As usual, I had left things until the last minute and hadn't anticipated quite how long it would take to fill 7 jars with brownie/cookie mix, and label them etc...but we got there in the end!! Izzy helped me with the first 2 and then I finished them off once Izzy was in bed...finally finishing the last label just after midnight!!! I'm pleased with the final result though, luckily!
For Izzy's main teacher, we made a brownie mix in a jar - but using milk and white chocolate chips and no walnuts, and for the six teaching assistants we made chocolate chip cookie mix in a jar.
The jars themselves weren't actually too difficult to do (well, apart from the first jar which I turned into a "test batch" of cookies as I hadn't packed the layers tightly enough), but the labels took quite a long time. Luckily I have a graphic designer for a husband ;) so he made them for me and then I just had to write out the instructions...
Everyone seemed to really like them when we took them in this morning. Well, except perhaps the male teaching assistant. I hadn't wanted to single him out by getting him something different, and for all I'd known he might really like cooking. But after thanking me this morning, his next words were "so I just cook this like it is, I don't need to add anything?" and then he seemed a bit puzzled when I suggested an egg and some butter, haha, hopefully he has someone he can pass the jar onto to make cookies for him!!!
Izzy also spent the week making cards for her teacher and teaching assistants. I just bought her some packs of blank coloured cards and lots of stickers and then left her to it...
I especially loved all the messages she wrote inside...spelling mistakes make it cuter at this age right?!! Although I can't believe she's going to be 6 in less than 2 weeks, where on earth has that time gone?! I'm feeling old!!! ;)
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| I photoshopped the surname out of this one...she doesn't just call her teacher "Miss"!! |
Izzy has been in the same class since she started school back in January 2010, so she has had the same teacher for the last 1.5 years. We've been so lucky that she has absolutely adored her teacher, and I think she has been the perfect person to help Izzy find her feet in school and grow some confidence. Although having said that, it was funny to see Izzy at the celebration evening on Wednesday - all the other children bounced up to the front of the room to shake hands with the head teacher no problem, whereas Izzy shuffled up nervously sucking the sleeve of her jumper, bless her, she's still my little girl!
Anyway, Izzy's teacher is going to work at a different site next year so Izzy won't see her very often. I was getting a bit tearful just talking to Izzy about it this morning so I imagine it's been quite an emotional day for them all today! We also bought her teacher a pretty scarf as Izzy wanted to give her a little something extra. No photo of the scarf, but I just love the wrapping paper...
Liam (aka the resident gift wrapper) thought I was slightly crazy when I asked him to try not to use the whole sheet of wrapping paper so I could save some. According to him it is not good wrapping paper at all as it is too thick and sellotape refuses to stick to the glittery butterflies. I still think it's pretty though!
Have you ever made or been given layered baking mixes in jars? Can you still remember your first teacher? I can't remember the name of my reception teacher, but I remember she was an older lady - I remember her curly grey hair and that she gave us all lots of cuddles! Izzy's teacher is much younger, but as she has a young daughter herself she is very good at being a second "Mum" as well as a teacher to them. I think at that age, when they are just starting school, that is quite a good thing - a bit of comfort to get them used to school routine, although she can also be strict when needed! As for the jar mixes...I really really hope they work! As I wrote, I did end up testing the cookies and they worked well, but the brownie mix is untested, eek! I'd be so embarrassed if they were a complete fail but hopefully, if that's the case, I'll never find out!!!
