Valentine DAYS 8-13

Sunday- I asked Paul if he would do something special with the kids pancakes and this is the great design he came up with. The kids really liked it. I think they taste better heart shaped!

Monday-I thought it would be fun to make jello jigglers and spell out a message or do cute shapes, but the jello didn't set up completely so the kids had bowls of jello and thankfully were just as happy.

Tuesday-Paul picked up chocolate donuts with heart sprinkles and I placed clues all around for a scavenger hunt. They were so excited when they found the donuts and packets of hot chocolate for a yummy afternoon snack!

Wednesday-I picked up some good bubble blowing bubble gum. I really wanted to get Bubble yum or Hubba bubba something really sugary that we usually don't have, but they didn't have much. Hmmm.... maybe they don't sell that anymore? Xander got to bring his to school on Friday for a special hour of gum chewing!

My neighbor mentioned a while back how much she loved Oreo cakesters and how much they reminded her of the whoopee pies her mom made when she was younger. So when we met up at the bus stop I brought her a bag of cakesters with a special card! The kids and I created this Valentines Day card a while back. I asked them what they thought love was and below are some of the things they said:

giving kisses...serving others...hugging you...holding hands... when you feel so happy inside...going outside to play in the sunshine...forgetting my faults...when your heart is so full...

Love is...

snuggling in bed...watching the kids sleep...saying I love you...amazing...family...friends...all encompassing...joy...xoxo..cuddling after a nap...rocking a baby...sweet little faces...

Thursday- Thankfully I didn't plan anything with food today! Xander was up ALL NIGHT LONG throwing up. I had just started to write on the mirror with soap when I heard that terrible sound no mom wants to hear! So in between cleanings up I finished the song. Here are my altered lyrics:

You are my sunshines

my special sunshines.

You make me so HAPPY everyday!

Sometimes I get crabby- please forgive me!

Won't you be my Valentines today?

Have I mentioned that I am glad this is almost over? The kids have been very appreciative and not expecting huge things but I am ready to be done tomorrow! :-) I don't know if it is because it feels like we just barely finished our 25 days of kindness in December or I am just bah hum buggy? Whatever the case is I am glad I did it, but even more glad tomorrow is the LAST DAY!!!

Friday- On Thursday Alyssa helped me make 45 heart shaped rice crispy treats with sprinkles to bring into their classrooms. Alexander was off the hook since he was still recovering and way too germy!

1.Tomorrow's the last day!

2. No one getting sick last night!

3. Xander thanking me at 3:30 am for helping him while he was sick! That made it all worthwhile!

Simple truths

After Laura did a really fun sharing time in primary today she asked the kids,

"How do we know that Heavenly Father blesses righteous families?"

Emma responds, "Because I said so in my talk!"

I love how kids make things so simple sometimes.

Simple truths and pure faith. Love it!

1. cookies from a valentine- yes, they do say love!
2. Paul making a delicious lunch
3. rice krispies treats for dessert!

Valentine DAYS 5-6-7

Thursday I decided to give the kids a heart attack! I put things that I think are great about them on paper hearts and put them all over their rooms. They seemed to like this especially the note with the jolly ranchers on them. I didn't realize just how much Alyssa liked it until I went up to bed that night. I walked into my room to find that she had followed suit and given us a heart attack also! It brought happy tears to my eyes and a rush of love to my heart. Paul walked in, saw the hearts, looked at me and asked if I was "having a moment." Yes, a moment of overwhelming love for my children!

I was glad to overhear the kids talking to each other that since they had the heart attack- Friday must be a smaller valentine day since that was a big one. So gratefully I took it a bit easier and gave them a special dessert in their lunch boxes with a note.

Saturday was another rule breaker. Also a bit of a tough one for me. On the outside of my door I posted a note saying:

I have to admit I cheated a bit on Friday since I knew they wouldn't be doing chores on Saturday. So on Friday evening I had them bring down the recycle that was overflowing and do a few other things. After reading the not Saturday morning we had to remind them that this did not mean they can trash the house and not have to pick up after themselves. It meant picking up what they played with but not having to clean the bathrooms, vacuum etc... This was a big hit. Xander asked if that still meant he got his allowance for that day? Good try buddy! Not gonna happen!

1.Paul fixing the blinds and replacing the ones that were broken

2. pizza party and trophies at basketball

3. hamburgers for dinner...if only we could grill them and sit outside!

Where is the OFF switch?

Last night at 2:13 Xander had a bad dream so I got up to give him a hug and a kiss. After getting back into bed my brain would NOT SHUT OFF!

I hate it when this happens. As I tossed and turned and tried to clear my mind- to no avail- I kept thinking where is the OFF SWITCH? If only I could shut my brain off and go to sleep. It was 3:16 and I was still going over random things, singing songs (in my head of course), thinking of white sheets of paper to clear my mind, counting backwards, singing, thinking, counting,... AHHHHHHHH!

SO if you know where the OFF SWITCH is could you please let me know??

1. a great idea about this years primary program

(I guess losing sleep had something good come out of it)

2. not being tired or cranky yet....

3. a potential full nights sleep ahead of me

Valentine DAYS 4

Okay so this took WAY TOO LONG to create, but it was fun. I hope it will be worth it. It is a dinner invite for the kids and they have to decode it to find the message which says: Would you like to go to Subway for dinner tonight?

1. not having to cook dinner

2. no dishes

3. getting some of my talk done

Valentine DAYS 1-2-3

Sunday was the start of our Happy Valentine's DAYS in our home. I have to admit I didn't tell the kids what I was doing at first because I knew if they knew that there would be 14 whole days of surprises they would pester me a wee bit!

Sunday I made their beds while they were in the shower, picked up their rooms a bit and put a note on their beds telling them how proud I was of them and to meet me that night on the couch for a 5 minute backrub. It was fun peeking around the corner as they read their notes! They were really grateful! They especially loved the backrubs. Dad got one too!

Monday was a rule breaker day! I always send them a healthy snack- usually a fruit with crackers, yogurt or graham crackers. Something still tasty but healthy. Last week Xander was telling me that it kinda of makes him jealous when he sees his friends having "junky" food for snack. I reminded him that he always get a dessert when I pack his lunch. Snack time is brain food! SO this day I packed Oreo cakesters for their snacks and a fruit. I put a post it note on it and wished them a Happy Valentine's DAYS #2. They were both so happy with their snack. Xander was quick to point out that I put an "s" on Days and spelled it wrong. So much for not letting them know about the 14 days! I told them the scoop and they were eager to find out what the next day would bring!

Tuesday I put this note in their lunch box with a juju heart that they can eat. When they got home I had red velvet cupcakes waiting for them. Alyssa commented tonight that she just feels happy about Valentine's day and loved.

1. school all day long even with the snow

2. red velvet cupcakes

3. sprinkles- they make it so much more festive!

A Walk in our Woods

This afternoon we had beautiful weather...well for February that is. It was 43 glorious degrees out so we decided to head out for a walk in our woods. We have 5 acres that are mostly behind us that are rarely ever seen! After our five acres it continues all the way down to the railroad tracks and then onto Mass pike! Really the only time we walk way back is when there is snow on the ground and most of the underbrush is covered by snow and the ticks are DEAD!

So today we discovered:

it was really deep in some places,

a birds nest,

tracks,

how to make "butt" prints in the snow

(which were really difficult to decipher since we had snow pants on),

it really is tiring to walk in the deep snow especially up hill,

lots of downed trees due to the ice storm,

unique trees,

don't let Xander walk behind you because he steps on you when he is paying attention to everything but what is in front of him,

don't let Xander walk in front of you- because he flings the bushes with thorns at you

after he has held it back for himself,

you have to throw a least a few snowballs,

railroad tracks,

a beautiful day,

if you karate chop the thick pieces of ice without gloves it DOES hurt,

what fun it is to be outside and warm in February!

Isn't that an oxymoron?

1. warm weather

2. walks in the woods

3. starting valentine's day smackdown