Using Alphabet Drawers

Back in 2009, I created Alphabet Drawers for Maddie.  You can read about the initial process HERE.

I used a box from Lowe's (or maybe it was Home Depot?  Regardless, I think pretty much all hardware stores carry these plastic boxes for about $20).

Then, in 2010 I wrote about ways that we were using the tiny objects and drawers (she looks so young in those pictures!  Wah!!).

In 2011, Time for Tots started selling Tiny Objects collections, which means that every letter was sure to get an object!

And now, in 2012... We are really finding new ways to put those tiny objects to good use!

 I created an alphabet mat with pictures and Maddie has to match the letter card up to the picture.

She also dug through her tiny objects to match an object with a picture.

 We're learning about initial blends, matching pictures and tiny objects to the correct sounds.

 She loves matching tiny objects to the letter, too.

She likes it when I "trick" her by handing her a tiny object.  Then, she'll search the board to match the letter sound.

We started out doing this with initial letter sounds and then challenged her by doing final sounds (tricky but she totally caught on!).

All these printables, mats, and cards are now for sale in the shop!

*By the way, excuse the crazy hair and Angry Birds pajamas (aka Mike's shirt!).  As soon as she woke up and saw the new mats sitting out, she had to do them immediately!

Feast!

Maddie had her Thanksgiving feast at school last month and it was SO sweet.

My mom and I went up to help/watch and the kids were adorable.

The director makes a turkey and the classes bring all the sides.

Maddie had some biscuits, applesauce, and milk.  :)

Can she just stay in preschool forever??  :)

Dad's Night

Maddie attends one of these sweetest, most awesome preschools around.

I will probably cry when she leaves next year, headed for kindergarten.

Anyway, last week they had a Dad's Night and Mike and my dad were so excited to attend!

 It was like a mini, mock preschool night that the dads and papas got to participate in.

They had music class, story time, and crafts.

They all had a wonderful time!

*And Maddie doesn't always want to comply with pictures.  :)

First Day of Preschool!

I have a baby on my lap but promise to come back and add captions.

This baby is quite interested in the lit-up keyboard, making typing a challenge. Ha!

Last Day of Preschool!

Today was my big girl's last day of preschool.

Maybe it's the post-baby hormones, but I'm totally emotional about it! Ha! I think what keeps getting me is that this time next year, we'll be wrapping up preschool altogether, preparing to send her off to kindergarten. Gah!

She was so excited for her last day!

It seems like only yesterday that we were getting ready for her first day...

This was back in November, right before she went to school for the first time.

She looks so much older to me now!

Her excitement dwindled when it really sank in that today would be the last day with this teacher and these classmates. :(

Even Mr. Gray stayed awake to send Maddie off. Ha!

I can't believe these are my babies. I just love them so much (I just keep staring at this picture in amazement! Told you I was emotional! Ha!).

We really were blessed with such a great teacher that Maddie just totally clicked with.

We'll definitely miss her next year, though she's also a dance instructor at the studio we attend, so maybe one day we'll have her as a ballet teacher!

Maddie really made some sweet friends, too. In fact, I also made some great friends in these cute girls' moms! What a blessing.

You know, at one time, I never thought we'd send Maddie to preschool. I just saw it as unnecessary. But my goodness, I'm so glad that I listened to my heart as it was changing and I'm just so grateful for such an amazing experience. There are truly opportunities in school that I could never provide for her solely at home and both Mike and I are beyond thankful for this year in Maddie's life!

Maddie's 1st Day of Preschool!

Well,

we survived!

And, not only did we survive her first day of preschool, we all did so well (yes, I'm talking about me, too!).

I actually wasn't worried about Maddie, as she was so ready and excited. On the other hand, I was an emotional wreck. Pregnancy hormones probably played a large part, but so did this overwhelming love and protectiveness for my little sidekick.

I love this child so much and it pained my heart to think of her being... on her own. I worried about other kids not being nice, about a teacher not cherishing her like I do, about her being confused or sad.

I had the whole worry thing pretty well covered. :)

I'm so thankful for my sweet friend Allison who emailed me and put into words everything that was on my heart. My little girl is my heart, and I think it's way more sensitive and tender for her than for anyone else.

Anyway, these were my worries and my fears. There is no way I could describe her first day as exciting for me, but for her...

She was thrilled!

Nana came with us (and kept me busy!) and Maddie was so happy to have her there.

We gave Nana tours of the playground and classroom while we waited for school to start.

They gave Maddie a sweet, welcoming shout-out for the day!

And finally, Maddie's first preschool teacher!

So, our first day is under our belt and I can actually say that I'm looking forward to Thursday. I hope it's just as smooth and successful (for us both!). :)

Preschool!

That's right...

Maddie is going to preschool!

We are so excited.

Well, Maddie and Mike are so excited. And yes, I'm excited too, but mix that in with a whole bunch of nerves and anticipation and anxiety. Ha!

We hadn't really planned on sending Maddie. I consistently work with her at home and she gets her dose of socialization at ballet, play dates, and Sunday school. We felt comfortable keeping her home.

But then... Life changes and Mike and I knew we had to reevaluate, pray and listen to where we were being led.

For one, Maddie has shown an increasing interest in school, probably because she has several friends that already attend preschool. Also, I can't always keep up with her. This girl likes to do, do, do and with morning sickness and exhaustion, the mommy guilt was setting in. I was particularly sick one morning and she came in the bathroom and said, "When you're done, could we do some learning please?"

So, Mike and I decided that we'd send her next Fall. But again, after talking with friends and teachers, we thought it'd be too much change for Maddie. A baby in May and preschool just a couple months later might rock her little world a tad harder than we wanted.

Long story, but the point is that she starts next month. We definitely feel like God worked out all the details that were keeping me up at night, from where to send her to how we were going to afford it.

She'll be attending an absolutely darling church preschool that is, literally, about 60 seconds from our house. Not only did they have an opening, she'll be the 8th child in the class. When we did a tour last week, I had to practically drag Maddie away, with the promise that we would return!

And thankfully, my parents have offered to fund this major adventure in schooling. Thank goodness for them! I was a little blown away by preschool prices (it wasn't odd to find places that easily charged $500 for 2 mornings a week; that's insane to me!) and the one we chose is so reasonable.

Anyway, I'm bracing myself for the big change, even though she'll only be going for 3 hours, twice a week. I have visions of myself wandering aimlessly around the house, sobbing. Ha! What's keeping me excited is Maddie's excitement. It's contagious. She was adorable on the tour, going right up to groups of kids and asking to play. I know she'll do just fine.

Now on the other hand... It might just be harder on me! :)