Garden Party

We have recently joined OPAT. OPAT stands for the Oklahoma Parents as Teachers program. We are in the Putnam City division. OPAT provides many educational tools in helping your baby have fun and learn at the same time! Part of OPAT includes parties where all members bring their children to enjoy a day of fun! Also, your parent educator meets with you monthly to show toys that are appropriate for that age, see how baby is developing and help with any questions you might have. Our dear friends, Luke & Candace, introduced us to OPAT (thank you!)

August 20th was the first party of the year, outdoors and garden themed. Michael and I were excited to take Rayleigh and see what the parties are all about! We arrive and are welcomed by the parent educators with open arms. The setup is great - gazebo with books all over, blankets laid out in the grass with toys, bubbles, plants, paint, slides and all that good stuff. Michael and I first head into the gazebo and read Rayleigh some books. Shortly after we got there, Luke & Candace arrive with Maddie, Rayleigh's best friend. So we all hang out under the gazebo for a little bit and then the activities begin. The main one being a small flower pot that Rayleigh puts her hand prints (and feet in her case) on and then plant some greenery in to take home.

We had a great time playing on the blanket outdoors. Rayleigh always enjoys being outside, especially when there's so much to see... like other kids!!

Another highlight of the party was Rayleigh feeling sand in her toes for the first time. There was a huge sandbox and Michael thought it would be a great idea to stand her in it. We had no idea how she would react but she really seemed to enjoy it! She kept cooing and even flashed a couple smiles at the other ladies checking her out. Adorable. Then we took her over to these huge buckets full of water with kiddie watering cans which we used to clean the sand off her feet.

Once it was time to leave we received door prizes of seed packs, information for gardening with your little one and a Bendon Bear book! We'll be seeing Marilyn, our parent educator, for the first time in the next couple weeks and I can't wait!