Joy of Love: Days 14 & 15 and Heart Day Stuff

Day 14 Prompt: wedding band/jewelery

I think this photo is self explanatory. I LOVE how it turned out though... I think I might even put this picture in a frame.

Day 15 Prompt: kisses

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago [kind of a cheat] But I just love it so much. These two are so affectionate with each other, I'm so darn lucky. I love how she's making a kind of grimacing face, but I know she loves the attention her big brother gives her.

Yesterday of course was Valentine's Day. I made brunch on Sunday morning and made these little gems. The first batch turned out horrendous, but then I got into the groove. [During that first batch there might have been a few cuss words used, along the lines of how much work I was going to for less than stellar results] But once everything came together, it was totally worth the effort. Plus the squeal of delight when the kids got heart pancakes put in front of them.

There was a Valentine's Party in Mad's Kindergarten class so I made these.

For lunch we had heart inspired things.


For dinner we made our annual trip to Boston Pizza for heart shaped pizza. This year marked our 9th year having heart shaped pizza. The first year we went, Mason was only 8 months old. It's crazy busy, and there are long silly line ups, but the kids are pumped and excited to go. They wouldn't have it any other way. [Because believe me, I've tried to do it another way...]

Joy of Love: Day 13

Day 13 Prompt: routines

It just so happens that today is Sunday. And every Sunday the kids have a shower to start off the week. I've kinda lucked out, because we've really gotten away from the baths [which the kids love, but they are so time consuming for the Mummy] Tonight when I said, "It's shower time." Madelyn asked if she could have a bath instead. She loves the tub, she sings and plays and splashes. So tonight, she enjoyed a tub.

She also insisted on going to bed early tonight, because Mason told her, if she went to bed and fell asleep faster, then morning would come faster, and she is VERY excited about tomorrow being Valentine's Day.

Joy of Love: Days 11 & 12

Day 12 Prompt: the eyes

I love black and white pictures. I love how you are drawn to the catch lights in his eyes. But it makes one wonder, what color are his eyes? So, I had to add the color picture too! He's got the same color eyes as his Mummy!! And he was so patient while I snapped shot after shot.


Prompt for Day 11: dreams...


This little one, is dreaming of tap dancing being over for the year. She HATES it. She detests it. She fights me about going once a week. There are almost always tears. I had to bribe her with gymnastics. Thankfully it has worked somewhat... She goes to gymnastics [which she loves] and doesn't tries not to, complain about going to dance class [which she hates] June is a long way off... [We've already paid for her recital costume, so I'm afraid she's stuck dancing until the season is over] We'll definitely re-think our extra curricular activities next year.

11 on the 11th, February 2011

• My little girl started our morning off, with a fever of 103°. It seems the bugs have been hitting us hard ever since December. I’ve noticed as well, these days always happen, when I have specific list of ‘things to do while she’s at school’. Today was running errands, to 3 different places, all in the span of 2 hours and 45 minutes. You just can’t be as efficient when a little someone is with you. [She finally came downstairs at about 10 am, and had a bowl of cereal. I loved that she looked at the comics while she ate... Maybe she can actually read better than we give her credit for.

• So, with a sick kid at home, I had to switch gears. That means today I’ll make cookies. Chocolate chip cookies for Barry, Peanut Butter Blossom cookies for my brother and sugar cookies for the kids. All for Valentine’s Day of course. [Well 2 out of 3 ain't bad. I got Barry's and Chris' done]

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies w/Kisses.

• Speaking of Valentine’s Day, I’ve got a ton of things to create in the next few days. I’d better get to work!

• I am just about ready for my laundry room reveal… It hasn’t actually taken this long, I’m just waiting for one more picture to be hung up [and you’re right, I could do it, but a heavy frame and a pocket door wall are involved. That means, no stud. So… I’m kinda waiting for Barry to come to the rescue] Oh, and a quick trip to the dollar store, and I should be good to go! [btw – the dollar store was supposed to be one of my stops today]

• I have a LOT of favourites on my computer. In fact, I’ve set up folders for them all. I would be bummed out to lose all these… Seriously. One of my favourite folders is the one I labelled FOOD… I’m thinking I should change the label to DELICIOUS THINGS because out of about 95 entries, they’re mostly dessert/cookie/cake/bars/sweets/treats… Check this one out…. Mmmmmmm. And then of course there are these…. Seriously, Brookies? Half Brownie and half cookie... It’s just too much. It’s amazing I’m not morbidly obese…

• I can’t seem to catch a break at the library… Seriously, I just paid off my fine, 2 weeks ago when I renewed my card. Within days, I had a late charge... Then Thursday, I completely forgot to drop off my movies... I’m 3 weeks in, and already a delinquent. Those darn 1 week movie rentals get me every time.
  

• Last night I filled up these little baggies, with these candies. It’s the Valentine’s Day treats the kids are giving out to their classmates. I’m so excited that Mason is still ‘into’ doing this stuff. He’s told me how many kids are in his class, and let me know that if someone is away, he’s planning on leaving a Valentine for them any way. I'll be lucky if I get another year... Oh my, it's gone too fast.

• We went to Family Literacy Night at the school on Wednesday. We all gathered in the gymnasium to hear a story. The story was read by 22 different students at the school. Madelyn got to say the title of the Story and the authors name… The Quilt Maker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau… I get to hear her little voice, all the time, but to hear it over the speaker system… It made her Dad and I swell with pride.

• At the literacy night, we had to go to each child's class, there was something set up for the kids/parents to do. The kids were to be the 'teachers'. Mason explained to us how we were to go about creating a “Six Room Poem”. A what… You say? [Me too]… Six rooms [image,light,sound, similes/metaphors, feelings and questions] you are to fill each room with descriptive words/phrases that will help you create a poem… Right… So, Barry and I tried our hardest to answer Mason’s questions. He kept shaking his head and rolling his eyes at us, and he finally blurted out “Look, turn off your actual brain, and turn on your imagining brain” But not before he got mad at me and said, “Look Mum, write it down with poetic words, not regular words…” I’m sure glad I never have to do grade 3 again. It’s scary…

• My kids have both mastered eating popcorn with chopsticks. Love it…

• We had a quiet Friday night home [like most Friday nights I suppose] Little Miss spent the entire day on the couch. I kept supplying her with children's Motrin to break the fever. She still can't explain what's the matter, just that she doesn't feel well... Hope tomorrow is better!

Joy of Love: Day 10

Day 10 Prompt: Space - where they are comfortable

The kids are most comfortable in our family room. This afternoon, Miss Madelyn fell asleep on the couch... Odd for a little girl who quit napping well before the age of 2. She said she wasn't feeling well, and then suddenly, she was asleep. Mason sat on the couch with her, while doing his home reading. In this space we watch TV or movies, play games [mostly it's them doing the game playing, in all honesty] we read, play Lego, play little ponies, or just plain hang out. It's bright during the morning and early afternoon [it faces east] I'm trying to figure out my camera [which is over whelming to say the least] These pictures were taken without using a flash. The lighting was not good, it was late afternoon, about 5 pm. So the fact that they're not totally blurry is a bonus.

Joy of Love: Days 8 & 9

Day 8 Prompt: What they have said, done, promised or given.

2 years ago, for our 10th wedding anniversary, Barry took me to Greece. It was wonderful... We had a little over 2 weeks with out kids. At the time, Mason was just starting Grade One, and was 6 years old. Madelyn was only 3. We'd never done anything longer than a weekend away without the kids [don't get me wrong, we were grateful for the weekends away] But to go away, just the two of us, and enjoy ourselves, and re-connect, and most importantly, remember what it was we liked about each other, before the stress of a family came along. Now, if I get crabby [never happens] or short tempered [unheard of], or he does, or we both are, I can just think back to the time we went away, and remembered what it was we liked about each other. It was the most wonderful gift...


Day 9 Prompt: passions and hobbies

Barry loves to golf. He loves to golf the same way I love to scrapbook, take pictures, fiddle in photoshop and blog. Unfortunately, we live in a very hostile climate for golf. These babies don't get the work out I know he'd like to give them. So they sit in the garage for months at a time. I know he looks at them longingly on occasion. There are a few indoor golf places he can head to, when the situation becomes dire. There's the yearly trip to Arizona with the boys, to get the golf season started off right. But that white stuff in the background... Yeah, that's called snow. Snow puts a damper on his love for sure...

Valentine's Day Decor

I decorated our mantle with Valentine's Day in mind. I thought perhaps after decorating for Halloween and Christmas, I would be done... But it just seemed so darn bare. I love that it doesn't look bare any longer. Maybe after Valentine's is over, I'll try to come up with something that won't look quite so bare until at least October...

I found the printables in a number of different places, all blogs of course and all for free, thanks gals! This one on less cake {more frosting} [I totally love the yellow and grey version of the hearts she has as a download, LOVE it. A possible new color theme for next year perhaps]



At eighteen25, I found another awesome poster download, did the cute little heart pictures I showed a few weeks ago, I did the kids valentine's, the template is here... [Supa cute! I thought I'd attach a little itty-bitty baggie of candy hearts to the back of the valentine. Like the candies they're holding] I'm also planning on doing the larger valentines for teacher treats. So cute and personal. I adore their website.




The other prints, I can't remember where I came across them... Hate it when I do that, but thought they were lovely too. I'm particularly fond of I love you a bushel and a peck because it's a song we've been singing around here since Mason was born.