Happy Valentine's Weekend!

As you can see, Katie made it to her school Valentine's party. She was so excited this morning.  Like she said, today was her day.  Her daddy took her to school and momma came to her party with treats to pass out to all of her friends.  I love her class this year.  Everyone are friends, students, teacher and parents.  We just have an awesome class! 

Later, we met mom and dad at their house and went to the Rehab Center.  A place my mom spent a great deal of time when she was so sick.  Sometimes the elderly are forgotten and they need our love as well.   What better way to show God's love than to go and say hello to them.  We didn't get to spend a great deal of time in each room because they have a little over 200 residents.  Mom, Katie and I made each resident a little valentine with a scripture on one side and decorated the other.  I know, having a mom in a Nursing Home/Rehab Clinic, they get lonely and appreciate you remembering them.  My mom was so lonesome when all of us went home.  She looked forward to the next day that we would come to visit, it keeps them going.  We ran into several family members there, visiting their loved ones.  They told us how much they appreciated us coming by and it gave us an opportunity to tell mom's story.  Just to let them know, "hey I know what you are going through and we are thinking of you."  I was just as blessed as they probably were today.  Katie was our little mail lady, delivering cards to each person that I saw wasn't a risk.  She was our little mascot.  Her just going into the rooms with valentines created lots of smiling faces.  It just brightened their day.  I told mom that it's good for Katie to volunteer and experience kinds and love this way.  I think she understands and I'm hope teaching her humility and humbled.  Honestly, I think it did mom good too.  She got to see her therapist.  Her therapist was so happy to see her.  She said that she needed to see mom, to remind her why she chose this field of work.  She just had a frustrating day.  Of course, they both began crying.  It got me choked up as well.  Mom got hugs from a lot of nurses and residents that she made friendships with during her time there.  I think it did everyone good to have this reunion.  We visited each and every resident in the clinic.  I was so pleased that mom made it!  She got a work out and she may not get out of her chair tomorrow.  HAHA!  I'm so glad we got to do this.  It  made my heart joyful.  One scripture we wrote on some of the cards - "A happy heart makes the face cheerful."  Proverbs 15:13.  I love this verse and it really applied to my life today.

We haven't decided if we are going to celebrate Valentine's Day this weekend or if are going to wait until Tuesday.  While we are deciding, I would like to wish you a very . . .

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!    

A Glimpse of Spring

It's February and the flowers are in bloom. I took these photos today. 

We haven't had much of a Winter, but seeing flowers in bloom and the fairly warm temps, gets me in the mood for Spring.

Valentine Butterflies

Our project this year, to make 20 Valentine Butterflies to pass out to everyone in Katie's class during their Valentine party.  Each one has their own personality.  I think they turned out adorable. I got the idea from  Skip to My Lou.  You can get the template from the website.  I just printed them out on 8x10 scrapbook paper.  I had Katie decorate them.  I am in love with Glitter Markers.  It's the coolest thing ever.  We added antennas and eyes, it really gives them personality.  We had so much fun creating these.  I think the kids will like them.    

Katie came down sick yesterday, a 24 hour bug.  She's doing great now and so excited about her Valentine party tomorrow.  She loves the whole Valentine holiday.  I think it's because she loves hearts, the colors pink and red and fairytales.  I found the cutest thing for Katie's Valentine gift.  She is going to flip out.  She collects Lalaloopsy dolls.  Well, I found a mini-lalaloopsy set that is "Alice and Wonderland."  There are two dolls, Madhatter and Alice.  It also includes little accessories like the Cheshire Cat and teapot.  Soooo precious!  I can't wait for her to see it. 

Colton kind of found his gift and because mom and I were so involved in our project for the past couple of days, I let him go ahead and play with it.  It's a big plush Woody from "Toy Story."  To show you what a push over I am, he also got to play with one of his birthday presents.  Whell!  He knew that I put it in my bedroom.  He kept aggravating us about it.  It started out him just carrying around his Thor action figure still in the box.  All we heard for the next hour, "I AM THOR!  ANYONE WHO POSSES THE POWER OF THOR!"  (Blah Blah Blah)  Next thing you know, he was trying his best to crack it open.  Like any mother that buys toys well in advance of a child's birthday that he was with me when I bought it, I opened the stupid box and let the child play with his birthday present.  A month before his birthday.   Hey, we got our project done in two days because of it. 

My Heart Felt Wreath

 I followed the instructions - HERE - from The Idea Room, but I made a couple of tweaks of my own. 

Like instructed, I used 3/4 yd of pink felt.  Taking a teacup, I laid the open end and drew a circle onto a piece of card stock paper, for a template.  I pinned the template onto the felt and cut out SEVERAL circles. 

The Idea Room instructs you to pin the ribbon onto the back of the stryofoam, but I wanted to secure it a little better.  I cut 16 inches of ribbon, wrapped it around the top part of the heart and hot glued it in place as seen here.

I folded the circles in half and then folded it in half again, making a little rose tip.  I placed a straight pin through the pointed end of the halfed felt.  The Idea Room had their rose felt tips placed very close to one another, but I kind of like them ruffled out a little.  I think it's whatever you prefer. 

Katie and I love our finished product and it looks so well on our front door.  Katie's excited because I promised that after Valentine's Day, I would hang the wreath in her room on the wall.  She was so excited that she easily grabbed the wreath and began heading for her room with it.  I had to remind her that she could have it after Valentine's Day.  Of course, her bottom lip came out.  LOL!