I've been shot by Cupid

I think I live vicariously through my children when it comes to holidays. I'm making up for the days when we just gave Valentines (boring old paper and envelopes) and called it a day. Now there's so many options for Valentines out there that I have enough ideas for when they're freshmen in college. I'm sure they'll looooove that?!

Before you start with thinking I'm some rock star, I can't take credit. I just tweaked an idea I saw online and then put my husband to work on it. I literally bought the suckers and cut three slits for the suckers while watching Biggest Loser (can you say oxymoron?). That's about how much of a contribution I made besides taking the pictures.

Next, I had some fun making up some brownies for their teachers. I figure that I really do need some brownie points because I know these boys can be a handful at times. A little bribery goes a long way.

Easiest gift ever. I got these cute little Chinese take out boxes at Wal-Mart, threw some brownies in the oven and slapped some ribbons on the box. I think this might be my staple gift every year for teachers for Valentines Day. The tag? Another husband contribution. My poor husband....he's always sucked into my craft projects.

And I really needed a creative outlet this weekend to just get my mind off of things. People ask, "Where do you find the time?" But honestly, getting my hands all dirty with glue or doing something creative helps me get my non-stop brain onto thinking about something else. It's the next best thing I can do for an "off" switch.

So I made Nolan's teacher a mailbox. I made a little pedestal stand. But it was terrible. After an attempt to spray paint a ceramic candleholder (doesn't work by the way), and a light dusting of snow coming to town -that pedestal is rolling around somewhere in my backyard and I'm too lazy and it's too cold to go get it outside. Oh well, it turned out cute even without the pedestal.

And a certain someone is really excited to give it to her tomorrow.

 

Sure do love my family and doing these fun crafty things for them. Hope they let me do it again next year! 

A conversation I had with Nolan tonight:

Nolan: Sarah asked me to marry her.

Me: And...

Nolan: I didn't want to tell her that I have five girlfriends. Actually, just four.

Me: So what did you say?

Nolan: I told her yes, but really I'm just going to marry Landry. 

So many things wrong with that conversation...

Love kisses

Before you go thinking about how super creative I am, I have a disclaimer. I stole this idea. I mean I completely robbed it. The only thing that is different is that I didn't use a picture of her child! But if I give credit where credit is due, then it's not all stealing, is it? Hey I'm not ashamed to admit that any of my creative ideas as a teacher came to me because a teacher right next door to me. There's no shame in my game.

I got this from another mommy blog who completely puts me to shame. I wanna be her when I grow up. And when I say that, I think she might be my age or even younger. Cheri from I'm a Momma - Hear Me Roar has got some crazy talent. So until I can get one good idea on my own, I'll just keep stealing from her.

She made the cutest little Valentine bags for her son's class and it actually looked like something I could handle. And when I say "handle" I mean I took the pictures and Justin did the rest.

We made them the perfect snack bag size and loaded them up with kisses. It was assembly line/family time at its finest! I even put my mother-in-law to work.

 

But I must say we made quite a team. 

 

They were fun to make and were MUCH easier than our disastrous cupcakes last year. 

Much love to yours on this LOVEly day.

Sucker for love...

I got these heart lollipops for the boys for Valentine's day and I couldn't help but get Justin to take some photos of them going to town licking and getting sticky. They just looked so cute. I sure do have a lot of love to share between these boys.

A hard lesson learned

The past year I've really gotten into making cupcakes for Nolan's class. My spider cupcakes and Rudolph cupcakes were pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. So I decided to make Valentine cupcakes for his class party. It's been a really hectic week with both boys being sick and I don't know why I try and make things more difficult for myself, but I was determined to get them done. Like I said, it's one of those things I do out of guilt since I work.

So Nolan helped make the cupcakes and I cut out all the hearts on my scrapbooking Cricut, printed out little messages, and assembled these cupcakes. All-in-all I probably spent about an hour and a half on the whole thing. Totally ridiculous, I know for 4-year-olds who would be just as happy with a fun size bag of m&ms. Justin kindly reminds me that I could just give them each store bought cookies and they'd never know the difference. I know, I know! It's this illness that I suffer from.

So I go to pick up Nolan today and ask how the party went and if his friends liked his cupcakes. Then his teacher says, "Well one of the kids pulled the cupcakes off the counter and they fell on the ground." I mean I could see her lips moving but it was kind of like it was in slow motion because I was so trying hard to focus on breathing. I think I was waiting for an apology (even though it wasn't her fault...well except for putting it in his reach part) but it never came. I'm having a hard time letting this one go. But lesson learned...store bought sounds like a GREAT idea!

Will you be my Valentine?

I had a date today and it wasn't with my husband. Shhh, don't tell. Don't worry it was with Nolan. A lady from my church invited Nolan and me to come to a Reading Rocks Valentine Brunch that benefited the "I have a Dream" Foundation that whose creed is to make a difference though education by helping children from low-income families stay in school. You wouldn't believe how insanely cute the place was decorated. Each table had a book theme. We sat at the "I'm Dirty" table. Our chairs were covered in caution tape. Our table cloth was comprised of blueprints and we had a big tractor in the center with orange cones all around. There were at least 40 tables there...from Fancy Nancy, Bob the Builder, Dr. Seuss and they all were Martha Stewart worthy. They really did bring the books to life.

To top it off Robert Munsch, the author of Love You Forever (one of my all-time favorites) was there and did story telling with the kids. Nolan wasn't too sure of all of the fanfare at first but after some Curly's custard and a cupcake he thought the place wasn't so bad. It's amazing what sugar can do.

I just loved having some good ol' one-on-one time with Nolan. He's a great date. He even walked me to the car and gave me a kiss. I gotta make sure he doesn't move so fast on the girls when he gets older!