The Perfect Gift

Just over a week ago, my oldest daughter was hard at work on a new short story.  She was so into writing this story that I think she spent hours in her bedroom.  When she finally finished, she proudly read me her story, closed the notebook, and said, "This story is so good I think it should be published!"  How cute is that!!!  I told her I thought her story was amazing, but in order to be published, she would need to come up with some illustrations for her story.  So upstairs she went, and hours later she emerged, illustrations in hand.

And then I got an idea ... a fabulous idea ... this mom got a wonderful, fabulous idea.  I WOULD publish her book.  I've used picaboo to make photo books (I try to make an annual photo book, but I'm a few years behind), so I decided to use it again to make her book.  I took photos of all her pictures, typed up the story (the "teacher me" was fighting the "mommy me" to fix up a few things, but the mommy me won out, and except for fixing a few spelling mistakes, I left the story exactly how she wrote it), and added some Christmas scrapbook paper and embellishments to fancy it up (it ended up being just under 20 pages - including the "About the Author" page).  I ordered it the second I finished it, but was so afraid I wouldn't get it before Christmas (even with expedited shipping, it wasn't due to arrive until December 26th).  BUT ... it came yesterday!  YAY!!!  I brought it to my school today to share with the staff and my class, and it was a hit!  I'm so excited - I know this will be such a special gift for Elizabeth (and such a treasured memento for myself) ... and now my little eight-year old can truly say she is a published author - LOVE it!!!  And the best part - she has absolutely no idea.

Happy Thursday!!!  (just one more (full) day until holidays!!!)