I don't know about you, but every Summer increases my appreciation for everything teachers do day in and day out to nurture little ones, so any chance I get, I want to let them know I appreciate what they do!
So today I have for you an inexpensive grab-n-go gift that doesn't require any making, just in case that's not your thing!! Do you have a little one starting preschool / kinder / first grade?? How about picking up a copy of this brand new, just released Dr. Seuss book as a classroom gift for the teacher! Add a cute nameplate dedicating the book to your teacher and include your child's name and the school year and you have a fun {and useful!} keepsake!
I'm in love with the story behind it!! You can read more about it {here}, but in a nutshell...Audrey Geisel, Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)'s widow, found in her attic a box of papers she'd stashed away after his death. In it was this and several other manuscripts he had finished and illustrated!
There's nothing like a Dr. Seuss book in my opinion, especially for those beginner readers! I picked up a copy for Hudson's first grade homeroom teacher, along with a jar of my homemade {vanilla sugar hand scrub} and a cute beehive cookie cutter because they are the "Honeybees".
Giving doesn't have to break the bank! A little heartfelt gesture goes a long way.
Do you love Dr. Seuss? Find more party inspiration {here}, {here} and {here}!
One of my favorite days in Kindergarten for sure!!
I love any excuse to fancy things up and have fun and to me Dr. Seuss = COLOR + FUN + SILLINESS!
So when a last-minute note came home on Friday saying "dress your child in black + white" I was kind of bummed. But Noonie came to the rescue with the adorable Dr. Seuss pocket shirt! Thank you, Noonie!
I love that our school hosts a Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast for the kindergarteners - so fun to see all those red + white stovepipe hats all in a row!!
They had all kinds of fun activities planned throughout the day. I love, love the fun Lorax juice station their teacher set up and the adorable cookies another sweet mom brought in! I had enough Dr. Seuss bags in my party stash for each child and the parents sent in fun things like the pencils, Thing 1 + Thing 2 candy packs and teeny tiny notepads that looked like Dr. Seuss hardcover books - so much fun!
Sweet buddies!
I had an important meeting after school and Grace & Hudson had to go with me. Thank goodness for understanding professionals!!
They did so well, I said YES to froyo for dinner! Dr. Seuss would approve!
Yummmmm!
Such a fun day!!
................................................................................ And oh my! Anytime I think "Dr. Seuss", I can't help but think about this little fella's first birthday!! He was such a chubby little baby and look at him now!!
This was one of my favorite parties I've ever planned. love, Love, LOVE Dr. Seuss!!
More pictures {here}.
We had a super full, fun day that started last night when we got to open a surprise package from a {dear friend}. It was a really happy mail day since another fun package also came...but can't sneak peek that one just yet!
My sweet friend Heather surprised us with a box full o' goodies! The little pumpkin got to open the box just before bedtime...she wasn't excited or anything *wink*. Heather, she absolutely LOVED all the Lalaloopsy outfits!! And the clippie is adorable! Thank you!
And I might have shrieked out loud when I saw these cute chenille chicks sitting atop the sweetest tea towel!!! Heather and I share a love for chenille chicks so I had to laugh at her note that said *I* could decide whether to share them with the littles or keep them for myself. Hmmmmm...I plead the 5th!
The little pumpkin was mesmerized with the itty bittiness of this adorable mushroom dress and insisted on changing her Lala doll before going to school...
Off topic, but doesn't she just look so tall and slender in this picture??? Like all the baby fat is gone :( I'm not sure if I like this whole "almost six" business...
Hudson was already asleep when Grace opened the box last night so he opened his surprise this morning...{this is his I-don't-want-to-stop-and-take-a-picture-I-just-want-to-OPEN-it-already! smile}
Heather does the most fun packaging ever. I love how she mixes ribbons and arranges things just so...all her stuff is always adorable!
Wow!!!
Oooh, I love it!
Hmmm...what's this?
And my favorite...Arrrrrrrgh, I can't open it!!?!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Heather!!! Wish I could just reach over and hug your neck!
Today was Hudson's spring picnic at school...
Blueberries, bananas, lemonade, and oh yes, piZZa! Love it!!
It was a gorgeous day and we had such a nice time!!
Love this one of his sweet friend Madeline reaching out to help him up...
Sweet Billy who is Grace's friend Caroline's little brother...love his curls!!
Hudson's buddy Tori and another little girl who I don't know too well, but oh my, isn't she just the cutest southern belle wearing her pearls??!! LOVE!
We lost track of him for one second and next thing I know...
Little stinker had climbed up the hill and was having the time of his life rolling down!!
His buddy Asa spotted him and decided to join in the fun!
And down they went...
One time was enough for Asa, but Hudson just kept going and going and going...
His clothes just kept getting dirtier and dirtier, but he was having the time of his life so I just let him go for it...
...and again, and again!
This is probably my favorite picture from the picnic! he he he...
Just before calling it a day, we went to check out all the artwork from his class...
He was so proud to show us his dinosaur, yes water dripping off his chin and all...*wink*
Love all the fun Dr. Seuss inspired art...
One fish, two fish...
...the blue fish ATE the red fish! hahahahaha
{his teacher said she had to fight to keep a straight face when he told her that - oh my!}
PB & J...
And I figured he would be tuckered out as soon as I buckled him in his car seat, but just then Noonie called to invite him to lunch at IHOP and he said "IHOP? Oh yes! I have room for smiley pancakes!" Gotta love him!
A couple of more birthday projects checked off the list thanks to Noonie's help!
{the flower pillow; other one is from etsy}
Fun flowers!!
{I made all of them except the crochet one}
We wrapped up our day by attending the Faculty Play at Grace's school... SO.MUCH.FUN!! This week is flying by!
This week off has been fAbUloUS! I really feel renewed, even with a couple of minor setbacks like our dryer going out - yea, just a little reality check...to keep us on our toes.
I've enjoyed the stillness of my house, delicious granola parfaits for breakfast, leisurely lunches with my mom, a trip to my favorite antiques store, and crafting to my heart's delight. I definitely don't want to go back to work on Monday - ha!
I'm slowly making progress toward the little pumpkin's birthday...yes, even with an impending "possible storm" forecast. C'est la vie! Time to kick up my praying a notch!!
Thinking balloons might not be the best idea at the park, I've been making some fun little garlands to add color...like {this} one and this one...
For the one above, I ordered a garland made out of vintage sheets on etsy but when it came in, I didn't care for some of the colors in person, so I took off a bunch of the sheets and added scraps of fabrics I had in my stash, and of course, my beloved pom pom trim. I think I have a love affair with pom poms ;)
And while I was out shopping yesterday, I came across all kinds of fun stuff at almost every single stop {beware, these are all phone pics, so not the best quality}!
First up, Target! Isn't this collection aDorABle!?! I'm not usually a "collection" kind of gal since I like to mix things up, but I loooooove this one!! I'm using it to bring the little pumpkin's classroom treats on Monday...so far it looks like milk + donuts have won out...
And oh my, when did this sweet bedding collection get added???!
I'm thinking I need to go back and pick up that pillow...it says "good night" on the back *wink*
Speaking of...I also have a love affair with pillows! I'm slowly switching out a bunch of ours in the great room...
Love the new pillow with the quilt Noonie gave me!
While at Sam's, I spotted this Carter's berry sweet onesie for the itty bitties!!! Oh, that vintage inspired neck and the ric rac...Eeeek! So sweet! If you have a little one, hurry up and visit your Sam's...they are only $6!!
Oh, and I *had* to stop by Walmart. Walmart and I are not friends. Now, I have girlfriends who say they grocery shop at Walmart and have no trouble at all, and I'm guessing they must go at 6:00 a.m. because every time I go there during normal hours, I end up leaving in a horrible mood.
I went to pick up something we needed for the {Literary Ball} back in January and literally had a perfectly capable woman in her 20s curse me out and spout off all kinds of profanity because I wouldn't stop what I was doing to move a buggy {shopping cart for all my northern friends!} out of her way that was not even my buggy!! This is AFTER I had put down the cupcake liners I was counting, moved my buggy out of the way, and SQUEEZED myself as close to the shelves as possible so she could easily get by AND she was there with her girlfriend who could have moved it for her??!?!
Anyway...sorry for the vent...I guess I'm still not over that one! But while picking up paper doilies, I spotted this cake decorating tool...
Have any of you tried this or something like it?? Does it work??
And I saved the best for last...check out this little guy this morning...
Yes, they are having an entire {Dr. Seuss} unit this week at Hudson's preschool and today was WaCKy WeDNeSdaY! Fun, fun!
