Poison Ivy Bath Salts - Day off of School Fun

I really think pintrest should be outlawed!
Okay, I love the fall . . . everything fall! It was during a friend's wedding that I realized how much I love fall. She used all fall colors in her wedding flowers and I thought it was one of the most beautiful things in the world. . .I digress!

In my love of all things autumn there is HALLOWEEN! What a fun fun fun holiday! There are so many crafts and projects to do with the kids!

On Friday I had my kids home due to Parent Teacher Conferences. On pintrest I found this idea: Poison Ivy Bath Salts I thought, WHAT A FUN TEACHER GIFT! They were so excited to make a "TRICK or treat" bag for their teachers and I got an hour of "zero fighting"!!

First you Pour in the Sea Salt



Then you pour in Epsom Salt

And Baking Powder

And then comes POISON IVY:

In actuality it's Dried Mint. Now, the recipe calls for dried mint from a jar. NO! Use fresh mint, dry it and preserve the oils!!! It makes for a more refreshing bath! The kids however loved thinking it was poison ivy. I think they were disappointed when I said, "TRICK! It's actually mint!"

Add bergamot essential oil and clear vanilla extract. Then you have to stir it all up! I'm telling you what, my house smelled GOOD!

Zach says, "Is it tasty?" DON'T EAT IT ZACH!!!!

TRICK! Look at the monster under the table!

Now one cannot just give a jar to the teacher we have to decorate it with hand-print candy corns and thumb-print pumpkins! All I have to say is "WHAT A MESS!" But totally worth it!



Then it was my turn: Modge Podge the Lables Graciously provided by "Paging Supermom" (Linked above)onto $1.50 jars found at Hobby Lobby (Lids and spoons spray painted black).

Put them in the adorable bags the kids made with a cute little label I made and VIOLA: Teacher Gift!

TIPS:
1. Have everything ready and laid out
2. Have a yucky cloth or paper towels out to wipe of fingers BEFORE seding them to the bathroom to wash. . .oops
3. Try it out yourself! There will be leftover salts. It was a wonderful smelling and quite refreshing bath!

Now for a bit of a Soap Box:
I try to get or make a little gift for the kids teachers once a month. I remember how unappreciated I felt at times as a teacher. I don't think people realize HOW MUCH time and energy teachers put into their jobs. I would come in at 7:00, start setting up for the day, leave at 5:00. Go home and put in at LEAST another 2-4 hours per night. People often argue that Teachers have the summer off. . .I don't know one GOOD teacher that does really. They spend at least an hour to five hours per day preparing for the next year! Teaching is a hard job. Often you don't see parents unless they are frustrated or upset at the child's academic experience in one capacity or another. It's rare that they stop in and just say "Hi" or "I appreciate you." I will never forget the one mom who took the time every month to bring me a gift of love. It was things like a small Starbucks, a soda, a bouquet of flowers, a jar of candy for the kids. . .nothing big but it lifted my spirits like nothing ever had! Ps - she was a working mom and didn't have time either ;)

My point is, at least say thank you to your kids teachers. I do what my friends call "Elaborate gifts" because I can. I was fortunate enough to be blessed to stay home with my children. But seriously, how hard is it to buy a $1 travel mug at Dollar Tree, fill it with coffee from your pot and bring it in with the kid? Put a nice thank-you in their backpack with an encouraging Bible verse or quote? It's worth it for the teacher's sake and for the child's. Let's face it! When a teacher feels like what she is doing matters to the parent. . .when a child sees that YOU value the teacher and what she's doing. . .it makes for a better learning environment, don't you think?

I DIGRESS ONCE AGAIN! :)

SUPER MOM. . .DUD MOM. . .

At first I thought I was a super mom! I found and made these "jokes" to put into kids lunches.




It took a few hours to think up and write notes to each of my kids on the backs.



I was thinking pretty highly of myself! Who wouldn't. . .right?

Then Loren brought this home crying and my attitude changed :)! Good mom. . .nah. . .dud mom!

Done!

It's finally over and now I get to focus on Loren's party! Having an October, November, December, Christmas schedule is going to get tough over the years!

Zach's party was a huge success! I'm so thankful for Grandparents who ran around crazy getting last-minute items for me, A Godmother who stood around watching presents and cake for an hour and then helped clean up for another hour, friends who selflessly gave face painting, watching (herding) kids and waiting tables. I couldn't have done this without you. Zachary was happy and proud!

The day started off HORRID! Zach ended up puking in Mrs. Andrea's car. I thought we might have to call off the whole party. He was fine though after the one incident. He was most upset that he messed up his Karate uniform. Then I went to go and get the balloons and they weren't ready and wouldn't BE ready until 40 minutes before party time! THEN I came home to grab the Chili and the beans were still hard as rocks and the soup was cold (stupid me forgot to turn on crockpot). THEN it was so windy that I literally had to sit on the table cloths to get them to stay down. . .no one was there to help because I had them chasing all over St. Peters trying to get last minute items! OH MY WORD! But in the end, it turned out wonderfully!

Zachary was very proud of his cake! It makes the HOURS taken to make it totally worth it! AND. . .it was good! What a recipe! Holy Moly! He was so excited to get a Francesco Car!

Zachy had 11 friends come to his party. The kids had a great time getting faces painted (thanks Jaymers) and making craft bags before we headed into Daniels.

Once inside the kids got to play! There was a petting zoo, Haystack Maze, Corn Pits, Tire Swings, Forts, Swings, and Tunnel Slides. The highlight however was the Wagon Train!

At one point Joel Keen says, "Zach, look out we're going to get you!" To which Zach replies, "Don't worry Mr. Joel, it's not dangerous!"


Zach was blessed with so many presents! He got Hi-Ho Cherrio, Candy Land, 10 Matchbox cars (LOVE), a Mario Car, a Batmobile and Batman, A sword and shield, some mini Marvel Heroes, a Gun, a game for his DS and a Spiderman Movie and Lion King. Thank you so much! He was Thrilled! He was opening them so fast I just gave up trying to write down who got him what :) Bad mommy!

The kids all got to pick out a pumpkin before they left. I tell you what, Daniels is THE BEST place EVER to have a Birthday party!

Now, I'm off to bed!

T-Minus 1 Day. . .

All food items are made. . .

Including Cake. . .

T-Minus 2 Days. . .

I've baked 2 Funfetti Caramel Cakes and made Pioneer Woman's White Chili.

Pumpkin faces on soda and cheese balls ( :) ), Party favor bags together, "Create Your Own Bag Craft" put together, table decorations and paper products purchased, family gifts wrapped and snack foods purchased/made.

Me laying on the floor TIRED!

What I've been Up to and a Milestone!

First of all we had a family birthday party for Zach at Granddad and Castle Gramma's house! It was so much fun since "Unc" Kris and Aunt "Lalana" and Aunt Helen were there! Uncle Kris got Zach a remote control Monster Truck and a Light-Saber. Oh boy. I don't know who had more fun playing with them, Uncle Kris or Zach. Granddad and Gramma gave Zach one of those Leapster Explorers. Zach hasn't put it down! We are going to have to put a limit on it for sure! It's nice though because he's got a few books on it already and is reading them.

Jax took his first step in church! He was flirting with a wonderful woman at church and he stepped from a chair to her! Why am I having a hard time with this milestone?

And I made Loren's invitations to her birthday party! They turned out very cute (IMO)! She was proud to pass them out at school today. Seeing her pride made the 3 hours of creating them worth it!

And finally, LOOK HOW CUTE THESE TURNED OUT!!! Gearing up for Zach's Pumpkin Patch Party! I'm actually proud of how cute those turned out!

Boeing Days Picnic

Just a warning: This is a long post with tons of pictures. It was the BEST day with the kids! Thank you Boeing for hosting a great day for our family!



Jackson hated the bounce house at first! I love this picture! It's so funny!


They had a giant slide. . .I mean giant! I actually climbed up there with Jax and went down with him but those pictures are NOT attractive of myself!






Grateful and happy to have a wonderful husband who has a great job! I just adore Boeing's dedication to family and togetherness! We are blessed!


A highlight of the day was the sparing bouncer! The kids had a great time beating the snot out of each other! I told them to hit each other and they looked at me like "REALLY?" It was hilarious!




Can you stand it? He's so cute! Jax was honestly the best baby today! He laughed, he bounced, he talked. . .he never cried! I was so proud of our little Blue eyes!


Out of all of the families there, Lorén was chosen to help pull door prize tickets for the event! She did a great job! It was fun to listen to her little voice projected everywhere! People spent the rest of the day calling her by name and telling her what a great job she did!

She even got a door prize herself for being the helper. Daddy helped her pick out a shirt that had one of his projects on it. The "Champ" program. She was so proud to have a daddy shirt!


Then there was face painting! Zach wanted a moon with bats in it!


Lorén wanted a butterfly!


Then it was time to dance with the Jazz Band.


"Mommy, this hamburger tastes bad. So does the apple. In fact the chips do too. I think I just need dessert." says Zach. He was disapointed when I told him that if he wanted cotton candy he had to eat 1/2 his burger.
He got his prize!


It really was a fantastic day! Thanks again Boeing!