Community Playgroup

A great place to take your kiddos, especially during the very long winter! They do sell very reasonable family passes, or stop in this week & they will give you a pass good until March! (Bonus, free gift wrapping on any purchases!)

A great place to take your kiddos, especially during the very long winter! They do sell very reasonable family passes, or stop in this week & they will give you a pass good until March! (Bonus, free gift wrapping on any purchases!)

A few things posted from our own local library. A great place to take your kiddos for story time or anytime!

A few Community Announcements you might find helpful.....

Timeline Photos

Happy Thanksgiving!
Aren't these the cutest turkeys around?
(from 11/23/21)

Last week's fun....Making Scarecrows.

[11/22/21]   Tomorrow will be the only Playgroup this week - come out to make some turkey headbands with your favorite little turkeys. 🦃

So powerful. ❤️

via TimberNook

[11/19/21]   No school today, Friday 11/19/31) = No Playgroup either.
Stay safe (and enjoy the snow as only kids can!) ;-)

In celebrating "National Novel Writing Month" and "Young Readers Day", the kiddos made their own books this week! They have such great ideas, write them down to save!

Otsego County Library

Lots of free things for kiddos this week with their library card. YES, your preschooler can have their own card! Go see one of the very friendly library staff members for more information!

Otsego County Library In order to make requests for information standard across county government, the Otsego County Library Board of Trustees will follow the Otsego County's Written Public Summary of FOIA Procedures and Guidelines.  The Library Director is authorized to designate other Library staff to act on their beh...

E Free is doing their monthly food distribution this Thursday, 11/11. Drive thru, in the back of the building, from 4pm-6pm.

E Free is doing their monthly food distribution this Thursday, 11/11. Drive thru, in the back of the building, from 4pm-6pm.

[11/10/21]   Backdoor/ramp update:
Our backdoor has parts on order. We can use it to get OUT, but it's not able to be unlocked just yet for coming IN. If you need the ramp access, just call me (989-732-7289) and I can come open it. (And just park in the back lot.) I know with snowpiles coming(!) being parked on the street with little kiddos can be tough. You can use that back ramp anytime to get down to the gym floor also (and kids think it is kind of a fun "adventure"!)

[11/10/21]   Let's discuss:
If we were to add a 3rd day for Playgroup, do you like the idea of maybe switching to a M/W/F?
Why or why not?

A few postings that might be helpful....

AND, Hourly Rental is BACK at the Center. Think Winter birthday parties, family reunions, etc. Times do tend to fill up, so if you have a date in mind, call soon!

Blast from the past!
While cleaning up I found these pictures from Playgroup about 11 years ago....

Not sure why it won't let me tag these lovely moms & their now teenagers.... ;-)

Last week we made some crafts with different shapes & went on a circle hunt. This week we will become authors of our own books!

Photos from Kiwanis Club of Ga***rd, Michigan's post

***REMINDER***

The Community Center will be CLOSED this Thursday, November 11th, 2021 in observance of Veterans Day. Thank you to all those who have served.

Thank you,
Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department

***REMINDER***

The Community Center will be CLOSED this Thursday, November 11th, 2021 in observance of Veterans Day. Thank you to all those who have served.

Thank you,
Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department

***SCHEDULE UPDATE***

Here is the November 2021 schedule for the Otsego County Community Center. Please call us at (989) 732-6521 with any questions, concerns, or to check for Community Center rental availability.

Thank you,
Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department

[11/05/21]   ***ANNOUNCEMENT***

As some of you may have noticed, The Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department has made some changes to our three (3) pages we have. We are looking to use our pages more often and more efficiently to keep everyone up to date on important announcements and updates regarding our facilities and events. The names of each of our three pages are as follows:

'Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department'
'Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve'
'Community Playgroup'

The page which was originally titled 'Otsego Lake County Park' is now been switched over to our general page, with the new title of 'Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department'. All updates, scheduling information, event announcements, questions/concerns you may have, and for all other information regarding the Otsego Lake County Campground, Otsego County Community Center, Community Dog Park, Libke Sports Fields, Wah Wah Soo Public Beach, and Irontone Springs Roadside Park, will be posted to the 'Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department' page.

All updates, scheduling information, event announcements, questions/concerns, and for all other information regarding the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve, will be posted to the 'Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve' page.

All updates, scheduling information, event announcements, questions/concerns, and for all other information regarding the Community Playgroup Program (which takes place every Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 am - 11:30 am), will be posted to the 'Community Playgroup' page.

We encourage everyone to follow all three of our pages to make sure you are staying up to date on all things regarding the Otsego County Parks & Recreation. If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations please give us a call at 1 (989) 732-6521.

Thank you,
Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department

Parks & Recreation | Otsego County, MI

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

The Otsego County Parks and Recreation Department has a NEW WEBSITE. For all CAMPING RESERVATIONS for the Otsego Lake County Park (Campground) and for all other questions, concerns, and information regarding the Otsego Lake County Park (Campground), Otsego County Community Center, Community Dog Park, Wah Wah Soo Public Beach, Libke Sports Fields, Irontone Springs Roadside Park, and the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve, visit us online on our new website at:

https://otsegocountymi.gov/207/Parks-Recreation

Thank you,
Otsego County Parks & Recreation Department

Parks & Recreation | Otsego County, MI Discover information about the Parks and Recreation Department events, classes, facilities, and more.

Halloween week was FUN!

Hahaha!

BOO!
Ghost week at Playgroup last week!
Nothing too scary, lol! 👻

This week, Monsters! 🤖

Photos from Fleming Farm's post

I just thought this was the sweetest thing, ever.
❤

Do you know that feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night and it’s cold and your diaper feels heavy. And there are so many strange sounds all around you, and it’s dark and scary. And you get a hit in your head and it’s your hand that’s on its own adventure. And you can’t control it at all and it flings itself around and scratches your face and pulls at your hair. And your legs start kicking off the duvet, even though you’re cold as it is and you try to make it stop but they have their own will. And so you’re lying there completely helpless with flailing limbs that want to do everything, but none of the things you want.

And you can’t find mom. And you call for her and you find yourself feeling really scared. What if your beloved mom doesn’t come for you. You can’t imagine anything worse and you start to cry because you miss her so terribly. You have never felt as alone as this very moment.

And then she is suddenly there. Standing right by your bed and looking at you with worry and love. And she is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. And you grin up at her with happiness and relief. You don’t think you’ve ever felt as happy as this very moment.

And she picks you up and holds you close. And she smells like herself, and also a bit like you. Like milk and safety and love. And it’s the best smell in the whole entire world.

And she is warm and safe and soft and her hands caress you and she feeds you and hums your favourite tune. And you love her voice. You’ve known it far longer than you’ve really known her. It has lulled you to sleep and made you laugh and calmed you when you were distressed. It is the most beautiful voice in the whole entire world.

And you get to lie right up against her and you feel your entire body start to warm up again. And your still cold hand starts stroking her and moves up towards her neck and accidentally scratches her. Stupid uncontrollable hand. But mom doesn’t get angry. She takes your stupid hand in hers and it turns all warm again. And this is the best feeling in the world. Right here in mommy’s arms, with your hand in hers. Even the diaper doesn’t feel as horrible anymore.

And you feel your eyes getting heavy and you know that everything is okay now cause mommy is here. Your mom. Your wonderful, incredible mom who always looks after you. Night and day.

You look up at her one last time before you fall asleep. She looks tired and her eyes are closed, and yet she is still the most magnificent thing you know. How amazing that she wants to sit here with you in this moment. How amazing that she will always sit with you for a bit when you need her to.

You smile to yourself. How lucky you were that she became your mom. The most perfect mom anyone could have asked for.
You knew, even before you saw her, that she would be the best thing in the world.

Oh how you love her. Your mom.
❤️

Words by The Mommy Poet
Me and my baby Olivias hands Photo by Polka Dot Studios Bingley

Otsego County, MI | Official Website

Otsego County Parks & Recreation has a new website. www.otsegocountymi.gov. To access the Otsego Lake County Park reservations or for more information select Government and scroll down to Parks & Recreation. Thank you.

Otsego County, MI | Official Website Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.   

It was an amazingly beautiful fall day on Friday for our trip to Fleming Farms!

THANK YOU
to Great Start & Early On, these groups paid our parents admissions! Otsego County Parks & Rec covered the children's admissions. ❤

I was at Fleming Farm today for a school field trip, so I thought I would give you a sneak peek for tomorrow.....

[10/14/21]   Reminder: Playgroup will be meeting AT Fleming Farm tomorrow (10/15/21) from 10:30-noon. If anyone needs transportation call me at (989)732-7289.
All are welcome!

Apples were the theme of last week. With the beautiful weather I hope you all have a chance to go visit an apple Orchard, I like Friske's in Ellsworth & Knaebe's in Roger City. Any others you would recommend?

I just realized with the crazy Friday 9/24 cancelation we had, I never posted about the Tuesday of that week. We were all about elephants!

October 21st at 10am What to do about childhood fears? Is your child scared of the dark? Monsters under the bed? Spiders? This might seem silly or illogical to you, but it’s really scary to them! Join us to talk about childhood fears, what is normal, and what you can do to help. Share your questions and concerns and receive live answers! Pre-register at https://bit.ly/3tbaUpz and join via Zoom or join live on Facebook MI Stronger Family- Michigan State University Extension