Snack Duty | Valentine's Day

Should have posted this over a week ago, but, well, sickies in the house needed love and snuggles more than Valentines needed to be blogged.
Last year we had preschool snack duty once a month. A box of graham crackers, some fruit, and a gallon of water and all was well. If my day happened to fall near a holiday, I'd do something special; if not, crackers it was. This year we have been assigned snack week. A whole week of snacks a few times a year. No big deal. Our first week was Halloween week so for four days I did Halloween-related snacks (I take no credit for these ideas, though I'm pretty proud they actually turned out. Those spider webs were no easy feat.):

So after Halloween I thought I was in the clear. Except a couple of weeks ago Miss Denise informed me she had switched one of my no-big-deal weeks in May for Valentine's week because, well, "I just can't wait to see what you'll come up with!" seriously? That's what I get, I suppose. My only saving grace was the short week due to a holiday on Monday and the fact that Anderson doesn't attend on Friday. There was also a pre-planned pancake day to celebrate "P" week so I only had 2 actual days of "creative" snack duty. I still didn't need the pressure, however. It's not as if I don't already have a full time job. And another kid. And a problem with eating all of the treats that I make. But I did manage to pull a couple of heart-shaped things together for school, the t-ball team, and some friends:

(melon pops, cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins, brownies, pink heart rice krispie treats)

Valentine's Day 2014

Here is to a day full of love, love, love. My heart is more content and more full than I could have ever imagined.

Spider Love

About two weeks ago I asked Anderson what kind of Valentines he wanted to give to his friends at school. The conversation went something like this:
    "What kind of Valentines do you want to hand out?"
    "Spiders."
    "Like Spiderman?"
    "No, just spiders."
I gave it a couple of days and asked again...
    "Mommmmmy. I already told you; I want spiders!"

So spiders it is. Perhaps the only non-result-wielding Valentine on Pinterest. Fortunately a spider is within my very narrow spectrum of artistic capabilities. Unfortunately, it is rather difficult to come up with something clever to say about spiders and friendship. I'm pretty sure Anderson has absolutely know idea what it means to be "inspiring".

These win for easiest design ever. And I think I may like them the best. And so does he. Arachnids for Valentine's Day, go figure.

Christmas came. And went.

I'm within a month's time so I find it totally acceptable to just now be sitting down to write about the Christmas that almost wasn't. With the stomach flu taking out first Beck, then Gabe (and subsequently no less than 9 others members of the extended family), things didn't go exactly as anticipated. Though they never really do, do they? I managed to pull it together and play Santa and we at least got a glimpse of Gabe on Christmas morning, but the whole day was a bit of a downer and there certainly weren't many pictures taken. Four to be exact. But despite the craziness, the vomit, and the stress, treats were made and delivered, presents wrapped and unwrapped, and smiles broke through (just not for the camera). Next year has to be better. It just has to.

Halloween 2013

It was a low-key kind of Halloween and that was just fine by us. The black widow and the more-often-than-not headless beetle made the rounds with their best buddy Jakey and the whole thing wrapped up by 6:30 when Anderson declared it was getting late, he had enough candy, and it was time for bed. OK, then. Party animals or bugs, as it were.

Easter

Easter came smack dab in the middle of birthday season this year and though we still have dinosaur decorations up around the house (oh my gosh, I still have to post that) somehow we managed to color the eggs and the Easter Bunny still made his way through, messy tracks and all. Which, by the way, a certain husband thought was a bit ridiculous and entirely unnecessary until he saw Anderson's pure amazement at the whole thing. So worth the 2 minutes it took. I had a friend who made bunny tracks at my house in elemenatry school and I have never forgotten how fun it was. I have been waiting for what seems like ever (or at least 25 years) to do the same for my kids. Though it's a good thing he was not on my run with me that night where apparently the bunny ran amok in the street, on the sidewalk, and across lawns and driveways. They clearly have their act togther on the next street over. Total bunny competition.

The day was simple, filled with family and friends and far too much food. The pictures change very little year after year (there will forever be one of Gabe and me wrangling the boys for just one more picture) , but with the familiarity of it all comes such a sense of comfort and tradition.

Into the box

I'm packing away this year's Valentines into everyone's memory boxes and had to smile at just how sweet something as cute as kids' thumbprints can be. Beck's little smudgy one is just so perfectly him.

inspiration via Pinterest, of course

Love this

Beck is nearly 2 and I have never dressed him and Anderson alike, mainly because I have just never thought to. But Gabe and the boys surprised me at work on Valentine's Day and they were twinsies. So cute. That afternoon we went on a walk and they stopped at the end of the street for a rest and to just be goofy. A low quality phone picture, but one of my most recent favorites.

Out-takes

Enjoying the out-takes from our little make-shift Valentine's photo session. Beck is not one for cooperating these days. I also realized I forgot to post the address labels from the finished product. They might just be my favorites yet (even if the colors here look off).

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love this day. And I love these two. So very, very much. Their Daddy isn't half bad, either.

p.s. It's crazy to me how much Beck has grown since last year's card!

Dino-mite Valentines

I'm not at all opposed to store-bought Valentines, but I am pretty sure I only have about a year or two before Anderson wants to ditch the homemade variety in favor of those with his favorite characters and catchy phrases. So until then I am all too happy to make them myself. With only 12 kids in his class it was easy to make not only little Valentines to pass out, but treat bags stuffed with pink heart-shaped rice krispie treats and chocolate chip cookies as well. What kid doesn't want a treat with their Valentine?

Because this is his first year in school, it was the first time he got to not only choose his design (as if there were any question it would be dinosaurs) and sign the back of each one (well, more like scribble, but it was very thoughtful, to be sure). I love that he was excited to participate. And I love that he came home with a bag full of little cards that we sat down and went through together. That was always the best feeling growing up- so much love!

Christmas Recap (just a bit late)

It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and I am beginning to think about Valentine's Day decorations. So easy it is to say that I am late in putting this post together because I have been so desperately busy for the last few weeks, but the truth is I have just not wanted to come to terms with the fact that such a great part of the year has already come and gone. It's not even that time is speeding by as it usually has a tendency to do at this time of year, I just simply made enjoying the moments of December a priority over documenting them in real time. December went something like this:

We chose our tree

and built a gingerbread house.

I made, addressed, and mailed the cards

and the boys and I made cookies for friends (but we ate most ourselves!) and cupcakes for school.

We sang tons of Christmas songs and Anderson performed a few favorites for his school concert.

The boys visited Santa

and Santa visited them.

Anderson ate his weight in candy canes

but he saved some for his friends.

We celebrated with the extended family

 and tried desperately to get a decent family picture

repeatedly

I made little gifts for teachers

and wrapped a few for my boys

only to be over-shadowed by the awesome wrapping job Gabe did for me.

Santa delivered the rest

and the boys played all day

but not before the obligatory "everybody in front of the tree looking terrible in your jammies first thing in the morning"picture

Yes, there were a few more things in there (light viewing, dinosaur tail sewing, glass etching, DIY decorating and way more glittering than I care to admit), but I either failed to take photos or took some too lousy to do the projects justice. Maybe next year.:)

 

All in all it was a really great month. We were fortunate to spend a lot of time together as a family and really focus on involving the kids as much as possible. I am sad to have wrapped it all up as I removed the wreaths from the front doors yesterday, but I am so excited for this new year and all of the possibilities it holds. Here's to January!