Our birthday bear was stuffed full this past weekend. We celebrated our oldest daughter's birthday. Our sweet Paris is now 11 (going on 16).
Can you guess what her current passion is? When our kiddies were babes, some older and wiser parents taught us the concept of "tools not toys". When gift giving time comes around, we remind ourselves of this sage advice.
We borrowed the (below) dvd months ago from some friends and it started a passion for gardening in Paris. She lived and breathed gardening for a few months until Spring allowed her to finally plant some seeds.
The "Art of Gardening" dvd planted the first real seeds however. And on her 11'th birthday, she harvested her first tomato.
We found out there are more dvd's by the same family. Homestead Blessings is like Hillbilly Martha Stewart. Not as polished but definitely more down to earth, these dvd's provide the Home Ec course you always wished you had in school. We purchased Paris the whole set of 9 "tools" for her birthday, and we are excited to see what new passions and skills develop as a result of them!
Now that is such a great idea! She looks like a little gardener! Tools not Toys, I might have to incorporate that into my kiddos b-day gifts!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Paris! That is so lovely that she enjoys gardening and is getting such satisfaction out of growing and harvesting produce.
ReplyDeleteI so love this idea ~ "tools not toys." Reminds me a little of my philosophy on Easter basket. I always got things the girls needed and I would have to buy them any way. (new crayons, socks, hair stuff etc.)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea. You are always coming up with the best stuff!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Paris. I pray you are Blessed with many more:)
ReplyDeleteOur daughter Abigail (10) has had a small garden the last two years and this year she made her flower garden much bigger and also a big veg garden. I just love it she runs out a couple of times a day to check if things are comming up. It is so wonderful to see her just so busy weeding and taking care of her garden.
Oh and Target has the cutest little rakes and shovels for kids. Abigal and her little brothers all got rakes and shovels:)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your sweet Paris. I hope she had a wonderful day with her fabulous new DVDs and lots of fun gardening.~ Tina x
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Miss Paris!!:-)
ReplyDeleteRie,I love the thought of giving tools not toys! What a wonderful gift you have given her. To feel that passionate about something at such a young age... and to have that "something" be gardening? ... How beautiful is that!
Keep digging your hands in the earth, Paris. I will be looking forward to the day that YOUR dvd's are available!!!
Blessings to your family!
Melanie
What a great idea! I love this idea and when we are lucky enough to have childrens birthdays to celebrate I look forward to giving "tools" some of the best gifts my parents gave me were skills I use everyday!
ReplyDeleteThat is SUCH a great idea!!! I'm glad she is loving it!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful!! I wish I had really LEARNED about gardening. What a great age to start!
ReplyDelete"Hillbilly Martha Stewart" sounds much more appealing to me anyway:-) Love the idea of tools not toys... thinking we need to implement this idea with our girls.
ReplyDeleteYou are giving the best possible presents!What a great idea - an I am so intrigued by the 'hillbilly Martha' - do you think older ladies could learn from her too?!
ReplyDeleteThose DVDs are wonderful. Lily and I have watched all of them together. Paris is going to enjoy them so much:). Sending lovely birthday wishes...
ReplyDeleteJulia
Happy birthday to Paris !! and so nice that she like gardening !!! happy week i hope with lots of sun......
ReplyDeleteI love your concept of 'tools instead of toys.' I think I'll adopt that one. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the values you are instilling in your children are great. And thank you for introducing me to those dvds, they definitely look like something I want to watch.
Happy Birthday to your little girl!
What wonderful gifts for Paris's birthday. Look forward to seeing how her plants develop
ReplyDeleteAlison
Happy Birthday, Paris! Thanks for the inspiration, Rie, to be intentional in gift-giving. I love the concept of Tools, Not Toys. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSo smart of you. I learned my passion for gardening from my Mom who could grow anything in the poorest soil. She had a special touch with vegetables and flowers. She could "root" most flowers and she had never heard of purchasing rooting medium!
ReplyDeleteolive
Wonderful idea...tools instead of toys! She looks so happy!
ReplyDeleteI love this post, what a great inspiration.
ReplyDeleteDon't look now, but there's a lady-lovely tending a delightful garden of stemmed beauties on your place! Opp! It's 11-year-old Paris! Happy birthday, sweetie! P.S. I love the advice, too!
ReplyDeleteOoh ooh ooh, love the videos. "Hillbilly Martha Stewart" sounds right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your girl... and good on you for equipping your children with the "tools not toys" idea. Sounds like one I'd love to borrow (steal?) for my own littles. Thanks!
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