Valentine's Printable Lunch Tags

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I wanted to do something fun for the kids that didn't cost a lot. I usually send something fun in their lunch every year and thought it would be fun to send some lunch box printables all week long. A few were left with some extra space to add a little note to make it more meaningful. 

Click here to download the Free Lunch Box Tags.

I also pack Patrick lunches throughout the week and wanted to include him in on the fun. So here's some fun cards to add to your special someone's lunch all next week. Enjoy!

Click here to download the free printable tags below.

How to Help Someone Grieving During the Holidays

The Holidays are quickly approaching, and though it’s a magical time for most, those who have experienced a recent loss tend to struggle. Family gatherings and celebrations are often a painful reminder of what is missing in their life. As I think back over the past nine years following my daughter’s death, I realize there were many people who made a conscious effort to help us get through the Holidays. I wanted to compile different ways to help someone experiencing grief survive this time of year. 

1. Acknowledge the loss. It’s okay to acknowledge the loss. Often times people say, “I don’t want to make them sad,” but I can assure you they’ve already thought about their situation. Please realize that by saying, “I’m sorry,” at any time after someone has passed away is never inappropriate or too late.
   
   
2. Don’t be afraid to ask. We experienced Christmas just a few months after we lost our daughter. I realize it was difficult for family to know or understand the best way to help us, but I was so grateful when one side of the family asked how they could make it easier for us. I was thankful they asked, because though I loved my nephews and nieces, I didn’t want to watch them open presents. I just couldn’t. I felt guilty for feeling this way, but couldn't help it. When a family member asked how they could help, I was grateful to be given the opportunity to quietly share my feelings. After conversing, we decided that my husband and I would take off a little early on Christmas Eve before they opened presents. In contrast, when we visited the other side on Christmas day, I didn’t dare speak up and they carried on with tradition as usual. After watching the kids open presents, I went downstairs and cried. It made for a difficult day.
   
   
   
3. Think about all family members. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a million times easier finding a grief related gift for women than it is men and boys, but one thing I’ve observed is that males need to know they have support too. Try to acknowledge everyone in the family, including children. One year I dropped off a gift for a neighbor who had recently lost his brother. His wife later told me that it was the first time he had been given a gift, everyone else had only thought about his parents. Since then I’ve made a conscious effort to focus on more than just the female(s) in the family.  Here are some gift suggestions for men -here, and children - here.
   
   
   
4. Take Action. While grieving, it’s not uncommon to find it difficult to celebrate. A great way to help someone grieving is by incorporating their loved one into the holiday. Christmas ornaments, decor, jewelry, or even decorating headstones can be a great way to help remind them their loved one won’t be forgotten. When my husband and I struggled to decorate that first year, my dad showed up on our doorstep a few days before Christmas with a tree and angel ornaments in hand. (Read more about it here) I bawled while decorating the tree and was grateful for his unwavering support. I could tell he was nervous, but I’m so grateful he decided to act. To this day, we still decorate our angel tree with the same ornaments he bought us and use it as a way to incorporate Preslee during the Holidays.
5. Lighten their load. The holidays can be a stressful time of year for many different reasons, but when grief gets mixed in, it becomes just plain hard. One way to help relieve the stress of those grieving is by lightening their load. Whether it be dropping off paper products to help with dishes, making/buying dinner, or shoveling their walk way, your act of kindness won’t go unnoticed.
   
   
   
6. Read. If you aren’t familiar with the grieving process, take a few minutes and look into it. One of the best ways to support someone is learning more about their situation. This will help you understand what they need and will hopefully help you be a little more sympathetic to their situation. My aunt sent some information on grief to my parents right before the Holidays and my mom later shared with me how grateful she was for it. Understanding the grieving process will go a long ways and might just give you a little glimpse of why they are reacting or feeling the way that they are.

I know we’re not alone in this, because so many of you have shared similar experiences. Was there something that someone specifically did that helped you during the Holidays that I missed? If so, let us know, below.

Give Presentlee’s christmas project

The first Christmas after losing Preslee was awful. With no kids to focus on, and missing Preslee more than we could bare, Pat and I didn’t even discuss Christmas. I just couldn’t get myself to go there. We didn’t decorate, we didn’t watch a single Christmas movie, we avoided it all costs. We desperately hoped family wouldn’t ask us to watch nephews and nieces open presents that year. We just couldn’t do it.



To our surprise, about a week before Christmas, people began showing up. A tree was brought into our home and decorated. People dropped off incredibly thoughtful gifts. Anonymous cards with money were sent and gave us the push to Christmas shop for family members. And a stranger even sent us a gift card to Texas Roadhouse and told us she wanted us to have something to look forward to. We ended up inviting some friends and I remember actually laughing that night, something that I hadn’t done much of in months.
Every Christmas I think back to that time and recognize how much every act of kindness meant to us. People’s actions truly made a difference in our lives and I’ve wanted to be able to do the same ever since.

This year on December 17th, and what would be Preslee’s 10th Birthday, the Give Presentlee Foundation wants to make a difference for other families. We want to show up on multiple doorsteps (or send packages) and spread a little hope to those struggling this year just like we were eight years ago.



Last year our Give Presentlee Bags were a HUGE SUCCESS because of so many of YOU! This year we’re asking for your help again and there’s two ways to get involved.


Nominate - Our mission with the Give Presentlee Foundation is to help families affected by tragedy. Do you know a family or individual that has experienced something difficult and could use a little extra help this holiday season? If so, we would love to learn more about them and their situation. Please fill out this form to have them considered for a donation on December 17th. We will most likely be sending/giving cash to help with Christmas (Or other things if we see fit) and anyone in the US can be considered.


Donate- Last year while we were compiling bags (to learn more about this project, click here, and scroll down to the bottom of the page) for Primary Children’s Hospital, we were blown away with how many people wanted to contribute. It was because of so many of YOU that our project was an incredible success! If you’re looking to donate this Holiday season, we would love to be considered. The more money we can raise means the more people we can help. We will be using the money Presentlee donated from all the purchases made throughout the year, and we promise ALL of the donations made will be given to this cause.

You can donate here or just below.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased from Presentlee this year. This really was the main reason we launched the store, it was my hope to find a way to give back and you’ve helped us accomplish it.

Thank you to all those who continually support us with our endeavors for Preslee’s Birthday. We have such an amazing support system and will be forever grateful.

Easter Printable

The past few days we’ve been out and about more and it officially feels like spring! I’m itching for warmer weather and so are my kids.

Recently, I’ve developed a huge love for plants! I’ve started filling our new home with houseplants and have been doing some research to spruce up our landscaping in the front of our house.

With Easter quickly approaching and it being week 4 (friend week) in our Be Present Service Challenge, we created this darling FREE PRINTABLE to add to any flower or plant. I love how it turned out, don’t you? You can bet I’m also giving these to the ladies I visit teach! I plan on delivering them this Friday.

You can’t go wrong with gifting any type of flower arrangement, tulip bulbs, or succulents. So go grab something that catches your eye and make your friends smile.

Happy Gifting.

Kids Easter Activities

Last week I left Pat and the kids and took off for six days to attend a wedding in Colombia! (Yes, in South America! It was incredible! I promise a post is coming soon!) It wasn’t until Sunday that I realized Easter was a week away and panicked for a minute. I didn’t have anything planned.

Today my boys asked if we were going to do anything fun this week, so I quickly planned a couple of simple activities throughout the week and thought I’d share. They are low budget and super simple to throw together real fast.

Simple Bunny Masks

We grabbed:

• white pipe cleaners (3 for each child)
• popsicle sticks (1 for each child)
• cotton balls (1 for each child)
• white paper to cut out teeth
• Elmer’s Glue
• scissors
• a Pink Dot Marker (If you don’t have some of these, you should! My kids love them!)

1. We wrapped the pipe cleaners around the popsicle sticks and secured them with a little Elmer's glue.
2. I drew the shape of the teeth and had the boys cut them out.
3. We colored the tops of the cotton balls.
4. We glued on the teeth and cotton balls.

So simple and fun! And my boys were cracking up over them.

Exercise Easter Egg Hunt

I have about a billion Easter eggs stored away in a bin and decided an egg hunt this week would be fun,  but I didn’t want to fill them with candy… (We still have Halloween candy sitting in the cupboard) So I was looking for something other than sweets to fill the eggs with. With three boys I thought burning off some energy might be fun so here’s a simple Easter Egg Hunt Filled With Fun Exercises that kids will enjoy.

Print a couple copies and you’ll be ready to go! I’m already thinking of fun ways to twist this in my mind and am confident that it will make for a fun afternoon.

Happy Easter, enjoy!

How to help someone grieving during the holidays

The Holidays are quickly approaching, and though it’s a magical time for most, those who have experienced a recent loss tend to struggle. Family gatherings and celebrations are often a painful reminder of what is missing in their life. As I think back over the past seven years following my daughter’s death, I realize there were many people who made a conscious effort to help us get through the Holidays.  I wanted to compile different ways to help someone experiencing grief survive this time of year. 

1. Acknowledge the loss. It’s okay to acknowledge the loss. Often times people say, “I don’t want to make them sad,” but I can assure you they’ve already thought about their situation. Please realize that by saying, “I’m sorry,” at any time after someone has passed away is never inappropriate or too late.
   
   

2. Don’t be afraid to ask. We experienced Christmas just a few months after we lost our daughter. I realize it was difficult for family to know or understand the best way to help us, but I was so grateful when one side of the family asked how they could make it easier for us. I was thankful they asked, because though I loved my nephews and nieces, I didn’t want to watch them open presents. I just couldn’t. I felt guilty for feeling this way, but couldn't help it. When a family member asked how they could help, I was grateful to be given the opportunity to quietly share my feelings. After conversing, we decided that my husband and I would take off a little early on Christmas Eve before they opened presents. In contrast, when we visited the other side on Christmas day, I didn’t dare speak up and they carried on with tradition like usual. After watching the kids open presents, I went downstairs and cried. It made for a difficult day.
   
   
   

3. Think about all family members. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a million times easier finding a grief related gift for women than it is men and boys, but one thing I’ve observed is that males need to know they have support too. Try to acknowledge everyone in the family, including children. One year I dropped off a gift for a neighbor who had recently lost his brother. His wife later told me that was the first time he had been given a gift, everyone else had only thought about his parents. Since then I’ve made a conscious effort to focus on more than just the female(s) in the family.  Here are a couple gift suggestions for men -here and here, and children - here.
   
   
   

4. Take Action. While grieving, it’s not uncommon to find it difficult to celebrate. A great way to help someone grieving is by incorporating their loved one into the holiday. Christmas ornaments, decor, jewelry, or even decorating headstones can be a great way to help remind them their loved one won’t be forgotten. When my husband and I struggled to decorate that first year, my dad showed up on our doorstep a few days before Christmas with a tree and angel ornaments in hand. (Read more about it here) I bawled while decorating the tree and was grateful for his unwavering support. I could tell he was nervous, but I’m so grateful he decided to act. To this day, we still decorate our angel tree with the same ornaments he bought us and use it as a way to incorporate Preslee during the Holidays.

5. Lighten their load. The holidays can be a stressful time of year for many different reasons, but when grief gets mixed in, it become just plain hard. One way to help relieve the stress of those grieving is by lightening their load. Whether it be dropping off paper products to help with dishes, making/buying dinner, or shoveling their walk way, your act of kindness won’t go unnoticed.
   
   
   

6. Read. If you aren’t familiar with the grieving process, take a few minutes and look into it. One of the best ways to support someone is learning more about their situation. This will help you understand what they need and will hopefully help you be a little more sympathetic to their situation. My aunt sent some information on grief to my parents right before the Holidays and my mom later shared with me how grateful she was for it. Understanding the grieving process will go a long ways and might just give you a little glimpse of why they are reacting or feeling the way that they are.

I know we’re not alone in this, because so many of you have shared similar experiences. Was there something that someone specifically did that helped you during the Holidays that I missed? If so, let us know, below.

Oaklee turns one!

This was the quickest year of my life! But one of the sweetest by far. Words can’t even express how much we love this little girl. Patrick even admitted how happy he was that I talked him into one more :)

This girl woke up and caught on quickly something special was going on. She was the sweetest thing, loving the decor above the table and giving hugs to the adults throughout the entire day. My parents made the trip down to celebrate with us, which made the day even more special. 

I know its blurry, but it just captures what life is like with her perfectly.

Details to Remember:

• Buying pink decorations literally made my life. I won’t ever take that for granted.
• Oaklee kept giving my dad hugs throughout the day and attached to my mom’s hip.
• The boys excitement over every single thing.
• Homemade Cafe Rio Salads for dinner. Ledger out ate everyone by far!
• The boy picked out her Coconut cake and said it tasted, “Fantastic!”
• Oaklee was my only baby to really enjoy her cake. She loved hers and my mom’s as well.
• It was just a very happy and sweet day. Grateful she’s ours.

Oaklee at one:

• In 12-18 mo clothing.
• Size 4 diapers
• She has the smallest feet! Shoes are such a struggle. Still in the first size of mocs.
• 8 teeth, a bottom molar just popped through.
• Sleeps from 6 pm – 7 am.
• Still not walking, my slowest walker by far!
• Says: “Mama, Dada, A-choo, Banana, Night Night, Hi, Boo.” Cannon recently taught her how to growl…
• Loves emptying any shelf or drawer in record time.
• Loves her brothers and Pog.
• Has bonded with her dad a lot more lately, they are the cutest little buddies.
• My number one mama’s girl out of all my kids.

It’s been a struggle to watch my youngest turn one! But looking forward to see who she becomes even more. Happy Birthday Oaklee Grace, we love you!

Eight

Preslee died and grief consumed me. It hijacked my thoughts, emotions, and almost every aspect of my life. That first year following her death, I found myself in a dark place and the grief was unbearable. Then our sweet Ledger was born and he brought sunshine back into our lives. I learned very quickly that my grief had entailed two separate things that I had lumped into one. I had not only been grieving the death of my daughter, but I was also grieving the actions of being a mom. Ledger’s birth instantly softened my grief and he lightened my heavy load.

July 2011- Ledger

Five years have passed since Ledger’s arrival, and though each year the intensity of grief seems to soften with time, anniversaries, major holidays, and birthdays always tend to open the door and grief comes rushing back in at full force. Until recently, I assumed this is how grief works, and it will continue at this intensity for the rest of my life.

This past December, we celebrated Preslee’s 8th Birthday. Yes, her 8th. It’s a little hard to believe, isn’t it? We planned our annual trip to Temple Square and as I was looking at the Temple surrounded by twinkling Christmas lights, I realized something was different this year. Though I drastically missed our little girl, and tears had come earlier that day, something was different, my grief was reasonably lighter.  Recognizing my piano must have shifted again, (Read piano explanation here) I knew there was more to it. I could feel it. As I walked down the sidewalk looking at the millions of lights, I looked down at the stroller I was pushing, and at my one month old bundled up in it. That’s when it dawned on me, the difference was Oaklee.

Instead of grieving over every little detail of Preslee’s Birthday, wondering what it would be like to celebrate with girly decorations, or what an eight year old little girl’s Birthday party would be like, I realized one day I’ll be able to experience it, with Oaklee.

Standing there in the middle of hundreds of people at Temple Square, I realized I’ve been grieving two different things, Preslee’s death, and raising a daughter. As I stared at Oaklee, I realized my load was lighter, and it was freeing. Without worrying about every little detail related to raising a girl, I could now can solely focus on missing Preslee, which makes my grief seem a little more sacred and not so overwhelming.

Though Oaklee will never take Preslee’s place, I’m extremely grateful for Oaklee’s arrival and the future that lies ahead of us. Because of her, dance classes, girls nights, and buying a baptism dress are now in reach, and it’s nearly impossible to convey what that means.

Once again, I’m thankful for an infant who has softened my grief and lightened my heavy load. For a loving Heavenly father who has trusted me to be a mom to five special kids. They have and will continue to do far more for Pat and I, than we will ever do for them.

Christmas 2016

I’m not sure there is anything more magical than watching your kids celebrate Christmas! I truly love being a mom! Christmas Eve we had our fancy little dinner with my favorite red punch. Last year I spread the work throughout the week, but this year I did it all in one day. I vow to never to that again, it was way too much, especially with a new baby, but luckily she loves spending time in my wrap.

We ate dinner, read about Christ’s birth, sang a few Christmas songs, and then opened up Christmas pj’s, The boys were bouncing off the walls, and when we told them it was bedtime, Ledger sprinted up the stairs in record time.

I’ve always dreamed about having all my kids peacefully sleeping in the same room, waiting for Santa to come, and dreaming of sugar plums. But I learned we’re not quite to that point in life yet :) We put the boys to bed and over the next two hours, Pat and I took turns telling the boys to go to bed. Ledger was nearly in tears, begging his brothers to fall asleep before Santa chose to skip over our house, all the while Cannon and Cruiz were hanging from the bunk bed and jumping all over their room like two little monkeys at the zoo. Eventually we separated them into three different rooms and they fell asleep. Maybe, next year…

Christmas morning was incredible! Ah, it still makes me smile just thinking about it. Early that morning, the boys ran into our room with crazy hair and tired eyes and begged for us to let them go downstairs. Pat put a baby gate at the top of the stairs so they wouldn’t sneak down before we were ready. Good thing, because I think they would have went without us.

Ledger was sooo excited when he saw Santa brought him a Tortuga, a Wild Krattz toy. He dove right down to grab it and immediately started yelling with excitement! Cruiz hopped on his bike and just beamed, and Cannon found a chocolate that had fallen out of his stocking and was totally content with it. haha He seriously was giddy over a Hershey's chocolate.

We opened presents, ate biscuits and gravy for breakfast, and hurried to get to church on time. Christmas Eve we went to bed with very little snow, and woke up the next morning to so much! Pat shoveled half the driveway for over an hour, and after watching a couple of cars get stuck, we gunned it down the road, (The snow plow hadn’t made it down our street yet). But we made it, and received a special Christmas message at church. I’m so happy we were able to go.

Our original plan was to head to Idaho on the 26th, but due to a high expected snow fall, we chose to take off Christmas evening. The boys were so excited to see my parents and Uncle Rhett!

I hope to never forget the incredible memories we’re making at this stage of life. The boys are growing up so fast, and we’re trying to hold onto every moment we have with them.

Without a doubt, the best gift we received this year was by far little Oaklee. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy it made me to have a little girl in my arms, along with pink toys under the Christmas tree again. I’ll never take for granted buying a Christmas dress and matching bow. She certainly made this Christmas special as I was able to reflect about Mary holding her own newborn so long ago. And in the quiet moments, I think Preslee was near. Having a little one in heaven, truly changes how you see and experience life, and for that, I am grateful.

Now we’re on to a happy 2017! We have big plans in the works, and we’re hoping to share them with all of you soon!

North Pole Express

Oh my goodness, December was a crazy month. We had some riled up hyper boys! A few months ago, I booked tickets on the Heber City, North Pole Express. It’s a train that takes people to the North Pole. I bought tickets for December 21st, Ledger’s last day of school before break began, and we kept it a secret from the boys.The night before, I gave the kids our annual Christmas book, this year it was, The Polar Express. We read it, and traced the kids hands in the front cover and wrote their ages, (This is a fun tradition if you are looking for one). It was a hit with the boys.

The next night, we put the boys in pj’s and told them to jump in the car because we had a surprise for them. Ledger kept trying to guess where we were headed the entire drive, and when we finally arrived, and explained what we were about to do, the boys were ecstatic! Celebrating holidays with kids is literally one of the best things in life.

We climbed on board the train, where there were elves and a hot cocoa chef waiting for us. We sang songs and answered riddles with everyone on the train car. We were served hot cocoa and cookies from Mrs. Clause. When the train pulled up to the North Pole, and the boys saw Santa waving at them, they literally started screaming! Oh, it was magical! Santa came on board and gave everyone a bell, (Just like the book) and the boys were star struck.

 

It was the perfect way to kickoff Christmas break! The boys are still talking about.