Hello! I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my wonderful family.

My name is Cindy Thomas, and I was born and raised in beautiful Northfield. I later moved to rural Dundas, where I graduated from Faribault Senior High. After high school, I enlisted into the US Navy where I served on board a submarine tender the USS Frank Cable as a machinist mate. I was stationed in beautiful Charleston, SC and had a wonderful military experience. I returned to Northfield in 1995 with my daughter Victoria, to reunite with my family.

My husband Joel and I were married in 1999, and then moved here to Dundas. Joel was born and raised in rural Dundas as a dairy farmer� after our marriage and moving into town, he became employed by Cardinal Glass in 2000. Joel enjoys sports, woodworking and hunting, and helping me in the daycare when he can. The kids always have a great time with him. He stays busy building so many things for the kids and I in the daycare.

Victoria is a wonderful helper to me in the daycare. She enjoys doing puppet shows for the kids and has the most creative ideas for art projects! Victoria also painted all of the murals in the daycare and did an amazing job! When she is able to escape from all of us, she enjoys reading the Twilight series over and over again!!, texting, hanging out with some really great friends, texting, being active in our church youth group and did I mention texting?  Victoria also spends her time away babysitting and pet siting for neighbors, friends and daycare families.  Her first year of High School has been a wonderful experience as she earned a seat on the B honor roll and sings so beautifully in the Women's Varsity Choir.  Victoria also painted the murals in the daycare!  She has shown an abundance of responsibility and I couldn't be more proud of her!

On December 3rd of 2005 we were blessed with twins girls. We are enjoying them very much and love their close bond with each other! Mallory and Samantha are fraternal twins and are definitely nothing alike! They have been such a joy and are truly a gift from God for us as we struggled with infertility for many years.

Just when you think your family is perfect, God brings you another gift! We were extremely surprised and excited to learn we were expecting again in 2007.  Jan 10^th 2008 we were blessed with another daughter, Cassandra. Though Joel is by far outnumbered in this house, we truly feel our family is complete now that Cassy is here! She is an amazing addition and the twins think it�s pretty cool to be the big sisters now.

As a family we enjoy camping, bike riding, getting together with extended family and working around the house. Always open to new ideas and experiences, Joel and I found another past-time we can do together. I was able to join him for a hunting trip and I had a wonderful experience. Though I didn't get a deer of my own, I simply enjoyed being a part of one of his favorite past times!

How did I get started in child care?

When I was honorably discharged from the Navy and moved back to Northfield, I wasn't quite ready to venture out into the working world. I knew that I would have to put Victoria into daycare, and this was something I wasn't ready to do. I had always loved being around children, so I found myself standing outside the front door of Northfield Montessori in hopes of getting a job. Something made them take a chance on me, and it would be the opportunity that I needed to decide how to shape the rest of my life. I began as an aide in a preschool classroom, and everyone around me encouraged me to further my education in the child development field. I enjoyed my job so much every day, and I knew this was my calling.

I attended SCTC for 2 years, and earned my certificate in Early Childhood Development. From there, I ventured to the toddler room; later I continued on to design my own program within the school for a transition room. I was fortunate enough to be able to continue in this field and use my experiences working as a toddler room teacher in Farmington. I then began working for the Lakeville public school district as an instructor for an extended Kindergarten program.

One of my most challenging opportunities was working at Children's World Learning Center as an Assistant Director. For the first time I was behind the desk and not in the classroom. I enjoyed it, but I found myself missing the interaction with children. Then I received a phone call that would open up a new direction for me. A friend and former co-worker called to tell me that her daycare was closing� and asked if I would be available to watch her boys. It was an opportunity handed to me. I decided I would take a shot at home daycare; at the same time I could help a friend, I could open up new possibilities for myself and my family. Once I began� I wondered why I hadn't done this long ago. I was able to take all of my experience, my education and my love for children and bring it into my home! Joel and Victoria were very supportive, and it became a family project, to put together our own comfortable, safe, productive environment for the children that I found myself welcoming into my home. Since then we built a larger home to accommodate a growing "extended family". Now we have a lovely new home, complete daycare area, and even a fenced in yard.

I have made so many friends and have been given the privilege of being a part of so many wonderful people's lives. Each one of them has touched my heart in so many ways, and each one of them holds their own special place. Joel and I know how important a well-rounded environment is in a child's life, and I feel we can offer that here. I provide loving care, a preschool program, learning and socializing activities; all while maintaining a family setting. I like to feel that I give the children that I care for the best of both worlds, educational and fun. And I have learned much from them as well; though I have been a part of child care for many years, I never stop learning. I continue to attend many hours of classes and workshops each year. I go to local and state child care conferences where I always enjoy meeting providers from all over. I love being a child care mentor, and sharing my experiences and education with families and other providers.

I am very proud of what we have to offer, and hope to continue to offer a fun and rewarding learning experience to many children for years to come!!