Still Standing

CHECKING IN: So, MPA has had a 'little' interruption this week. Rest assured, that has not meant we are doing nothing. Quite the contrary, for sure.

This week happens to be Teacher Appreciation Week, and because we appreciate teachers in a huge way, we've been really very busy. It's been five days of special events to celebrate people who work so hard to help kids.

One of the things keeping us busy have included helping host a luncheon for around 30 people on Wednesday. 

We opted for an "all star" theme, mostly because we love baseball and had a plethora of decorations to get the job done! 

The luncheon featured ballpark favorites (big hot dogs on artisan buns with an array of toppings, garlic fries, Cracker Jack and other popcorn treats, peanuts, licorice, Big League Chew and more.

For the occasion we made baseball inspired mason jar centerpieces. So quick and easy (tempera paint swished around in a jar, stitching painted on the outside). We brought some rhododendron blossoms from home to stick in them.

I had a baseball-related playlist of songs ready to go, and we had tubs full of root beer and ginger beer (best we could do on school grounds, where no real beer is allowed, of course). Such a small/easy thing to do, but the guests were so tickled by the glass 'beer' bottles.

I feel like I must give the Instant Pot pressure cooker mad props for deliciously delivering 5 dozen juicy hot dogs in about 15 minutes. They tasted MUCH better than boiled hot dogs, for sure.

All in all, the baseball party was a big hit!

The kids made the cookies for the event. 

 The baseball cookies were a slam dunk, to mix metaphors/sports.

Fast forward to today, and our project was making over the very sterile staff bathroom. The spartan space looked absolutely institutional in the 'before' photo. (Sadly, I didn't think to take a 'before' shot.)

We hung some world map canvases and a quote above them. ... And by 'we,' I mean Annabelle.

We also added a petite mirror above the sink, where there wasn't one before. And by 'we,' I mean CJ and I. ;)

We also added a lovely little cabinet chock full o' donated toiletries and bathroom supplies. 

A busy but worthwhile week!