Headed back home - new york home tour - part 1

Did you hear our news?

We are moving!!!

When Chad was offered the position here in upstate New York, we jumped at the chance for an adventure.  Now, two years later, a new adventure awaits us in a familiar state - Texas!

We have only been in this house just over a year and a half, but we have done SO MUCH to it.  Take a look!

Our foyer:

Our mudroom:

Our homeschool room (dining room):

Chad's office:

The piano room (a small room/passthrough in between office and living room):

Our kitchen:

Our living room:

Our powder room:

The stairs just inside the front door:

Next up, the upstairs!

Another teacher appreciation week - day 5

The final day of teacher appreciation week!  Again, I stuck with apples.  Again, I turned to an idea I pinned a long time ago...

I followed the recipe for the most part, but I wanted to make enough treats to give all the teachers and helpers who work with the kids.  I bought the small mason jars at Target.  This gift is a little mixing and a lot of layering...

Instead of buying Skors candy bars and chopping them into little pieces as the recipe stated, I found this in the baking section.  Done!

I 

I printed a little label and cut it out with a scalloped hole punch.

Thank you

for being such

a sweet teacher!

I purchased small green apples and they were the perfect size!

Whew, another week of teacher appreciation gifts is complete!

Another teacher appreciation week - day 4

A few months ago, I picked up these adorable apple notebooks from IKEA and knew that would be a perfect teacher gift.

I simply added a red pen and a quick note and the gift was ready to go!

Take NOTE:

You are the

best teacher

and I appreciate

YOU!!!

Check back for the last gift for teacher appreciation week... it is going to be a sweet one!

Another teacher appreciation week - days 2 and 3

I am back with two more days of easy teacher appreciation gifts.

DAY 2 was a little treat.  I found this quick idea on Pinterest and it turned out really cute!

DAY 3 was an orange inspired day!  I have had this idea pinned for a long time and it just seemed perfect for this time of year.  I am tired - and ready for summer.  The kids are tired.  The teachers must be tired!

I made an even simpler version of this idea by purchasing perfect little orange drinks, printing a simple note and cutting in out with a scalloped hole punch.

“ORANGE”

you glad it’s

almost summer?!

I sure am J

Three days down, two to go!

Another teacher appreciation week - day 1

Last week did not start off as planned, so I am a bit behind...  I was asked very last minute (just before 10pm Sunday night) to decorate a teacher's door that was neglected (not done) by the homeroom mom.  It was for Caleb's teacher and I could not say no.  I wanted to, but didn't.  She has been amazing this year with Caleb!  Last year I spent WEEKS planning and researching the door I decorated and this year was the complete opposite.  I looked at Pinterest, ran up to school for paper and had the door finished within a couple hours.  Even though it was not my best work, it got done and I know the teacher truly appreciated it.

I took a couple pictures with my phone...

Now back to the teacher gifts!

This year I planned on sending a little gift each day because the kids really got excited about handing their teacher something - even if it was small - last year.  So, for Day 1, they were blessed to receive original artwork done by me!

I painted signs for the teachers, a tutor and the librarian...

printed a simple tag to add to the sign...

Because of you,

I want to …

READ more BOOKS!

THANK YOU

for all you do,

and had the kids sign their names...

and sent them off to school!

Check back for more teacher appreciation ideas!

Well look at this!

This blog has always been a fun hobby for me.  Posting pictures of the kids has been a memory book that we can go back and look at... since I do not scrapbook ever.  Sharing the projects that we complete is a great motivator to keep creating and completing my list of things to do.  I have never made a huge attempt to "market" my blog because that kind of scares me.  It takes a lot of time and effort to keep a blog current. And, there is always that fear that no one will read it.

I was looking at my blog this weekend and came across this!

My most popular post BY FAR is one I posted about end of the year teacher gifts.  A simple, easy, quick gift.  It gets looked at over and over again.  I was even mentioned on this blog (Listotic) about 35 DIY easy gift ideas everyone will love

and 

MY IDEA is #9!

Not too bad, huh?!  She even gave me credit by listing my blog (and a link) at the bottom!

Maybe someday I will take that leap and work on getting my blog name out there for the world to read.  For now, I appreciate the six family members that do read this blog :-)

And maybe I will even share a link to my Etsy shop.  Maybe.

For now, I will enjoy being #9.

Olivia turns 9!

Can you believe Livy Do (we also like to call her Liver or O-yiv-ia as Ella says) is 9 years old?!?!

She quickly figured out that her actual birthday would fall on Monday, a school day, and decided that it wasn't fair that most of her day would be spent at school, so she decided it only made sense that we should celebrate on Sunday.  So we did :-)

After opening a few birthday presents in her pjs, we headed to the movie theater.  We were all so excited to see Muppets Most Wanted!

We then headed to our usual birthday stop - Dave and Buster's!  The kids spent most of the time at the one game... the claw.  They are OBSESSED with winning jewelry.  They get so excited when they win and wear their treasures so proudly!  Olivia won a huge ring, Caleb won earrings that he kindly gave to me... all in all, I think they walked away with 15 pieces of fine jewelry!

After playing at Dave and Buster's, we headed over to Gramma (Gramma is doing very well cruising around her house with her walker) and Papa's house to open the rest of Olivia's gifts and eat Oreo cake. 

A few weeks ago we bought Olivia a HUGE stuffed puppy and have had it hiding in a closet at Gramma and Papa's house.  Caleb and Ella were with me when we bought it and never spilled the beans to Olivia. Ella was so excited to finally surprise her with it!

This picture is a perfect example of the kids.  Caleb is trying to blow out Olivia's candles, Olivia is giving Caleb her look and Ella is laughing away.

I am pretty sure Olivia had a great early-ish birthday!  On Monday, we took puppy cupcakes to school and she spent the rest of the day playing with her new Lego sets and Barbies!

Happy 9th Birthday Miss Olivia!!!!!!!!!