Happy Saturday!  The morning began with a few humorous Reminisce magazine stories. They enjoyed the stories and had a good laugh!  A resident even shared her own humorous and embarrassing stories with us!  It was great to listen to!  After that, we stretched and flexed our bodies and played the bean bag toss game!  It was a great time had by all!  We all felt energized and ready for the day after that!
This afternoon was bingo!  What a lucky day for many of the residents, so many winners! When we were back from bingo, the residents enjoyed the movie Singin’ in the Rain before dinner.
~Jessica

Happy Friday!  We began with poems and quotes all about trees since today is Arbor Day. Next, we jumped right into exercises by following a stretch and flex exercise video for a little bit, then we just had to do our favorite balloon toss game for some fun!  Lastly, we watched several videos of babies/toddlers that were so adorable!  They made everyone laugh and smile!
This afternoon was the April birthday party with the performer, Dragonfly!  It was a marvelous time filled with music and fun!  The performers played many classic and “old time” songs that the residents loved!  James was also here playing the piano for us!  It was wonderful with all the music we had this afternoon!
~Jessica

Happy Thursday!  This morning started with a good laugh with our morning funnies and then The Daily Chronicle.  We also enjoyed a couple of poems.  We also spent a little time reminiscing Our morning exercises included a little of everything, parachute, balloon toss, and ball toss!  It was a good time and a good workout!  After that, we watched a couple short videos from The Carol Burnett Show!
After lunch and resting, several residents watercolor painted.  Now we have some bright, beautiful flower paintings to put up!  Jennifer was in for Music Safari.  She played a lot of great music, including 1920s songs, among others.  Everyone played different instruments and one resident even showed us Charleston dance moves!  At the end, she played the Hawaiian version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” while each resident played the xylophone.  That song is so good!  It was a wonderful time!  Enjoy all the pictures!
~Jessica

Happy Wednesday! Where does the time go- it certainly is flying! We started our day with Ecumenical Worship Services with Pastor George. His message today certainly touched each of us- it was, “What is the best medicine?”. He surprised us all when he said it was free- it’s laughter! We all left smiling and feeling energized. Next, some of the residents gathered in the Chapel for Catholic Rosary and Communion. Before lunch we had a big group for ” Mind Joggers”- which is a favorite! After lunch we popped up some fresh popcorn and had a popcorn party before we played BINGO. After our party and Bingo we enjoyed a Bob Hope, Thanks for the Memories video. Enjoy the photos!
~Melissa

Happy Tuesday!  The morning started with our wonderful devotions with Chaplain Mari. Everyone sang “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Fairest Lord Jesus,” and “Jesus Loves Me” together.  The music and the message Mari gives always touches the residents and we are so blessed to have her come and spend time with all of us.  Next, was The Daily Chronicle. It was Ella Fitzgerald’s birthday so we learned a bit about her and listened to her sing “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”  We exercised with the ribbons and ball while we listened to Hawaiian music per request!  It was a great time!  They just love using those ribbons!  Lastly, we watched YouTube videos of children singing.  One video was of a toddler raising her arms while singing “Let It Go.”  It was adorable!
This afternoon we all listened and sang songs with Jim Roth!  It is so great to listen to the accordion again!  After the music we all came up with a story based off a great picture of dogs and cats all lined up together!  The residents had fun looking at the picture, commenting and pointing things out, and reminiscing about their own dogs they have had!  It was a great day!
~Jessica

This Monday morning started with bingo.  Several residents played and won!  It was a great time!  When we were finished playing, we played the balloon volleyball game! Everyone had a fantastic time together!  This afternoon, we played a few word games, including April trivia, finish the song, and name the animal.  They all did a wonderful job!  Singing all the songs was especially a good time for everyone!  Diane and Tolstoy visited today! We were able to watch a video of them on WCCO news!  Tolstoy is famous now!  Diane said the other dog on the show and Tolstoy don’t like each other so she was so thankful that he barked at the dog before they were on air!  Tolstoy showed us his jumping skills which was a lot of fun to watch!  We timed him working on a puzzle, but we think he can do a lot better!  Diane even tried to get him to take selfies!  It was a wonderful time!
~Jessica

It was a beautiful Saturday! We began our day with The Daily Chronicles, Current Events and Stretch and Flex. After that we all enjoyed some Trivia Fun! One resident stated that she had always wanted to be on a game show- she said this was almost a good! After lunch, the weather was so beautiful we went outside to enjoy the garden. We all enjoyed the sunshine and lemonade. We also had visits from two different therapy dogs today, Simon and Duke. Enjoy the photos!
~Melissa

Happy Friday! This morning we started with morning funnies and The Daily Chronicle. We learned some fascinating things and had a good laugh with a couple stories told by kids.  We had good exercise with stretches and beach ball toss!  It’s so great when the residents help and motivate each other!  A while after lunch, we played a trivia game.  We also went outside for fresh air and to soak up that wonderful sun!  It was such a nice time!  Before dinner, they watched a nature video about dolphins!
Have a wonderful weekend!
~Jessica

Happy Wednesday! Our Wednesday began with Ecumenical Worship Services with a special visit from the Hosanna! Preschool children starting the service with classic bible songs. What a treat to see their smiling faces and hear their beautiful voices.  It was “crazy hair” day for them- so we got a few chuckles from seeing the different colors, fun curls and even one little girl had a stuffed animal on her head! The service was led by our own Pastor Mari with a guest sermon from Pastor Julia, from Hosanna! church. Next, some residents joined Deacon George for Catholic Rosary and communion in the CHapel. Todays exercise class was done to German Polka music!  

All of the songs were sung in German- so a few residents that spoke German were singing right along while stretching and flexing! Now,  that was a hoot! After lunch we all gathered together for our favorite game, BINGO! Next we enjoyed some coffee and conversation before our afternoon musical matinée of THe Sound of Music (by special request)! It was a wonderful day!
~Meliss