Do you have a Christmas Elf in your home? If you find it difficult to find activities for your elf... I have a perfect solution for you. I am selling kits with 24 days of cards with activities and/or trinkets. Trust me--they are super cute--and will make your life a lot easier. :-) Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what is included in the $30 kit.
To order, fill out the form below. And if you have ANY questions, please let me know. (NOTE: Kits are only available to ship within Canada.)
This school year, our family is experiencing a lot of firsts and lasts.
First time not taking a "first day of school" photo of my oldest son. (He's going into his second year of university, so I gave him a pass. It was a good run! lol)
First day of grade 10 for my youngest son.
First day of grade 12 for my middle son... and his last "first day" of school ever. (Cue the tears!)
The older my boys get, the more I treasure our photos and traditions. Here are few snapshots from this morning.
Every year on my boys' birthdays, I write them a birthday letter. My hope is to create a "snapshot" of their personalities each year. Today, my youngest son turns 15, and here is his birthday letter.
To my Sweet Boy:
As I watch you and your brothers grow up, your birthdays seem to hit me the hardest. You are my "last" everything... the last boy to call me Mommy, the last boy to start school, the last boy to turn 15, etc... Time goes by too quickly, and I am trying to enjoy every moment.
As I reflect on the past year, I'm reminded of some of the things that make you the most special 15 year old boy on the planet:
Your confidence is growing every day, and I'm so proud of how far you have come. The little boy who cried every day I dropped him off at preschool has been replaced by an independent young man that confidently headed off to live in residence at StFX last week.
You love Crispers, multi-grain Wheat Thins, Froot Roll Ups (which you only get on your birthday and at Christmas) and Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. You also love pancakes... especially the first ones to come out of the pan.
Hockey continues to be your passion, and you are working hard to become the best goalie you can be. Dad and I love to watch you play... even though it is stressful for your mother.
You love hanging out with your brothers and cousins... especially on vacation, at the rink or on the golf course.
You love being at home with your family (just like your mother). You are a big fan of playing board games, "fat bat" in the yard, watching movies, and listening to music in your room.
As you inch closer to independence and adulthood, you should know that you'll always be my "baby".
Holidays provide the perfect opportunity to make magical memories. Today, I'm sharing delightful Easter ideas (and freebies) that are guaranteed to impress the Easter Bunny!
1) Coupons from the Easter Bunny are a wonderful alternative to candy in an Easter basket, and I made some FREE ones that you can download below.
To download the coupons I designed (for free):click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.
2) Magic jelly beans are another fun option for an Easter basket. I have a free printable envelope you can print below. Fill it with jelly beans and pop it in an Easter basket.
The kids can follow the instructions from the Easter bunny: plant it in sugar on Easter Sunday, and on Monday morning, the jelly beans will grow into something fun. :-)
To download the envelope I designed for free: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 8x10 photo.
3) Homemade goodies are great, but this shortcut is sure to impress. Who wouldn't love a chocolate bunny on a stick? It's soooo adorable.
Just take a store-bought bunny, and attach a sucker stick to the back with some melted chocolate. Let it dry, and that's it!
Pop them in cellophane bags, tie with ribbon, and add a name tag if desired. Easy peasy!
For a closer look at these ideas (and a few bonus ones!), check out the video I made below.
Which of these ideas is your favourite? I think they are all pretty cute!
For many years, our family has been going on a "Polar Express" Christmas Light Adventure, and it's one of my favourite holiday traditions. It's simple, but a lot of fun!!! (Note: Don't forget to download the UPDATED ticket I designed for you. Get if for FREE below.)
In order to embark on your own Polar Express adventure:
1) Print the tickets I designed for you.
2) Grab some hot chocolate, cookies, and popcorn.
3) Hop in your vehicle, turn on Christmas carols, and drive around looking at Christmas lights.
To print one of the Polar Express tickets I designed:right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.
Then, when the trip is over and you've chosen the winner of the "best lights in town", the kids find bells from Santa's sleigh on their pillows. Pretty fun, right?
This really is one of our family's favorite holiday traditions, and I highly recommend giving it a try.
♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
Find more ideas for easy and inexpensive Christmas family fun here.
When my boys were little, I decided to write them birthday letters every year on the day they were born. My goal was to create a "snap shot" of their personalities at the different stages of their childhoods. Today, my oldest son turns 18. As he enters adulthood, I am writing my LAST birthday letter to him. It's amazing how quickly time passes! ðŸ˜
To my oldest boy,
I literally can't believe that my first baby is an adult. I guess it's true that time flies when you are having fun -- and it has been an absolute joy watching you grow up. I couldn't be more proud of the wonderful human you have become. Being your mother is a blessing I don't take for granted. 💗
Here are a few of the reasons you are fantastic:
You are smart, kind, and friendly. Dad and I joke that you are the "Mayor of Antigonish" because you are always chatting with people everywhere we go.
You are a hard worker, and never complain about all the things you have on your plate. You excel academically, you have two jobs, you play competitive hockey, and you still find time to volunteer and have fun with your friends.
You are a great big brother. The three of you have a lot of fun together, and you set a wonderful example for them.
You love: pasta, steak, pizza, peanut butter on homemade white rolls, and Reeses peanut butter cups. You also love the Toronto Maple Leafs!
You graduated from high school this year and "killed" your Valedictorian speech. I was very proud!
You started university, and are embracing the new experience. I can't wait to see where your new path takes you!
You may be a legal adult, but you will always be my first baby. I love you to the moon and back!
Today was the first day of school for my youngest two boys. My oldest started university yesterday. As always, I served a special breakfast and took a few photos. 😀
I wasn't sure I was going to get my university student to pose for a photo, but my sweet boy reluctantly let me take a quick picture before he embarked on his new adventure. He's actually holding a picture of him on his graduation day holding a picture from his first day of grade primary. Cute, right?!?!?
In keeping with tradition, my other two boys took pictures holding pictures from the first day of school last year.
Here's my "baby" who is going into grade 9.
And here's my middle son who is heading to grade 11.
We had our traditional breakfast, and we'll have a special treat when they get home. I can't wait to hear about their day! 💗
How did you celebrate the first day of school? I hope you all have a fantastic year!
Every year on my boys' birthdays, I write them a letter. The intent is to keep a written record of their childhood and their growth from year to year. A love the tradition of creating annual "snapshots" of my boys. Today, my middle son turns 16, and here is his birthday letter.
To my sweet boy,
I can't believe you are turning 16, and you're going to be driving a car. It's amazing to me that my adorable, curly-haired toddler is growing into a young man. Although I wish time would slow down a bit, I'm so proud of the awesome human you are becoming. Here are a few reasons you are the best 16 year old in the world.
You got your first job this year, and you are loving it... especially getting a paycheque. :-)
You continue to love being active and love playing anything with a ball or a puck... but hockey is still your favourite.
You are stubborn and love to argue with me, but you are one of the most empathetic people I know. Your heart is huge!
You love pasta, pancakes, cereal, and gummy bears.
You are 6' 3", and you love to tell me how short I am. (Brat!)
You are smart and kind, and I couldn't be more proud to be your mom. I love you to the moon and back!
As those of you that have been with me for a while know, I always write letters to my boys on their birthdays. It's my way of creating a "written snapshot" of them each year. Today, I'm sharing my annual birthday letter to my youngest son on his 14th birthday.
My sweet "baby" boy,
Because you are my youngest, I find it hard to think about you inching toward adulthood... but here we are. I can hardly believe you are 14 and headed to high school in the fall. Time really does pass far too quickly.
Although it is difficult to see you getting older, I could not be more proud of the funny, increasingly independent, and sweet young man that you becoming. Here are a few reasons you are the best 14 year old in the world:
You are such a clown. You are always making Dad, your brothers, and I laugh with your quirky antics.
You are brave. New situations have always made you anxious, but you never let it hold you back. I don't know how you manage the mental stress of being a goalie, but you are getting better at it with every coming year. (I think I am more stressed than you at this point! lol)
This year, you loved shopping for our new car with Dad. You've loved cars since you were a baby, so I guess nothing has really changed. 😀
You have a passion for sports. You play anything with a puck or ball whenever you get a chance.
Your favourite foods are: pasta, pancakes, crackers, Froot Roll Ups (which you only get a Christmas and on your birthday), Crispers, and cookies and cream chocolate bars.
You give a lot of reluctant "side hugs" lately... but you still humour me with a cuddle on the couch during movie night.
I'm so blessed and grateful to be your mother. You may be another year older, but you'll always be my "baby". I love you to the moon and back.
I'm a big believer in traditions. The things we do over and over again really are the cornerstones of our memories. So, in our house, we always celebrate the last day of school the same way.
I always make finish lines for my boys to run through on the last day.
We also get ice cream.
Check out our last day of school ice cream pictures through the years...
Cute, right?!?!
And... we had lots to celebrate this year.
My youngest graduated from junior high school. I can't believe he's headed to high school in September!
And my oldest graduated from high school. I can't figure out where the time went!
PS - My oldest son had a very special end to his year. Check it out below...
The last day of school is an important milestone, and it's definitely something to be celebrated. Today, I have some fantastic ways to mark the occassion. I have ideas for inexpensive treats kids can share with their classmates, a unique (and useful) teacher gift idea, and two of my favourite last day of school traditions.
Class Treats - Kids spend a lot of time with their classmates, so it's nice to bring them treats on the last day.
How cute are these stainless steel sraws with the cute tags I designed? You can also use the "silly straws" you can get at the dollar store.
To download the tags I designed:click on one of the pictures below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a 4x6 photo.
Then, use an x-acto knife to cut slits, and insert the straw.
Another fun option is to package up ice cream cones with "splash balls". It's adorable, right? You can pair it with a "I had a BALL having you in my class" tag or a "Have a SWEET summer" tag.
To download the tags I designed: click on one of the photos below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
These tags are also cute paired with individually packaged homemade cookies.
Freezies are also perfect for summer, and they are adorable when you add the cute tag I designed.
To download the tag I designed:click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.
Teacher Gift - Kids love to bring their teachers something they made on the last day of school, and this is a great idea. Use the recipe here to fill a jar with cookie mix. Then, add the tag I designed. Cute, right?
To download the tags I designed:click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
Traditions - I've never really given my kids "grading gifts". Instead, when they were little, they got books to read over the summer. Then, when they got older, we started doing gift cards. We always have a "gift card day" during the summer where we drive around town redeeming gift cards, and it's a lot of fun.
We also have a tradition of going for ice cream on the last day of school. Check out the fun photos (below) of my boys over the years.
AND my absolute FAVORITE tradition is making "finish lines" for my boys to run through every year. I just use a roll of paper and some sharpies.
Here's our FIRST one... when my oldest was in grade primary. This year, he graduations high school. I have no idea where the time goes!
Here's the one I made for my boys last year. I love a tradition, don't you?
Check out the video I made (below) for more details and a closer look at all these ideas.
How do you celebrate the last day of school? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.
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