Valentine's Day

For as long as I can remember I have always been a fan of valentine's day.  Maybe it was because my mom always treated us extra special that day including candle light dinners and heart shaped cakes, not to mention our treats and candy.  As I grew up I remember spreading the love to dorm roomates in college, fellow teachers that I taught with, now neighbors, friends and the teachers of my kids.  It is a great day to show the people that you care a little bit of extra love. 

If you don't agree you better stop reading now.  I don't want to hear anything about this being a made up holiday or a day for hallmark to cash in on.  Blah blah blah....And to that I say so what if it is...celebrate with the ones you love and tell them that you love them!!!

Throughout the month of February we started to prepare by making valentine's for our friends, family, teachers and Grandparents.  The couple of days leading up to valentine's day we made cookies, cakes and more cards for our neighbors.  We were busy but mostly because my children kept wanting to make more and give more.  Hmmmmm.....bad/stupid holiday I don't think so!  When the opportunity presents itself to my children to be giving, kind and loving towards others I run with it until there is nothing left to give.

This year Isaac made power ranger valentine cards with star wars suckers for his class and Addy gave her class care bear valentines.  I forgot to mention the week leading up to valentine's day I spent a lot of it on the phone researching why my school district does not celebrate holidays.  After being informed at ecfe class that there was to be no valentines day celebration I informed them on the spot that Addy would be bringing the valentines that she worked so hard to make for her friends and teachers.  she was not alone....four other families also brought cards and treats.  My reasearch has ended....it literally exhausted me to discuss this any further and ended by being told that I should run for school board.  Maybe in another life...

We had an awesome valentine's day although we were all coming down with colds, and worse so it started better than it ended.  Isaac was thrilled to make it to school this year for the party (last year he was sick and remembered that).  Yes, St Odilia's celebrates holidays, I knew there was a reason we picked this school. :)  We started out our morning with a heart hunt, left to us by cupid!  The kids had to search the house for hearts, use their paints to uncode the message.  Put the hearts in order and what was revealed was where their presents were hiding.  They LOVED this!  They had so much fun and it took be probably 15 min. total to prepare.  Writing on white paper with white crayon after painting it reveals the message.  Thanks Pinterest!!!

After that we ate our heart shaped pancakes and sausage, went to school, and then had a playdate!!  It was busy but fun, and my kids are still talking about it.  I am so happy that I can make these memories for them, like my mom did for us.

Enjoy the pictures now that you have made it through the book I just wrote.  I told you, I LOVE valentine's day!  Spread the love!!!

Making his valentine's for his teachers: They ended up being heart butterflies.  They LOVED them.

working on her valentines

Writing his name on his valentine's

putting them in the bag

valentine presents from Nana

soaring win pegusus

Addy's present

so exciting to celebrate with Nana

Making cupcakes

purple and red swirl cupcakes

working on their heart hunt message

all of the hearts in order

Isaac got a volcano

he was so excited!  My kids are still very very much into science

Addy got some new hair tools to play beauty shop better

making the volcano explode

Dad was her first customer

breakfast

They came home from school and were right back at it with the volcano!!

sledding playdate

Thank you Mother Nature for allowing us one day this week that we could leave our house and stand to be outside for more than 30 seconds.  The temp said it was 31 degrees but with the wind we were still a bit chilly out on those hills today.

Isaac and his buddy Brady went sledding for two hours today.  I think they would have stayed longer but my little Addy was cold....tired and not having it anymore!!!

The fresh air was delightful...Everyone will sleep so well tonight.  Back inside the rest of the weekend and pretty sure Monday.  This winter is rough!

trying to pull Brady back up the hill

in the distance

watching

swinging in January!!

waiting for the boys to stop taking their sweet time

yep, they would have played a lot longer.  Batman and Robin is what they were playing today.  It was hard to get them to leave!!

science

"Mom, we want to make the volcano out of captain underpants' book."  Sigh, I was really hoping to save this for the weekend with their dad but the never ending questioning lead us to our science fun filled afternoon.
They were both very interested in the experiment and in the true fashion of experimenting kept asking,"well....what happens if we do this, add this or add more of this???"  The questions kept coming, I felt like Isaac was at least learning something and so we continued.  Some of these we did before last winter....and I have been told we will be doing more this weekend so stay tuned.

What started all of this was the activity that I originally had planned for the afternoon or at least (5 min) of the afternoon when working with toddlers melting crayons into new crayons.  We have soooooo many old & broken crayons that it was time to do something with them.  Learning about the melting process and the reformation of a new crayon brought Isaac's mind to his favorite book about captain underpants.  That is how the baking soda and vinegar were brought out of the cupboard.

placing of the crayons

end result: new round crayons

trying them out

baking soda and vinegar volcano

what happens if we put in blueberries.  They settled for cranberries.

answer: nothing, they do not explode which is what they were hoping would happen.

watching soap explode

what happens if we add the soap to the volcano, what happens when we shake it?

making elephant paste: dish soap, food coloring, baking soda, peroxide and yeast

They LOVED this one

It was pretty cool

Beauty shop

Addy is now booking appointments at her new beauty shop.  Slots are filling up fast.  If you are in need of a new look, or want to try out some new lip gloss this gal is your lady!!! 

Isaac was such a great sport the other day and volunteered to play with her.  (Pretty sure based on those smiles he didn't mind too much)!!

These pictures are not the best...but I had to share.

lip gloss...look close he is already sporting some new (ring and bracelet)

trying another kind of lip gloss

all smiles about what necklace to where

The happy and finished customer!!!

I have no idea why Addy does not have a shirt on!

Addy's favorite things to do

Just lately Addy has two favorite things to do.  The first is giving her babies a bath and the second is making meals.  She does both very well and wants to do both all the time.  I can't make dinner without her right by my side and her chair in my way!!!  She is a big help, complete with taste testing everything even before it is done.  Hmmmmmmm could be the real reason she wants to help in the kitchen. 

washing the baby

so much fun!!!

washing the baby in the sink this time

yep, frozen beans are good

yes, she actually started eating the bread like this.

Then she agreed to just have a piece but she buttered it herself.

Funny she was hungry at all for supper when it was done cooking but she was.  & she was hungry for seconds too!!

I love her so much...and I love all of her help even if it takes us twice as long :)