Valentine's Party

One of my girl-friends and I threw a little Valentine's party for our play group.

For us throwing it together so quickly, I thought it turned out so cute!

We had 7 little preschoolers there. London was SO excited that she got to have a party. Since she isn't in preschool, she doesn't get holiday parties. She goes to all of Dylan's school parties with me though, so she gets what the hoopla is about.

A few of us were laughing because this was Pinterest planned party. Almost every picture bellow contains a pinterest idea! haha!

Happy Valentines!

I double heart love Valentines. Its one of my very favorite holidays. The way that we celebrate it in our house is a little different than the way it is commercialized, though. For us, Valentines is about celebrating LOVE, more so than romance. We celebrate the love that all four of us have for each other. A Mother's love, Father's love, sister's and brother's love, son and daughter's, and a Spouse's love. Of course, romance does come with being in-love with your spouse, so I do make an effort to make time for a little something special for my hubby, but that has never been the focal point of Valentines for us.

On February 1st of every year, the kids put out their little mailboxes.

Each night Daniel and I take turns leaving the kids a "love note" in their mailbox.

We also leave a small treat of some sort.

Every morning, the kids run into the kitchen and check for their "mail."

They love the notes as much, or even more than, the treats!

On valentines day itself, we ham it up all day long with a sappy, lovey dovey, mushy gushy appreciation for all things love.

We started the morning off super early this year. Daniel needed to leave for work by 6:30. The kids and I woke up at 6:00 am to have Valentine's breakfast with him. I'm so not a morning person, so this was really a sign of my love to him, lol!

We had red velvet pancakes, fruit salad, and a chocolate covered strawberry.

Then, I got Dylan ready for school. He and London both had the cutest valentines for their friends. I'll have to post pictures later because I can't seem to find them at the moment. But this is what Dylan took to his teacher, Mrs Lindemann. He decorated the envelope and was very proud of it. I put a gift card to Starbucks and a note that says "Love you a "latte" in it.

London and I surprised Dylan at school for lunch.

After lunch I went to his class room and helped all the kids make ice cream sundays.

The school decided to not have a Valentine's party, but the 1st grade teachers decided to let the kids have a little ice cream social. They asked the room moms to just drop the stuff off and they would handle it all. Well, Dylan's class had a Sub for the day, and I was so excited when she asked if I could stay and help her!!!

When Dylan got home, we spread out all his valentines and looked through them. This is always one of my favorite parts of the day! And London was asleep, so we had a little Mommy-Dylan time.

Dylan was very proud of his bag that he decorated.

Then, he and I made some mini red velvet cakes...

shaped in a heart, of course!

London woke up while the cakes were baking,

so she was able to help us decorate them.

Okay. Here's the deal with crafting, baking, decorating, or creating with kids.

All expectations of final product must be thrown out the window.

And then, its a beautiful, magical experience with a crazy looking product! haha!

But its made with love, and that's all that matters!

Here is my little cake...

And here is Dylan's.

London gave up on her's so I finished it for her.

Grammy came over, and once Daniel got home, we had our traditional valentines dinner. Sort of.

We usually have mini burgers and curly fries. When I went to the grocery store (on Valentines day, of course) they didn't have curly fries. I almost had a panic attack. And then I realized how silly I was being. This is what it sounded like in my head... " Who cares!? We'll have waffle fries! On to the bread isle... Nothing to use for mini buns!!!! Are you kidding!? Okay, I'll go to another store. But shoot! I don't have time. *Sigh* Okay, at least it will be burgers and fries still. I don't think it will scar my kids for life. Will it!?"

Its crazy in this head of mine sometimes.

*You should also note the balloons in the background. Dylan has gotten the same balloon tied to his chair for Valentines day since he was one year old. And London has had the same balloon since her very first Valentines. (I love a tradition, ya'll!)

We continued with our sappy-sweet tradition of going around the table and saying what it is we love about each other. It is so sappy, and to be honest,sometimes it feels a little silly to look someone in the eye and say what it is your really love about them, but I think its so important. I never want to wonder if the people I love in life really knew how much.

I hope each of our family and friend who read our little blog, know exactly how much we love you too!

Number 12

Its Basket Ball season and my little Dirk Nowitski Dylan is tearing up the court. Well, he's having the best time ever, anyways.

Our big man is #12 this year.

This is his second year playing basket ball.

I get so, so tickled watching him play, because

I can just tell that in his little mind

the whole game is like one giant play.

Let me explain. Dylan is ALWAYS pretending something or another. When he isn't acting out a scene from Starwars or "Water Boy (a "movie" that he made up on his own... more on that later), he is drawing out a scene or writing a story down. This boy is amazingly creative. I love that about him and I want to nurture it and help it to grow. But I also want him to be well rounded. So anytime he shows interest in a sport.. I jump on it! And he loves playing ball with his friends.

But when he is out on the court...

I believe the court is a stage to him, the parents in the stands are his audience, and he is in a movie or play, pretending to be basketball star. His facial expressions are what gives it away for me. I pointed this out to one of my friends, who knows Dylan well, and she agreed that its seemed to be the case. She said "Oh! I guarantee he is playing some theme music in his head right now!" I bet she is right. And after that game, Dylan came to me and said "Did you see the serious look I was giving that boy I was defending!?" Its so funny and it makes my heart so happy. I love exactly who he is. If he wants to be athletic, we'll encourage it. If he wants to be artistic, we'll be just as happy and encourage that too. I just pray he is blessed with great talent in whatever makes him happiest and that he uses it in amazing ways one day. And that its to the glory of the Lord.

I hope I don't make it sound as though he doesn't enjoy sports, because that's not the case. I just mean that creativity comes to him much more naturally. At this age, the only important thing in sports is that he is doing his best and having fun. And he is doing both things beautifully this year. Daniel gave him some tips yesterday right before the game, and Brother must have been listening, because Ya'll...

MY BOY GOT A BASKET!!

The first basket he's gotten this season. AND the first basket of the game. And it was an amazing play. I went crazy-out-of-my-mind-psycho with excitement. I literally jumped out of the stands, started jumping up and down and screaming something crazy like "Oh my God! Dylan! You did! AHHHHHH". Most other moms sit nicely and clap when their kids score. I just laugh when I think about how crazy I must have looked. I knew most everyone sitting around me though, so I'm sure they just smiled and thought "there's Carla."

Dylan usually pumps his arms up in the air in celebration when anyone, on either team, scores. I would have expected him to do a small victory dance or something for himself, but he just smiled really big and kept on playing the game. The kid is much more cool, calm, and collect than his mom.

He's getting better with every game.

Who knows, maybe he'll be an athlete and a brilliant creative mind one day.

Or maybe just one of those.

Or maybe something completely different.

Who knows!

Whatever he does, who ever he is...

He'll be amazing.

I'm so proud to be his Mommy.

A Princess and A Knight at the Park.

I used to roll my eyes at children who were out of the house in costumes.

And then mine started a love affair with pretend play and dress up.

Then I realized there is not one thing wrong with letting go of my pride (though most people actually smile and say how cute the kids are in costume) and letting them be a super hero, princess, ninja, or puppy dog for the day, even when we are running a quick errand. I think it encourages them to use their imaginations and is maybe even good for their self esteem.

So, behold.. my Princess and Knight at the Park

(if the park isn't the right place for costumes out of the house, I don't know where is)

Watch out, I may start letting them pick out their own clothes, matching or not, from time to time....

Most likely not. But maybe. ;)