Pinterest 24 & 25: Pant Hanger Book Covers

I combined 2 pins with this project. The first is from a baby's nursery, the second from an apartment. I bought the hangers at Target in a wood that matched Logan's furniture. I had been taking the jackets off the books and just throwing them away (until I saw the pin), but then I started saving them. I let the kids choose 2 from a few. The great thing is that I can change them as often as the kids want.

Logan chose the top one with Chinese kids photos and the bottom one is the book we just finished reading.


Sophie chose the jacket from her favorite book (no picture of that, it's on the other wall) and I chose this one.

Accomplished, Finally

My car has been a mess for a while. Family vacation back in June started it off. Then we went to visit my sister a few times and never seemed to have enough time to really get it cleaned in between. Now that work/preschool is back in session it was definitely time to clean it out. Thankfully, Paul took on the hard part. We got everything out including the car seats. Paul took it to be washed on the outside and vacuumed, then came home and cleaned the inside. While he did that, I cleaned the car seats.



Looks pretty good! We switched them when we put them back. It was funny to see the kids reactions when they went out to get in the car!

Pinterest 23: Pringles Storage Can

Lots of great ideas here.

Maw Susan Sews

This blog originally started as a place to keep track of all that I accomplished in a year. But sometimes it's nice to show off other people's accomplishments, too.


My mom was busy this summer sewing clothes for all the granddaughters. Here's a few she did for Sophie.

This is the outfit she made for Sophie's birthday party. It actually had a different pair of pants, but I didn't get a go shot of the entire outfit.

Sophie posing for the camera.

This is what I got when I told her I needed to take the picture to show Maw Susan.

This was one of the first one's she sent, but I had to send it back so that she could put a ribbon on it. The first thing Sophie did when I put it on was pull it down.

EMM: Thank a Teacher

This is the fact that jumped out at me today, "The single most important factor in determining student performance is the quality of his or her teachers."

My appreciation for the teachers at the preschool is 2-fold now that I have kids. Before it was more about the great job they did because I was "the boss". Now it also involves how great I think they are for all they do for my children.

I put my kids in a different program for part of the summer so I could go into the office. I took this for the teachers and staff on their last day. You can see more here.

I had this basket for the teachers for their first in-service day.

Here was their gift on the first day of preschool.

I also had gifts for the kids to give there teachers. I used those wax soda bottles with a note that said "Just soda you know, I think you are the best teacher."

I have a whole pinterest board devoted to teacher appreciation and I can't wait to shower the teachers with hugs!

Pinterest 22: Block Puzzles

This site has some great ideas.

Target Spot had these foam blocks and the kids have been playing with them all summer, sorting them and stacking them. I made these patterns and let Logan figure out how to do it. It may actually be too easy for him.

Pinterest 21: Soda Appreciation

I did a slightly different version of this idea . I bought those old-timey wax soda bottles and put a few in a baggie for each of the kids teachers for their first day of preschool. I included a note that said "Just SODA you know, I think you are the best teacher ever!" I would have liked to do actual six-packs of sodas but between both kids they have 7 teachers and I needed something smaller to carry.

Pinterest 20: Magnetic Word Match

Camp Slop had some great ideas including this one. I used some of my scrapbook stickers and created the cards with pictures and the matching letters. As you can see from the flag one below, Sophie doesn't quite get the point, but that's okay. Logan will help her.

Pinterest 19: Straws & Fuzzy Sticks

I decided to change out our table activities today and found this idea at Fun Frugal Mommy. Sophie had fun putting the straws pieces on the sticks but I think she liked pretending to drink with them more.

Pinterest 18: A Cut Above

I made these for the teachers first day of Preschool. Char actually decorated her scissors first, but I didn't do that (although I may try that at another time).

Pinterest 17: Color by Letter

These worksheets will be great for the older kids at preschool.

Pinterest 16: Purse Picture

Stacy Julian had this idea. So I decided to do it the next time I cleaned out my purse. My bag is both my everyday purse and also the diaper bag, so it carries a lot.

So, what is all that stuff??? Here's the breakdown:

1. My bag from Two Red Hens

2. Make-up bag

3. Bag that holds 2 diapers and cream

4. Misc. kids stuff (crayons, first aid spray, kleenex)

5. Tablet of folding activities for the kids

6. Picture accordion of the kids

7. Travel package of wipes

8. Paint swatches to take to preschool to make a matching game

9. Lipstick case (holds chapstick, gloss, and a lipstick)

10. Coupon holder (which currently has 6 non-expired coupons in it)

11. Packaging from items I need to purchase (so I'll make sure I get the right things)

12. My wallet

13. Nail file (never leave home without it)

14. Gum

15. Book I'm currently reading

16. Notebook and post-its

17. Camera

18. Keys

19. One of the folding activities

20. Receipts for preschool stuff

21. Stickers for the kids

22. Bib for Sophie



Amazingly, it all fit back into the bag!

Pinterest 15: Preschool Rocks

This gift was originally a Father's Day present. But I put it together for the first day of teacher in-service at the preschool. I had enough for all the teachers plus our support staff...receptionist, bookkeeper, pastor, custodian.

Pinterest 14: Apples & Hugs

Jessica sounds like a great mom who truly appreciates her kid's preschool teachers. I put this basket together for my kids' teachers at the summer program they attended.

Pinterest 13: Salt & Rice Sifting

This blog has some good ideas based on the Montessori method. I got this activity ready while the kids were napping and left it for Paul to do with them (while I watched a movie alone). After they had been playing awhile, he came in and said "I don't know if you realize how messy this is." Sophie had a hard time keeping the sifter over the tub so there was salt everywhere.

I found this sifter at Target. It's actually a sink drain strainer. It cost about half what an actual sifter did, but worked just as well. Score!