Valentines for Boys

It can be a challenge to get the boys excited about Valentines Day. And honestly, I don't take issue with this at all. But Kyle was going to a Valentines Day party, so we needed to find something that was valentine-worthy AND boy-friendly. We found this joke online. The last line is, "I'd rather have a talking frog than a princess any day," said the boy. 

He did some writing, he used a paper cutter, he cut and sewed and hole-punched. Not a bad project for a boy who is resisting doing art.

One of the frogs just had a heart painted on its back - perfect!

If you decide to make valentines with these animals, buy them ahead of time and use your coupons to Michaels, JoAnn's etc. They are a bit pricey (for valentines) otherwise.

Wishing you a lovely Valentines Day weekend! xo

Merry and bright

Wishing you the happiest of holidays this week - Hannukah, Christmas, Solstice (yesterday!) and Kwanzaa. Enjoy each day, for each day is sacred. xo

Happy Valentines Day from the House of Cynics

In France, Valentines Day is only for lovers - grown up couples - my children tell me (curse you French Conversation class). Although the story of their teacher being horrified when her newly-moved-to-the-USA children told her they had to bring valentines for everyone in their classes -well, that was a good story. And an interesting one. I made chocolate covered strawberries anyway - our only real valentine tradition over here.

Kyle made his own valentine container to resemble a poisonous snake habitat. Brown box and snake skin duct tape? Wha? Fourth graders were asked to put hints about themselves around their boxes. I offered to help Kyle use magnet tape to keep his hints closed. "Nah," he replied, "clear tape is fine…" (If it made a noise, you would have heard my throat constrict just a wee bit right then.) For the love of washi, have I taught my kids nothing?

 

"Valentines Day is just to put pressure on people to spend money," said my head-over-heels-in-love-with-me-husband. (Hah! That's one point for writing whatever you want on your own blog!) Cynicism abounds.

We gave our kids gluten free chocolate bars and Skittles anyways - no complainers there. Today is grey and cold. I like this holiday - it's not just for lovers. It doesn't even have to be about love at all. It's just a little reminder about sweetness and life. That's all. And I'll take it! Happy Valentines Day! xo

Happy Christmas!

It's Christmas and we have received so many holiday messages from friends and family - long epistles about health and joy, short wishes hoping that the holiday is "quick and painless", lots of editorializing about whether to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Goodness. Here is wishing you pure goodness this winter season. And joy. And health.

If you are feeling overwhelmed this morning, I hope that you will just remember one of my favorite quotes (or Hallmark sentiments...I honestly don't know or care, I just love it) - how do kids/friends/people spell love? T-I-M-E. In these coming days, I hope that you are giving yourself the gift of time with the people who you care about the most.

From our family to yours - happy day. xo

Easter Monday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I've been away from blogland. Lots going on - not much of it interesting. Will check in tomorrow, but wanted to post some Easter pics. Hope you had a lovely Easter/Passover/Spring weekend! xo

Happy Valentines Day!

We copied them from Amy and Alfredo, who saw them on Danyelle's blog. Kyle's a bit older, so he designed his own. He drew the jar and wrote his message and then I photocopied his valentine on kraft cardstock. 

He cut out the jars and added his classmates' names in red. Then we worked together to tie the bugs to the jars. This was harder than I thought it would be, but since there were only 15, it was manageable. He picked out a different color embroidery floss for each friend - sweeter than sweet. See that roach down there? So gross, and it was carefully selected for Kyle's best friend, who he assured me would use it, "for jokes for years and years..."

A perfect handwork activity for an almost-eight-year-old. He was very proud of them which is so wonderful to see. 

 

Joey woke up early to bake banana bread for his class. Again, sweeter than sweet. Faith didn't want to do anything specific for Valentines day although it's spirit week at her school so she's doing all kinds of fun extras all week. And for our middle school daughter to not be too focused on this holiday of love? Fine by me. Fine by David. Fine, just fine. (wink wink)

Hope you have a lovely day! xo

Happy New Year!

 

We welcomed in the new year at our favorite cabin in the woods, where there is always a fire. Always. The rule seems to be, "Do whatever you want, as long as you're close to the fire..." And everyone is happy. We had dreamy warm weather (my kids dunked in the river - couldn't believe it) and by far the highlight was finding a dead beaver on the rock bank. Joey took a pliers from his Swiss Army knife and pulled out the beaver's front tooth - it looked like it was about a half inch long, but when he pulled it, it was really about three inches long and almost a full circle in shape. Fascinating (and gross)!

My biggest lesson is that from now on we have to travel with two cameras. I need to start taking photos of our kids taking photos. Especially of nature. Priceless.

Wishing you health and happiness and a bit of time to do what makes you click in 2012. Happy New Year from our family to yours. xo

2011 Christmas Roundup

 

 

 

Happy Solstice!

Wishing you days of joy and light. See you next week. xo

T'is

 

 

 

 

 

Our family is always a tad bit behind, last minute, late. But the holidays are here (all three of my children are asleep right now at 8:35 a.m. I have no memory of this happening ever before), and we are finally getting started...cookies to decorate, fudge to make, solstice to plan for, presents to create, wrapping - so much wrapping to do. All good. Wishing you a lovely week! xo