Thursday, February 10, 2011

Valentine's Day: I Love to Love you, Ba-bay!

Cupid has been spreading his Valentine cheer over here lately. Thought I'd share a few pics!


Here is our "Love Jar," which we have been filling with love notes to each other for the past few weeks (learn how to make them here). On Valentine's morning, we will have a special breakfast (maybe this or this or this!) and read all the notes inside. We've been doing this tradition for two years now, and it is by far one of my favorites! I love how affirmed and encouraged everyone feels after reading all the love notes!



I don't do too much decorating for Valentines, but I did decorate the little hutch in our breakfast nook...

And our kitchen table...


There are SO many cute ideas around the blogosphere for different Valentine's garland. I've really been wanting to make one, but sometimes I just have to stop and remind myself that it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. My Mom never decorated for Valentine's Day with handmade garlands, and still I somehow managed to have a very happy childhood. :0)

Craftiness and holiday traditions are all well and good, but when they start to make me feel overwhelmed and like I'm not doing enough, it's time to take a step back and get some perspective! :0)

One fun thing the kids and I did the other day was Valentine Making.
Little Miss Mallie Gal already loves arts and crafts!!! Yay!
Also:
1. In the picture above there is a play food item (a banana) that looks a little odd... and... er... anatomical. Ahem.
2. Little Miss's outfit here was self-chosen... she also had her bathing suit on underneath.
3. Ranunculus are my favorite flower. In case you're wondering.

Moving on...
I seem to have found one of the ways to get Bennett to be excited about crafts: stamps! He sat there and stamped his little heart out for 30 minutes straight! I knew all those back-in-the-day Stampin' Up purchases would be money well-spent.
Finally, I will leave you with a picture of my precious boy and his first set of boxed Valentines. Star Wars, of course.Now that he's a big preschooler, boxed Valentines are a part of our life.
Bennett boy invited me to a Mommy-and-Me Valentines picnic at school on Tuesday, where we will hand out said Valentines to his friends and make a cute little mailbox out of a shoebox for his Valentines and bring a treat to share with his class. I will probably make these Valentines parfaits.


Is it dorky that this is very exciting to me?


Don't answer that.