Sort of OT present for a teacher..long

[julliams]

I am a teacher too and I would be thoroughly thrilled to get a gift like that. Your daughter has great taste too!!

I can't get over the fact that $700 has been donated for gifts!!! That is truely amazing. Maybe some of the money could be donated to the school on the teachers behalf to pay for extra resources??? Just a thought.

Juliette

[rafferty]

Ok, it sounds like you all that responded do not think I am out of my mind, DH sure does! [img]redface.gif[/img]

Erin, your story is SOOO cute! That is truly priceless! It sounds like Paddington did find his way home and that he is a well loved bear! Things that are made really have so much more meaning. I am in the process of making a butterfly pillow to match the babys room. I am hoping to have DD do some embroidery on it, she is just leaning, but does quite well with it. I want the class to sign the back of it, and parents too if they want, during the party. This teacher really loves homemade things as well. DD has made her several things so far this year. She wears the scarf she made her for Christmas everyday with her coat, and calls it a "treasure." This pillow is the best I could come up with because she already has all of the bedding, etc. for the room.

Juliette, I have thought about trying to do something along the lines of donation to her favorite cause with some of the money, but since the parents are sending this in for the teacher, it needs to go to her I believe. I am thinking about doing part of it at a spa or something like that. Several moms have already offered to babysit, so that would be another neat thing to do. The teachers of the school are also having a shower for her the week before, so they might do a donation thing.

This teacher does know quite a bit about these dolls. She has been teacher the 4th grade for 9 years now, so the right age range. She has been over here several times when DD has had little parties with her friends making doll jewelry,etc. I told her there was a doll coming out that had a simular heritage to her, and she is wanting to see her. I do think she has been a little hurt that DD has named 2 of her newest dolls after her aide that she had for 2 years Marlo Rae #25, which looks closest to this teacher,but is perfect for Marlo, and her aide this year and next year, Maribel Louise #26. She has remarked several times that she wants to have a doll named after her. Unfortunately, Jess already has a name, and DD doesn't change the names if they already have them. DD has decided that this teachers baby should be named "Malina," which is interesting because we don't know where she got that name from! She does call Jess, "Jess Malina" when she is in trouble around here, so that may the closest this teacher gets to a doll after her. [img]wink.gif[/img]

Do you all have any other suggestions for the party decorations, or anything else? Any ideas are greatly appreciated! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Shelly

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ March 08, 2006 08:51 AM: Message edited by: AGfun ]</font>

[3castles]

I think Jess would be a cherished gift! I'd also include the 2006 catalog with Jess on the cover as a keepsake for her little girl.

The centerpiece is a great idea! You can purchase butterflys made out of pantihose and pin them from the ceiling on fishing line. OR you could attach fishing line to each one and hang onto long ribbons to use like streamers.
These butterflys are cheap to buy, but easy and cheap to make too! Their is also a link on HGTV on the Carol Duvall show to make butterfly mobiles by rubber stamping on acetate. The ribbon could be the inexpensive reels from the craft store that are like 2 or 3 for a dollar.
There is also an American Indian legend about butterflys that would be sweet to include in the invitations or at the party as little scrolls.
We attended a pageant where the girls were read the legend and then released live butterflys. Live butterflys can be bought via the internet and are pretty inexpensive, but I remember what a special time it was and how it brought tears to my eyes. The legend is something about whispering your hopes and dreams, wishes??? to the butterfly and then release it and the butterfly will take it straight to heaven.

I will look for the copy of it and send it to you. When I read your post, I thought this would be a very special thing to do at the shower to make her day even more special.

I will look it up and post again soon.

[3castles]

Here is the legend....


An Ancient Native American Legend

If anyone wants a wish to come true
They must capture a butterfly
And whisper that wish to it.
Since butterflies make no sound,
They can't tell the wish to anyone
But the Creator.
So, by making the wish and releasing the butterfly,
It will be taken to the Heavens and granted
Because the balance of nature has been kept.

Today we'd like you to join us in honoring this unique and special form of Indian Celebration.


To see everyone whispering to their butterfly
(which in gently encased in a little paper pocket) and then release them into the air and fly up to the sky. Whew! It will get you!
It has remained a special memory for me and something that I hope to repeat in the future.
It is also beneficial to release the butterflies as this helps to re-populate nature with these wonderful creatures.

[jrtmom3274]

I think that is a FANTASTIC idea. What a sweet daughter you have, and how great that she has such an awesome teacher.
I'm a teacher too, and I'd love to receive a gift so well-thought out and heartfelt from my students!
Heather

[rafferty]

WOW! What great suggestions! I love the butterfly release idea! I wish I had more time, the shower is on the 24th, so not that far away. That poem is so sweet, and since the teacher is already an emotional crying happy mess already, that would really get her! [img]biggrin.gif[/img] I will have to see if I can find a site that has any available at this time of year. I know she would love that!

The shower will be located in the school library. We are doing it right after school, so we don't have much time to set up, etc. I hated to do it there, but renting a place costs too much, and having potentially 60 plus people at our house with 20 plus kids, some pretty wild, was not an option. I did order some pretty looking little butterflies from Oriental Trading Co. I also found a pretty sweet little baby dressed in bright pink (teachers favorite color, and matches the pink in Jess's skirt) today at Target. So I think everything is beginning to fall into place. I also think I know what colors we will use, the babys room is Pottery Barn Oliva, so light colors, but the teacher likes brighter colors usually, so we will do that. I also think it might be a nice change from everything "baby" colored.

Thanks for all the idea, and keep them coming if you have any more! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Shelly