. Evan B., age 3

Fall 2011

Fall

The leaves fall off the trees and you have to rake. You throw the leaves on the road where the cars go by and the leave sucker comes by. The leave sucker is a special vacuum cleaner for the leaves. If you use the other vacuum cleaner the leaves will get stuck. Aaron, age 3

In the fall I don't see my Mommy so much because she has to go to school all the time and my dad goes to work. My sister and me stay with Auntie Gramma. Sometimes I call her Mommy by mistake, but I don't like that because I already have a Mommy and I only need one mommy and one Daddy and one sister Abbie. Ethan, age 3

It rains lots of times. The leaves can get wet and fall off the trees. The dirt can get wet and turn to mud. If you walk in it your shoes can get muddy. Turtles like mud to stay warm when it's too cold. Frogs do too- I even saw the picture in the book. They go in the mud at the bottom of the pond. When people get muddy they gotta take a nice warm bath. The turtle takes a bath in the pond! Parker, age 3

Where does Applesauce come from?

We went to the apple farm. It's called a orchard because it has lots of apple trees. We had to use something special so we could reach the apples high in the tree. We put the apples in buckets. Lots of apples fell on the ground. They are bruised. The deer will eat them in the winter. Sawyer, age 4

We made applesauce. First you have to wash the apples so you can get them clean. You wash them with a cloth in a big pan of water. Sometimes the water goes all over the floor and then you slip so you need a big towel to stand on. Lily, age 3

You cut the apples into little pieces because if you don't cut them it will take a very very long time to cook them. Some were red and some were yellow and red, and some were green, and some were little and some were huge. Stars and seeds are what you find when you cut them open. Nolan, age 3

We put the little pieces in the pot. You have to add a little bit of water because it helps the apples cook. You put the pot on the stove to cook the apples.- Lilyanna, age 4

We cook the apples on the stove. The apples just get smooshty and very hot and the apple mush is full of seeds and skin and bubbly juice too. It's very very hot so only the teacher can touch the pot and stir the apples. Lily, age 3

Then you put the hot mushy apples in the cranker. It's called a Foley food mill. When you turn the crank the apple sauce goes in the holes into the other pot and the seeds and skin stay in the top. Then it is really apple sauce! But it's still too hot to eat and it's already time to go home! Lilyanna, age 4

Halloween

We carved pumpkins at Growing Places. Mommy made two pumpkins. My dad sat in the corner and made a bat and everything else on his pumpkin. I helped mommy cut the pumpkin. We had to get the seeds out. They were cold and messy. We put the pumpkins in the garden. Then we had pizza with lots of other kids and moms and dads. My pumpkin was a witch. It was a funny witch, not scary. And I went trick or treating too. I went to peoples house. They thought I was a walking stick and gave me lots of candy. Dawsyn, age 3

I helped Mommy and Daddy with scooping out the sticky in my big huge pumpkin and tried to get the pumpkin really clean inside. Teacher never ever saw a clean pumpkin like that! My hands were on the pumpkin face and the face was surprised. They I listened to scary stories. I was going on the float but it broke. Mommy said it sank! Macy, age 3

For Halloween I was captain America and my brother was Superman. I was going to ride on the float with the other kids and all the pumpkins but Daddy didn't come because the tractor battery didn't work. I ran really fast to the parade, and went trick or treating and I ate lots of candy at home! Quinn, age 3

It was Halloween. You say trick or treat so you can get candy. You have to wear costumes for Halloween and real clothes aren't costumes. Some costumes are beautiful, like lady bugs and butterflies and princesses. Some are scary. Monsters, wolves, witches and ghosts are scary. Pumpkins and clowns are silly. Mama takes me trick or treating. When someone gives you candy you say thank you and take it home and share it. Lily, age 3

Fire Safety Week

You spray a hose to put the fire out. But first you have to get out of the house because there's fire and you don't want to get burned. Fire is hot and dangerous and crackly and smoky and you can't breathe very well because too much smoke makes you cough. That's why you got to get out of the house. Ethan, age 3

If you find matches you need to give them to a grown-up because they are not for children. They would get burned. Matches are to start fires and fires are hot so don't touch fire or you can get burned.

Macy, age 3

Fire trucks are red. Fire is red and hot. Very very hot. A fire man and the fireman's puppy go get the people out of the fire. Quinn, age 3

Fire fighters drive fire engines to the fire. They spray the fire with water because they're scared the fire will burn them and it will. But they're brave aren't they because they help people even if they are scared. Fire fighters are like super heroes. Dawsyn, age 3

Firefighters wear scary coats and helmets because the fire is going to burn them and their special clothes keep them safe. They hose the fire and turn it off. Never hide if there is a fire. Get out!

Parker, age 3

Everybody screams when there is a big fire in the house because it's so scary. You have to jump out the window or stay on the roof so your mom can come get you, and then you run away as fast as you can. Concrete doesn't burn so you should go on the sidewalk or find your mom and dad and sister by the tree or at Miss Ruth's house. Aaron, age 3

Fire is hot. I can't touch it because I will get burned. I see fire in my fire stove and don't want to get burned so I got to stay back. My mom puts wood in the stove to keep me warm. When we go camping in my tent my dad makes a fire to sit around it. Ben, age 2

My Daddy puts wood in the fire so I can make marshmallows. You blow on them because they're really really hot. A stove is hot and kids can't use the stove because you can burn yourself. I burned myself on my mom's stove and cried and I got to get ice on it and a band aid on it. Lily, age 3

Fire fighters have to wear a suit so the fire doesn't burn them. They wear a hat so they don't get bonked on the head with burning stuff. Fire trucks are red so everyone can see it and get out of the way. It makes a loud noise to get people out of the way. I have to cover my ears because it is so loud it hurts my ears. Evan, age 3

You put logs in the fire and it becomes big. Me and my dad do it together because it's hard work and it's dangerous for little boys. Nolan, age 3