Love, Bella

So.....{sigh}

I look forward to teacher appreciation week.

Really, I do.

Mainly because I like to make stuff, and lets be honest...I like all the "did you make that? oh wow!" I can get or the "these are so yummy". It's my vanity, I guess you could say.

But also....my child's teacher spends ALL day teaching my child. They deserve all that I can make them....and more.

This year...the stinking school did appreciation week on a different week than ALL the other schools I know of! URGH. So, since I put off making what I needed to make....I got a late start. Boo. OH well. Last year, I made little things and gave stuff to lots of different faculty members. I couldn't quite hack it this year....the overachiever in me was very disappointed.

Starting from the LAST gift...

I made this cute wreath, inspired by a pin on Pinterest, of course :), via Destination Craft. I adore the fact that its a chalkboard on the top! And the felt flowers were easy cheesy to make, and sporting school colors, no less!

 The second day...

Another idea {lets just say ALL my ideas come from Pinterest} from Pinterest...

Bella picked out a yummy smelling hand lotion, then I attached a cutout of her hands. Adorable idea!

That day, I also sent cinnamon rolls and muffins....talk about uber-productive that morning. Then I promptly rewarded myself with the leftovers ;).

 These last two pictures were taken with Instagram....I've mentioned that app before, but I love it to the point I'm obsessed....I take so many pictures because of it!

The first day....I decorated a Sonic drink carrier....and added a few treats. Simple, yet fun!
I swear...Sonic drink carriers are THE best way to give gifts!

Alrighty....so that was my 3 days of gift giving. If you're in the market for ideas for your kids teachers....Pinterest has you covered.
But here are some of my favorites:

I have to mention eighteen25....mainly bc I follow one of the girls on Instagram...and she mentioned me in her post! But she put together a great list of ideas. I can never get over how talented some people are!

I bought all the "ingredients" for this snazzy gift....to hand out to a few of the faculty.

There's even a free printable!!!

But I ran out of time....maybe for end of year??

Speaking of printables....

These cards are fantastic. And how easy to put together a little packet, tied with a ribbon?!

I love the idea of giving the teachers breakfast...

Little Pumpkin Grace is where I got my inspiration for the cinnamon rolls, etc.

What else? What else?

This is another "end of school" gift I'm excited to create and give...
Fun, right?

Ok, ok...that's enough....I could go on all night...sharing all the pinteresting things I've found! I don't know what I would do without that site!

First Day of Kinder!

Bell had a great first day of school Ü.

And you know I had to spruce up her backpack Ü...
thanks to an idea my friend, Shannon, came up with last year.
Note to self: don't procrastinate, get things done before the night before so you're not up till 1am!

I think the two musketeers missed each other.
Before we left this morning, Bella sat down with Aube for a "pep talk".

She says: Aube, I will be gone for a long time today and you are going to miss me.

Aube says: I'm going to play Mario Kart and you can't play.
Niiiice...
But who ran up to who and gave them a nice big ole hug?! Yup...

I thought I would be more emotional than I was...but thanks to some good friends I was busy the ENTIRE day and was able to keep my mind off it with some good food and retail therapy Ü.
I'm SO EXCITED she's in school. When I picked her up and she was listing the things she had done that day, I was even more excited. What an awesome thing....a child...growing and learning!

PICTURES!!!!

You know how I like my pictures! And a BIG THANK YOU to Kelly for taking pictures and letting me "steal" them...what a true friend! I have to say, she had the best shirt of the night for the football game. James and I at the reunion. He stuck it out with me, even when I wandered around the room for a moment to talk to friends here and there. He did get to eat some peach cobbler, tho...the lady guilted him into eating the WHOLE thing because it was "the best homemade cobbler" lol.

The one thing I loved about the reunion was being able to see some of my bestest friends. Beth, the first chick on the left...she was my first best friend in Sikeston. Kelly, next in line, was one of my best friends thru junior high and high school...she was with me through some rough times (remember when I got smacked out by your house, Kelly?? hehe). And then there's Tanya, right next to me....she and I became friends in junior high when I sat with her at lunch because I didn't have anyone else to sit with! We spent alot of time together in band because she was a twirler and I was the drum major. And then of course, we spent alot of weekend time together getting into trouble together ;).

I mean....we were perfect angels. Gotta love the memories.

For James

This morning I sent Bella off to "real school" with Gramma and Bubba.
Gramma is a Teacher's Aide for the kindergarten class at one of the elementary schools. So, she got permission from the teacher, and took Bella with her this morning. It will be interesting to see how she does, it's only 1/2 day and it sounds like there will be alot of stuff to do.
*Crossing fingers*