Showing Gratitude

The Friday before Mother's Day is National Provider Appreciation Day (http://www.providerappreciationday.org .)  Coming on the heels of Teacher Appreciation Day, it is a day to honor our daycare providers, nannies, and babysitters.  My care provider is a good friend, and the quality of life I have would not be possible without her.  While at work, I can focus on my job because I know that she is caring for my son, JJ, as if he was her own child.  To celebrate her today, I am going to send in a bottle of wine that she hopefully can enjoy this weekend, along with a homemade card made by my son.  Knowing that I also had to make cards for my mother and mother in law, I decided to kill three birds with one stone so to speak.  My parents had purchased my son an easel at a yard sale.  It's the Melissa and Doug easel seen here.  http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Standing-Easel/dp/B002JCS5JA

  Both sides, the white board and chalk board, were pretty destroyed with marker.  I repainted the chalkboard side with chalkboard paint, which has worked very well for us.  On the white board side,  I decided to use roll paper. (http://www.toysrus.com/buy/arts-crafts-supplies/paper-boards/melissa-doug-easel-paper-roll-1486-3614378)

 This has worked great because my son can use both paint and crayons on this paper.  The crayons that we prefer are seen here. http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Jumbo-Triangular-Crayons/dp/B000MRGWRQ

 These crayons help with toddler grip, and have a cool case too.  So anyway, last Saturday, I clipped up some paper and had him color with his crayons.  Coloring is also the time we practice our colors.  JJ colored all over the paper.  It was a large enough picture that I was able to cut it into three decent sized cards.  I will write a message in them, and they are the cards for daycare and moms.  Teachers, babysitters, and especially grand moms love handmade gifts, so have fun with them!