We went to see my extended family for four days and were reminded of just how deeply we love them.  That’s enough about that for now – it’s a post for another day.  Today I am sharing about Valentines Day and the luv that was shared at three schools, in four classrooms, by three super kiddos.

KB was the kiddo with two classes this year.  She has a class of 8 in Mother’s Morning Out and then a class of 10 in preschool.  I used a Pinterest idea (link on Pinterest page) and did what I do best: tweaked it.  We had a gazillion DumDum Pops for some reason and so, instead of purchasing M&Ms for little bags to attach to shovels, we just used a bouquet of lollipops.  The shovels went to one class, the pails went to the other.

KB designed the card for the pails and even signed them.  Good times.

Bubba has been on a bit of Star Wars kick since every little boy in his class talks about it incessantly.  When it came time to make his valentines, I had to think of how to combine Star Wars and the pencil sharpeners I made the inlaws help me get during school supply sales last summer.  With more inspiration from Pinterest and kisses from Christmas clearance, here’s what I came up with:

And then there was Little.  There are only 7 kiddos in her class but 18 in the school and they party together like a family, so she needed 18 valentines.  Simple and Sweet.

Teachers got a picture in a frame.  I created the photo and the frames were from the Dollar Stop (mini Dollar Tree).

So the tally goes like this:

3 kids

4 classrooms

7 teachers

61 valentines

And I know that Valentines Day is over but as the world turns so are the holidays of our lives; meaning it will be back in 360 days.  So I have uploaded the print for your own enjoyment.  Go HERE to download the 8×10 and HERE for a 5×7.  (Don’t you feel loved!)

I have told you about numbers for the Tim Hawkins fund raiser but I thought I would take it a step further. From the picture above you can see he is just a down to earth guy from St. Louis, MO. What you can’t tell is how absolutely hilarious he is. I can honestly say I have never laughed that hard at a comedian before.

From the picture below you can see how adorable the student body of Promise is. Scroll on down and you can hear those kiddos sing.

The song they sing is “I Am A Promise” by the Gaithers. We grew up singing this song in Locust, NC and it took on an entirely new level of meaning when God gave Little to us. Imagine how special it was to watch our little girl singing, ” I am a promise. I am a possibility. I am a promise with a capital P. I am a great big bundle of potentiality. And I am learning to hear God’s voice and I am trying to make the right choices I am a promise to be anything He wants me to be.”

Dear Jesus, Thank you that you made Little on purpose and for a purpose. Thank you that you are committed to growing her to her full potential and using her for Your glory. We trust that her heart will be sensitive to your voice and that she would make the choice to follow you. Amen.

If you have the time. . . a taste of the humor. . .

The Blue Hutch initiated Friday Family Nights this February.  It’s been a test run of sorts. This is the first time in our history that the children are able to stay awake past 6:30PM without consequences that affect the entire family and, I would argue, the entire West County.

It has been fun to order pizza, snuggle down under blankets, and to watch some family films together.  So far we have watched The Sword in the Stone, 1/2 of Alice in Wonderland, The Flo Show Creates a Buzz, and Nemo.

My favorite so far was Nemo.  I put some thought into it and made it a bit more fun.  We had special theme snacks: seaweed, goldfish (colors and s’mores), swedish fish, and turtles (dude).  It was super fun and watching my son giggle about it all was priceless.

It’s one little night a week but I have started really looking forward to it.  I think this week we are going to play games.  Anybody have a favorite?

That’s right – another post about Chickfila.  (I should get a free sandwich for all the advertising I do for them. . .Hmmm. ) Last week the little restaurant in the mall had a “Daddy and His Princess” night.  Honey was just as excited as KB about the evening out together.

The plans for the evening included a free meal if you dressed up like a princess,

an “up-do” at the neighboring JCPenney’s salon,

and a free 8×10 from the JCPenney Portrait Studio.  (The line was 1 hour+ so our princess didn’t get the glamour shot.)

What a fun idea and what a great time Honey had with our little one.  I am so very thankful for the folks that invented the chicken sandwich and the values that drive their promotions.  Such good values . . .

And here’s the new marketing gal who was responsible for this event. . . straight to us from a storybook.

KB told me, “I got to meet a REAL princess too!”
I corrected her, “You got to meet ANOTHER real princess, sweetie.”

My friend, Julie, from The Ordered Home is at it again! She helped me with a plan for school papers and inspired my plan to simplify throughout my home; now she is going to help me tame my kitchen.  We are not exclusive – - – she would love to help you too! *wink*

There’s a discount if you register with a friend – it’s like a class with a buddy system.  So, grab a buddy and come have breakfast with me and my friend Julie!

“Organizing the Kitchen”
Creating Order in the Heart of Your Home

March 24, 2012, 9:00am-10:30am   

January ended with Bubba on stage singing the Jackson5′s hit ABC with 30+ other kindergartners.  The honest description would be 30+ kindergartners concentrating so hard on choreography that they let the Jackson5 do the singing and produced pure cuteness.  (photos are from practice.)

So the academic equation would be: kindergartners-singing+choreography=cuteness

“You went to school to learn girl
things you never knew before
like I before E except after C and why 2 plus 2 makes 4
now, now, now
Im gonna teach you, teach you, teach you all about love girl, all about love
sit yourself down, take a seat
all you gotta do is repeat after me

A B C , Its easy as
1 2 3 , as simple as
do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3
baby you and me girl

Reading, writing, arithmatic
are the branches of the learning tree
but without the roots of love everyday girl your education aint complete
teachers gonna show you (shes gonna show you)
how to get an A? (na,na,na,na,na,na)
spell me, you, add the two
listen to me baby thats all you got to do

Oh, A B C , Its easy as 1 2 3,                       as simple as do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3        baby you and me girl”

We are so very thankful for our friends.

KB and N (the boy on her left) were born one day apart.

It’s good to have peeps with whom to walk through it all.

AND with whom you can better tolerate mom’s with cameras.