Valentine's Day Idea and FUN!

Every year Valentine's Day is more and more fun! This year, I let the kids pick out their Valentine cards from pinterest. I pulled up several options and they loved it.

I knew Brady would go for this one:

I bought some cheap adhesive mustaches, took his picture wearing it and created this little card. He got the biggest kick out of these! We had a lot of fun with his mustache. It's funny how a little mustache made his voice deeper! We giggled and giggled!

I printed them at home and used glue dots to attach the mustache to his card.

He loved the idea of giving his friends their own mustache to wear. I had a mom text me a picture of his friend from school wearing it. SO CUTE!

Kelsey loved the mustaches, too, but she was too embarrassed to wear one. Brady, on the other hand, wore his to church and Kelsey's school.
Kelsey chose something every child I know LOVES....glow sticks/bracelets! This was a super easy printable and we just taped it to the glow sticks. I found a pack of 5 glow sticks for $1. Perfect to me!

We also had to make their Valentine boxes to take to school. We used an old cereal box and cracker box then wrapped it with their favorite coloring book pages. I had no idea how much fun they would have with this simple project. I was just trying to use what we had at home and it turned out to be so fun for them. It's the little things! :)

One of my new joys of being a SAHM is being fortunate enough to not only contribute to their class parties but to also participate. Kelsey feels like a rock star having me AND her brother in her classroom. She also gets a big kick out of anything I make for her class. She acts so proud at school <-----I realize she won't want me there forever so I'm going to enjoy this while it lasts!!! :)

For her school party, I found another idea --thanks to pinterest! Valentine confetti popcorn!

This was the easiest thing ever and tasty and pretty!!! :)

I thought it was hilarious when I passed out the food and the kids didn't see the white chocolate drizzled on the popcorn so they would get a small serving. They would go back to their desk, eat a little, realize it had chocolate on it and run right back to me asking for more! I'd say it went over very well!

Little brother had to wear his mustache to Kelsey's party and all the little boys swarmed around him. They thought it was the coolest thing and Brady just ate up the attention! Look at his serious face wearing his mustache sitting at big sister's desk.
I just love my girl's sweet smile in this picture! She was very proud to pass out her glow stick valentine's to her classmates. Hearing all the "oh wow this is cool" from her friends made her feel so good (and me, too)!

Here they are making a special craft:

She made a lady bug!

All on his own, Brady gave Mrs. Wright a mustache valentine and asked her if she would be his Valentine. It was so cute! Then he told her that his valentine was very special. We just died in laughter. He's a mess!

At the end, they passed out Candy Grams. Student can send other students candy grams all through out the school. Kelsey's BFF from Kindergarten, Jessenia (they are in different classes this year), sent her a candy gram. She was so surprised to hear her name called and felt so special! Wasn't that sweet?

She was able to come home after her class party and she was so excited! I would say Valentine's Day was a day that made us all super thankful that I am staying home with them now. We all had the best day together and it's days like this that I'll never forget.

The Greatest Show On Earth

The circus has become an annual tradition for our family and friends. It seems each year the kids end up with circus tickets in their stockings! Santa is cool like that. :)

We went with the Johnson & Selchow families this year. They offer half price tickets on Thursday night and we had AMAZING seats. We're hoping Santa won't pick a week night next year because everyone was awfully tired but we still had a great time!!! Aunt Shelly was prepared and brought all kinds of goodies for the kids in her purse so we weren't tempted to purchase all the overpriced junk they sell! Glow sticks, noise makers, suckers and candy galore. :)

We love the circus!

Children's Museum FUN

We met up with our dear friends, The Holgerson Family. We were neighbors long ago (back in 2002) and we moved then they moved. Now, they live in Georgia and we've kept in touch this whole time. When we first met, Jay and I just married and Meghan was pregnant with Elise. She is now a third grader--crazy!!!

We decided to meet half way in Chattanooga and make a day of it. We started off with lunch at a delicious pizza joint Bryan picked out called Lupi's Pizza. I'm not a huge pizza person but we would definitely go back!

Our kids got reacquainted over pizza (it's been over a year since we last saw each other) and then we walked to one of my favorite children's museums ever, Creative Discovery Museum. This museum is SO much fun that we stayed from OPEN to CLOSE! No joke. :)

Here is a group picture of the kiddos:

Meghan and I decided we would just tell them they were cousins. It was amazing how quickly our kids picked up right where they left off. As if a year was more like a few weeks. The kids got along so well. It really does feel like they are all cousins. :)

They have the largest, most insane water station. We stayed here for at least an hour...or two.

Brady and Bryan put on a little puppet show for us. CUTE!

What is it about kids and sand??? This was another favorite. We were probably here for an hour while the kids dug for dinosaur bones.

They had so many fun things to do outside. We really enjoyed watching the kids learn about science without realizing they were learning at all! Explore all you want! :)

Sweet Daniel blew bubbles but it looks like he got more in his mouth. HAHA!

Our girls decided to teach us a little about Japan. Cracked us up!!!!

Brady was my little worker bee! He loved running around in this costume. It was pretty comical with those bee legs flying around.

The Boys...

This was such a fun treat for us all. Can't wait to get together with our "cousins" again soon! :)

Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas!

What a wonderful, peaceful Christmas we had this year. This year, we chose to stay home on Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day. The only place we went was Christmas Eve service at church which is always a favorite of ours. We met up with our families a few days before Christmas and celebrated. It was so nice to not rush around and worry about being late somewhere or not spending enough time with someone. The usual hustle and bustle was avoided this year and I think our kids reaped the benefit.
Christmas morning is usually hectic and rushed but not this time. Below are pictures of our first relaxed Christmas. Ahhhhh!

We always let the kids open up one gift on Christmas Eve. They were so excited about the gifts they bought for each other and that is what they chose to open. It is always so much taking them shopping to pick out that special gift. They get so anxious about it and I think we hear 50 million times leading up to Christmas Eve, "Brady you are SO going to love what I got you!" and "Kelsey, I so excited to give you your present!" It really is sweet. Just as we knew, they both LOVE LOVE LOVED what the other got them.

We always have family movie night on Christmas Eve wearing our Christmas jammers after we sprinkle reindeer food in the backyard. :) We love to watch all the kids Christmas shows as well as the classics! Kelsey actually watched the entire "White Christmas" movie with me this year.

This year, Santa Claus left Kelsey and Brady a note. Here is Kelsey reading it out loud Christmas morning!

The Christmas spread.  That big table in the picture is an awesome lego table that MawMaw and PawPaw got the kids for Christmas. They love it!

Look at what Kelsey found in her stocking...tickets to the CIRCUS along with the usual toothbrush, dvd and chapstick!!! YAY!

We had one last major surprise for them.
We asked the kids, "do you see the pictures on the fireplace mantel?"
Kids: "Yes!"
Us: "What are they of?"
Kids: "Pictures from Disney"
Us: "Where do you think we are going to go on vacation next year?"
Kids: "DISNEY????"
Us: (silence) we just smiled and they exploded into jumping, dancing and cheering!!!

We spent the entire day at home playing with all of our new toys, playing games and watching more Christmas movies. We had a lovely Christmas lunch that I prepared and just really enjoyed being together as our little family on Christmas...in our jammies ALL DAY! :)

They did ask about Shalley the Elf and sadly, Santa Claus took her back to the North Pole. Until next year...

Brady's new haircut --sad face!

Brady gave himself a new haircut yesterday. :(

I was in the bedroom wrapping Christmas presents while he did the damage. I walked into the living room to see him sitting behind Kelsey twirling her school scissors around his fingers. My first thought was he cut her hair but then he bent his head down. I saw it. The skinned bald spots on his head. I gasped loudly and he took off running to his room in tears. He knew what he did was wrong.

I took him to the bathroom so he could see it. He said "it'll grow back, Mommy!" I made him run errands with me with his hair looking like that so he'd feel a little embarrassment. I don't think it worked. He thought it was funny. Sigh.

When Daddy came home, he shaved it off. He looks real ashamed, doesn't he? lol

My poor baby's hair. I miss his little faux hawk. :(

I love this shot of Kelsey holding his hand. He started getting ansy.

He said, "I look just like Daddy!" lol After his bath, he told me wants his hair back. I said, yeah me too! He said, "I'm sorry, Mommy. Will you forgive me? I won't do it again." Sweet face.

Shalley the Elf wasn't too happy about it either. They both had a rough day yesterday as far as behavior went. Shalley gave them a gentle reminder. :)

Elf on the Shelf & School Christmas Parties

I'll start this LONG post with an update on our elf. She sure is sneaky and the kids love it.
Here she is with her donuts...

She even got a roll of toilet paper and rolled down the stairs with it. Another night, she took a bubble bath with marshmallows in our sink.

This time she was actually super helpful and did something I've been meaning to do for quite some time! Thanks, Shalley! Usually she just makes messes for me to clean up.

My friend, Stacy and I put together Brady's (and Will's) classroom Christmas party.

We started out by doing a craft with all the kids. Stacy found this cute reindeer hand print craft on pinterest. I'm so glad we did this. I just love keepsakes the kids make that I can put on our tree. They all really enjoyed making it, too!

Next up, we provided pizza for lunch.

I made some "Reindeer Trail Mix" and the kids gobbled it up.

Stacy made some cute reindeer themed desserts out of marshmallows<----such a hit! I wish I had a picture of those.
Here is everyone enjoying lunch!

After that we did a gift exchange! We thought it would be fun for the kids to exchange books so we asked the parents to send in a gender neutral book. We swapped books to music. Whoever had the book when the music stopped-- opened it! They loved it.

Everyone was so happy!

This was our attempt at a class picture. lol This cracks me up!

Brady gave all of his friends "Reindeer Noses." He was very excited about these. The brown noses are whoppers. He especially loved the red sour ball for Rudolph's nose. What is it with kids and sour candy? lol

The very next day was Kelsey's 1st grade class party!

They started out with a fun sticker craft. Little brother got to make one, too! I don't know who was more excited that Brady came to Kelsey's class party: Brady or Kelsey. In true big sister form, she loves showing Brady everything in her class. She also loves showing him off to her classmates. Truly makes my heart swell!

Ornament decorating!

Kelsey's class had their own book exchange--so fun!

During the book exchange, Brady colored more!

Kelsey gave all of her classmates "snowman soup" for Christmas. She loved putting these together with me and passing them out after the party. Her friends were so happy which made her feel extra good. :) I found these cute free printables here!

I found the most perfect containers at Target in their dollar bin. Inside is hot cocoa, marshmallows with chocolate chips, candy cane Hershey's kisses and topped with a candy cane to stir!

Now that school is finally out for Christmas break, we decided to celebrate with our annual tradition of driving around looking at Christmas lights in our jammies with hot cocoa and cookies!

We are truly enjoying all of the wonderful festivities this special time of year brings! The countdown till Christmas has officially begun in our household! Can't wait!!! :)

p.s. Can I just say how much I am enjoying being home with my kids??? I love that I can really look forward to my kids getting out of school so I can spend every waking minute with them! I am super thankful...STILL! :)