Best. Teacher. Ever. Free printable

This time of year is bittersweet. The rainy spring is fading into warmer June days and my kids are becoming antsy. They literally ::twitch:: with energy and I am SO GLAD I can send them OUTSIDE! All winter I dreamed of this moment. The day when I can send them to the backyard and not worry about them face - planting in the mud. Yup. That has actually happened - See?  Poor Ethan! This is me trying not to laugh at his misfortune.



Instead we can look forward to adventures that revolve around bug hunting, slug hunting, bike rides, scraped knees, splashing in the kiddie pool and chasing each other with the hose. More like this:


^^^ that's a slug by the way  (not poop)  ^^^

What else does June bring? OH YES. The END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

A day all parents dread. haha. Endless days of being our kids social planners and hearing over and over "I'm booooooooooored". Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about! It doesn't matter how interesting I try to keep our lives. They are always "bored". Sigh.

Also - those teachers get a well deserved break. I know they need it desperately. I would if I were in charge of 30+ children who were not my own.

So in appreciation of our teachers and in the spirit of the beginning of summer I'd like to offer up a FREE - yes you heard me F.R.E.E. printable. I'm totally over the moon head in heels in love with chalkboards these days. Use a bright chalk marker and have your kiddo sign/decorate/scribble this little love note to their favorite teachers.

Free Teacher Thank You Printable (click here)

If you download my free printable please share the love by repinning on Pinterest, facebook or tweeting. It's good Karma, I promise. 

This file will be blank without a name. If you would like me to personalize this digitally for you please see my shop listing at Dazzling Darling Designs on Etsy  HERE: https://www.etsy.com/listing/192070084/teacher-card-thank-you-chalkboard

Happy Summer to All of YOU! Stay Sane! Be careful in the water. Wear sunscreen. Always. 

Progress

Last night I spent 3 hours working on cleaning up Liam's room and transforming it from girly ladybugs to an Elephant theme. I have curtains to sew and hang and a few more art pieces. I'm pleased so far though!

Spring Fever

So we have had an interesting week. Spring fever has hit in more ways than one. Literally both Liam and Cadence have been running fevers this week. Both caught a bug and also managed to transfer it to me causing me to become ill over the weekend. Fun. I love draining my non-existent sick bank at work... *sarcasm*  Liam also got his MMR vaccine so we are now catching the fever from that and he has been busy crying non-stop. My poor boo boo :( It breaks my heart.

See? Poor buddy. Please feel better! 

The other spring fever I've caught has been the spring cleaning fever. We have finally managed to transition Cadence into a bunk bed and OUT of her crib. Having mastered that - Cadence and Ethan were sharing a badly hodge podged room full of airplanes, Halo figurines (um.... thanks Mike?), and just well... frankly crap everywhere. Liam was still sitting in a room full of leftover lady bugs from Cadence. What to do?

The theme I picked for Ethan and Cadence is bright, cheery and beachy. Full of whales and sea themed fun. 

Ethan said this evening "I've got my dream room!" Poor little guy is so excited to have a room that actually looks pulled together. 

Fabric for the curtains

Wall prints - also added a whale hook below for coats

All pulled together and cheery and CLEAN!

Homemade surfboards for the walls

It's not the BEST but it sure is better than it was. And my 5 year old and 3 year old are over the moon thrilled. Happy kids = happy mommy. Clean room also = happy mommy! 

Next - Liam's room!

I'm obsessed

I am actually obsessed with kids pajamas. As a mother of 4 this makes sense right?  The price of pajamas for kids is absolutely ridiculous! Usually even with a sale the cheapest is about $10 a pair. Assuming each kid gets 5 pairs that's $200 per season. I lump spring/summer together and fall/winter. So we are talking $400 per year minimum for our family
JUST for pajamas! So I naturally make sure to put pajamas on all their birthday and Christmas wish lists. I tell family - puhleaaaaase for all that is good and holy PLEASE don't buy us more toys!!!! Just get pajamas. They will be used and well loved. Toys you can guarantee as soon as I step on one and get over the pain they will be chucked into a garbage bag and hauled off to either Goodwill or the dump. Honestly. Pajamas. Yes. I am obsessed :)

No time for sleep

Some people sleep before their first night back on night shift. I've been off for a few days. Not me. Nope. I usually end up staring at the wall from about noon until 3 and then maybe I end up dozing for an hour before waking to get ready. The first night back is rough. Always.

We are headed in to Easter weekend. I've had some big craft plans but no time to pull them off
Thank goodness the Easter shopping is done. However.... I've been dying to make the kids some cute Easter themed pajamas. I have this wonderful toy - my embroidery machine. It beckons to me. It keeps me from The things I should be doing (sleep). So I spent a few hours working on these.  I think it was time well spent.

Happy Easter!!

In a deep mood

I'm in a deep mood tonight.  I've been thinking about friendship. You really never know who your true friends are until your relationship has been put to the test.  I've suffered some terrible losses in my life. I'm sure most of us have.  Unfortunately pain and suffering are part of living in this world.

 A dear friend whom I've never met in real life had a terrible loss a few months ago. Terrible. The worst. And I, although I haven't experienced the same level of loss , try my best to identify. To find the correct words. The words that really will never make any of it better. Ever. Never ever ever. I never wanted to be a fair weather friend. Being a true friend is messy. It means being there for the good and the bad. It means rather than standing on the sidelines, getting down and dirty in the mud. It means being able to empathize. Not sympathize. Sympathy is for cowards. Sympathy makes us feel better about ourselves without having to share another persons pain. Empathy is feeling that knife twist when your friend is hurting and being present in the moment in any way possible. When my dad died I was lucky enough to have a friend to come and be with me. To just listen. And let me cry. Because nothing will ever be truly OK. There is nothing to say.  It's all about being present and trying your best to let your friend grieve and to be there as a shoulder to lean on. A true friend is there for the unpleasant. I am willing to be there. Are you?
Dear friend. You know who you are. And I will never speak your name or your private business but I just needed to let you know that no matter what.... You have true friends who are not just standing idly by watching you and saying "gosh I hope she's ok". No. We hurt with you. Your pain is our pain. Your Joy is our joy. And we would give anything to be right there for hugs and support day or night.
Much love.
Christa

I would rather just sit here

It's Wednesday and I'm tired. The sun is trying to peak around the clouds and the most marvelous thing is that it is not raining. I can see the backyard from my recliner. It is in dire straights. It needs a weeding, some mulch and perhaps a mowing. But oh man. Do I actually think I will take advantage of the lack of rain and do my chores? I'm considering it. But it requires me to get up and dressed, shoes on. Find the garden tools. Deal with bugs and mud. I've also done the Jillian ripped in 30 video multiple times this week and my muscles are angry. The kids are running circles around me this morning. Destroying my house. And I could either nap during their naptime or work on the yard. It's a tough one.

Maybe I need to just flip a coin. Possibly I just need to suck it up because once it's done I know I'll feel accomplished.

Cadence - 3rd Birthday and a little Doc McStuffins

My Cadence turned 3 years old on March 8th.

I really can't believe how fast the time has passed. She is my crazy wild child. Her screams could make your ears bleed. She has a fiery temper. However she also has the most adorable dimples. Her smile will melt you into a puddle of goo instantly. Oh that child and her charms. She is now following Ethan around the house and copying everything he says and does. All day long I hear him say "Stop copying me!" Oh she loves him so.  She also loves to dance and sing. Her favorite cartoon lately is Doc McStuffins. She will gleefully listen to your legs, tummy, arm, chest, heck any object with her stethescope.  She sings "Time for your KETCHUP" :) And I don't dare correct her. It's so adorable.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are my amazing miracle and I love you so much! 

Comfort and sleep... the joys of memory foam

Question: How does one know when one is over the hill? (yup I'm writing in 3rd person, ain't I fancy?)

Answer: When one writes an entire post about memory foam mattress toppers.

If you have not yet discovered the bliss of sleeping on a cloud of heaven you may not have a memory foam mattress topper. I however now know the joys of such a wonderful nights sleep. OH MY HEAVEN.  My poor children. They have to rip me out of bed in the morning now because I am so comfortable. I may not even budge if Mt. Rainier erupted. *sigh*

Gel infused memory foam bliss. They should just call it BLISS. This is not my bed by the way. Mine is not that pretty. But it is extremely comfortable! 

Are you jealous yet? You should be! :) Just call me a happy camper. Now can someone make my husband stop snoring? THAT my friends would solve all my problems.

Talent Show - Mackenzy and her friends

I'm hoping this video will upload here. My sweet Mackenzy had a talent show tonight and she did great. I'm so proud of my brave girl! I hope this works.