Care Packages {2011-2012 finale}

 The following is April & May's Care Packages, all combined to make one {awesome} post about all the love that came to us in the form of exciting mail & imaginary hugs in boxes the last eight weeks.
Thank you all so much!!!

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Julie:

I think I mentioned previously the awesome Easter decorations Josh's sister Julie sent us.  I wanted to show you all just how talented she is.

I now have an entire box of holiday decorations.  I can't wait to use them all again next year.

After all those boxes full of Easter treats, she sent us an airplane goody box, full of travel yummies for the boys, juice boxes and food for the baby. I am so excited to have new, special treats to entice the boys into good behavior while we travel!!!

Thanks, Julie!

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Carl & Carl: 

Josh's parents sent us a bunch of boxes after they arrived home from their visit.  They sent the ingredients for homemade lasagna.  They sent whip cream, which the boys have loved having. And they sent Mothers' Day gift ingredients for Josh's classroom. Flower pots, seeds, dirt and a clear coat to keep the students' paint job safe when they were done painting flower pots for their mothers. The flowers are even growing, and that is the first shot of green I have had since I left Washington state back in January!

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 Roxanne:

My sister. That girl loves to shop.  And I love to benefit from that! This month for her care package, she sent clothes for all three boys!!! From Gap for the olders and Carters for the younger.  The boys got these great orange & blue striped t-shirts as well as long sleeve waffle knit hoodie shirts, Logan's in grey, Jack's in Navy.  I love them!

And the baby got this aqua outfit from Carters. He looks absolutely precious in it.  Like an angel.

Thank you, Roxanne, for some much needed cute outfits for our arrival at home. 

I can't wait to see you!!!

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Mom:

My mom sent me a much needed mommy package.  In it were sleep masks (the sun is setting after 11:30pm now, and rising around 6am), my all time {favorite} Bic Atlantis pens, a set of {adorable} pajamas for Wyatt, and magazines featuring my favorite blogger (NieNie).  This is all in addition to the two books she pre-ordered for me that were fabulous! I could have died when I got that package of unopened pens.  Heavenly!

Jack talking to Nanny

I love how grown up he looks!

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Grandma:

My grandma always sends us boxes full of groceries.  This month was a hodge podge of useful items.

The boys loved the little cereal boxes she included, and honestly, so do I. They remind me of camping as a little girl, choosing from the adorable boxes of Froot Loops or Frosted Flakes.  They also sent canned chicken, from Costco, our favorite! As well as pickles!

The boys have enjoyed making cookies from the cookie mixes and I enjoyed the licorice on movie night last week.

In addition to boxes full of helpful pantry items, she also sent me a letter and cards for the boys, with dollars tucked into them to spend at the store.  This time Jack bought a Kit Kat and Logan bought a Milky Way. It's his new favorite, just like his Uncle Dallas.

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Shirley:

My grandma's best friend Shirley is the boys' adopted great grandma.  She always sends them cards for even the tiniest of holidays, and for Easter she sent the boys money! No measly dollar bills here- they get ten whole dollars to spend at the store.  They chose to buy chips and a box of cereal with their money, which I thought was wise!

Thank you great grandma Shirley!!!

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Annie:

My good friend Annie also sent us a box of groceries.  Granola bars, crackers, pudding, Tuna, Mayo, beef jerky, yogurt raisins (yum!), Ranch dressing and Apple Juice boxes.  She also sent me so spring happiness- a cheerful table cloth, and hand towel.

And for the boys? Kites!!! Scroll down to see pictures of our fun adventure flying kites on the tundra. Finally something useful to do with all the wind around here!

Thank you Annie! What a thoughtful gift!

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Susan:

I grew up across the street from Susan, Rulon and their family.  I was so touched to receive a box from her last month.  Susan works for a dentist, so the box was chock full of tooth love! (Ironically, last week, part of my upper left back molar fell out! Thankfully, I have an appointment the Monday we get back, and the dentist said he will fix it then!)  The boys adore their new toothbrushes, brushing timers, and incentive stickers.  They play constantly with the snakes & silly bands she sent.  I loved the chapstick, toothpaste & mouth wash, myself!

She also sent oranges, apples, Ritz, Cheetoh's, baby food and chocolate graham crackers.

Thank you so much Susan. 

Your package was joyfully received and very useful!

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Mandy:

Mandy is one of Susan's five (!!!) daughters.  Mandy, mom of four, sent me the ingredients to make some awesome homemade meals, as well as bandaids, always useful and a hit around here, and kid medicine, also super useful.

My favorite items in her box, though were the tangerines and lemons.  Ahh, fresh fruit!  

Thanks so much, Mandy!

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Kristi Hammack:

A fellow blogger and {internet} friend Kristi sent me a sweet card with, who'd a thought, Orange KoolAid!!! She heard about how it's my favorite and Fred Meyer in Anchorage doesn't carry it, so she sent like ten packets of it. Angel!

Thank you Kristi!  We've been loving it!

We love Kool Aid with silly straws!!!

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Uncle Steve & Aunt Kathy:

My aunt & uncle sent us a box with Clif bars (I'd never had them before, now I {love} them!),

hot cocoa, some toys for boys, movies for us to watch on date night & a book, as well as some other groceries.  It was so nice to receive a gift box from them.

Thanks, guys!

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New York Fan:

A follower I have had for quite some time, unbeknownst to me, recently commented for the first time on my blog, and then followed up shortly with a package.  Kasey over at It's a Powersful Life, sent me some books, magazines and a journal.  I was tickled pink over this box, full of things to bring me a daily dose of joy.

She also included postcards from New York, and a touching note.  I have since started following her blog, and love that I am meeting people from all over the place via my blog. Such fun!

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Laura:

Josh's sister Laura sent him books for his classroom, which he promptly took to work and set up on his bookshelves.  Thank you, Laura, for supporting his classroom!

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Lincoln:

My coworkers from Lincoln Elementary, where I worked prior to becoming a SAHM, sent me the best two boxes a girl of little boys could ask for! In it were white boards and white board markers that will be perfect for homeschooling.  I also got an Alphabet game (thanks Becky!), magazines (thanks Eva!), a Motherhood quote book (thanks Kathy!), potatoes, Legos for the twins (thanks Mary!), honey soap, granola bars, tuna, cards & boot warmers!!!  It came right as the weather was turning from good to bad, and was perfect timing for entertaining the boys, yet again, indoors.

 ~

You all believed in me.  You told me, on days I walked in crying, that I was a good mother, doing the best I could, and with your hugs & encouragement I made it through some of my darkest days.  For that, you will always have a special place in my heart.

I love you all!

Playing with Legos from Ms. Skinner & Room 102

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I really can't express just how much all of your care packages have meant to us this first year.  To feel your love & support, thousands of miles away, made the days and weeks pass quicker than they would have otherwise.  I think we are all mail junkies now, excitedly making our way to the post office, our hearts quickening as we see the different size & shaped boxes stacked up for us there; then making our way home to the kitchen table where, camera in hand, we open each one, pulling treasures out one by one.

I can't wait for next year, to see the creative, love-filled boxes that will grace our table August to May.  In the meantime, our departure Friday means I will be seeing many of you very soon, and that is very exciting!

 

Thank you for thinking of us and cheering us on. 

Thank you for blessing us this first year in Alaska.