School's OUT for SUMMER & Teacher Gift Tutorial!

Here is a comparison from the first day and the last...think he grew?  Well, he for sure grew 4 new teeth :)

Like the pink bag Trent's got?  Keep reading to see what's inside...

I made Trent's teacher a special end of the year "Thank You" gift the eve of the last day of school.

I found the idea here.  It went together very quickly...cause you all know I'm a major procrastinator!  I think it turned out great though!  Trent said she REALLY liked it...I would have liked something like this...a lot more that the little chachkies I got from the dollar store when I taught 4th grade!  Just sayin!

I found the 8X8 inch shadow box at walmart for about $8.  I printed off his teacher's name on a piece of card stock then trimmed it down to size.  I also printed off a separate piece of paper with an "L" to help me trim the crayons to the right size and shape.

I hot glued them in place.  I put the hot glue right on the paper of the crayon and it worked well.  I wasn't sure if it would melt the wax, but I didn't have a problem at all.

I think I'll be making lots more of these in the coming years!

(I googled these crayon shadowboxes and I found an Etsy shop where you can buy them for 40 dollars, yikes!  Mine cost less than $10 and was super easy and quick to make!)

We also wrote her a note and sealed it to the back with contact paper.

So, what do you think?  It would be cute in a craft or kids room, too!

A Big Scare!

Monday I was out in the front yard trimming back some of our bushes.  I was trimming the bush right by our front door.  I started at the top and just wanted to round it out a bit.  All of a sudden I heard the leaves rustling BUT I wasn't touching the bush and Drew was getting something out of the garage.  I saw a big brown thing fly out from under the bush...I screamed and watched a DUCK scurry off to the back of the house where the pond is.

I thought that was strange, but I got down on my knees to investigate under the bush and look what I found...

8 EGGS!!  And, YES, momma duck did come back.  I saw her the next day.

When I was telling Trent and Mike what had happened, Trent told me the same thing happened when he went to retrieve a baseball that he and Mike were playing catch with.  The funny thing was that Mike had just teased him about not letting a snake "get him" when he reached down and under to get the ball back.  So, needless to say, Trent got quite a scare, as did the poor duck I guess!  But they apparently forgot to warn tell me.

You want to be a WHAT when you grow up!!

We took the boys to a nearby playground and I saw...

flying...

 jumping...

   swinging...

     twisting...

        kicking...

          punching...

            oh, and I heard a lot of grunting!

So, I told Drew he should calm it down a little!  After all, I didn't want to look like a mom who couldn't control her busy little boy him to get hurt!  I looked down at his sweaty red face and he, looking back up at me, said very seriously, "But mom, I'm going to be a NINJA when I grow up! I need to work on my moves!"

Wrapped in His Love: Soul Spa

I had the privilege of helping plan a women's event at the church we attend.  The ladies on the committee had loads of fun preparing and the whole day was such a blessing!!  Our theme for the day came from Psalm 62:1 "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him."  Three ladies shared circumstances in their life when they sensed the loving arms of their Heavenly Father wrap around them, comfort them, and give them peace beyond comprehension. They shared how their faith was strengthened.  I (and I can probably speak for all the ladies in attendance) left encouraged, strengthened, refreshed, inspired to keep on keeping on, and so thankful that amidst life's chaotic busy-ness and trials we can find peace and rest in a God who walks beside us.

Oh Brother!

"I am smiling because you are my brother. I am laughing because there is nothing you can do about it!"

"First a brother. Then a bother. Now a friend."

- Unknown

And so SUMMER begins...

Let's PLAY BALL!!

Spring Break

Many of you know that we shipped the kids up to grandma's over spring break.  Mike and I (without interruption - moms you know what I mean) painted the living room, hall, and kitchen.  We've lived here for six years and so I was ready for a splash of color on the formerly plain walls.  I had the pleasure of climbing up on the plank to reach the walls up to the vaulted ceiling.  We did tan/chocolate in the living and hall and a blue in the kitchen...here is a quick peek.