must. document. valentine's day.

Valentine's Day this year was so much fun! In the weeks before, I was in an uber crafty state of mind and found all sorts of fun things to do. Besides making a few items, I found a few cute items at the store. Red and pink made me very happy.

Buckle your blogging seat belts, this is lengthy ride.

In January when I started decorating, I decided we needed a card making station. I wanted a tin mailbox, but found a brown one for now. I had a bucket filled with cards, stickers, stamps, markers, and paper for the kids to make cards. I said we'd put them in the mailbox and each Sunday would read them all. We did this for about 3 weeks leading up to V-day. There was a small jar of M&M's that for each card they could get a few treats. Slight incentive.



If you can't tell what this says, Matthew is making a card for Alyssa saying, "Sorry I tees (tease) you..." Melts my mothering heart.

From Tyler to Matthew, he says, "Matthew, you CTR (choose the right) a lot." So thoughtful and sweet.

Alyssa rockin' out, I liked the shot from my rear view mirror.

I made this heart countdown calendar. Free handed the numbers nad hand stiched around each box. I like it:)

I hope to make these for next year....

Alyssa and I cut out paper hearts out of Valentine paper and doilies we found in Targets dollar section.

Sideways shot of our card making station.

Alyssa and I started a cooking class each monday.

Matthew's 1st grade class Valentine's Day Party (his good friend Thomas is next to him)

He gets really excited when Cali comes to class but doesn't really like it when I take his picture. (The shaggy hair was cut today)

Mrs. McBride's class holding up their bags (Alyssa jumped in, too)

Didn't get one of Matthew and his teacher, but I really like her, too. We have joked about how embarresed I am sometimes that Matthew goes into school looking like a scruff, and she gets embarresed that she doesn't send things home when she is supposed to and each of us worries what the other will think (not me, but all her students parents). It's nice to be so candid with a teacher like that. She is always gushing over how wonderful Matthew is, and how can I not love that? He is a good boy.

Mrs. Mollenkopf's 3rd grade class party (only 1 other parent showed up to help out). Since I ran the show, I made it a very laid back affair.

Cali was very interested in the sucker. The boys classmates just flock to Cali--it is really cute.

Tyler adores his teacher (can't tell from the expression on his face). She is energetic and in emails home to us as parents, she tells us that she prays for her class children. I love that. She is open about her love of God, and I appreciate that and could take a lesson from her. I am so grateful he got such a great teacher.

I loved how he was waiting patiently for the next instruction from his teacher (they were moving their desks around).

My friend Liz just 2 days before her baby arrived. Holding her older daughter, Eva. I have a shot of Tyler and I like that, and I couldn't not snap it. Special time in life.

A friend has done a Valentine's party for the preschoolers for a few years now. This is MOST of the kids there that day. All from our ward at church. (My girls on the couch)

A whole lotta sprinkles on that there cupcake

My friend Jessica wasn't excited to eat that cupcake her son created, but he was pretty excited to watch her eat it.

Cali and Kemp were due just one day apart, then Cali came early. I think he is 3 weeks younger, but he's passed her up in size.

The End.