Inexpensive Teachers Gifts!!

While sometimes the office administration can be a bit lacking, I absolutely adore 3/4 of my kids teachers. One of which I did happen to give this address to at parent/teacher interviews when discussing her class blog - but I doubt she reads! And it's not that I don't like the other teacher, I just don't know that teacher very well so I can't really say either way. I do know all my kids teachers are very good for and with my kids, and are great teachers! So we had to do something small for them for Christmas!

All that being said, I can't afford to go crazy on Christmas gifts for teachers this year. I have 6 kids and a husband to buy for, so I did what a lot of others do and I searched Pinterest.

Pinterest has a ton of ideas, cost effective homemade ideas which I love. I find it's more personal as apposed to a store bought box of chocolates or a gift card for Tim Hortons, which I have given in the past and learned so did a lot of other parents.

So this is what I chose to do... A mug, 2 packets of hot chocolate, a chocolate mint and a chocolate spoon!

It isn't much. But the kids loved it, and it's a nice little treat. The mug we didn't buy Christmasy on purpose, we figure they can use this one all year 'round! We had to get the ECE in Jay's class something too which I completely forgot until last night when Jay said "What about Mrs A?" ahhh, so of course she got the small gift card for Timmys. But this was just much nicer to me than a gift card for the teachers that I find are extraordinary this year (Mrs A is pretty fabulous too!). I'm really, really happy with them and I'm already planning much better gifts for the end of the school year - thanks pinterest for that too! I wrapped them up, and sent them with the kids this am.

 

Not too much, but not without thought either. 

The kids were thrilled to give them to their teachers so I do hope they enjoy them. Do you send gifts with your kids if you have any? I think even the smallest thing would be nice receive. Although, I'm more of a giver and get much more joy out of giving than receiving!

10 More Sleeps!

Jordan and I ran out last week to Walmart to grab some stuff. This guy was in front of us in the line. I saw him from down an isle and knew I had to get behind him in line so I could snap this photo! 

He  had 2 girls with him. Probably 13 and 15. It was awesome. The looks he kept getting, and the fact that he nor the girls he had with him cared was amazing. The lights on his coat were flashing, he moved and bells jingled. It was great, totally got me in the spirit and put a smile on my face which I'm sure was part of his reasoning for wearing it.

I instagramed this photo soon as I took it. It got some good laughs, It also made me want to get an ugly Christmas sweater to wear out in public... Maybe next year!

Speaking of Christmas I've got most of the gift wrapped I've bought. Most of them, but not all because I just can't seem to find the time. At night when the kids are in bed I'm so tired I can't even get the energy to look at my tree let alone wrap gifts.

I say this year after year, but I hate wrapping gifts, so that's probably why I keep putting it off too....

The gifts have been put under the tree because I cannot for the life of me find any hiding spots the 2 year old and 4 year old can't find. We've had 2 gifts unwrapped so far - which is fantastic considering. When I was a kid, I was one of those kids who took presents into the kitchen, turned on the kettle and used the steam to open tape, then fix it up. Yeah, I still to this day hate surprises and snoop when I can, so I don't blame them. Having them under the tree though they haven't touched, only if hiding I find they must see whats in them.

There is 10 sleeps now until Christmas, and I never thought I'd ever say this but I can't wait. I just want to get the holiday's over with. Put away my Christmas tree, decorations and everything - it feels so cluttered with it all out.  I am usually a Christmas freak and soak it all up, but I can honestly say this year has been so stressful and rushed I just can't wait for it to come, and go so I can relax a little bit..

Maybe then I can get back to regular blogging too, I see all the traffic I am getting... and I promise 2014 will bring more giveaways, and awesomeness.. It's just a busy time of year right now for everyone! I will be writing as much as I can going forward now.. Anyone else as rushed and anxious to get this over as I am?

Excitement!

Yesterday after we did some shopping I decided we needed to put our tree up. We usually have it up by now but we've been busy. 

I went to the basement into our cold room/storage room to dig out all the tree stuff. I couldn't find any of the decorations for the tree, not even the strings of lights! I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on then I remembered we threw it all out last year. Well, the lights anyway. They were all breaking and we didn't want to do multi-colored lights anymore. A lot of the balls and decorations got broken so while we did have some, the majority of them were garbage.

So I nursed the baby and ran to the store to grab some lights and decorations. I got the last 7 packs of clear lights which I am so thankful for because the clear looks so much better than the multi-colored, right?

Husband put the tree up while I grabbed the kids from school after finishing up at the store (I spent 5 minutes in the store, I grabbed everything and off I went!) when we got home there was some drama with kids not listening, and my oldest being put in his room for a bit. Once that was all settled it was time to do the tree. I let the kids decorate it however they wanted. We of  course were standing with them as I always make it a "family thing" but I let them put everything where they wanted. Every single year we all usually put the stuff on, but I get very obsessive over the tree. I would move balls around, fix garland and I ended up knocking the tree town SO MANY TIMES. Not good, so I promised them they could do it all and I wouldn't touch it what-so-ever. I haven't either, and I don't plan to. They did an amazing job and it looks fabulous!

The only thing left for us to do is the outside lights. Hubs needs to get his butt in gear and get on it. He's hoping to do it Thursday when he's off for some appointments. I'm just hoping the snow they predict doesn't end up coming because he will be mighty cold!

This morning I was woken up to loud, loud screams of "Elfie's here! Elfie's here Mom!" it was so adorable.... It came from #2, #3 and #4. Jordan is a bit too old, and Jackson/Justin are too young still. But it was so cute to wake up to. 

He of course found some of the extra garland we didn't use, hung it to the ceiling light in the living room and is just hanging out! 

All morning all we heard was "Can Elfie talk? Will he talk to us?" and "Oh, I can't wait to see where he is tomorrow morning!" the fun in this little stuffed Elf is completely heartwarming. Just an added bonus to make this time of year even more special than it already is! I am completely in the mode now, look out everyone!

Next up? Christmas shopping. Can you believe a Christmas freak like me has only bought 1 gift? My husband's. How awful right? I am hoping to go this Thursday when hubby has an extra day off for some appointments during the day. Justin and I can bundle up and head on out. I don't even know where to begin. I'm very disappointed in myself for not starting sooner. I hate crowds and I hate waiting until the last minute. This will be fun.......

It's almost that time again...

In a few short weeks it will be Christmas. Last year we started the tradition of Elf On The Shelf like a lot of other families all over the world. We didn't agree to use Elfie to scare our kids. We simply use Elfie as another way to bring Christmas joy into our home and created our own fun with him. Sure, Elfie came from the North Pole and does go every single night back to the North Pole to let Santa know what our family has done during the day BUT -- My kid's aren't terrified or scared of what might happen if they misbehave and Elfie goes back to visit Santa at night. Instead, Elfie is here so my kids can SHOW ELFIE how to be a good Elf and teach him things he doesn't know. My kids are his teachers basically.

We turned it around and instead of using it as a scare tactic, we use it as a tool to have them show what they know. My kids aren't awful during the year anyways, sure they have their moments and I can get really frustrated with how my girls behave at times but they are really great kids. They don't need to be scared into behaving. I don't believe that is what these Elves are for anyways.  

Have you ever seen the movie?

We watched the movie last year and my kids loved it. My kids love waking up every single day to see where Elfie landed after his long trip back to the North Pole. They love knowing anything they've taught Elfie that day will be reported back to Santa and maybe some other elves can learn too. It's fun for them.

Last year Jayden would color while Elfie hung on the picture behind the table - I'd catch him showing Elfie and saying "You have to stay in the lines"  he really enjoyed it, and he was only 3. 

We didn't say Elfie was a bad elf, or needed to be taught how to behave. I just told them he was here to learn and tell Santa what he learns! It's fun, a happy experience and they really enjoy it. I think if we used it as a scare tactic they would laugh and not take it seriously, at all.

My oldest who is 10 doesn't believe in Santa and hasn't for a few years - thanks to other kids ruining it for him a few years back, and us not able to save that for him. But he still plays along and it's even fun for him. And no, he's not mad at us or damaged for him believing for 7 years there was a Santa. I'm not either and I thought there was a Santa until I was 9 or 10.

Are we lying to them? I guess so, but I don't think it will damage them. It's no more of a lie than them thinking Santa is real. This is something fun and gives us something to do during the holiday's that is different than we're used to! I know people have an issue with these elves, and sometimes I've even heard people bashing those who let their kids believe in Santa. We all do what we do with our families, this is just something we do with ours to enjoy the holiday and I really think my kids learn a lot from teaching, even if it is a stuffed elf. It's fun for kids... let kids be kids for a little bit, they only get to be this age once!

109th Toronto Santa Claus Parade..

Today we took the kids to the Toronto Santa Claus parade. The 109th parade to be exact. It was fantastic. We had watched it every single year on tv but never went, even though this is our 3rd Christmas in Toronto so it was really cool to take the kids and see their faces. It was perfect weather, beautiful out and not freezing like usual!

Some people in Toronto are pretty nuts though. We met a wonderful couple who stood beside us and shared laughs over the adults acting like children. It was really crazy how people stand in the way of smaller children and refuse to move... Even when 4 or 5 people ask them nicely. I couldn't believe it.

Eventually I had to take the 4 older kids and lead them to the front. We sat on the side of the road with a few others because my kids just couldn't see. Adults with no kids crowding around the front really had a bunch of parents upset. The kids really enjoyed seeing all the floats though, and that's what it was all about. They were so thankful I grabbed them and sat with them in front of the barriers. No one said anything either as we sat right off to the side and weren't in anyone's way. A few others did the same.

After the marching bands were done people starting swarming out from behind the barriers. I grabbed the kids "LETS GO!" and we went to the main side of the road to see Santa! Some older man with a camera grabbed my arm and shoved me back, I couldn't believe it. You do not do that to anyone - let alone a woman!! Good grief. All because he wanted to film Santa Claus. I was just trying to stand by my kids to make sure they were safe and not hit by Santa and his huge float! 

After we made our way to the subway station to catch the subway closer to home to grab some food. The lines were outrageous. The line for the elevator to get the strollers and stuff down was nuts. We had the double stroller, I didn't babywear as I knew I would have to divide with the kids to even get them a view so we had our sit n stand. We waited 20 some odd minutes, and finally it was our turn we got on and all of a sudden some woman busted in pushing the man holding a little tiny baby, and his wife pushing their stroller with another younger child in it. The man said "Excuse me, we've been waiting don't push!" and she went off on him. "I can't wait 30 minutes, I have a disability, I have a cane don't you see it!" She then started swearing at him so of course my husband spoke up and told her not to swear in front of the kids, she then said "I don't care!" of course Mama bear had to step in and that didn't go so well. I don't understand people, and why they feel the world revolves solely around them. Not only were our 6 children on the elevator but the other couple had their 2 children as well. It was ridiculous. This woman kept going, and I was so happy to get off. Turrns out she had to stay on as she had to go down the stairs to the other side of the subway because guess what? she needed the train going the other way.. so all of that for nothing. 

Here's a tip: Be kind. Be polite. There is no need to act like that. Especially when children are around.... It was a great day, I just really could have done without all the crazy at the end!