Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Every year, they have a whole week to appreciate teachers.

At Evelyn's school, they have a type of gift set for each day.  This year, I asked Evelyn what she would want to give for each day, then I took that and made little creative sayings and ways to present each gift.

Monday; Flowers

A colorful lei.

This was unique in form.  Most of the time, teachers get potted flowers, fresh cut, or drawn ones.  At least in South Texas, a lei was a unique way to give someone flowers.

Tuesday; Candy

A large round rainbow lollipop.

Evelyn was quickly sure what candy she would give her teacher.  I just had to come up with a cute way to deliver it.

Wednesday; Fruit

Apples.

Again with this, Evelyn immediately knew what fruit she wanted to give.  On the way to the store to get an apple, I was trying to think of the presentation, and I came up with this, with the apples.  I think it turned out nicely.

Thursday; Thank You Note

This wasn't too fancy.  I used card stock and helped Evelyn with spelling.  I thought that most memorable thank you note would be that one that was all Evelyn.

Friday; Your Choice

The teacher's favorite soda is Coca Cola, so just add a small box of popcorn, and a few Redbox movie codes, and you have a "movie nights on us" gift.  Perfect for anyone you think needs a few hours of relaxation.

The things teachers remember most, are the gifts that come from the heart and from the kids themselves.  Things that are all done by the parents won't feel as special.  When the week of gift giving was done, I made sure to let the teacher know, all the gifts were from Evelyn's ideas.  She may not have come up with every detail, but she brought the clay to the table, and I merely helped her mold it.  Be sure to include your children in the gifts for their teachers.

Hope y'all enjoyed this!  Make sure you teach your kids to know how important teachers are.  It is true, without teachers, the world would be in worse shape.

Hope to hear from y'all!

Color Run!

What is a Color Run?

It's a short run, usually 5K, and along the way, people throw colored powder at you.  Most of the time, the color won't dye you, but it's very messy.  Most of the time, there is no time limit, it's not a race, and kids are welcomed.  It's the best race for a beginner.  Like me.

Back in April, I was signed up for a Color Run to support our local high school.  I was so excited!  Then I found out that it was at the same day as Evelyn's first soccer game of the season.  I thought I'd be able to half of the run, thinking it started an hour early.  The flyer I read was wrong, it was at the same time as Evelyn's game.  So I didn't get to run it, but I did prepare and show up that morning, only to receive disappointment, but still felt good that I was willing to do this run, my first run, even though I was sick.  I had the head lady douse me in color to remind me that I like to be athletic still.
I have never been a runner.  I did softball for fourteen years, partially because it didn't involve much running.  I played catcher for most of those years, and I was a good hitter, so I didn't need to be fast to make it to home much of the time.

Physical Preparation for the Color Run

What's great about a color run, is you don't need to be a runner.  I didn't do much running/jogging prep since I had been sick.  I tried to do jumping jacks one day, while still sick, and started to hyperventilate.  When I was a child, I had exercise induced asthma, and this was different.  All sickness, it just wouldn't let me breath.  I'd say, if you can speed walk five miles, you'll be just fine to do a color run.  If you can't do that yet, just work up to that over a month's time, and even if you don't get there, it doesn't matter for a Color Run.  Take your time and just have fun!

Things You Want During the Color Run

• white shirt-If they don't already give you a shirt
• white bottoms-Or bottoms you don't mind having accidentally dyed
• white cap-To shield your hair, protect your head, and have more things to be colored
• good running shoes-This is a given, and since they are running shoes, you shouldn't care if they get icky
• phone protection-Can use a Lifeproof case or a protective case (like this one I got at Dillards for $15)
• drinking device-I picked this kind, but you can always do a hydration backpack
• ear phones & jammin' tunes!
• oil your hair before running to easily remove color later

Things You Want for After the Color Run

• fitted sheet(s)-Cover your seat(s).  Twin for single seats, queen for a bench
• baby wipes-Set these in an easy to reach place for easy cleaning
• plastic bag-For all the dirty wipes
• vinegar-This is to spray down your clothes after to keep the color in them, to keep as a souvenir.

I haven't tested the vinegar process, but I'm doing this.  You basically douse your clothes in vinegar (do it outside), let it dry, repeat a few more times, wash on cold without detergent.  You can repeat the vinegar process once shirt is dried.  Wash again without detergent, let dry, then wash with detergent.  This is the process I've read about, and plan to use myself.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Hope y'all look for runs in y'all's area.
Try your best to be physically active to make your body and spirit strong.  I've been exercising again, and I am feeling better and happier every day.

Share with y'all's friends, and I hope to hear from y'all!

My Top 5 Most Satisfying Evelyn's Mama Moments

As a Mother's Day Special, I thought, what better way to celebrate,
than to think of what great moments I've had as a Mama.
This post is all about my favorite Mama moments with Evelyn,
my first born and first daughter.

I've had many, and it's a never ending list of things that make me smile as a mama, but these moments are the ones that stand out to me the most.  It did take a while to add them all up, and narrow them down, but I'm glad to share my Top 5 Most Satisfying Evelyn's Mama Moments.

When Evelyn Stood Like Daddy

When Evelyn was almost three, she suddenly started copying how Tom stood; hands on hips, weight on right leg, causing his left to stick out.   

When Evelyn started to mimic Tom's stance, she would put hands to hips, stick out her belly and, very deliberately, step out her left foot.  My husband's body is slender with a belly, so to Evelyn, it looked as if he were pushing out his belly.  She left out not a detail!

It took us a few times to realize what she was doing, my brother noticed it first, and eventually, we just needed to ask, "How does Daddy stand?" and she would immediately do her mimicking stance.

When Evelyn Says She'll Help Raven

Okay, so this covers a lot of times, but it's specific times when Evelyn tells me, "It's okay Mama, I'll help Raven know what to do."  I'm tearing just hearing her little voice in my mind.  It makes you feel wonderful when your hear your child repeat your words in their own.

When Evelyn Said She Wanted to Learn French

This is not something I've mentioned, don't want to jinx it and I didn't plan to blog about it, but I have a goal to learn Spanish and French by the time I am thirty.  My husband knows Spanish already, and my father's parents were from Mexico until they migrated.  My father was the first in his family to be born in the States.  I am the only one, now, in my family that doesn't know Spanish.  We have been listening to French songs to familiarize ourself with it, and Evelyn has a favorite already, Pappoutai by Stroame.  She asks for it all the time.  She told me that she wanted to hear it more, the "Daddy where are you song," so she could learn French and we could all learn it and talk it together.  She tries her best to sing what she can from what she can hear, and what we help her with.  It makes me feel amazing when I learn that my kid(s) want to learn more, and learn something many American children might not even think about.

When Evelyn Talked About Killing the Deer to Eat It

I am sorry to anyone that thinks killing animals is horrible, but I live in Texas and we like our guns, we like our meat, and we don't mind using the first to get the second.  I don't remember the conversation, how it started, but Evelyn was four, and she said that if she saw a deer, she would shoot it, and then we'd take off the skin, and then we could eat all the meat.  We are not a hunting family.  We don't do that regularly, in fact, I've never hunted, only target shooting.  I'm not sure if she heard it from us, or from my extended family, but I knew I was raising a Texan when she said that with such a happy voice.

When Evelyn Said Why She'd Be in Slytherin House

Harry Potter has been a part of my life for the last 15 years, and I don't see it leaving in the future.  It was the first series I ever read and is one of the few that my husband has read.  If you're a Potter nerd like me, you know what house you are in, and if you have young kids, you wonder what house they will be in.  My husband, Tom, is a Slytherin, and I am a Gryffindor.  I bought Evelyn a Gryffindor shirt from the junior section at Walmart for $3.  One day, I was trying to get her to wear it again, she had stopped, and she said she would only wear it when watching Harry Potter.  Tom said something, and I looked at Evelyn and said, "Don't worry, he's a Slytherin."  Evelyn asked what a Slytherin was.  I told her they are cunning and clever, and always find a way to do anything.  She then she said, "I would be in Slytherin because, because I'm slen-skinny.  I'm skinny so I'd be in Slytherin."  Tom looked to me, "That's as good enough reason as any."

It's been, almost a six year journey, and I am very happy to be Mama.
I look forward to more little voices calling me that!

Happy Mother's Day!

(Check out RAVEN'S MAMA MOMENTS!)

My Top 5 Most Satisfying Raven's Mama Moments

As a Mother's Day Special, even though I'm late, what better way to celebrate,
than to think of what great moments I've had as a Mama.
This post is all about my favorite Mama moments with Raven,
my second born and second daughter.

When I was pregnant with Raven, before we knew she was a girl, I was hoping that Evelyn would have a sister.  I didn't pray for it, it felt selfish to me; I wanted Evelyn to have a sister because I never was able to, but Evelyn did end up with a sister.  It makes me so happy to know that they are mine, and I get to keep them forever.

When Raven's First Word Was "Evelyn"

This is not an exaggeration.  Raven's first word was "Evelyn."  We know for sure that is exactly what she was saying, because she was watching the hall, looking down to sister's room, and calling her name.  Evelyn was in her room playing, Raven could hear her, and she called out to her.  Two out of two of my kid's have not said Mama first.  I'll take it.

When Raven First Kicked the Soccer Ball
Evelyn loves soccer, so the three of us were outside to kick the ball around, and I took Raven's leg, a few times, and had her kick the ball.  She seemed a little afraid to try herself, but she was amazed at what she was doing.  The next day, inside, she kicked the ball.  A real kick.  She was 19 months and she kicked a soccer ball.  Raven even tried to use her toe to pull back the ball from her "opponent."  She is surprisingly skilled at many things.

When She Forces Me to Hug and Kiss Her
That does sound strange, but at the moment, she is sleeping in our bed, and she usually falls asleep in my arms.  Sometimes,  she will force me to keep both arms tightly around her.  I'm not even allowed to scratch my nose.  Raven is very insistent sometimes.  This feels extra special to me, because, when Evelyn was little, I was least preferred, all the time.  With Raven, I'm usually the preferred one.  It's nice.  She also will grab my face and force me to kiss her cheeks.  I, of course, attack her with kisses, but sometimes, I can't breath with her squishy cheeks.

When Raven Insists She Clean
Raven loves to clean.  I will give her a paper towel when she is upset and tell her she gets to clean, and she rushes off to wipe things down.  This is actually something both girls do/did, and they inherited this trait from me.  You may have read in previous posts, when I was younger, much younger, my older cousins would lead me to their rooms, when I'd visit, so I would clean it.  Growing up, when I would get board, I'd clean, reorganize, and rearrange.  It's a good feeling to see your kid pick up your good habits.

The Way Raven Hugs and Kisses Her Babies
She pulls them in so tightly and kisses them as if they are the first and only dolls she has ever received.  This is after playing with it, too.  Raven will do this to all doll babies and stuffed animals, well, almost anything she can hold, she will do this to.  She attacks food in much the same manner.


Raven's list was a little harder to make since she hasn't been here that long, she's not even two yet, but there are still amazing moments I had to move around to find the perfect ones.

Happy Mother's Day!


(Check out EVELYN'S MAMA MOMENTS!)