Elementary School Donation

I am always encouraging the boys to do things for others than for themselves so when we had the opportunity to donate to their school, they were just as excited as I was. 

Our biggest lot of items was the 85 kites! Of course we got 20 sets of string to go with them "just in case".

Next we donated a box of items for the teachers to put in their treasure box's.  Do you remember how much fun it was when you were a kid to get a treat out of the treasure box?   Well most teachers buy those with their own money so we decided to help out.  There is exactly 100 items for the treasure box's.

Now for the last set of items we really didn't know what to do with.  The principle suggested that the kids could use these seed kits for their Mothers Day projects!  How awesome is that!  We donated 13 seed kits that contain veggies and flowers!  These can be cut up to make so many different plants and I know they will go a long way!

Our total retail value of this donation: $486!!  What could you donate locally?  This was our most recent project and we would love to feature yours!

Children's Hospital Donation

Last week we had the opportunity to get in touch with Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City MO about donating a few bedside toys and hats for cancer patients. 

We were able to send them 26 hats and a handful of bedside toys.  Total retail value $146. 

If you would like information on where you can send a donation to, contact Children's Mercy with this link; Children's Mercy Hospital They are always in need of donations to help provide the best care for patients and families. 

Here's a copy of the current Spring 2014 Wish List
We cannot accept Nerf guns, spray guns, water guns, pop ball guns, swords, bows and arrows, or toy knives.

Infants

• Infant rattles
• Infant teethers
• Infant board or cloth books
• Infant toys with light and or music
• Fisher Price Little People sets: plane, bus, barn, house, zoo, etc.

Teens

• $5 Gift Cards to local movie theaters, discount department stores (i.e., Target/Wal-Mart), and gas stations.
• Electronic games for teenagers
• Camelbak water bottles
• Teenage boy items - headphones, watches, wallets, cologne sets, basketballs, footballs
• Teenage girl items - nail Polish, lip gloss, purses, watches, jewelry

Toys

• My Little Ponies
• Dr Kits
• Action Figures - Batman, Spider-Man, Avengers, Transformers, Superman, Ninja Turtles
• Thomas Trains
• Uno playing cards
• Books – Board books, Sound books, Look and Find books, and I Spy books
• Hot Wheels 
• Bubbles
• Sidewalk chalk
• Jump ropes

Other

• Disposable cameras
• Newly-released DVD’s rated G, PG, PG-13
• Sharpies (multi-colored, fine and ultra-fine point)
• Fabric markers

If you and your organization are able to conduct a drive for these Wish List items or you would like more information, please contact Volunteer Services at (816) 234-3496, for the Children's Mercy Downtown.

Santa Donation

A neighboring town is really organized during Christmas so when I heard what they put on for local children I knew we had to be a part of it.  Not only do they sponsor families for Christmas in the entire county, but then they drive the fire trucks town to town and hand out toys to children.  Any child in the town can come up and get a toy from Santa.  It really is something to remember and it’s memories like that, that will last a lifetime.

Here is our donation to their program. 207 Items Retail $1752!!! YAY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Donation

Every year the city I work for sponsors families for Christmas.  This year we just had one family apply so I gathered some things up and here's what AlyGators sent. 

30 Items valued at $157.  It doesn't seem like a lot, but it's a start and with what the city will provide, these two little boys will have a Christmas morning.

Clothing Closet Donation

 

Every year it seems like we get so busy with whatever projects and events we have going that as a family we tend to forget how many people out there need just a little helping hand. But as the holidays quickly approach, we are reminded more and more to give back and the harsh reminder is how much we forgot in the several months prior. For this reason, we will continue throughout the year to feature our Giving Back link. 

To give us a kick start on our giving back program tomorrow we will be taking a large donation of new clothing to our local Children’s Division Office. Why do they need this clothing? Unfortunately, hundreds of children each year come into foster care with just the clothing they have on at that given moment. Our local Children’s Division Office has a clothing closet set up to try to assist with some of the bare essentials and I recently found out that closet had next to nothing left in it. So here we go! We are stocking that baby back up!

What did we send them?
80 Pairs of shoes
Over 100 Toddler shorts, shirts, pants, onsies, & P.J.s
92 Junior/Misses Tops
31 Pre-Teen Bras

 

All of these items were deeply discounted so between my best friend and I, we did a great job shopping! Our major expense is gas and time but we had a lot of fun along the way so I can’t wait until we do it again!

 

Our Donation Stock Pile for 2013 Holidays

I can't wait to show you everything we are donating this year for families in need!  Be sure to check this link often to see what all you have helped us provide for our community!

A special thank you to our Online Sponsors! These companies went above and beyond by providing at least 5 products to help us donate. Be sure to check them out first when doing your online holiday shopping!

RingStix- Donated 5 Sets of their game (click here)

 

 

 

 

Infinate Aloe- Donated 100 Jars of their face cream (click here)

Aurorae Yoga-Donated a complete set of their Yoga Gear (Click here)

 

 

 

Sprigs.Com- Donated 25 wrist wallets. (Click here)

 

 

 

This one's for the Dads

Oh mommy moments… They can be frustrating, rewarding, exciting, and funny but most of all they are moments only a mom will brag about.  Justin and I divorced in 2007, and we have since moved on and both found amazing futures.  I am so happy for him and his girlfriend as they are expecting their first baby together in July, but it was just recently Justin sat the boys down to tell the boys his big news.  Justin waited until we were all together to spill the beans.  Both boys together, my hubby, his girlfriend, and here comes the big news. 

“Boys, you are going to both be big brothers, Christina and I are having a baby.”  Jeramiah’s first words “How?” Ummmmmmmmmmmm CRAP That’s a discussion for the dads, mommy is staying out of this one!  Good Luck Justin and Steven, you dads have fun explaining this one! 

I am so fortunate to not only have a wonderful husband but a great ex-husband for moments like these!  Haha mommy is sneaking out the door and leaving this one for the dads.

Heartbreaking Mommy Moment

So I have really debated writing this for a mommy moment but I believe a lot of parents will at one point have this experience and it truly is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

Last Saturday the boys grandmother passed away and although they knew the time was coming telling them was one of the most painful moments I have ever experienced.   Jeramiah especially was really clingy to her and absolutely admired her for her strength and character.  She truly was an inspirational woman who we will never really be able to let go of. 

I can remember the first time I met her, over lunch.  Their dad told me that I had to eat everything on my plate or Gran would be upset and mad thinking I didn’t like what she had prepared. At that time I was pretty shy and he fixed my overloaded plate for me.  About halfway through my plate I was beyond full and she could tell.  I can still hear her sweet voice say “honey are you ok” and I told her that I was trying to finish I really was.  Oh she blew up on him and gave him ten kinds of the third degree.  There were so many wonderful memories like that from that point on. 

Although their dad and I divorced back in 2007, we have had a strong parenting relationship.  So when the time came we were able to sit them down together to break the news.  For this I am extremely grateful that we have been able to remain friends and truly parent our children together.  Jeramiah and Maison took the news pretty rough, but again I am glad that as parents we are able to get along because I know that made this heartbreaking experience much easier on them.

So this post is in memory of Gran, a true inspiration of a strong courageous and kind woman.  We love you and will forever miss you.  By your example we live.

After School Snack

 

It seems as soon as the kids walk in the door after a long day at school they are of course “starving” as they say.  Then again, I can remember coming home from school hungry as well when I was their age, so what’s a small snack going to hurt. 

I am always looking for ways to be creative or use the things we already have at cabinets to make something new.  This week we made peanut butter crackers, and I had to stop and ask myself, why in the world did I ever buy these when they are so simple to make!

As much as Mr. Maison loves peanut butter (I swear the kid could eat it every single day and would if I let him), we have to change it up and often.  What was their next request? Ice cream!  Oh my goodness they are nuts there is still snow on the ground!

But I did have the cones, next best option. Pudding cones and they devoured them.  Make the pudding as instructed on the box, let it set until hard, and then scoop it into an ice cream cone just as you would actual ice cream.  Easy, sweet, and they loved it!  It’s a win!

Sweet Mornings

Oh my dearest children… My children teach me just about every lesson I never knew I didn’t know. They are sweet, rotten, spoiled, and smart, but yet they are my children so I guess I am the blame for the rotten part.  Sure there are days where I wish I could just rip out every single piece of hair in my head, or the days I swear my another grey hair just popped up or a wrinkle is showing on my face.  But then there are the moments like this morning where it makes it all worth it.  As I hurried them to get their things together, get dressed, and eat breakfast, they were actually ready to walk out the door with plenty of time to spare.  Whew! Then the sweet part came, Mr. Maison decided he was going to plant it right on my lap and cuddle for a few minutes.  Ahhhhh the moments of just resting with them in your arms are priceless. 

What are your favorite morning moments with your children?