Pre Valentines Fun

Wednesday Alyssa and I went to the Valentines Party at the library. Some friends joined us, we had treats, it was a grand 'ole time. We picked up Liz and Eva (to the left of us in this pic) and when we brought them home, went in and I vegged on her couch while Alyssa played with Eva's baby toys. I also helped her customize her blog, so she better get posting!I taught pre school this week and on Thursday we made sugar cookies (thanks to Monica for this recipe and for Jana for coming to help me make the cookies for the kids). I am so grateful for the help of Jana and another friend Jackie (she is in the blue shirt above 2nd to left) that day, as Jackie came to be my substitute so that I could go to a funeral for a dear friends' mother. That afternoon we had piano and scouts and my body was about to implode by the end of the day. Thanks to my friend in CT who gave me a pep talk before scouts to tell me I could make it through the next hour (I was nearly in tears from emotional exhaustion). I came home to plop on the couch while Michael made breakfast burritos for the fam.

That evening, we cut out all the rest of the dough as a family. and decorated....
and ate.....

eating lots of cookies really helped my emotional state:)

On Friday, Alyssa and I went to a little Valentines party for pre schoolers. I took the opportunity to dress us in pink and red.
They decorated bags....
I grabbed my two friends, Tamiel and Stacey for a picture. We are all due within 5 days of each other in May. I felt like a midget here.
Then we grabbed our little ones to join us. Tamiel is having her 4th (and 1st boy) while Stacey is having her 3rd (she has a girl and a boy and they don't know what this one is).
This is for Emma Jo, I know you like hair, and Tamiel had cute heart hairstyles on her girls hair.
This is my new friend, Jana. When she moved into our ward about 2 weeks ago, I went to introduce myself and we both looked familiar to each other. After a few ?s, we realized we were on Study Abroad Jerusalem together in the Spring of 1999. Though we weren't in the same traveling class, we recognized each other enough. We had her over for dinner and she is so cute with my kids. She told them her name is Jana Banana and thats what she is known as in our home. She helped me with preschool on my crazy day--so nice!
Friday afternoon Alyssa and I headed to the school for the boys' parties. First to Tyler's at 1:30. Since I am Room Mom for Matthew's class, I can't participate in Tyler's as I would like. I was glad I was able to go to Tyler's party for 20 minutes before Matthew's started.
His teacher, Mrs. Olsen is very sweet and often telling me how wonderful Tyler is. How could a mother not love that? She is kinda soft spoken and I got to learn new details about her while at this party. Such as why she doesn't like to smile with her teeth (things that I just have to know, you know?) She was on maternity leave the first half of the year, so its nice to get to know her better.

Peering over his valentines....
At 1:50 Matthew's party began. I last minute arranged the party with the help of a few other moms. I found a cute butterfly craft that I worked on with the kids and really wished someone else was doing it (I am finding I really can't do all the things I want to do in my "precious state").
Matthew was very excited about his cookie....
And why not, with all the frosting, etc.
Opening his cards--I forget how fun it is for them, when for me it is just candy and soon to be garbage.

I found this for Tyler and Matthew to pass out as their Valentines and was so excited, as they both love these bracelets. They were gummy bracelets.

Next post will have our actual Valentines Day stuff...but for now...this is what ya get.