Oh, Pinterest, You Got Me!

I was in search of a teacher's gift for Joe and Bella's teachers.  I needed 3 (simple, inexpensive, yet thoughtful, something they could use in real life) gifts.  I found this cute idea on everyone's favorite social media network idea pin board bookmarking place site, Pinterest.

Super cute, right?  Just switch it up a tad for Christmas, throw in a Giant Eagle gift card, and BOOM!  Done!  I gathered all the items...though, I couldn't find the exact cup as in the picture.  But, cups, pencils, gift cards.  I started to assemble the items together at about 10:00 pm Wednesday night for a Thursday delivery.  You guys!  THIS happened...

Uhhhh.....crap!  Now what?  I'm not good on the fly!  How can the pencils NOT fit in the cup???  Do I ditch the pencils?  But, then, what am I going to do with 80 pencils???  Oh the shame!  I came up with a solution, though!  It's not perfect, but it worked.

I blame myself, really, for not checking that the pencils would actually fit in the cup...but, I somehow want to put the responsibility on Pinterest for making me have to think late at night.   And, yes, get out my camera and document it all instead of just focusing on the problem.  All Pinterest's fault.

Please Check!!!

Two years ago today, little Tiggy lost his life when a huge, heavy dresser fell on him.  I simply cannot fathom the horror, sadness, grief that his family has had to trudge through.  I remember reading about the accident back then and springing into action.  I know we anchored most of the furniture once we had kids, but I may have rearranged some things and not bothered to secure pieces to the walls. 

Twice in our house, little boys have tried to climb the dresser drawers like steps to reach something on the top.  Both times, the anchors caught the furniture before anyone got hurt.  The drawers, I remember, still slid out, everything on top of the dresser fell off and my heart stopped beating briefly, but still.  It takes seriously a few minutes to install the safety kits, plus they're not expensive.  I'll install them for you if you need help!

Dana, Tiggy's mom, is an amazing writer!  Hop over HERE to read about how she and her family are turning a tragedy into positive action...right after you go check your furniture.  Please and thank you.

Say Hi to Stewart!

When I approached Joe and Bella (Trey didn't really have an opinion either way) about getting the Elf on the Shelf, they made it perfectly clear that they did NOT want the elf showing up at our house!  I thought they would think he was funny and cute.  I could not have been more wrong.  Joe has been plagued throughout his 9 years with a few irrational fears, and I think the elf fit into one of those categories.  That there might be a touch of realness to the magic is too much for Joe.  He doesn't want to be watched by a "creepy doll" and maybe, just maybe, not get anything for Christmas because he said something "sucks" one too many times.  Bella just didn't want the elf to "mess up any of MY stuff!".  Bella has a great sense of limited humor. 

Jay and I discussed it and thought that maybe we should just get the elf anyway to show the kids that it's silly fun and they would ultimately still get gifts under the tree.  Teach them that we don't give gifts based on behavior, but because of grace.  Well, when I told Jay how much the elf cost, he pooped a brick.  No way are we going to spend that much money to scare our kids and add another thing to remember to do at night!  Jay's alternative idea included a stuffed animal that left poop all over the house.  There really wasn't a link to Christmas, we just thought it would be funny.  The idea didn't pan out, though.

All that to say!!!  Here's what we ended up putting together.  The kids got a letter in the mail from Stewart.  Stewart works for Santa but is so shy he doesn't want to be seen.  He's not here to check on behavior, but rather make sure the kids know why we really celebrate Christmas and to take a gift list back to Santa.  Everyday, the kids have to find Stewart's box.  In the box is a scripture verse, the kids have to look up the verse, read and discuss it.  Once they're done, they each write down something that they want for Christmas and put them in the box. 

The scripture verses will be random, chosen by.....ummmm, me.  We already have an Advent calendar that tells the story of Jesus' birth and a Jesse Tree that tells the story of the Bible beginning to end (ish).  I thought it was a good way to get the kids reading and asking questions.  Plus, I'll have a very precise list of what they want for Christmas. Stewart told them they could write the same thing down more than one time to show that they really wanted that item.

Bella is convinced that Stewart is an elf, but we will never know...I have been forbidden from trying to sneak a picture of Stewart.