Teacher Pencil Gift

One of my school jobs this year is Teacher Appreciation (at two different schools).  I love this job because no one complains and everyone is just happy with what we do.  So much better than fundraising ( I still have scars from that job).  

Anyway, I got an idea from this really cute shirt of French Fry's (from Delias.com):

For $70, we were able to make 60 teacher & staff gifts for French Fry's school.  I feel better about spending the money when it goes towards supplies that the school could really use.  Each teacher/staff member got a box of Ticonderoga #2 pencils with a card that said "Our pencils are #2, but our teachers & staff are #1."  It would have looked cuter tied up in a cello bag with a ribbon, but I was trying to save money (and also make one less trip to the store).  

Anyway, our teachers loved the gift.  I know many of you are also involved in PTA, so please feel free to use the idea!  I will post more ideas as we get closer to Teacher Appreciation Week. 

Tooth Fairy Pillows

(I'd thought that I should share a few craft projects since

 I have gotten so many ideas from others' blogs. )  

        Princess' Kindergarten teacher asked me if I could sew some tooth fairy pillows for her.  I've done it a couple times since two of my older children had the same teacher in Kindergarten.  I'd forgotten that now there are 33 in the class instead of 2o.  I also didn't realize that another mother had changed the design since I'd last sewn them.  

Here is what they used to look like: 

Cute, but very easy.  My older kids still have theirs tucked away somewhere.  

Here is the new design:

O.K.  I agree - it is much cuter.  But there is a lot more cutting and sewing!  The teacher said I could pick which design to do.  Instead I let Princess pick.  And so, three months later (I know - very slow!), here is what 37 tooth fairy pillows look like. (I decided to make a few extra to make up for the fact that it took me so long).  

And just for fun, here is a simple tooth fairy pillow that I made for the girls years ago.  It makes me happy that they still use it (usually as a doll pillow).

Happy Birthday, Princess!

Happy Birthday to my sweet little girl.  

I can't believe my baby is already six years old.  

Princess has made me realize that they grow up way too quickly.   

Princess is made of :

kisses  running feet hugs  dress-ups  singing

dancing friends    laughter 

Opps!

Look closely and you can see a footprint in our newly plastered space where the wall was earlier removed.  I only have one question:  "How?"  

When the culprit confessed, she confidently whispered in my ear, "Mom, it's O.K.  My sock was on."

How can you get angry at that?

"THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE"

In an effort to make our small house seem bigger, we have decided to tear out the wall between our living room and dining room (we use it as a family room).   The night before our friend (thanks Jared!) tore out the wall, we let our kids have at it with permanent markers.  They had so much fun, it was difficult to stop.  Princess kept exclaiming over and over "this is the best day of my life!" 

Here is the end result:

The next morning before school, Big convinced me to let him"have at it" with a hammer.  He begged me to let him stay home from school to finish the job.  I didn't think "demolition" was a good school excuse, so off we went to school.  The whole way to school Big kept exclaiming, "You are destroying me!!!"

I think my kids are easily entertained (or way too sheltered)!

After enjoying family's and friends' blogs over the last several months, we have decided to enter the blogging world. The kids have had fun picking nicknames and backgrounds.  Hopefully we can make this a family project.  

After years of living where we can hear the Disney fireworks, we have finally purchased year passes.  Big exclaimed "now I will know what kids are talking about at school!"  We have gone for a few hours the last few fridays and have had a great time.  

(closing time - everyone was a little tired)

The New Year has also been full of other fun things for the family.  Banana loves animals and is currently talking horseback riding.  She takes after her dad and wants a little farm to raise sheep and goats.  Her biggest complaint about the high school she will attend next year is that it doesn't have a 4H or equestrian program.  Last Friday Banana took a roping class.  She was actually pretty good.  I'm not sure what she will do with this new found skill, but the siblings are having fun filling in as animals . 

French Fry is still loving soccer.  She is currently playing on the Gold All-Star Team.  She also wants me to tell everyone that she is super -awesome.  French Fry loves being in middle school and the after- school "mixers."  She entertains us daily with her "lively" personality.  She is still petitioning daily for a dog.  

Big loves, loves, loves building legos and models.  I am not sure how many hours he has spent doing this over the last few weeks.  He also loves tennis and running.  Whenever we pick up French Fry from soccer, he begs to come and run the track.  He will be starting a track class in two weeks and is very excited.  

 

Princess (she insisted on this nickname - I'm not sure I want to encourage it)  is in Kindergarten and loving every minute of it.  She loves dancing and playing with friends.  She just lost her first tooth and loves showing everyone.