end of year teacher gift

Today was my daughters last day of Kindergarten.  

She had a fabulous teacher and about a week ago she came home requesting to make her teacher a gift for the end of the year.  Well LAST NIGHT we finally did it. {I am the worlds worst procrastinator!}  Last year we made a sign for her preschool teacher’s lake house so this year she wanted to make another sign.  In pink of course because that is her teachers favorite color!!!! 

I just cut up a piece of wood flooring to size and let her paint it {pink}. Of course the little one wanted to make a sign too.  So she made one for her daycare lady {in red}.  I was shocked at how well Rae{3 year old} painted.  I love letting the girls actually do the projects.  I can clean them up later if needed but they love to do them and they are so proud to give a gift they made themselves.

Since I am an art teacher people ask me often if my girls are talented artists.  I am always honest and say, “They do well, BUT most of it is due to exposure not natural talent at this age”.   Here is a short video where you can see my 3 year old and 6 year old paint names on the boards. 

We finished them with some dots, a light sanding with my radial sander, and I cut up a bandanna to tie it up with.

The girls were super excited to deliver them this morning.

Thank you to all  teachers out there and have a great summer!!!

WE ARE BUILDING!!!

Follow along on Instagram to see progress!

@chores_chandeliers

#Campbellsarebuilding 

I'll be posing some info on my blog but I don't want it to take over my blog so but if you want to follow along with the progress be sure to follow along on Instagram!  Here are some of the photos I've posted so far....

SHE picked it all out!  She has great taste!

Main living space wall colors

Dirt work is starting

I've already began buying pillows!

Our view from the front porch.

Teacher Appreciation Day

There is no doubt that teachers hold a very important role in our children’s lives.  Teachers spend more time with our children a day then we do.  I have been SO BLESSED to have had amazing teachers thus far for my daughter.  I asked my Kindergarten Cowgirl what she wanted to give her teacher as a gift. I had some creative ideas but I let her decide on her own (without prompting from me, which is sometimes hard for me).   I could not have agreed with her decision more!!!!! 

She chose to make homemade card and flowers.

She wrote the card her self. It says,

I like the activities you make me. 

Thank you for being nice to me. 

I like you teaching me. 

Thanks for everything you do.

I asked if she wanted to buy a card and she insisted to make one herself.  She said, “ No way. Mrs. Williams would rather see my art then have me buy art on a card”.  Sometimes I am so shocked by her wisdom....of course her teacher would rather a handmade card!!!!  AND she loves to create!  She had a fun evening tonight creating, cutting, gluing, drawing, and writing. 

As a teacher myself I have to say that I LOVE a thank you card.  It is so simple and means so MUCH!  I am guilty of over thinking my gifts and doing elaborate things but the truth is sometimes simple is best.  Teacher appreciation is definitely one of those times!!!!

Need a last minute gift for the teacher in your life???  Write a card.  I promise it will be well received!!!!

STEP MOM

I think most of my readers know I have a step son.  Friday night he had his first High School Athletics Banquet.  We of course were glad to make the 2 hour drive to go support him and the Athletic department at his school!  Before hand we met at Shayne's house to take photos.  His mom set up this photo with Shayne and his parents.  

Today she posted the picture on Facebook and stated…

"I'd like to say something about this photo...It is a TRUE Testament to what life with divorced parents can truly be and SHOULD be. I am so THANKFUL that Dan and I can stand in the same photo and share the same table at an event where Shayne is involved. The thing is it's not about Dan and I...it's about Shayne. The fact that I truly like his wife and enjoy visiting with her is a BONUS!!!"

She really hit the nail on the head.  People ask me often how I get along with "Dan's ex" and I am always honest and say just fine because we put Shayne first!!! If we didn't get along Shayne would be the one who would suffer.

Being a step parent is a HUGE BLESSING to me!!!  I once had a close friend tell me that she heard a speaker on a Christian radio station say that you should not use the term “step”.  Like in step mom, step parent, step son, etc. It supposedly singles them out and divides them from the rest of the family.   I thought about it for a while and I can see the point.  By no means do I ever want him to feel like he is an extra part to the family.  We want him to just feel like he is part of the family.   BUT I also respect his mom enough I never want to step on her toes as “mom”.  She is a great mom and I am a great step mom.  The same goes for his dad and step dad.  We each have a role as parents.  We don’t really focus on who is what. We NEVER keep score on who does what. We just make it happen for Shayne.  If we ever started to keep score on who visits more, drives farther, pays more, gets more time, holidays, weekends, events, etc we would go crazy, become bitter, and Shayne would suffer.  None if that matters. What matters is that Shayne knows he has a family (although it may not be traditional) that is there for him to love, support, teach, punish, and provide for him. 

On another note check out this ring he got Friday night.  His wrestling team is State Champs!!!!!