Teacher Gifts

So, you know how lots of kids, well really it's probably the kids' moms, get their school teachers cute little gifts for Christmas?  They tend to be handmade or a gift card or something thoughtful.  Well, I've never really been one of those moms.  Don't get me wrong.  I love my kids' teachers and am so grateful for what they do.  I've just never been the type to think ahead and get or make something for the kids to give them. 

Well, it was the night before the last day of school before Christmas break.  It's bedtime.  The kids are ready to go to bed, they're just waiting for me to finish feeding Abram and then it's off to sleep.  Jonah and Lilly are in the kitchen getting crafty, as they often do, when I hear the following:

Jonah: "Let's make something for our teachers for Christmas!"
Lilly: "Okay."

About ten or twenty minutes later they emerged from the kitchen, faces beaming, so proud to show me what they had made for their teachers for Christmas.  Are you ready for this? 

Lilly made this beauty.  It's Sacajawea with pencil arms. Yes, her dress is made of toilet paper and parts of a plastic grocery bag and the pencils are Halloween ones.

Jonah made a fish in a fishbowl.  He suspended the fish from the lid so that it would look like it is swimming, but there wouldn't have to be any water in it.

Part of me was screaming, "You can't possibly let your kids give these to their teachers for Christmas gifts!  Not when they'll be getting all kinds of lotions, gift cards, and cute little mugs with apples on them! You're such a slacker mom!"

 But then I realized that these are the best kinds of gifts.  Something they thought of and created all on their own for someone they love. 

Lilly proudly put a bow on top of Sacajawea and presented her to her teacher.  And because she has such a wonderful teacher, Lilly was told how beautiful the doll is and how thoughtful it was of her to make it.

  Jonah, on the other hand, decided at the last minute that he really just wanted to keep his creation.  He has a wonderful teacher too, but sometimes you just can't part with your really cool fake fish in a jar.