14 days of Love...contd.

Days 5-8

Time has flown by, and while I have shared all my 14 days of Love on Facebook, I haven't done it on here! So I am trying to get caught up and share...

Day 5:

Ben has been needing some new church socks, so I got him a package of socks and a note that said : "You knock my SOCKS off"

The kids all got a Valentine container of Reeses Pieces that say, " I love you to PIECES".

However, Ben was very jealous of the kids, so while at the store I got him a bag as well! Can we say spoiled?!

Day 6:

Ben got a Mt. Dew that said, "I am so glad that 14.5 years ago I said I "DEW".

The kids all got a container of colorful tic tacs that said, "you add so much COLOR to my life!"

Day 7:

The kids had a book fair at their school, so instead of something in their mail box they each got a book from the book fair.

Day 8:

Ben got a box of Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies that say, "you are the CREAM of the crop"
and the kiddos (thanks to a buy 2 get 2 free candy bar deal at Vons) got a candy bar that said
"my life is SWEETER with you in it".

14 days of Love...contd.

I got a little behind over the weekend, posting some of my ideas for the 14 days of Love. So here they are...

Day 2:

Ben: A box of Milk Duds, with a note that says, " I am so glad I didn't marry a DUD" (OK it was a little lame but...whatever!)

The Kids: Got a bag of gummy bears that said, "My life would be un BEARable without you!"

Day 3:

Ben: I bought this little tin from Target, so it was pretty easy! It is a tin full of green gummy frogs that says My Prince. Then of course I had to add, "I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I found my prince."

The Kids: I filled a little paper chinese takeout box with a $1 bill and $2 in change. Their note said, " I wouldn't CHANGE a thing about you!"

(They LOVED getting money!)

Day 4:
Ben: Since he has class tonight, I wanted to give him something to snack on that wasn't candy! I got some jerky from Sams with a note that says, " I am so glad that you love me, even when I can be a little JERKy". (Kind of another lame one but...)

The Kids: Word Search puzzle books that say, "Some of the things you do can "PUZZLE" me, but I can't help loving you!"

Have you been doing anything for your kids every day? It can be a lot of work, but I love seeing their faces when they see the flag on their mailbox is up. I love that my hubby checks for his treat too :)

14 Days

I love February. It is one of my favorite months!

**3 of my favorite people were born in this month
** watching the movie Ground Hogs Day
** Valentines Day
**Presidents Day weekend

I know that not everyone loves Valentines Day. I know that I am a romantic. I know all that. But it is my favorite holiday. My daughter, Harmony tells me it is because I am married and that I wouldn't feel the same if I was single.But its not true! I love that there is a day set aside, just to show & tell people how much we love them.

A few years ago, I started doing the 14 Days of Love. It is a fun tradition and I love it. This is the first time my husband has been home for Valentines Day in 2 years! So I have been including him this year as well.

So here is what I did for Day 1, starting with my kids lunches:

A heart filled with heart shape fruit snacks

Heart shaped pb & j with a heart food pick

Graham cracker pretzels, red apples, pb

 

Their treat was a pudding and so the spoon was wrapped in a napkin & held together with that cute heart shaped clothes pin!

OK, here is the treat in their mail boxes

 

The 4 older kids already had their mailboxes, so I had to come up with something different for Ben & Mason

 



Bens Valentine

For the kids: You have the "WRITE" stuff with a pencil shaped notepad (Target $1 spot) with a Valentine stacker pencil (Target Valentines section 4/$1.50)









Mason isn't old enough to get the whole "write stuff" thing so he gets a notebook & markers..for my lil' pip squeak :)

I will try and let you know where I got all the items. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!



Kryptonite

We all have our kryptonite, right? Something that just tests your resolve. I think I may have more than one, but one of my biggest is...

Targets Dollar Spot!! They have so many fun, cute, practical items.

My husband and I went into Target the other morning for, of course, "just one thing". Please tell me I am not the only one who walks into Target muttering those words...


I bought a few things for lunches and a few things for the 14 Days of Love.

In the above photo, I found some cute owl sandwich sized bags. Harmony is a huge owl fan so these will be fun. The pink, green & blue items that are shaped like bread...those are sandwich stampers. They can also be used for toast. The polka dot and the other one (what shape is that?) are reusable sandwich bags! Each has 3 in a pack. Love these!

close up of two of the stamps

 

It can be hard to find the boys fun little items for the 14 days of Love. Harmony is easy...lip gloss, lotions, bath soaps, fun pens & pencils...I found these Star Wars erasers that they will love. They are big and heavy. Sometimes I like to sneak things in their lunch bags, little surprises, but I have to be careful. I don't want to give them a toy that they might sit and play with at school. So school supplies are perfect. The R2D2 is a "water bag". I have no idea what the official name of these are but...I could only find ONE, that was Star Wars. There were plenty that matched the reusable bags but only one Star Wars. I am so going to be on the lookout, or my other boys are not going to be happy!

 

These fun food picks (which is an awful picture, so I will be very impressed if you can actually tell what they are!) But they are hearts and mustaches. Can't wait to put these in a Valentine themed lunch.

 

Do you have the same addiction, problem, love for the dollar spot? Have you found anything fun lately?

Kids in the Kitchen

I believe that it is very important for kids to know how to cook/bake. I am not just talking about pop tarts and sandwiches.

So when my nephew was here, and asked if he could make his "famous" fried chicken, I told him to go for it. I made sure he had all he needed.

My 8 year old absolutely loves and adores his cousin, and so he was very eager to try out his fried chicken. He stayed by him the whole time!

While cooking, my nephew accidentally hit the handle and sent hot oil all over the kitchen, and unfortunatley down his hand.

I went to get a first aid kit and we got him bandaged up. He finished the chicken the next day, after letting his burn rest.

We learned two things from this experience:

1)accidents happen. You have to pick up and keep going. You can't give up. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"

2) keep a first aid kit handy. Not just for accidents in the kitchen,but anywhere in your home. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear!"

Vale's Famous Fried Chicken
*In a bag, put flour and poultry seasoning.
*Take your chicken pieces, put them in the bag, and cover with flour.
*Fry in a pan with oil until pieces are golden brown

World famous? Not really, but he did do a good job!

FHE

If you were to listen to my children, you would get the impression that we are barely above the poverty level. Living in a shack with no running water or indoor plumbing. They are constantly letting us know that "my life is so hard because_______" with reasons from because I don't have an ipod to we didn't go to McDonalds for dinner.

I realize that they are just kids, but that is not a message that I want to be sending them. So with it being February, and a time for love, our theme for the month is "Love One Another as I have Loved You". We made a chart, which is now hanging on the pantry. Anytime one of the kids performs an act of service, they put a heart with their initial on it. If we fill the chart out we will have an ice cream sundae party for the last week in Feb. With an extra something going to the child who has the most on there.

Last night we decorated Valentines and will be sending them to all the Grandmas. The kids had a great time!

Whole Lotta Love

All right, I have a confession. I am a hopeless romantic. Hopeless. I have loved romance and romantic comedies for so long. I always tell my kids that the best part of any movie is the kissy part! Valentines Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love the idea of having a day to just let people know how much you love them. I ecspecially enjoy giving my kids all the hugs and kisses I want and they don't complain...too much.

When my sister got married, her family in law, introduced her to their tradition at Valentines. She has talked about it a lot, and I decided that I wanted to do it this year. Yes, I stole their idea. But her Mother in Law emailed me that it had been going on for over 25 years now!

Anyway, they celebrate the 14 days of love. A little token of love every day until Valentines Day. So I thought it would be fun to post what I have/will be doing.

Day 1 (today) was a fun note tucked in my kids lunchboxes. Letting them know what I was doing and sharing with them one thing that I love about them. I have a card for my sweetheart but haven't had a chance to surprise him with it. I want it to be found, not handed to him, know what I mean?

Day 2 will be some red Peeps candy that spell I love U and a coupon for one free getting out of walking the dog once. I know they will appreciate that!

So stay tuned, there is a lot of lovin' going on around here!