EOY Gifts

So, I didn't get to clutches as I mentioned I was going to try to do earlier.  I am really happy with what we ended up giving L's support staff though. 

We put together "Time to Relax" bags for his teachers, therapists and aides.  Luckily Target had beach bags on sale for $5 a piece.  I then headed over to the travel section to pick up some summery items and finally swung through and got nail polish, toe separators, and a face mask for a nice pampering effect.  When I got home I used the Sharpie paint pens I had left over from L's bday party and put the last name initial of each support staff member on the clear part of the beach bag.

We wanted to give Ms. Darnell, L's assistant an extra special gift and I found this perfect necklace.

While I was at my fav store good ole Tar-jay I picked up some additional relaxation gifts for our amazing secretaries at Henley.  These ladies have taken such good care of me during my transition to Henley.  I wrote on each of their bags, "You've taken care of us all year, now it's time to relax."  I got them a freezable tumbler--and yes, I hope they put something they can't drink at school in there in the evenings and on the weekends! and a beach towel.  I'm sure they still have plenty of work to do this summer, but at least we are out of their hair!  I adore these ladies and can't wait to see them again in August!

An Orange Party

If it wasn't orange, we didn't have it!

L's favorite color is orange and that is the theme he chose this year for his 7th birthday party.  I spent months planning and, of course, there were things I forgot or didn't get to, but all in all, I was pleased.

Menu~

• Buffalo Chicken Tenders
• Pizza Bites with Orange shredded Cheese
• Mac n Cheese
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Carrots and Orange Peppers with Orange Ranch Dressing (I just added food coloring to the salad dressing to make it orange)

• Cheese Balls
• Tortilla Chips with Queso Dip
• Cheezits
• Mandarin Orange and Pineapple Fruit Salad
• Cupcakes with Orange Icing
• Carrot Cake
• Orange Sherbet
• Orange Gummy Bears
• Orange Tic Tacs
• Orange Slices (candy)

• Orange Gatorade
• Orange Juice Boxes
• Orange Water (I just put food coloring in the drinking water)
• Orange Soda (regular and diet)

Activities~

• Photo Booth with props where guests could send a birthday message to L via a photo

the following series of pictures shows how i changed some Dollar Tree fake mustaches into ORANGE fake mustaches for props...

these didn't get much use as the photo booth wasn't as popular as i had hoped, but i made these signs out of colored pencils and paper plates for folks to hold up as they took pictures...

• Interior Design Center where guests designed a lampshade, pillowcases, and sheets for L's new orange bedroom (tutorial to follow)
• Nail Salon where guests could paint their names in a variety of orange hues

• Orange Toss Game where guests tossed artificial oranges from bucket to bucket
• Gone Fishin' for Goldfish where guests used nets to scoop as many orange plastic goldfish as they could
• Ping Pong Squirter Race where guests used pool squirters to move ping pong balls from one orange hula hoop to another down the yard
• L's brand new bounce n slide courtesy of his grandparents
• Jewelry Store where guest could make friendship bracelets using a variety of orange thread and/or hemp and orange button bracelets

Favors~

Each youngster received an orange personalized BPA-free tumbler.  The boys' names were written in orange using a Sharpie brand paint pen and the girls' names were written in pink using the same kind of pen.  I wrote the names on the top as well as on the outside wall.  The boys also received super fly orange shutter shades and the girls got orange nail polish in addition to the tumbler.

end of the year teacher gifts

didn't we just have Teacher Appreciation Week?!?!  i don't mean that, really, but i am starting to feel the pressure because i know that the next 9 school days will both drag and fly by (if you're a teacher, you know what i mean, otherwise, that probably doesn't make much sense.)

i think for the ladies i might make placemat clutches.  i can't say all of L's teachers and support staff strike me as the clutch purse kind of gals, but they can use them as coupon holders or make up bags.  i think i am drawn to make them because i would love for someone to make one for me :-)  is that weird?!

i have made these with my mom before, but it has been a long time and might just be time to whip out the ole sewing machine and get to going.

i guess i've got to figure out plan B for the fellas on Landon's support staff list...i'm not sure they would dig a placemat clutch so much!

I will post pics of my own creations when i get to them, for now, here is my inspiration:

Placemat Clutch

totally worth it!

okay...slicing my finger off (exaggerating, of course) was TOTALLY WORTH IT!

our kiddos had a blast today.  it was SO CUTE seeing boys dancing across the field searching for a certain question number.  boys and girls alike showed us their mad hula hooping and hippity hop balling skills.

CRAZY EGGS/CLOTHESPINS/TISSUE PAPER was a lot of work to put together but all worth it in the end!

i want to post pics from today so bad, but i want to protect the kids.  i couldn't seem to get any pictures where every one's face was turned the opposite direction.

so, if you have several hours on your hands and want to see your kiddos bust some crazy moves while reviewing for a test, get to preparing...

here's how to make it happen (click on each picture to get a better view--sorry i don't know how to attach a pdf to the blog--need to figure that out)

 here is a portion of the "Runner Schedule" handout:

this game will be the death of me....

i just about lost a finger last night preparing for this game.  okay, so i exaggerate.  anything that makes me bleed that much might as well have taken my whole finger off!

these kids better have fun today is all i have to say!

my complaints are all in good fun, of course.  i would slice every finger with a pair of scissors preparing a ridiculously complicated game in an effort to grasp the attention of 6th graders at this point in the year.  :-)

just start calling me jennie scissorhands!

review game

i'm so excited i can't even make sense, so i will not try to fully explain tonight, but i cannot wait until the only class i get to see tomorrow.  we are playing "Crazy Eggs"--which actually translates to "Crazy Eggs/Crazy Clothespins/Crazy Tissue Paper" because i ran out of plastic eggs, which i was hiding review questions in, then i started using clothespins and i just ran out of those, so next i will ball up the question and then wrap a piece of tissue paper around it so they have to unwrap it.  i'm sure i'm making NO SENSE. 

i will post pictures and a full explanation by the weekend!

wearing my exercise skirt and lacing up the ole tennies tomorrow.  watch out kiddos....Mrs. Critzer has totally lost her mind :-)

teacher appreciation-days 3 & 4

so, i was supposed to make truffles for the entire staff at L's school last night.  didn't happen.  i got up this morning at 530 dipping oreos in melted chocolate crossing my fingers they would set up in time to drop them off before i had to get to school to tutor.

L is still not feeling the greatest, so he missed Thursday and Friday.  i figured since i needed to drop of the oreos this morning, i might as well drop of day 4 gifts that never made it there on thursday.

before i get to that, this is what i sent in on wednesday--decorated hand sanitizer bottles...

and day 4--bpa tumblers with straws (sorry for the terrible picture)

I hope to get day 5 done this weekend--shrink art keychains...we will have to see if L is up for the challenge!

no pool for L's bday

For the 1st year since we moved we will be pool-less for L's bday.  We have to get a new liner (there is a hole in that mug as long as my leg) and a patch might not even last through the party we were told! 

Good Times!

Now I am in need of thinking of other creative ways to entertain kids and adults alike.  If only money were not an obstacle!

I look forward to posting whatever I come up with...

Teacher Appreciation Days 1 & 2

i meant to update each day, but i am already a day behind.  shocking!

not that my own students have wished me Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, but that's okay...I will love them just the same :-)

For L's support team (and there are about 20 folks), we sent packets of wildflowers seeds on Monday.

Today, we sent in handmade fingerprint bookmarks.  L tolerated me stamping 20 some bookmarks.  He is my fella!  He didn't sign each one, but I certainly think he left his mark :-)

What will tomorrow bring?!?!

teacher appreciation week--part 2

so, i finally decided on what i will prepare for L's support staff next week.  I have already signed up to make truffles for the entire staff for their luncheon on Friday, but I always like to give his 'peeps' something because they take care of my boy everyday!

i was INCREDIBLY overwhelmed when i really sat down and thought about who interacts with L on a daily and/or intensive scale--there are about 20 people.  Because of the sheer number of people i want to give things to, i had to take into consideration cost.  being a teacher myself, i totally get that we are not in our positions for the money, but it is always nice to be recognized.  i am really passionate about sending in a little something each day to make them (well, that's the goal) feel special. 

so, here's the plan...pics and tutorials to follow...

Monday--decorated hand sanitizer containers
Tuesday--fingerprint bookmarks
Wednesday--bpa free tumblers with straws and the message
Thursday--wildflower seed
Friday--Shrink Art keychains

we'd better get to work this weekend so we're all set to go by Monday!