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!