Project Preschool

As previously posted, Olaiya's in preschool and she's loving it. She goes Monday- Thursday, but does not appreciate that her weekend starts early. This week she was all, "But I don't want Columbus Day off." Hmm, let's see how {insert non-Federal employee here} feels about that.

Her preschool is a cooperative (co-op) preschool, which means parents play an integral part. I get to be at school for a full day (9a-noon) once every two weeks. On these days, Olaiya is the co-op kid, which is a very coveted and highly anticipated status. The co-op kid gets to do all the special chores of the day - being line leader every time, pointing at important things like the days of the week with a yard stick during circle time, providing snack for her and her comrades, and doing show and tell.

On our first co-op day, rookie mama* was so consumed by snack duty that I failed to remember show and tell. So when teacher asked, "Olaiya, what did you bring for show and tell today?" I bolted up from my paint pouring which was cue enough for teacher Terri to quickly pick up the ball with, "Olaiya, what did you do this summer?" (Through which we discovered that teacher Terri and I were born in the same town in Iowa! This was comforting to the I'm-not-in-the-Midwest-anymore mama.) After school Olaiya said, "Mama, next time can I do a show and a tell?" Sure thing, baby.

The original link for the post title was (yes, heavily influenced by a girl who enjoys her Heidi Klum-led television) the project-prolific Olaiya. She's always enjoyed coloring, crafts, etc. but since recently acquiring the skill and know-how to track down materials and unleash paint containers herself, she's become a machine.

Case in point - here is a picture of her creations as of August 9:

Now, the same collection on September 10:

Preschool provides another outlet for her penchant for pictures, but this afternoon still produced a paper pumpkin and drawing of our house, complete with front yard bridge and pool (I never said these were grounded in reality). Our newly assembled cabinetry has a designated "projects shelf" and Olaiya calls the paper and Scotch taped wall at her bedside her museum. For her first show and tell, she chose three of her favorites (in addition to the requisite "see what cool toy I have"). We'll see what she brings on Monday...

Olaiya wanting to skip the tell and go straight for questioning.


Dad, for real.


And there's dancing in preschool!

*Did I mention after a week in, I'm a carpooling mom? Yep, using the van to it's meant-for capacity, with two car seats in the middle and three across the back. It's something to behold.