The Perfect Gift

22 December 2011
Just over a week ago, my oldest daughter was hard at work on a new short story.  She was so into writing this story that I think she spent hours in her bedroom.  When she finally finished, she proudly read me her story, closed the notebook, and said, "This story is so good I think it should be published!"  How cute is that!!!  I told her I thought her story was amazing, but in order to be published, she would need to come up with some illustrations for her story.  So upstairs she went, and hours later she emerged, illustrations in hand.

And then I got an idea ... a fabulous idea ... this mom got a wonderful, fabulous idea.  I WOULD publish her book.  I've used picaboo to make photo books (I try to make an annual photo book, but I'm a few years behind), so I decided to use it again to make her book.  I took photos of all her pictures, typed up the story (the "teacher me" was fighting the "mommy me" to fix up a few things, but the mommy me won out, and except for fixing a few spelling mistakes, I left the story exactly how she wrote it), and added some Christmas scrapbook paper and embellishments to fancy it up (it ended up being just under 20 pages - including the "About the Author" page).  I ordered it the second I finished it, but was so afraid I wouldn't get it before Christmas (even with expedited shipping, it wasn't due to arrive until December 26th).  BUT ... it came yesterday!  YAY!!!  I brought it to my school today to share with the staff and my class, and it was a hit!  I'm so excited - I know this will be such a special gift for Elizabeth (and such a treasured memento for myself) ... and now my little eight-year old can truly say she is a published author - LOVE it!!!  And the best part - she has absolutely no idea.

Happy Thursday!!!  (just one more (full) day until holidays!!!)

16 comments

  1. Hi Jen:
    Lucky girl to have YOU for a mom!
    I'm sure she will be so excited to open her gift.
    This was my favorite post of the night because it was filled with LOVE... and me feel so happy for both people involved.

    Merry Christmas, BlogFriend!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  2. Merry Christmas to you, Kim!!! And thank-you so much!

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  3. Ditto to what Kim said - I am diggin' this idea and your little girl is going to ADORE this gift!!! You did GREAT. What a wonderful surprise this will be. Will you wait until Christmas morning, or do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?

    Sending Smiles from the South,

    Barbara

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  4. Awwww, shucks ... thanks, Barbara! This book will wait until Christmas. We do Christmas Eve at my parents' house every year, so I invented a "Christmas Eve Eve" at my house when the girls open their Christmas pajamas, a special book (The Polar Express this year), and a Christmas movie. We have a pizza picnic and roast marshmallows in the fireplace - so much fun!

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  5. My youngest would LOVE Christmas Eve Eve . . . he's already asking if we can open JUST ONE gift . . . . so so hard to wait!! EnJOY!!!

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  6. This is sooo sweet! I need to remember that for when I have little ones!!

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  7. What an awesome and precious gift idea!!! Such a cool and thoughtful Mom you are!! I'm sure she will be out of her mind with excitement!!

    4th Grade Frolics

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  8. So awesome Jen! What an amazing keepsake for both you and her. She's going to love it.

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  9. OMgosh - that is BRILLIANT! She is going to love it! Glad you got it in time to give her for Christmas!
    And we do Christmas eve presents too :)

    Jen Ross
    The Teachers’ Cauldron

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  10. She is going to be so excited and surprised! I love Christmas gifts like this. Great job Mom!

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  11. Elizabeth is going to be thrilled! Wow!

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  12. Jen, what a beautiful & thoughtful gift!!!!! She (and you) will treasure it forever!!!! I hope you took pictures of her opening up her gifts to share with all of us!!!!

    Marry Christmas!!! May it be filled with love & joy in the company of your loved one!

    I've got your Christmas gift waiting for you!!!!! Come unwrap it ♥
    http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/2011/12/treasured-gift-happy-holidays.html

    Happy Holidays!

    ❤ Mor Zrihen ❤
    A Teacher's Treasure

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  13. Hi Jen!

    It's Christmas Day and I wanted to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas!
    Thanks for being a treasured and wonderful BlogFriend.
    I hope you had a great day with your family...
    And I can't wait to hear what your daughter thought about the book (I'm sure it was a true "Kodak moment"!)

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  14. this is such a great idea - and I love how lucky we are to have so many great book publishing options out there! I've used Blurb before and really loved the quality of their books!

    happy new year!

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