This is also my friend who shared with me not long ago as I was talking to her about going into this adoption and the kids and my worry about travel, that she and another family would help and figure it out if I needed help watching the kids when it was time to go.  I am horribly bad about asking or even receiving help.  I don't know why, but I am.  And as I was doing my normal, "Oh, that's ok, thanks..."  She stopped me and talked to me about how they as a family aren't able to adopt for a number of reasons, BUT they want to and CAN help others in other ways to still be a part of helping orphans, and this would be a way they COULD help.  It just was so wonderful to hear.  And then to find this out tonight, when we've barely gotten started along our journey, when our apps are in but no workers are even assigned to us yet, when things still seem so far off... they are thinking of us... they are praying for us... they are helping us... a blessed and wonderful feeling!

***Warning*** If I know you in real life, you may want to skip this post!  Because this beauties are being given out to everyone for everything in the next year! :)

I know it's probably a little late for most of you, BUT you HAVE to try this... maybe Christmas gifts, or try to remember for the end of NEXT year!  

I then loaded those pics into Photoshop Elements, cut the outside and turned it white, then cut the inside and turned them black, creating a silhouette digitally of each of the kids...

Next I added those into the template.

Then, I typed the names of the child below the "from" at the bottom.

I was ready to print.  I had some printing issues, but these shouldn't happen with you! :)  Once the finished template was printed I copied it onto a transparency.  (I of course have access to these at school, but you can easily have a printer's do this for around $1 per sheet) - remember there are eight on a sheet!

Next, I went to a local dolla*r store and purchased hand soap.  Braeden saw the hand sanitizer and wanted that instead so I obliged.  I also got sanitizer for Olivia's principal instead of the soap.

My two cents - get the hand sanitizer instead of soap!!!!!  Soap is do-able, but you need to work at getting that label off and then work at getting the glue off with Goo Gone.  I thought we had Goo Gone, but we didn't.  The sanitizer's sticker came RIGHT off with no residue!  We are going back to get more tomorrow and do them all as sanitizer!  I'll keep the soap to use at home!

So, after you have everything, you cut out each "label" out of the transparency, being sure to cut just inside the black guideline for each so that it doesn't show in the bottle.  You will then roll the label slightly, stick it into the top of the bottle, and use something to smooth it against the side; I used a plastic knife.

Once done, tie a ribbon around the top, and Voila!  LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!

When at the store, I picked up four of these gold metallic sheets for a dollar as well, wrapped the hand sanitizer in one and tied again with a small piece of ribbon to wrap them!

I cannot WAIT to have the kids give these to their teachers!!!  I love them and they cost under $1.50 EACH!

Braeden had his kindergarten program today.  He's DONE with kindergarten!?  When did THAT happen!?  Where has the time gone?! :)

Oh yes, here he is!  Oh but isn't the class supposed to be standing and ready to sing... I thought so, but MY son decides to sit on the floor with his back to the audience!  See the little guy in the back with the blue and orange shirt watching him?  That's Braeden's buddy... found out he lives only a couple streets over from us, so hopefully the two can get together over the summer.

OK, he's standing with the others, but not quite on that elusive piece of tape stuck to his spot on the floor...  the head down could be a problem too... and now two little ones are watching him...

Looks like most of the class knows where their feet need to go... except for MY son! :)

OK, on to the Month Macarena... nope mom I'm just going to step behind this girl in the front row and shoot you evil death glances, don't smile at me mom!, don't point that camera at me!, don't look at me I'm NOT singing!...  think I'll chew my nail...

Phew, we're done!  Yes, I'll go get my kindergarten "yearbook" from my awesome teacher! 

That was our program in a nutshell... poor kid.  I wish I had thought to suggest she place him in the back row.  He doesn't perform at church either.  He gets so embarrassed.  The last time they performed at church they made him a conductor!  It worked though! :)  They did a very cute song this morning called Rock the Alphabet, he sang it to me later as we waltzed through Mickey D's parking lot! :)  Mom was too tired to cook and it's a bare cupboard in the kitchen anyway, what a week!

The Tooth Fairy was found to have left Olivia a new book, letter, and a small gift bag containing 20 one dollar bills!!!  The letter said how very proud the Tooth Fairy was when they saw that Olivia had taken her recently acquired ONE dollar that the Tooth Fairy had left for losing her tooth, and placed it all right away into our adoption fund jar.  The letter went on to tell her that when we give of ourselves, it often comes back tenfold, and to honor her gift, the Tooth Fairy was giving her a new book (one I happen to know she has REALLY wanted), and their own donation of $20 to our fund.  Each dollar bill was folded up and stuck with a tooth sticker, which Olivia then placed all over the special letter.

She has been just BEAMING all morning!!!  A special shout out to a VERY special tooth fairy, for hearing about Olivia's generosity, and for being so incredibly generous and thoughtful to my daughter's heart.  I so appreciate it!!!