Happy Valentine's Day!! ~ School Fun

 

Holidays at our house always start with some photos.



I'm not big on Valentine's Day.  I really think of it as more for kids and people who are dating.  For many years in the first part of our marriage Dan was always out of town on Valentine's Day, so we just didn't celebrate it.  My anniversary is much more meaningful.  However, I think it's really fun for the kids and I enjoy celebrating it with them and discovering how many different things I can cut into hearts with my cookie cutters. :)



Not to mention, it's an excuse to take cute pictures like this.



Matthew bolted into the house after the first couple of photos out of fear of being seen by a classmate on their way to school.   (I am adjusting to this new phase...he's definitely acting like a "'tweener" these days).  But Andrew and Kitti were game.



Andrew often will ask to "leave my kiss on." This photo was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest.  It suits Andrew perfectly.  He is so affectionate and loves to be loved on as well.



Kaitlin was so excited to take her valentine cookies to her friends.  She is all about a holiday and treats.



She made this cute little bag to hold her Valentines.



This is what Kaitlin's little Valentine cookies looked like when it went to school for her teacher and friends.

When she got home, the one I pulled out of her bag looked like this....



I laughed so hard when I saw this.
That's life!

After I dropped Kaitlin off at pre-school I ran back to the boys' school to help in Andrew's classroom.  I actually sat in the hall and sharpened pencils for an hour and a half!  But was happy to help ~ it actually gave me time to think a bit.  Andrew was "lunch helper" that day and happened to walk by as they were taking the lunch boxes to the cafeteria and so I snapped his photo.



I had been busy preparing for Kaitlin's party and so I was scrambling to get ready for Valentine's Day.  I had intended to go home and use the afternoon to get ready but andrew's teacher asked if I'd mind coming back for the party that afternoon.  I said, "Sure!"  And after going home to get Kitti and feed her lunch we headed back to school.



On a side note....these were Andrew's Valentines.  Matthew chose some store bought ones, but after seeing Andrew's thought he might like some homemade ones next year as well.  Andrew & Matthew helped me assemble these.  It's fun that they are getting old enough to do that!  Matthew is especially great at helping with things like this.  He loves to create.

When we arrived at the classroom the little children just swarmed around Kaitlin.  Oh my, they loved her.  And Andrew was so happy to have her there and so sweet.



I had my camera on the wrong settings so this isn't a good photo, but I caught this as Kaitlin sat down by Andrew.  She was SO happy to be there.  She LOVES to go to school with him.



Andrew moved Kitti's chair next to his and he was so sweet with her.  He kept petting her cheek.  When I returned home that afternoon I received an email from Andrew's teacher telling me how fun it was to see how sweet Andrew was to Kaitlin.  I was glad she could see this side of Andrew as I know she sees him during a time that he struggles most, so it was great for her to see what we see at home every day.  She has reassured me though, that she sees this side of Andrew in school as well.  I am glad for that.



The kids made hearts to hold their valentine's..and then delivered them to their friends.





The kids brought red and purple fruit for their Valentine celebration.  (Dan cut all those little watermelon hearts...what a guy!)  I plated the food for the teacher..I was the only parent there and was so glad I went back to help.  I was thinking to myself, "how would she have done this without me?"  And the teacher walked up and said, "Thank you so much...I don't know how I would have done all of this without you!"  I'm sure she would have found a way, but it wouldn't have been easy.  My hat is off to teachers!

Meanwhile, Kaitlin made herself quite at home.  She was visiting with the other children, and before I knew it had gone out to recess with them while I was talking to the teacher!

 



Andrew and his sweet friends, Aiden.  While I was there this day, the children had their behavior reports out and I said, "Aiden, look at all of those stars!  Good job!"  he replied,
"I've never had a 'no' or a 'fox stop.'"  (He is very sweet and said this not in a bragging tone, but in a I-can't-imagine-ever-breaking-a-rule sort of way).  And Andrew looked at him and said very matter of factly,
"Yeah, I'm taking medicine so I can be better."

:)

I've since told andrew that it doesn't matter if he gets 100 "Fox Stops."  He's a good boy because his heart is good.  We all make mistakes!



We headed out to recess where Kaitlin was quite the rock star.  She constantly had a crowd around her and she loved every minute.

I took a photo of Andrew and some of his friends...



I was actually really glad that I had gone out on the playground on this particular day.  It gave me some important insights into Andrew's life. 

 

The kids were lined up to go in and I was just laughing at Kaitlin surrounded by these kids.  She was so confident and just fit right in.  And her height makes her look like she could pass as a first grader! I love how Andrew is just watching and smiling.

After this we headed home...and I'll finish up the last part of the day in my next post!

Valentine's Day ~ Family

We returned home from school and I sent the kids upstairs while I prepared for Valentine's Day.  They kept calling down, "Are you ready yet?!"  They were so excited to come downstairs.

I love to set a fun table on a holiday and I love to give a little gift.
The kids love it too.
It doesn't have to be anything big...but if it's wrapped, it feels exciting. :)

Truth be told ~ and it's probably evident by my blogging ~ I'm just struggling to keep up this year.  Every year has a different rhythm depending on school schedules/activites, etc.  This year I often feel a step behind and really am often just trying to be prepared for what is essential to make it through the next day.

Valentine's Day was no different.

I was lucky that Mom happened to bring some treats when she came for Kaitlin's birthday party.  I set them aside and was VERY grateful for them on Valentine's Day!  I plated the treats and went through my holiday bin and just pulled out things I had bought (usually on sale after the holiday is over) in years past and put together a table.

 

The flowers from Kitti's birthday were starting to turn but worked just great for our purposes. 



I was happy with how it turned out.  Not bad at all for having just purchased some sweet hearts, straws and heart marshmallows!  (And some little gifts to follow)




The kids were anxiously awaiting to come downstairs.



I love to see their happy faces.






The strawberry milk from Kaitlin's birthday made an encore with heart sprinkled and a sugar rimmed glass.



Neither Dan nor I can recollect what we ate that night.  Clearly it wasn't memorable! :)  This is the trouble with not staying up on my blog...the memories quickly fade these days!



There were some sweet dinner time snuggles.



I had some little gifts for the kids.  Dan and I don't really exchange gifts, but I did think that day, "I hope Dan gives me some caramels...."



And look what he did!  They were perfect!  And delicious!



The kids were very excited to open their gifts.  They each had a small box of chocolates and an activity book that suited their interests.



They really did like their gifts but I had trouble getting this shot so their smiles looked a little forced by the time we took the photo. :)



Our little Valentines.



The kids changed into their PJs for a family movie.  Andrew was so cute and put on his red/white PJs all on his own for Valentine's Day. :)  The kids (especially Andrew) LOVE cotton candy when we go to the fair and ask for it whenever they see it anywhere.  I put one in their little treat bags and it was their movie treat.



I snuggled in on the sofa and fell asleep at 7:30.  I was so tired! It was a busy, but very happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kaitlin's birthday party was on the 11th.
The 12th I spent doing some errands with Mom that she wanted to do in Portland.  We returned home at 6pm.
The 13th found me scrambling to get ready for Valentine's Day!
We literally bought Matthew's Valentines the night before Valentine's Day.  He wasn't interested in anything homemade &cutesy, and that was not a problem.  He opted for some store-bought "cars" Valentines that he quickly addressed and was done.

I'm going to do a short little post on putting Andrew's valentines together.  But Kaitlin's valentine's provided us with the first opportunity to have her write her name.  (I admit, I've never worked with her on this.  The sad reality of being the third child!)  Thankfully, her small motor skills are developing much easier and she sat down and with a little guidance (telling her what letter to do next, and a little help with the "k" which proved hard for her)  she wrote her name!  This was her best one....



Her "E" is my favorite. Always two lines close together at the top and one far down at the bottom. :)  She has easy letters in her name, so it wasn't too difficult.  She was SO proud and excited about this accomplishment, calling to Dan, "I wrote my name!  I wrote my name!!"



Matthew put the hearts on this valentine to Andrew because he loves him and gave him not one treat like everyone else, but TWO.  :)



This was our first year of 3 sets of school valentines!

In the morning, the children woke up to heart shaped cinnamon rolls (out of a can)  I was thinking as I was putting this little breakfast treat together, that if you have red food coloring, some heart shaped doilies, cookie cutter and some heart sprinkles you can throw valentine's day together pretty easily!



That was about the only sweet part of our morning!  It was a rough one.  Matthew & I had an issue (which I think was a lot due to my own fatigue & impatience, which I'm not very proud of), then after dropping him off I was nearly to the highway when Andrew told me he didn't have his shoes on!  I had to drive all the way home and so Kaitlin was very late for school and I was completely frazzled.

But it's hard to stay grumpy long when you're surrounded by cute little 3 & 4 year olds.
I was very happy to stay and help out in Kaitlin's class.



Craft time!





By the end of class Grace & Kaitlin had little bags (that they made) full of Valentine's from their classmates.



Whenever Kaitlin talks about Grace she never calls her "Grace" she says "My best friend."  I took these little cuties home, got Andrew off on the bus, and got to work!



I finished making a cherry chocolate chip cake for dessert.



Kaitlin approved. There were little swipes of the frosting that proved it. :)



I set the table so that when the boys came home it would feel special.  The big boxes on the table held new art supplies ~ markers, paints, sidewalk chalk, etc.  My kids craft a LOT and all of their supplies were drying up/running out, so I purchased them during a great sale over the holidays and put them away for valentine's day.



I picked up the boys and they were so cute ~ talking a mile a minute about their parties and valentines and putting pieces of candy in their mouths as we drove home.  I sat back and enjoyed listening to them.



I made a light beef stroganoff recipe and it was really good.



We sat at the table over dinner and exchanged valentines.  Dan is reading his valentine to Andrew in this photo.



And this was Andrew's response.  So sweet.



And this was Kaitlin's card opening routine.  Looking...



Then,  "Awe, that was so sweet!"



"Thank you!"
I have to say, this was one of my very favorite Valentine's Day dinners.  The kids were so sweet, and are at really fun ages.



After dinner the kids were excited to finally see what was inside those boxes!



I bought them their own ream of paper so they would stop stealing mine out of the printer!  Matthew was especially excited about this.  He loves art and can be found making books, drawing pictures and writing daily.



Andrew was happy he finally got to eat one of his suckers.



And just in case we hadn't had enough sweets, I had made some Valentine's Chex mix as a movie treat.(Again, Pinterest) ~ it was really good & very addicting.  We watched "Mr. Poppers Penguins."  Well, that is, the rest of the family did.  I was so tired from all my my birthday/holiday shenanigans that I was asleep on the sofa by 7:15!  I had the most delicious snuggle from the Bug ~ it was just the perfect way to end the day!