Super fun back-to-school Swap

Fischer and I participated in another fun swap last month. This was our third one! We were paired with a super cute little guy named "B" and his mom. Fischer and B have lots in common... like teachers for parents, a love of the Cars movie and Cars toys, trains, dogs and firetrucks. In fact, B's daddy is even a volunteer fireman - which Fischer just thinks is absolutely fabulous.

The boys have been emailing each other (with the help of their moms) and asking each other all kinds of questions. B is 4 and Fischer is 3, but I think they'd be fast friends. B's mom had a cute idea for them to send each other images from the Internet on their email. Fischer thought that was so great to see the little pictures on B's letter.

Then the boys put together some fun back-to-school items and sent each other a package. Fischer LOVED his package and was sooo excited to receive it! B sent him all kinds of great loot: crayons, notebook, chalk, paper, calculator, books, etc. His favorite part was the calculator! He keeps forgetting what it is called and I've now heard him refer to it as a 'calendar' and a "time machine".

Today he drew a picture and dictated a letter for B. B had asked to see some of Fischer's toys, like his Lightning McQueen cars, his fire truck and his Legos... so Fischer posed them on the coffee table for a photo shoot. He added some other favorite items in also. His favorite blue blanket made it into all of the pictures. :)

Thank you to the girls over at the Little People Swap for organizing such a fun thing! AND a big thanks to B and his mommy for being such great swap partners!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

I've been wanting to talk about a few things since our swap package arrived in the UK last week. I'll be doing a series of posts this week about bears. Grizzly bears have been on my mind for awhile and I have a few good things to tell you about.

Today, I'd just like to say again..."Thank you" to Life with Nature Girl for hosting this swap and "Thank you" to Craft Matters for being such good swap partners. Out of all the books in the world to choose from... we both chose to theme our packages around BEARS!! So funny.

Anyway, you already know about the fabulous book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" that we received... but I wanted to let you know about Michael Rosen (the author) reciting the story on You Tube. T and D's mum told us about it... it is great!! Fischer is in love with the book now and really enjoyed ALL of the You Tube videos on it... I really liked Michael's.

Our swap package finally made it to its destination

The swap package we sent finally made it to T and D in the UK today. Go check it out and I'll tell you more about it later.

Our swap package arrived!

Fischer and I signed up for One Good Book Swap over at Life with Nature Girl, in September. We were paired up with 5-year old twin boys, T and D from the UK. We've learned a bit about them and their crafty mom via email and were excited to choose a book for them. We mailed the boys a package of goodies based upon our book. They did the same; it arrived yesterday, and I had forgotten to get the mail! So... Fischer opened it today. He was so excited to see what the boys had sent him. We sent theirs out on Saturday, and I think our package will take its sweet time getting there.

Fischer was totally spoiled! He was beaming! The package was themed around the wonderful book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Fischer had never heard this story and got a huge kick out of the onomatopoeias and the actions we did.

Their mom made Fischer a fabulous cloak to wear during his own bear hunting. It has a bear on one side and his name on the other. I can see why her blog is called Craft Matters, she is definitely talented! I can't imagine the time and skill that went into making it. Soo cute.

As if the cloak wasn't treasure enough, she also made Fischer a crocheted dog to keep him company on the hunt! The detail is incredible, we are so lucky!

T and D sent him bear stickers, and a bear cookie cutter, and super yummy "Smarties" from the UK, where they live. Their Smarties are chocolate! He ate the Smarties first thing, who needs breakfast?

Thank you so much to T and D and their awesome mama! We had a fabulous experience and hope that you get your package soon!

PS If you like the sweet little doggie, check out Craft Matters' Etsy shop.

Welcome Harvey and Harry!

Our package arrived from the Little People Swap! Fischer was excited to welcome Harvey the Horse and Harry the Horseshoe to our home yesterday morning. They brought with them a fabulous scrapbook all about their adventures in Oakdale California. They also brought Fisch a great hat and a cute shirt and a bunch of other fun and tasty goodies!
Thanks Manami!!

I wish we would have taken a picture of the package we sent. Of course we sent Dino and a photo album of his summer vacation with us, but we also sent goodies from our state and from our trip to Colorado. A fun surprise was the special picnic blanket Grandma Betsy made for our swap partner. It is sooo cute and sooo us! It has dogs all over it! (Hopefully it doesn't have doghair all over it... although I wouldn't be surprised if a few hitched a ride to California!)

We had a great time with this swap and are ready to do another. We've just signed up for the One Good Book Swap! Join us!

Our Swap Friend

We chose a dinosaur for our swap "friend" for the Little People Swap. We were supposed to choose or make a soft friend to take pictures of doing all of the things we are doing this summer. We will send the dino, his scrapbook, and other fun goodies to our swap partner next month. Our partner is California girl! We're excited to "meet" her via the care package. She is younger than Fisch, but has a lot of the same interests! We've been taking the Dino everywhere. I thought I'd show a few of our pics so far.

Dino is hidden in this pic, Fisch and BFF shared him at the zoo, they are both holding him.

Here he is acting as co-pilot with Fisch in an airplane.

Here he is with Fisch and TnT in the mountains. Dino met some new plush puppy friends!

Dino lounging by the pool.

The last four chronicle the beginning of a new friendship. First, you see Dino patiently waiting to share a piece of bread with a new friend.

Then you see that the new friend is no friend at all! He pushed Dino down and took the bread!!! How rude!

Now you see that the new friend isn't all bad. He just had a bit of social anxiety and now would like to make amends with Dino.

Dino, being the forgiving type, has decided to give the new friend a chance. First impressions are often wrong. They get to know each other over a bit of cinnamon swirl bread.

A life long friendship is born... or at least until the bread runs out!

Little People Swap

We just signed up for the Little People Care Package Swap. It is kind of like getting your kids a pen pal. They match you up with another family in the US or otherwise, and you put together a care package for their kids and they do one for yours. This time they have a theme and lots of ideas for all that is involved with the swap. It sounds like a ton of fun and a great experience. Come join us! We'll let you know how it goes.