Showing posts with label Birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birthday. Show all posts

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Teenager School Day Birthday Gift


Our middle daughter, Potumus, turned fifteen this week.  I wanted to do something very special for her.   She just finished her first semester of high school and had some great successes and some struggles.


I teach at the same high school where she attends, so I had a time advantage making something happen at school since I am there all day, but every teacher I know would gladly help you celebrate your child's birthday the same way--just ask.

During secret Santa week for the staff, one of my coworkers sent our counselor a soda an hour for the whole day.  I decided to steal this idea for our daughter.

I arranged for every teacher during her seven-hour day to have a gift for her at the start of class.  Every one of her teachers was more than willing to participate.

First
A bag of homemade Valentine rice crispy treats.  There were enough for her to share with her friends at lunch.  Apparently they were more excited about this than she was.
Second

A bag full of jewelry from Oriental Trading Company with a note to share with her whole class.  I knew this would take a few minutes out of class, so I checked to make sure that was okay.  While our shy one wanted the teacher to help pass them out, I know she enjoyed the appreciation from her classmates, who I saw later that day wearing the beads.

Third
She is always thrilled when our Nature Box arrives, so when we got our box last weekend, I made sure to order a couple of times that I knew she would love and set them aside.  I wrapped up the dark chocolate berry trail mix for her.  She must have enjoyed it because I never saw the bag.


Fourth
I wrapped up her favorite beverage, root beer, so she would have one to enjoy during her passing time and lunch hour.  I also got her another one that night at dance class.

Fifth
Every year when we visit Mackinaw Island I buy an extra large bag of chocolate covered popcorn.   Then I hide it and eat it all.  While what I have linked isn't the same as that from the island, it is the best I can get this time of year.

Sixth
This one was easy: her favorite chips- sour cream and onion Pringles.  

Seventh
 I texted her teacher the night before (once again these are my coworkers, so I have their numbers) and asked permission for the final hurah: cupcakes for the whole class.

I just received a new silicone cupcake bundle and thought this was the perfect opportunity to try it our.  I had a six-muffin silicone pan years ago, but I threw it out because after several uses it was grossly stained.  It was also super flimsy and needed a cookie sheet underneath it to prevent spillage.  The new pan was wonderful.  I did not bake directly in it, but I used cupcake papers.  The pan was very sturdy and washed up beautifully in our dishwasher.


The night before her birthday I was up late making over thirty cupcakes for her last hour Freshman Academy class.  I filled all three muffin pans that I had, so I could bake them all at once.  When they were done, I set them out in our enclosed entry to cool, so I could frost them sooner.

One of the best parts of this whole gift was getting all her teachers in on it.  By the time last hour rolled around and I showed up with three pans of cupcakes she was grinning from ear to ear.  Even the wrestlers who were competing that night took a cupcake for later.

If you have a teenager, I would certainly recommend creating an all day birthday gift.


This post features the following product:



 I have received a complimentary sample of this product to review.
 The opinions here are 100% mine!  This post contains affiliate links.


Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Happy 15th Birthday Potumus

In honor of her 15th birthday today, a poem I wrote over 8 years ago for my little girl. Inspired by those ABC books about places, events, and people, it was written during my summer at the National Writing Project Tip of the Mitt.




Potumus

A_____, the name we chose
Beautiful baby now growing up
Curious about the world around her
Determined to do on her own
Everyday a new discovery
Forever in my heart
Girly-girl through and through
Her beauty and smile warm my core
Intelligent she is becoming more
Joy and bliss are her companions
Kind and temperate is her world
Love always be with her
My world has changed since her appearance
Never will anything harm her if I have the power
Optimistic are her little blue shining eyes
Pursed are the crimson lips when she is upset
Quite the little princess we tell her
Rooms filled with books and toys
Sundresses, flip-flops, and bows
Together we walk hand in hand
Undeterred is she from her wants
Voice rings as she has discovered music
Woman, Wonderful Woman she will become
Xtraordinary
Youthfulness abounds
Zoos, museums, nations, and nature I share with her



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