Teacher Gift: Bookstore Gift Card

At our house, we have 14 teachers/school therapists that we love.

I always have difficulty buying something for that many people that 

a) The teacher wouldn't think is useless.

and 

b) I could afford.

So this is what I came up with (without help from Pinterest)!

I found these large tumblers at Marshalls and I love them.

They are perfect for iced tea or lemonade, 

and they were 6 for $4.99.

I bought a gift card from Half Priced Books,

wrote a little note,

added a ribbon,

and done!

The note reads...

Another great year goes down in the BOOKS

 thanks to you and all of

your NOVEL teaching skills, enthusiasm, and dedication. 

We are so thankful.

We hope that you get to kick back, relax, and

read a good book or two this summer.

Enjoy!

Of course I couldn't resist the word play.

I am sure that the teachers will roll their eyes but I don't care.

Just a few more school days for my kids, and then

LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!

NINE!

I'm a little late at posting this, but I couldn't let

Porter's 9th birthday pass by without some photo-love.

This guy is so smart, creative, and incredibly funny.

He eat, sleeps, and breathes sports these days, and wants to be a baseball player

or study "braketology" someday.

He helps his little sisters and lets them climb all over him,

helps Maryn with her therapy,

never shuts his drawers or remembers to cleans up his clothes,

has some great witty comebacks,

loves math and all things "gross",

offered to share his iPod with Leah when hers was broken,

and makes me work for every hug or kiss.

He is a loveable kid.

I am so lucky to be his mom.

He is my favorite son.

My Porter.

Happy Birthday big guy.

Here are a few pictures of his surprise party.

He was actually surprised and jumped out of his skin a bit.

Here's a little flashback to the early days with Porter! 

He is so sweet!

Our Poor Babysitter

We have a child who is having a horrible time with behavior this week,

at home,

and

on the bus.

She even cut her hair and as I witnessed it, she quickly lied stating,

"Some of my hair fell out Mom!?"

This same child, whom we love dearly, gave our sitter a run for her money tonight.

She was rough, and spent significant effort on causing a bedtime uproar for everyone.

As we walked in the door, I noticed that our wonderful sitter had won the proverbial "war".

All of the children were in bed!!!

Amen, seriously.

But something was missing....

HER SHOES!

Her shoes are seriously no where to be found.

The poor woman walked out to her car in her socks, all the while promising that it is "no big deal."

What a saint.

I have some suspicions of who might know where they are....

Please pray that we find them and that our sitter doesn't change her number.

Warm Welcomes Needs YOUR Help

Well, we've gone an done it!

Our family has committed to our new endeavor.

Warm Welcomes Foster Care Outreach

Our plans for Warm Welcomes are big.

We want to be a non-profit, Christian, organization that promotes a feeling of welcome to children in foster care within our neighborhoods, churches, schools, and communities. 

We also want to serve as a resource for local foster parents and foster care and adoptive agencies to help

meet the unique needs of the children they serve.

We will initially be serving agencies in the Warren, Butler, and Hamilton counties of Ohio.

We want to promote volunteerism and foster care and adoption awareness for as many children and their families as possible.  This includes empowering youth in foster care to also be volunteers and to serve others.

We want to provide items of necessity, warmth, and especially, comfort.

We want to provide items that encourage healing and coping, such as letters of encouragement,  art supplies, journals, mp3 players loaded with uplifting songs.

We believe that children should have adequate baggage to place the few belongings that they have

and are familiar with, in. Trash bags are not okay.

We believe that children in foster care should have books, Bibles, blankets, and toys to call their own.

We believe that creating personalized and handmade items for children in foster care can 

be a sign of love and importance.

We believe it is best said in Luke 9:48

Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me

We know that we can't do it alone. 

We need and want your help.

Below I have listed our Top 10 Ways You Can Help us get started.

Hopefully something matches your talents.

1) LIKE us on Facebook to get updates by clicking HERE.

We will post any get togethers we will have to pack the bags, make crafts, 

donations needed, as well as, great successes that come along the way.

2)Tech support:  

We could use help getting a blog or website started that people could easily access.  Share what we are doing with others.
We also need people that are good with Photoshop, can make a Wordle,
and can help us with a logo.

3) Donate Supplies: 

-Toiletries (shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant),

-New and very gently used books, coloring books, journals, and Bibles

-Diapers and pull ups of all sizes

-New and very gently used duffel bags, luggage, and backpacks (FYI, Ikea sells a large duffel for $3.75 if you have an Ikea friends and family discount card)

-Small (new) toys for children of all ages

(for example)

-MP3 players: These are going to be an awesome way to reach out to the older children

-Simple craft supplies: crayons, colored pencils, sketch books, stickers, small craft kids, etc

-New stuffed animals and pillows (handmade or purchased snuggle pillows, pillow pets, taggie toys, teddy bears, etc.)   (FYI, Ikea also sells a cute heart pillow for $4.99)

My friend Beth, purchases fleece remnants, sews a square, fills with pillow filling, and cuts strips/fringe around the perimeter of the pillow for added cuteness and sensory aspect.

I purchased fleece blankets ($1.99 and $3.99) and small pillow forms (currently clearanced at $.99)

from Ikea due the the low price (and my inability to sew) for our family to make snuggle pillows

like this one on Pinterest.

4) Be a Letter Writer

You and your child can write a letter of encouragement and welcome to a child in foster care.

Add a drawing if you like too!

Please do not put your last name.

5) Host a FUNdraiser

We can't keep this going without donations, supplies, and volunteers.

Consider holding a book drive, bake sale, lemonade stand, garage sale, diaper drive, sell a craft...

Rinse out a spaghetti jar and collect change in it. 

I hope to create a label that can be attached to the jar that states "Changing lives one dime at a time!"

If you have kids, have them help.  Help them help another kid.  They'll love it, and we will too.

6) Savvy shoppers and coupon extraordinaires:  help us all stretch our funds by finding the greatest deals on toiletries, fabric, etc

7) Solicitors and Business Owners:

Emailing, calling, visiting local business to seek discounts and donations to off set 

the foster parent's cost for drop in daycare, birthday venues, adoption celebration items/venues, 

party supplies, photography, scrapbook (online or craft) supplies

craft stores

8)  Get Crafty

Can you make something with an initial or name on it? Luggage tag, embroider, ornament, wall hanging for their new bedroom....

Can you make snuggle pillows?

Knit, crochet, sew, paint, draw, computer design art??

Scrapbook?

Having something with your own special name or initial on it can be very powerful.

Let's make it happen. (I'm sure Pinterest could help.)

9)  Leaders

We are passionate about Warm Welcomes and we hope to find a few more individuals that are too.

We would be happy to listen to your small or large ideas and give you room

to run with it.  

10) Hands on Volunteers

Help us pack bags, organize supplies, etc.  

This can be done by individuals, troops, families, etc.

Email me at ticketforthetrain@gmail.com with your interest, ideas, or questions.
If local, I can meet with you to pick up donations.

Thank you for all of your support.

Here's Some HAPPY for Your Monday

Monday's aren't easy.

They seem so far away from Friday, don't they?

Take just a minute and enjoy some of  the kids' dance moves.

There is singing of course, as well.

Watch out Von Trapp family.

And now, Porter and Julia want in on the talent show...

Keep an eye out for some M.C. Hammer moves.

They must get their moves from their Daddy.

Happy Monday!

(Sorry for the sub-par cinematography.  I had to seize the moment.)

Monday This and That

We have made some progress on our idea 

to develop outreach to kids in foster care. 

We want make the children feel more welcome and special in our homes, schools, churches and community.

I have to figure out the details of officially becoming a 501c3,

but we are making progress.

I am working with smart people who know the needs of the kids well, and can guide our efforts.

I have already received some surprise donations and people showing interest in helping,

plus I have purchased several things to get us started.

More coming on that later.

On a different note,

look what just happened to our little one.

Poor thing fell into a rose bush walking home from the bus.

It looks so pitiful, but she was very brave.\

Scared us to death though.

Who else is loving the Spring weather??

While Leah and Porter were at the Reds game,

we played at the park.

Maryn was physically able to do so much more this year.

I can really see the progress she is making.

Last bit of randomness,

I meet a lovely lady today.

We were comparing notes on "doing hair."

She has 20 kids, and hoping for two more.

Wow!  Hard for me to say that I had a stressful day, huh?

I hope that your week has started off right.

Now, off to cook dinner.

Easter 2013 Photo Drop

The photos say it all.

We had an egg-celent Easter!

I hope that you all did too.

Anyone else sick of seeing and smelling hard-boiled eggs?

Opening Day Baby!

No, we won't be attending Opening Day,

and no, we won't even be at the parade.

Our kids are back to school after a fun week off school and a great Easter.

This doesn't mean that they won't be showing their

Reds spirit!

PLAY BALL!

Someone mentioned their outfits so...
We signed up online for the kid's club called "Red Heads."  Included in the $25 fee you get a jersey, backpack, Reds pennant, hat, and some free game tickets.  (Plus other stuff I can't remember.) Our kids love getting their Red Heads stuff in the mail each year!
 Leah's sparkly Reds shirt is from Justice.  Maryn's shirt is a dress from when she was 18 months old, which is now a shirt!

Unexpected Decor Part 3: Breakfast Area and Little Touches

Please excuse my sub-par photography as I walk you through my 

final post about unexpected decor.

This is our breakfast area,

which is such a blessing for us because our very long table fits perfectly.

However, it needed some curtains too for the very long windows.

This time I purchased curtains and curtain rods from...Ikea.

I know that you are shocked.

Then I spent way too long ironing out the wrinkles in the four panels I bought.

These long curtains can be hemmed to the length you desire, because they are 98 inches long,

which is perfect for us.

Plus, two panels were only $14.99!

My men worked on the hardware and then we put them up on the rod.

Easy, peasy.

This is what the room looks like now.

I know that it is a little backwards, but now I am ready to paint.

 It will likely be a light blue.

I don't know when we'll get around to it, but it is coming.

The metal tree on the wall is from Old Time Pottery for $12.99.

I also bought various inexpensive off-white frames from Ikea,

filled them with our recent family photos,

and placed them around the tree.

It is our own little "family tree."

This wall hanging is from Target, and I LOVE IT because we have 7 people in this crazy family.

It used to hang on the wall, but it fell off and the backing broke so

for now it sits on the little table in the corner.

Best part about this is that it is hiding the ugly electric dog fence component!

I bought a pack of two large orange dish towels at Ikea and placed them in the center of 

both our kitchen and dining room tables to add the orange color that I currently am in love with.

The white metal tray is from the area with flowers and vases, at Ikea for $5.

The glass bowl and fruit were in the clearance section of Walmart.

This chair is yet another example of me visiting and revisiting an item before I purchase it.

I saw this chair in more than one TJMaxx.

It was a Lane recliner, that was impossible to actually recline it!

I like the way it looked but didn't like the price, especially if I was going to give myself a hernia just to put it into a reclined position.

So I kept revisiting it, hoping the price would drop. 

I gave up.
A few days later I went into Marshalls and I could see that beautiful red tag

from a mile away.

CLEARANCE!!

Great price, and even better, it actually reclines!

Sold.

By the way, who else loves Marshalls??

This is how it looks by the fireplace with my new favorite pillow from Home Goods.

(I think that I have a bird issue right now.  Maybe it is my "fowl" humor."  I need help.)

Next to it, is an outdoor table that I pulled right off my front porch.

There's my unexpected decor.

The hall tree has been with us for years.

It needed a little pillow (there's a dang bird again),

and some pretty things on top.

The personalized family tree was a "Forever Family" gift from our neighbors

from www.personalizationmall.com.

LOVE IT!

The cardboard initial is from the craft store.

I had planned to decorate it, but now I kind of like it neutral (plus I am lazy).

I also had some old and kind of ugly candles that I covered with scrapbook paper 

that has cut out designs all over it.  

Now you can't see the ugly candle unless you look down from the stairs, 

so please don't do that if you are ever at my house.

So we've added a few little things to our 1st floor

and it didn't break the bank.

It'll be a while before we paint, but I'll let you know how it turns out.

Any of you have any unexpected decor ideas that you want to share??

Have a blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter

from our family to yours!

I hope that the whole weekend is egg-celent.

There's that "fowl" humor again.