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!

teacher appreciation gifts

i saw the same title on another blog i follow and have now developed anxiety about gifts for this year. I try to do things throughout the year, but i never feel like i do enough. on top of this, my L-man has a combination of same teachers and therapists as last year, some brand new, and a whole slew of folks who i guarantee help him and/or interact with him on a daily basis and i don't even know who they are! the pressure is amazing. i feel like i want to get each teacher and aide a gift and then i feel like i want to do something for the entire staff like we did at the holidays, but i don't know what to do.

Skip to My Lou blog

in my search, i have some across this lovely blog, which has some darling ideas, just in case anyone is in the same bind. i'll post whatever i come up with. i'd rather be more proactive about it this year. i remember camping out at a local sterling silver jewelry store humming and hawing over stuff at the last minute last year. blah. gah!

today's organizing attempts

i feel like i have worked most of the day and don't have much to show for it. blah!

it doesn't help that i have this bloody magazine to look at with all of their perfectly expensive containers that match perfectly. blah!

i got PART of the fridge organized and PART of the pantry organized. not one entire cabinet or area, of course, just bits and pieces in different places so it looks like i did nothing.

nonetheless...here you go...

{before}

{after}

{top 2 shelves}

{serving size fruit bin--grapes and kiwi}

{pre-scooped Nectar Cappuccino protein on the left,

homemade protein bar dry ingredients on right,

serving size homemade trail mix in the back}

{also in the pantry~

dried cherries on the left,

chia seeds on the right}

**HATE how the tops don't match**

desperately want to get more jars before break ends so that i can put kosher salt, cocoa powder and lots of other pantry items in jars as well.