Teacher gifts and Koala Kid

It is the end of another school year! I really had a fabulous school year, and I know Wesley did too.

The toucan year started a little on the "Rocky" side, but she quickly fell in line and learned a lot along the way.

May 2011

This time last year I was super sad about my baby moving up from the one year old class to the twos. I could not believe she would no longer be one of the littlest ones at the school. But now that she is potty trained, can dress herself (sometimes not helpful) and just all around more independent I really dig having a big kid.

So when we got to the end of this year I wasn't as sentimental as last time. Plus, there is only one class each age group, so all her friends move with her!

Before we went I had to do a little something to show her teachers how much we love them. As a teacher, I am always sensitive to what I get for other teachers, no teacher needs 15 bath salt kits. Personalized gifts are always the most fun to receive, because it took thought and planning. And just a tip to you parents worrying about it, the card truly is the most important part, not how much you spent on a gift. I read every one.

For Wesley's teachers I got colorful tote bags and appliqued their initial on front. Then I filled each one with waters, drink mix packets, snacks, and flip flops to get summer started off right! I thought they ended up really cute. And of course a sweet note was attached.

Once I was done with the Toucan teacher gifts I realized I didn't have a toucan anymore, I had a koala! So of course Wes needed a koala shirt to make a good impression on her first day.

May 2012

I can't wait to see what she will learn this year. They have already started identifying all the letters and learning how to hold a pencil and they have only been there 1 week! She told me she cannot even visit the Toucan classroom because she is too big. I think I agree. Happy Promotion to all!

Wordless Wednesday::BBQ fest and the Mighty Mississippi

BWHAHAHA

I find it hilarious that my readership stats spiked this week because of the title of the last post. It never even occurred to me that it insinuated I was with child. Let me clarify that I am NOT : ) It's in the future future future plan, but there is no new Washburn on the way. Sorry.

In the meantime, I have 5 close friends that are, and all due this fall! So it's about to shower central up in here. So far, it's one girl and one boy. Can't wait to find out the rest!

Our kids...wait what?!!?

We got to host some of our favorite people this weekend and their kids. Cause we all have kids now. I thought it strange when everyone was having babies, but it was even more mind blowing to watch our kids play together!

Friday night they had to endure our crazy displays of fandom for our beloved Grizzlies, may they rest in peace until next year.

See Matt and I believe in the butterfly effect when it comes to sporting matches. At one point we had everyone in the house, all 7, in playoff shirts, 3 in hats, one wearing the foam claw and everyone had to sit or stand in exactly the same place for the entire 4th quarter. Maybe we should have recreated that on Sunday....

Saturday morning we headed to the Children's museum, the plan was the zoo, but it rained. I think the kids still had a great time!

 I hope you all had a fun weekend as well. I know ours are about to be brimming full of activity, I will try to post it....

Latest projects

 Here are few things I've done lately.

I have a good friend getting married in June. She had an around the clock shower and I got 7pm, dinner party hour. I chose a sassy little apron and dinner napkins and threw on her new monogram to personalize.

Another friend is headed to Disney with her sweet baby girl Hannah. So I whipped up this creation. The purple fabric is Disney princess fabric and the pink has the Disney "star" and of course the iconic Disney font. I liked that this was very Disney but not the typical Mickey ears. 

Then a friend needed to fancy-up a spring bag for a birthday present. I think the neon blue looks great on the bright yellow (Curlz font, just for you Matt)!

And speaking of bright blue and yellow, here is a trio of shirts for 3 little sisters. This family lost their house in a fire and all of their clothes. Of course their friends and church rallied and got them what they needed, but the mom said the girls said nothing really felt like theirs. So my friend, who knew the family, got me to make them shirts with their names on them. It can't get more yours than that! 

It's hard to tell in the 2D pic but these are raggy designs, which means the edges are all "fluffy." It gives it a shabby chic look.

And finally my girl needed something to kick off pool weather! I love this little mermaid, but let me tell you I may never sew with sequins again! I broke 3 needles and went through 2 lower bobbins. The only reason it's done is because I was not willing to give up. Next time I'm just going with shiny material.

Right now I am working on teacher gifts for the end of the year, I'll post when they are done!

How to start Summertime

First you get a fabulous new outfit from your favorite Aunt, and strike a pose.

Than you get a new pool complete with sprinkler slide!

 Make sure to spend as much time as possible in it

Hit up a carnival or two and get your face painted as much as possible.

When you can't get to a carnival on a Wednesday night, beg your mother to paint your face.

But most importantly, be as silly as you possibly can as often as you can!

Rushing the days away

As a teacher, of course I get excited about May, last month of school, beautiful weather, etc. But, like other teachers, I also notice myself wishing my days away. With countdowns and quick shout outs  "Hey, only 2 more Monday's" in the hallway. And I wonder is this harmless human nature or harmful mind tricks. Am I looking forward to a break or living in a state of discontent?

But how can I not look forward to June? No alarm clock, endless days with my girl, summer adventures, weddings, beach trips, picnics. It's really hard not to cross off the 13 1/2 days left (not that I'm counting) with a giant red marker.

And yet I am noticing it makes me sound so ungrateful. Summer is only 8 weeks long (cue the non-teachers, "I wish I got eight weeks off every year") Seriously, this job is super hard most days. Shaping and educating children is hard, and getting harder with new laws and mergers and lack of family support more and more. And so eight weeks does not make or break my profession. So why do we hold it as the end all be all? Should't I be content that I have a job I love? Should't I think "Thank you God for letting me have 13 more days to show these children someone cares about them, that I love them." ?

That is my prayer today.

Help me to stop wishing my days away for something better. Thank you God for today and help me enjoy it. And have mercy on me for getting over excited about beach trips and lazy days.

GOOOOOD will

So I love the goodwill. And I have a favorite one. It is on Austin Peay Hwy across from the Krystals. You know the one right?

Anyhoo, I love it. It has the best stuff and really great prices. I've never seen anything over $7, unless it's furniture. The other cool thing they do is pick a color everyday and whatever has that color tag is 1/2 off. ANNNNND on Wednesday's EVERYTHING is half off! Cause why pay $5 for gap jeans when you can pay $2.50 right?!?

Well, the catch to that is Wednesday is faculty meeting day, so I rarely go on half off day. But this past Wednesday our meeting was canceled. I drove buy for a pop in, put before I pulled into the parking lot I saw everything look very empty and weird. I went ahead and went home, the whole time very upset that my store had closed. On Thursday morning on the way into work I looked again and noticed it wasn't closed just being rearranged inside, so I made a mental note to stop after school, even though it wasn't half off day anymore.

Well friends, in case you were sad I missed discount day--fret no more! When I got inside there were signs that everything was 75% OFF! They are remodeling and want to get as much as possible out of the way. I got an almost brand new dress shirt, 2 pair of jeans, 2 dresses, lots of children's clothes (including smocked outfits) and enough children's books to start a library for $16. SIXTEEN US DOLLARS.

Just look!

Yeah for remodeling! Yeah for consumer recycling! Yeah for goodwill!!