Giving love...

Happy Valentine's Day to all!   I am just home from a wonderful "date" with my son, Matthew.   He chose to go to McDonalds and what a great lunch we had.   I don't get much time one on one with him anymore.   He is so busy with soccer and hockey and his Dad usually takes him early to get ready and I arrive right at game time, so I miss those talks in the car.   Today we caught up and although he is getting older, he still was happy to hold my hand and when he finished eating, he came and sat and cuddled with me on the bench side of our booth.   It meant the world to me and I could tell he was happy too, to have time alone with me.

Upon return to school he was very excited for his class's Valentine's Party.  He made homemade brownies last night (assisted by his Daddy) and iced/sprinkled them this morning with the assistance of his sister and I.  A quote from Matthew this morning who watched Megan ice her own brownies, went "Wow mommy, look Megan is as good as you at icing... she's awesome!"

I also put special notes in each of the kids lunches (I do this at least once or twice a week) and tried to make Megan's "Sharing Lunch" a little extra fun, with heart shaped fruit and veggies!   She didn't come for lunch with us because her class had lunch plans.

Tonight, my UBC class is cancelled so I plan to attend Sparks with Megan and look forward to time alone with Scott after the kids go to bed.   I hope my family knows how much I love them all the days of the year, but especially today, Valentine's Day!   I am blessed to have some many people to love!

Happy Valentine's Day

Marshmallow pops, Heart Krispie squares, Sugar Cookies and Jello
 Jigglers with white sweetened condensed milk middle!

Valentine's popcorn - add coloured M&M's

Today 21 little people descended up my house from 2 - 4pm.   We had so much fun!  Each friend stuffed a heart fleece pillow, made a candy kabob, and had fun playing games!   Thanks to Pinterest for all the amazing ideas.   The kiddies enjoyed playing suck up the M&M with a straw and placing it in the cup, using chopsticks to try to see how many hearts they could get into their cups, and a heart building tower game!




Being a teacher I planned my timing so that the end of the Valentine's Chipmunk video ended right at 4pm.   The kiddies were wonderful, gracious and so sweet to one another!  I also had a few moms stick around to help, which was so nice and we enjoyed visiting while the kiddies watched the video.  Also, a BIG thanks go out to my good friend Jen, who came over early to help me finish cutting and tying all the little pillows...  I love planning and hosting parties with kiddies but when you have plans Friday night, school all day Saturday and a family dinner Saturday night, it leaves very little time to get ready!

Making Candy Kabobs - organization is key.  Each child had a bag of their own candies and the candies need to be soft!

Suck up the Smarties with straws game!

Pick up the conversation hearts with chopsticks!

Stuffing the pillows and tying the last few open ends.

Me and One of My Sweethearts!

Cannot Talk

Yup, it's official - my voice is gone!  Not sure who is going to love it more the kids (no more shouting from me) or Scott (whom I will no longer be able to nag).  And all of this happens two days before I have to give a presentation in one of my UBC classes - Lovely :)

This weekend I had big plans to tackle some upcoming assignments for my UBC classes.   And what did I do?  I completely and totally avoided my studies... Instead, my kitchen floors and bathrooms were all cleaned and I prepared for a Valentine's party Megan and I are hosting here next weekend.   Why I thought I would have time to host a Valentine's party for 20 little 6 year olds is beyond me!   Sometimes I wonder why I do this to myself!

And for the little pillows I planned to have the kids make - well, I tried a sample with Megs and it looks like I will be making all 20 pillows and just having the kiddies stuff them and tie three knots to seal them up.   Yes, tonight instead of doing much needed school work, the kids and I stuffed ziploc bags with candy for the Valentine Candy Kabobs they will make; we made puffy pompoms to hang from the ceiling and I began what will be the long enduring task of cutting out heart pillows.

On a different note, Scott and I  did enjoy a friend's 40th birthday party and sadly have come to the realization that we will be going to MANY of these, including our own in the new few years!   I am sure my 40's will be great years but for now I am holding tightly onto my 30's!