Graduation Memories... Hold on to all 940 Saturdays...

**It's time again to decorate your celebrations with a Challenge at Decorate To Celebrate!!**

I thought that when my kiddos graduated high school and went off to college that I would magically find an extra 20 or so hours in each day...  Without the need to pack lunches each day, do mountains of laundry from a myriad of sports activities, and plan our Movie-Night-Mondays or ballpark trips to PNC Park, I simply believed I would have nothing to do but sit and twiddle my thumbs while missing two of the best kids a mom could ever wish for...  But, alas...  The days seem to move past at a breakneck speed, even faster than they did for the minutes, hours, and days between their births and graduations...  So my post today is a reminder.  A reminder to me that I truly am a lucky, lucky, lucky mom, a reminder to moms with toddlers and teenagers that the laundry piles will soon end, and a reminder to new moms and moms-to-be that there are only 940 Saturdays between your child's birth and the time they leave for college...  Just 940...  Only. 940.  Before you know it, you'll have graduation parties under your belt and nothing but long days of twiddling your thumbs and missing them like I do... ;)

Anywhoooo, this is sort of a "throw-back" post for me because this is all about The-Boy-Child's graduation party way-back-when...  With his busy life as a web broadcaster for a college wooden bat league this summer, it's nice that I get to take a few moments to remember those last summer days before he embarked on his college journey...  Here's what I've got for ya:

I made this ENORMOUS banner using about 10 yards of white fabric and really HUGE letters using the Mickey Font and my Cricut machine...  My idea for the fabric was that we would be able to use it as a great big "card" for the party guests to write their wishes for The-Boy-Child (more about that below)...

Here's a picture of his deeeeeeee-licious cake... oh boy, was that BLACK frosting fun to get off of our fingers and tongues --and maybe a few shirts ;) 

My dad made our AWESOME cornhole game...  It's regulation size and super-smooth and NICE -- It still gets LOTS of use because it's the BEST game for bonfires and get-togethers!!  :)

One of my favorite parts of TBC's graduation party was the LIVE music -- He and one of his running buddies made us laugh (and cry) with their singing.....

Here's a sampling of a few of the wishes on his banner -- We provided a multitude of colored permanent markers so that everyone could choose a different color for their sentiments...  I've had lots of ideas for what to do with the signed fabric since then...  I thought about saving it for his college graduation (many friends and family could sign it again with new wishes)...  I also considered having it sewn into some type of blanket or quilt...  For now, I took pictures of each wish and printed them for a small keepsake album made with his cards and invitations to other graduation parties...

I know that each wish and signature will be very precious to him over the years...  Especially this one from his most-favorite-sister ;)

Not only did I add these really neat graduation hats to his banner (I believe these can be found on the Locker Talk Cricut Cartridge), I also used these for the various table centerpieces, garlands, balloon holders, and table markers...  In the wee hours of the morning I regretted my decision to use gold stickles on all of them, but it was TOTALLY worth it when I saw all the finished hats :)

Yes, those 940 Saturdays were definitely not enough...  It still seems like just yesterday that this 10 lb bundle of joy came home from the hospital (mid-blizzard)...  The-Boy-Child has brought me plenty of tears (both happy and sad), but has given me more joyful moments, more laughter, and more proud memories than one Momma deserves...  :)

Don't they just make ya SMILE??? :)

So.......  If you have a little one, a middle-sized one, or a big one about to graduate, I hope you'll treasure each of the Saturdays that you have left...  They sure do go by fast...  And they go by even faster when you think you'll be doing nothing but twiddling your thumbs and missing them (the missing them part is really, really true...  it's the staying so busy that time just flies faster that I wasn't ready for!!)...

{And in case you missed my Cricut-Crafty "GROWTH" from TBC's graduation party to The-Girl-Child's graduation party, I already posted ALL about that HERE...  I'd love for you to check it out if you missed it then...}

I hope you've enjoyed my "blast from the past" graduation post...  Now to recap: for Challenge #52 over at Decorate To Celebrate, we're asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a GRADUATION PARTY!!  Let's celebrate EVERYTHING WONDERFUL ABOUT DIPLOMAS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, and SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more!!  :)

Link up your project HERE before 11:59pm (EST) on Tuesday, June 11th to be eligible for YOUR CHANCE to WIN a great surprise pack of paper, embellishments, and MORE!!  :)  I can't wait to see what you create!!

Until next time,

Celebrating Teachers and Summer Break at DTC!! :)

**It's time again to decorate your celebrations with a Challenge at Decorate To Celebrate!!**

For Challenge #51, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a TEACHER GIFT or CLASSROOM PARTY!!  Let's celebrate EVERYTHING WONDERFUL ABOUT EDUCATION, the END of the SCHOOL YEAR, and the TEACHERS WHO INSPIRE with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more!!  :)  Link up your project over at the DTC Challenge Blog before 11:59pm (EST) on Tuesday, May 28th to be eligible for YOUR CHANCE to WIN a surprise pack of goodies (embellishments, papers, and MORE)!!

Since my wonderful Sister-In-Law is a teacher (as were/are my aunt, my uncle, and several handfuls of friends), I have tremendous respect for those who make a lifelong decision to tackle the field of education...  When I first went off to college myself, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with my life (do we ever?), so I switched from a music major to a music education major to a secondary education major before finally settling on communications and then becoming a full-time momma dabbling in management and more (yeah, somedays I STILL don't know what I wanna be when I grow up!!)...  Anywhooooo...  During my "education" major days, I was able to spend some time in several classrooms as an observer and helper (this may have been the reason that I decided to go in a different direction -- A teacher's schedule can be CRAZY!!)...  Then, after my kiddos began tra-la-la-ing off to school themselves, I went back into the classroom to spend my days having the energy sucked from my being by Pre-Schoolers...  Whew!!  As fun as it is to see my then-pigtailed-and-playtime-smudged-faced-pre-schoolers all grown up now, I take my hat off to those teachers of little ones and teenage ones alike...  That's some TOUGH work!!  So, to celebrate those who teach, I decided to make a few of my hand-painted & hand-lettered signs to let them know how incredible I think they are...

As I mentioned, having tried my hand at teaching pre-schoolers how to sing "Grey Squirrel" (to the point that even today I hum it whenever I see a squirrel bounding across my path) and take naps on command, I know first-hand the amount of energy and passion required to get out of bed each day and face those little bundles of joy...  And to those teachers I say...  "You ARE a Super Hero!!" with my "I teach...what is your superpower?" sign...

And for those teachers who put their heads down on their desks at the end of the day, close to exhaustion (or past it), and feeling like the youth of today never get any older even though they are sure they themselves age in dog years, I made a sign to remind them that the work they are doing will last a lifetime...  Because "to teach is to touch a life forever."  If there's a teacher of mine out there reading this right now, I remember you...  You challenged me and encouraged me and taught me to be the person I am today...  Without you, I might not be as open to new ideas or as willing to take chances or as grateful for the life I now have...  So, thank you for being a Super Hero, and thank you for giving of yourself so that lives could be molded and changed and bettered...

I'm linking up to the following parties -- Come check them out and join me in the FUN!! :)

Artsy Corner Link Party at Artsy Fartsy Mama.
Thankful Thursday Linky Party at D.L.Art.
Sunday {Fun}day at Everyday is an Occasion.
Give Me The Goods Party at So Much Better with Age, Rain on a Tin Roof, Dimples and Pigtails, and Commona-My House.

Until next time,