College/trade school boy ideas

If you remember, I sent my nephew card games. 

I had a very hard time coming up with that idea, but was very pleased when I finally did.

He is starting a trade school.

Just (last week) moved into an apartment with three boys he has never met.

My brother sent his address to me.

I happened to get it the same day I was meeting middle and her boy for dinner.

I mentioned I wanted to send something to my nephew, I always have (sent things) to his sister in college, but said I was having a very hard time thinking of non-food things for him.

I can fill a box to a girl in about five minutes in Target.

Boys are a bit trickier.

Middle's boy had very good suggestions. These will last me a while. And I will ask for more, he is a good source.

The first one is a good quality over the back of the door basketball hoop.

I ordered this one (below) from Amazon. The second picture shows an extra (soft) ball I sent too. I read a lot of reviews before settling on those two items. Hopefully they are good.

Another idea middle's boy had (will send later) is a velcro type dart board. (Suggestions of brands or types welcome in comments please, I am sure they are not all created equal.)

Then he (middle's boy) also suggested posters. I will ask my brother for very specific ideas. That is another good idea. Bare walls are not very homey.

I have had a couple texts from nephew, he is adjusting well. Likes the other guys. They have been gaming and cooking, waiting for classes to start.

More photos, still cleaning out my drop box. These photos are all teacher related, I have been hitting garage sales and resale shops looking for classroom supplies for middle (early ed, special ed).

These first photos are all from a retired teacher who was selling classroom items.

You can tell these were well loved, they are very worn. A retired teacher was having a garage sale. She said something like these were place finders or markers. She did NOT say book marks. Can anyone enlighten me? I still have her address, I will go knock on her door to clarify if needed.

ADDED LATER - I found them.

"Kids love these handy little Spaceman and teachers love the way they help students remember to use proper spacing in their compositions. Spacemen are a perfect blend of goofy fun and instruction! And now they come with their own Space Capsule for easy storage, and a space on the back for students name!"

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Books with CD's.

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She very kindly dug through two big boxes of books to find ones she though middle would like.

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Middle can use these herself or have them available for room mothers working on projects if her kids are too young for this type.

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Number line goes to 120. The shells and the markers are for counting. The two boxes are math alternatives. Middle needs a wide range of things because children with autism can need more advanced materials for some subjects.

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The top two bags are matching or reading puzzles. The bottom two bags are magnet matching.

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The fly swatters are for board work. Can be relay races. One looks for the right answer on the board, runs up, and swats it. Poker chips can be for markers or counting. Wrap ups are very fun. We have many. These are subtraction. Google them if you are interested.

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Reading, phonics, sequencing.

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We now have quite the collection of puppets. Several dozen. These are the latest.  Last year middle and I found a puppet theater at a garage sale. Cleaned up nicely, has a tiny curtain and stage light. Middle is the type of teacher who would have a room full of children, each reading to their own puppet.Or one child with autism, reading to all kinds of puppets, if that is what worked.

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These balls are deflated in the picture. The idea is that one inflates them, and then tosses the ball around the room. Where your thumb lands is the question to answer. Very fun.

Main characters were
The setting was
My favorite part was
At the end
In the middle
In the beginning

What is the setting
Who are the main characters
What is the title and who is the author
What was your favorite part
How did it end
What happened in the story

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Wall Pocket Charts. There are 5 little and 7 large in this pile. One came with numbers chart. The white ones on top are 28 individuals with magnets.  If you don't know what these are, see the next picture.

These next pictures were all found at regular garage sales -

This is a pop-up tunnel, tied for storage. The next picture shows it open. This is the third one I have found for middle. 

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Great storage. Bags are washable. 

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Very old, classic, wooden puzzles. I remember these types from when I was a child. 

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The tent, assembled, is the next picture (below). As you can see, above, it disassembles easily. It is made to go on top of a twin size mattress. But the mattress is not necessary. It will support itself, just setting loose on the floor.  I love that it has a mesh top, so kids can see out, teacher can see in. 

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I have been collecting board books everywhere I go - garage sales, Target's $1 bins, resale shops. 

When I think of asbestos, my mind goes to Almanzo Wilder, Laura's husband. Do you remember he sold asbestos mats/pads for people to use in their homes?

Almanzo, I believe he actually died of heart attack(s). I am not sure he had cancer or anything asbestos related. And if you are trying to remember what he and Laura had (when Rose was a baby) it was diphtheria, the D in DPT (diphtheria, pertussis/whopping cough and tetanus). He had lower body paralysis and weakness (I think for the rest of his life, to some extent) from the diptheria. And I think it was somewhere in that time frame (within a year maybe) that Laura gave birth to their son who only lived a short time.

Kids' church bag and story of my paternal grandmother's purse

Added later - this is my follow up post with my own church quiet bag and the Baptism gift that followed.

We have sat in a pew in front of a desperate dad, with a grouchy toddler, and only one toy in the diaper bag which happened to jingle.

Last week we were at mass with our six year old who wrote notes, attached star stickers and passed them around (there were 7 of us in pew/together).

Neither one of those particularly bothered me. But I NOTICED.

I am collecting stuff for a Kids's church bag as I see it.

The rule on my bag is only one thing at a time. If you want the next great thing, have to put the first great thing away (no passing).

And all my things will be pretty silent.

And if they can be church related, that is preferred.

Board religious books (with great pictures, maybe no words) are the first thing to come to mind.

Other ideas please?




Story of my paternal gradmother's purse.

I remember my grandmother well. But actually I do not remember this "magical" aspect/fact about her purse (at all).

My mother has always said, very fondly, that my paternal grandmother could easily, quietly passify many children with her sort of magical purse.

My grandmother had a sixteen year spread between between the oldest and youngest of her own four children. And her first grandchild arrived when her own youngest was about 4-5. So I think she never got out of "mom thinking". Her head stayed in the game.

My mom said magical things would appear out of grandma's purse and be passed down the pew or across the table. Colored pencils, bits of fun paper. I am not sure what all. I do not think any of this would have been purchased for kids. I have a feeling she kept her eyes open and picked up samples and bits and simply stuck them in her purse.

My mom did not actually do a lot with kids. She really never got IN the game, so I can see how obvious things in a purse would seem magical to her (and normal to me as a child).

And if she was somewhere with a fussy child (and had nothing) and her MIL always had an answer in her purse, it would seem great.




To this day, and starting very, very young, my own kids ALWAYS bring things with them. A book, homework, earbuds/music/audio book, something.

I do not care for a fidgeting, bored kid. We are a busy family. Sometimes there is a wait or delay. Sometimes one thing leads to another. They all have learned to think ahead, bring a sweater, wear the right shoes, bring a water Kanteen and perhaps a snack, and something to do.

I am Christmas shopping, birthday shopping, graduation (2015) gift shopping, BIG TIME, actively working to get it all done, and because I am doing it now, things are in stock, prices are good, and it is, very, very fun.

Back to school, college/dorm stuff is on sale now. A lot of the people on my list are in that age range.

I have a friend who will have one in college next year, I have been taking screen shots of good sale items that (next fall) freshman will need and sending them to her. She is ordering now, while things are on sale. She will be very glad next summer.


I bought a total of three vacuum cleaners. Identical, on clearance/sale. Earlier I bought one for middle for her dorm room. It picks up hair off her rugs. Really well. That is hard to find in a small vacuum. So, I knew it was good (for $ and size). Second one is a high school graduation gift for next spring/summer. The third is for oldest for either his (January) birthday or Christmas. Oldest was borrowing a friend's vacuum until she moved out of state. He does not have another vacuum connection. He will be glad to get it. 

I also bought a solid gray, back support/leany pillow for middle's boy this fall. We were all looking but could not find one that was firm enough. So I bought the firmest one I could find, opened the bottom seam, stuffed a whole bag of stuffing in, resewed the opening. Husband helped, it required multiple hands. Works well for him. I bought a second one, in the black dots below, for a girl graduating from high school next spring.

Middle's boy has his birthday this next week. I thought of something very good for him that they can do as a couple. I had both of them mark a specific day on their calendar. The information is in his birthday card, envelope sealed tightly. He has the card. They are both sort of dying of curiosity. Having the date marked on their calendars and the sealed envelope adds to the fun. I did a (really) good job with this.




Nephew graduated from high school this spring. He is going to auto body school rather than college. He is sharing apartment with three other boys. My brother is condensing his own household in preparation for moving in with his new wife. Translation - nephew does not need good, new stuff. So, I have not been able to think of good gift (his sister got laptop case from us for graduation and all her dorm stuff for her birthday/Christmas). We try not to send $. Nephew leaves in a couple weeks to start school. I (finally) sent 9 card games. My middle and oldest have card games (their own sets, that stay with them). They LOVE having their own. They love to play. Nephew loves cards too. I think this will be very good. Maybe the four roommate boys can play cards and stay out of trouble . . .

Of those shown below - Monopoly is our favorite,
Fluxx is beloved by middle and her boy,
We all love Uno, Phase 10, Skip Bo.
I have heard good things about Pit and Rook.
Dutch Blitz and Ratuki looked good, but I don't actually know.

Oldest and youngest have January birthdays. I birthday shop for them at the same time I Christmas shop.

I thought of an idea for youngest. It is a collection type thing. I have been looking for them and ordering them. This is a good idea too. Very youngest. Very clever.


I have been actively, seriously shopping. Christmas, birthdays and graduation. I will be totally done and wrapped by Thanksgiving. 


I have been doing most of this on line. I pay as little shipping as possible (almost always free, I have had to pay a little for youngest stuff because it is coming from odd places).

There is NO stress. I have been enjoying this hugely. My husband has enjoyed it too.