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28 January 2014

Julia and Sebastian go to Preschool ...

Well now that I promised a post about it I'm sitting here staring at the wall and wondering what I should report that anyone would find even remotely interesting? Probably nothing. But that's not my reserved style.

I'll share it all.

We had toyed with the idea of putting Julia in preschool this spring for a multitude of reasons but procrastination is one of my strongest suites and I hadn't done a thing to propel the process forward so I thought maybe we'd just figure it out in the fall. Then Simon overheard a couple of nurses talking about how much they loved their kids' preschool one night when he was on call in December and happened to catch the name of the school and wait - wasn't that the school at the end of our street? Why yes, it was. So he asked and the kind nurses answered (high praise, we wouldn't have to sell our fourth born to afford it, and more high praise) and all of a sudden Simon had set up a tour and we genuinely loved the teachers and the setup and bada bing they were enrolled (Julia two mornings a week and Sebastian one) and wow this wasn't the crazy process I assumed it would be and bada boom ... there we were on the first day.


Would I have been as on board as I was (and am!) if Simon worked less insane hours and I was involved in some sort of playgroup or mom's group or ANY socialization situation at all? I don't know. Probably. Most likely, yes.

I think I sort of half expected the stereotypical knee clinging/sobbing/dramatic goodbye from at LEAST Julia on the first day but no. Sebastian couldn't even be bothered to turn his head to nod a goodbye in my direction but at least Julia tolerated an awkward one-armed hug from me. The next time I dropped her off she permitted a polite handshake. I pretended not to be mildly offended but ... come on, Coolia. Yesterday they made it as far as the parking lot before their teacher offered to walk them in and they thought that was just great and so next time I think I'll just stay in bed and see how they fare because clearly they are ready for their first cubicles in the workforce.

A few highlights ...

... Sebastian has gone from talking in two word grunts ("no, Theo!!!") to talking in incomplete sentences ("no, Theo!! too dangerous!!") and should I give all the credit to the school? Of course not but it's a funny coincidence. At least once a day Simon or I say to the other, "he's actually kind of talking ... it's crazy" because he was content to live in the shadow of Julia's prattle for so long and we'd just gotten used to life with our strong and silent.

... The first day we dropped the kids off was Simon's first day on nights and so he came with me and afterwards we found ourselves with Theo in the Costco parking lot 20 minutes before the warehouse even opened. To kill time we popped down to Best Buy to buy a replacement battery for the minivan key remote. I hate to say I can feel the life jealousy you're experiencing at this very moment permeating through the screen but .... back off.
 
... We drive by the school almost every time we leave the house and after the first week as we were driving by Julia chanted out loud to herself, "the rules are ... no crying, no fighting, and NO pooping in your pants!!" and I'm as good as sold. Preschool forever and ever.

Stuck on You generously sent the budding scholars personalized backpacks and lunch boxes ...


And the day they arrived was years better than Christmas because we all know how Julia feels about anything that can further enable her hoarding habit. When packing her lunch yesterday morning we found her lunchbox stuffed full of all of Sebastian's trucks and her dirty socks filled with her chapstick collection. Sebastian thinks he now has a purse like Julia and Julia loves any excuse to talk about how to spell her name, "J" .... we know we are doing a phenomenal job at home.


Sebastian loves to point out his name and when I ask him what it spells he thinks long and hard and eventually settles on, "me" .... again with the phenom.


They obviously have a little growing to do as far as the backpacks are concerned but they are such great quality and my hope is that the style is timeless enough to last their elementary school years. And that Sebastian doesn't get fed up with trying to spelling his name and request a legal name change at the tender age of 5.

Stuck on You has an amazing inventory of personalized items for kids but I think my favorite favorite would have to be the name puzzles. If I had had one of those as a kid I wouldn't be here with you today because I would've died. Cause of death? Extreme happiness.

Stuck on You is giving away three $20 credits and I'm going to hope really hard that YOU are one of the lucky winners ...

Good luck, thank you for reading AND most especially thank you so much for all your comments and emails over the weekend regarding preschool - you're the best and I'm a lucky blogger. Really. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

133 comments:

  1. So cute! My nephew would love one of those name puzzles!

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  2. Aww, what a pair of preschool cuties! Glad they're enjoying it :)

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  3. So, so cute. Is it bad that I'm already counting down the days until I can get my 17 month old in a preschool? Probably. Anyway, I love the numbers puzzle. I'm not big on personalization simply because I have an OCD quality that would make me just HAVE to get one for every kid and there's no need for that.

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    1. Preschool is so so so so so^100000000 great. I love our preschool in the Mount and the Mother's Morning Out program for 6 week-olds and up has been a sanity saver - so that I can still work. Whenever y'all move in NC (and if by NC I mean The Mount) M and bebe #2 should go there. (I can dream, right??)

      I might disagree with you on the personalization though. I'm super into monograming bags and book bags. Is that a quintessential Southern mama thing?

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  4. I like the Junior Messenger Bag!

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  5. Oh yeah, definitely the name puzzles! So cool!!

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  6. Adorable! I'd get the Junior Messenger bag.

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  7. So sweet!! And I love that they go together :)

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  8. I love the school rules - hilarious!

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  9. I love the puzzles but alas they fall into the 9 letters or less category. Something no one warned me about when naming Christopher. But the mini messenger bag has room for up to 12 letters so let's go with that! Plus it's adorable.

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  10. So sweet! I love posts like this!

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  11. They are so darn cute!! Name puzzles would make my three-year old go crazy! My two year old is like Sebastian.. "What's your name?" "Umm.. I'm me!"

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  12. I love the sandwich boxes. :) Perfect size for toddler portions.

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  13. I can't believe they are the same size! That's great Bash gets to go too. How does he do on the day Julia goes without him? We have been amazed at how much Ben has learned. He sings his Abc's, counts to 12, and learned how to write Ben. Not to mention he's now a paper cutting pro. Anyway.....I bet Bash's speech improvement is due to school. He has to be able to communicate with the other kids.

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  14. My favorite item would be the personalized lunchbox. What kid wouldn't love to see their name on the lunchbox? Super cute.

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  15. Ha! My sister's name is Michaela, and she asked to change it to Sara when she was in kindergarten because everybody else was done with their worksheets by the time she got her name on hers . There were two, possibly three Sarah's in her class. I think she's glad she kept Michaela. :)

    P.S. Those puzzles look pretty amazing.

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  16. Cute labels! I put both my oldest in preschool it was a total of 12 hours a week and it was heaven!

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  17. How cute are those lunch boxes!

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  18. I most definitely would get Claire a name puzzle. Gabriel is the golden child who knew everything early and Claire? Well, she doesn't even know a "C" yet so…. you are clearly doing more at home than I am. :)

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  19. How cute are they with their big backpacks! They look much too grownup. I'd love a set of the name blocks for my little boy.

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  20. I'm not crazy for personalized items, but for the one too many birthday parties we attend - the puzzles or apron or painting smock might just be perfect. I do love the backpacks, but for the price they better be lasting through all of elementary.

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  21. The last time you had one of these, I got the library tote bag with just our last name on it. I have been really impressed with the quality of it, and my daughter LOVED getting to help pick colors/the picture that went on it. Thanks for the heads up on a great company!

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  22. So cute! I love the lunchboxes and personalizd towels.

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  23. my kid definitely needs a lunchbox!

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  24. the puzzles and lunch boxes are pretty sweet

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  25. I like the name puzzle and backpacks.

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  26. I have mom guilt sending my lo to school and mom guilt when lo is home. Love the personalized gear.

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  27. NAME PUZZLE...cuz hello, who's name is on there? Moi. Actually, it's "Audrey" and "Harry" and I happen to know a little girl named Audrey Harry. How poifect.

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  28. Personalized water bottles or towels would be wonderful!

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  29. The personalized water bottles are pretty darn cute.

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  30. I love personalized stuff. I'm obsessed with my son's name so it's very fitting.

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  31. I love the personalized name labels!

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  32. Name puzzle for a sweet baby! Your two looks so cute.

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  33. I'm really loving those name puzzles!

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  34. How cute are the name puzzles?! I think that would have to be my favorite. I do love the personalized lunch boxes though.

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  35. Sebastian looks like he's 15! And I want Julia's skirt. :)

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  36. Love the little bags and suitcases!

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  37. So funny. Life with preschoolers! I'm right there with you!!

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  38. I love the storage boxes- I feel like we never have enough!

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  39. Super cute! I love the beach towels and the water bottles. Puzzles are cute too...makes me wish we named our son "Theodore" or "Edward" instead of just Ted, so it would occupy him longer. Although...Ted should whiz right through kindergarten...T-E-D. Done! 😉

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  40. Preschool is the best! I have two girls in 2nd and 3rd grade and one in Head Start four days a week. We are a house full of girls and love backpacks!!

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  41. So cute! I Sebastian potty trained? Is that a requirement for that preschool? My little guy is barely 2, but I think he would LOVE the socialization a preschool could give him.

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  42. Such cute stuff. This would make for fun gifts. Love this blog.

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  43. Love their puzzles! I adore reading your blog and following you on IG. It makes my days as a SAHM that much better. My 3 year old starts preschool next week. So excited!

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  44. Love the drink bottles and towels!

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  45. Love the personalized "tupperware" containers -- would be so great for school lunches! Easy to send "creative" foods without worrying about the mess!

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  46. I think I would get a tote bag because we're not quite Preschool age yet - unless they do Preschool at 20 months, in which case, sign us up!!

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  47. I would love to get a backpack for my little Goddaughter!

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  48. Grace, they are too cute! Your preschool sounds perfect :-)

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  49. oh gosh I just love them so much!

    Also, I must tell you that I've got nearly all of my friends hooked on you and the Camp...only the creepiest of us (so...everyone...) have been discussing potential name suggestions for Camper #4. Lemme know if y'all are interested ;)

    Should I win (though I neeeever do) I'd probably invest in some personalized pencils for our Camper Fan Club...sans creep, I know.

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  50. Lunch box, or name puzzle ~ hard call

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  51. I really like their backpacks and lunch boxes! Super cute and classic.

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  52. I love the personalized name puzzles!

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  53. For some reason this post makes me super excited for my little one to be able to talk and interact with me/the world!!

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  55. What an adorable site with so many cute ideas! Love the lunchbox notes! :)

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  56. What a big milestone. Congrats. They look ADORABLE, btw!! :)

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  57. Your littles are just too precious for words. I love that you sent them to preschool. As a teacher, it does so, so, so much even though we know awesome parents like you do fun things at home too. There is just nothing like the peer interaction and the understanding that will come from it! Plus, you've got to let them show off those awesome backpacks.

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  58. I am loving the lunch bags like J & S!

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  59. LOVE those cute name puzzles!

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  60. love the back packs and lunch boxes!!!

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  61. You're right- those name puzzles are awesome!

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  62. I love the backpacks and name puzzles! So glad that you found a preschool you love. Mama's need a little break.

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  63. Obviously the backpackers are classic, but I kind of like the little library bags. You give me hope for settling my 4 year old into a preschool next year... he's been talking about going for over a year, and we actually toured one we liked a few months ago, and then all of a sudden we got a job offer and moved from MD to KS! (And will move again within KS in a few months. Sigh.) He's probably super confused. Anyway... here's to preschool!

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  64. Wow, they have so much to choose from! I would have to say the backpacks are my favorite.

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  65. Definitely would get a name puzzle for Carson!

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  66. Omg preschool!! That has to be a relief having a bit of time away from all three kiddos. :)

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  67. hoping to win! puzzle looks so neat!

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  68. Well you can't go past a good personalised drink bottle. Too cute!

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  69. My girl would LOVE a number puzzle!

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  70. Can I just say that being named Liesl and never finding my name on ANYTHING, I would totally buy anything with my name. But probably a puzzle because I'm 27 and I do what I want.

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  71. So happy for the kids. They are going to really blossom in preschool. Even with the larger child-to-adult ratio, since the teachers aren't typing away on their phones/computers all day or wasting time taking & erasing gratuitous selfies, preschool will be the longest period of sustained adult attention/interaction they have ever received.

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  72. What wonderful things!! Love the puzzles too!

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  73. i love the classic name labels!

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  74. I have to agree with the Personalised Wooden Puzzles!

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  75. Wow, the Stuck on You stuff is so cute I can't stand it...as are the kiddos!

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  76. I'm adopting those school rules for the home!

    Elise Layton

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  77. Ooh I've definitely got to go with the puzzles! I want one for my own name too!

    Elise Layton

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  78. I like the personalized Everywhere Friend!

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  79. So cute! Personalized Everything. Yes.

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  80. So glad it's going well!! And that you get a break - I can only imagine the heaven you felt going to Costco with only one semi-immobile child!

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  81. Love the name puzzle. I had one growing up, so I think it's only fair that I pass it on. :)

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  82. I'm also a big fan of the name puzzle - so cute!

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  83. Love all the personalized stuff!

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  84. I'm glad yall are loving preschool as much as we are!

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  85. Hey Grace! Love reading your blog as always. One of these days I want people to send me stuff! What a neat thing! Anyway, if you get a chance and can pop over to my blog sometime, as a new blogger - and not very good, I would love your feedback. Thanks a million. P.S. Can't wait to see the stories that come out from your kids being in school! Priceless!

    www.thissundaysbest.com

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  86. Love the personalize bags. Preschool rocks.

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  87. I have twin 2 years olds that I've been thinking about enrolling in a preschool this fall so I would love to keep hearing more about your experience! Thanks for sharing!

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  88. the silicone placemat is really cute and would be awesome at meal times, even for our 4 year old!

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  89. I would love a name puzzle for my 3-year-old!

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  90. I love the personalized lunchbox and backpack and they would be perfect for my little guy, who is moving from the infant room up to the toddler room (at preschool) in March!

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  91. Loving the name puzzle - such a sweet gift!

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  92. Would love the backpack for my kindergartner!

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  93. Love the name and number puzzles!

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  94. Everything is so cute!!!! The name puzzle would be awesome for my Maura!

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  95. Love the name puzzles the best for sure!!

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  96. What happened? Your blog page "flipped" sides!

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  97. The junior backpacks are too cute!

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  98. So glad they are loving preschool! (personalized backpack for the win, please!)

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  99. Oh the spotted pencils are too cute and I love the nighties. The puzzles are so cute also. So many cute cute products.

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  100. 1. I love that the two oldest Patton offspring are loving preschool!
    2. As a speech pathologist I got so excited when you said that Bash has started speaking in partial sentences (yes I'm a nerd)
    3. I love the new blog design, it's beautiful!

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  101. -The single storage hamper! And the name puzzle.
    -Love the new site design too!
    -Umm yes on preschool. My husband and I have talked it over for our little (at the tender age of 5 months) and we think it will be amazing when she gets a bit older for some socialization (she's the only for the moment) and (you better believe it) some head-clearing time for the mama bear parental unit.

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  102. They had me at "Stationary". I want it all. All of it. Especially the personalized journal. And the pencils. And the sketchbook. And the pencil cases.

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  103. So many things I would like to buy!

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  104. So many things I would like to buy!

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  105. I would love to get one of those name puzzles for my daughter. What a fun way to learn to spell her name!

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  106. I would love to get one of those name puzzles for my daughter. What a fun way to learn to spell her name!

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  107. I would love to get one of those name puzzles for my daughter. What a fun way to learn to spell her name!

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  108. I would love to get one of those name puzzles for my daughter. What a fun way to learn to spell her name!

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  109. I would love to get one of those name puzzles for my daughter. What a fun way to learn to spell her name!

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  110. Um are you kidding me right now? How am I supposed to choose? My kids would FAH-lip over the water bottles, and I would love to get my daughter a name puzzle. My son (4) has been spelling his name since he emerged from the womb, but my daughter (almost 3) is a bit more...shall we say...lax on the caring about silly things such as letters and proper reciting of the alphabet.

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  111. party straw flags are pretty neat, so are the pencils and pencil cases.

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  112. Those name puzzles are awesome! And definitely a must have!

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  113. I know my son would love the navy backpack with either the dinosaur or tractor label. He's going to Pre-K in the fall! {sob}.

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  114. I love the name labels and I know that my little Kaya would absolutely adore the name puzzle!

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  115. They're too much!

    Although not a mom (yet), I recently worked at a great preschool that convinced my anti-preschool feelings otherwise. It's seriously the most magical thing for busy moms and of course great for the kids, too :)

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  116. Adorable! Would go for the beach towels or lunch boxes. My 4 would love any of this stuff to death, for sure.

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  117. FAVE is the art smock, hands down! http://www.stuckonyou.com/art-smocks.html
    I choose Navy blue and I would get one for each nephew. :D

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  118. The backpacks are big but look timeless

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