Inside was a note explaining the loot!
My swap partner, Elizabeth, made a CD of her favorite songs which I think was very thoughtful and personal. Thank you! (Why didn't I think of that?) I love Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp and Third Day too so it went directly to the car! There was also nail polish in her favorite color red and a handbag caddy which I have always wanted to try but never think to buy for myself. There was travel size lotion which I also always have in my purse. Ooo and a mini camera tripod that I never even knew existed. I can't wait to try it and actually BE IN a photo or two! I am the constant photographer but my family always nags me b/c there are very few pics of me in the boys' scrapbooks so thank you for making that possible! She included kazoos because she loves to be silly and have fun. These were a hit with the boys! Carmex because much like myself she is ADDICTED to lip balm! We BOTH have lip balm everywhere ~ the car, nightstand, our pockets and purses as well as on our desks! I even carry some in my camera bag! ADDICTED I TELL YOU! She also sent her favorite pen and says she is a pen freak and could spend hours in Office Max looking at new pens. This admission was HILARIOUS to me simply because I do the EXACT same thing. My pen stash at home and work boggles my family's mind at times when I arrive with a new one. WOW we are so much alike! Like our lip balm addiction, we both have stashes of sticky notes lying around everywhere so I was more than pleased when she sent me more. I don't know if anything would get done if I did not have sticky notes since my kids' sucked the brains right out of me! She also sent photo easels to display photos anywhere. I can't wait to try these because I am a photo addict and love to display them. The mini notebook she sent to keep track of random thoughts was funny to me too since I meant to send her one but kept forgetting to pick one up. I have three I use constantly ~ home, work and scrapbooking. They are a must in my world! Let me see what else......for a small bag it sure does seem bottomless! Oh some flame less candles and a butterfly print.
WAIT.....I TOTALLY FORGOT MY FAVORITE THING IN THE CRAFT CADDY! It is a mini photo album to carry around. It brought tears to my eyes that she was thoughtful enough to print off random pictures from my blog and put them into the album. THAT WAS SO SWEET ~ THANK YOU ELIZABETH. I LOVE IT!!
Now onto the wrapped gifts....
Then ....
I will definitely love this while eating on some bite size Snickers!
also went straight into the car and the boys love it so much that I had to get another one so they would stop fighting over it! Genius, that Elizabeth!
Thank you so much Elizabeth!
If by chance you do not have Bubble photos, then feel free to tell your bloggy friends about this contest!! Please and thank you!
I am also offering a prize to those of you who do not have a bubble photo but are still up for a giveaway. Those who follow me (1 extra entry) and do a post promoting the contest (2 extra entries) leave me a seperate comment telling me so. I will do a random drawing for ANOTHER gift card!
A bit late but I intended to do it so I am GOING. TO. DO. IT.
What is normal?
This prompt caught my eye as I was questioned by a Mother about our hectic life due to "letting" our kids play sports and our schedule not being "normal"! Here's my rant!
According to Webster's, normal is conforming with a standard, pattern, level or type - typical - functioning or occurring in a natural way.
Typical ~ let's go with that one!
Raising a step-son with special needs, I really don't like the word "normal". I have come to realize that "normal" is different for everyone. Yes, he has special needs but that is HIS normal. Yes, some of the things he reacts different to are not considered normal but they are typical reactions for him thereby making them his "normal" reactions. People often say after finding out he is Intellectually Disabled (the new PC term for Mentally Retarded) ~ "WOW I never would've guessed since he looks so normal!" OK! Well it is true he does not have any of the outward appearance features that most people associate with mental retardation. I think most people think you have to either have Downs Syndrome, be in a wheelchair unable to control your own body with drool hanging down or completely unable to form a sentence to be labeled ID. NOT TRUE! To look at Tez you would not know he has anything wrong with him. He looks "normal"! His gross motor skills are great and he is very active in sports. His fine motor skills are horrid at best. He is a 9th grader with elementary writing, reading and math skills. He is right on level with a 4th grader when it comes to his education but you would only know that if you were told or asked him to complete some on level 9th grade material. No this may not be "normal" if you include the standards of education they use to evaluate him or if you compare him to other children his age BUT this is HIS normal! I think people focus to much on labeling people or their responses to their own normal.
"Normal" is different for everyone and everyone sets different standards for their life.
What is acceptable for one may not be acceptable for another.
What one child can do may be impossible for the next but who are we to say they are not normal?
Who are we to judge because someone doesn't fit our personal definition of normal??
What I consider not the norm is another's norm.
Yes I have been known to say, "Now that's just not normal!" and I guess I was wrong because it could be normal for them!
Some people do not consider our hectic life normal but for us it is all we know. Are we supposed to sit around and let our children pass up on sports or other activities to become lazy bumps on a log to avoid the hustle and bustle of the "soccer mom" life?
NO!
I want my kids to be involved and active. I will support them in their chosen activities whether football, basketball, soccer, band, dance or choir. I must admit baseball and golf would pretty much bore me to death and I would rather rip all of the hair out of my head than to watch either one BUT I would be there sitting in the stands ripping each and every hair out between cheers! YES, it is exhausting and tough but I will not be an uninvolved parent. SO for now this is our norm. Football practices, scrimmages and games ~ our norm. Basketball practices and games ~ our norm. Drive to three different schools each day, volunteer at this school, chaperoning at this activity, coaching this team, working, taking kids to this appointment, going to countless birthday parties, taking snacks to this class or that, reading to them when all I want to do is sit or sleep, helping with homework, attending this meeting, I could go on and on ~ our norm. Some people are home bodies and that is their norm. Our norm these days is hectic at best but we love OUR normal.
We are parents and that is what we signed up for ~ to be involved in our kids lives by supporting them in what they choose not pushing them to be what they don't desire and helping them learn along the way about life while showering them with love.
THAT my friends is OUR normal!!
For more Writer's Workshop Wednesday, go visit MamaKat!
AND LAST BUT MOST CERTAINLY NOT LEAST YOU ALL KNOW I'LL BE CELEBRATING WITH SOME.........
Oh how I love the holidays....any and all holidays I'm not picky!
