Last Sunday Afternoon...

This was the year that we finally got a little creative with our Valentines and spent last Sunday afternoon creating Tootsie Pop super heroes (thanks to Pinterest)...

and friendly foam owls (thanks to Michaels)...

and sharing the connection between the two with my kiddos.

"Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?"

"Well, let's see. One. Two. Three." 

CRUNCH!!!

Abby thought it was pretty darn funny that ol' Mom was able to recite a commercial from SO long ago. 

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

The world may never know. 

Sometimes I even surprise myself.

Valentine Fireplace Idea - courtesy of my kiddos

A few feet of pink streamers and a couple dozen construction paper hearts have sure added a whole lot of LOVE to our living room this week -

We always decorate for Valentine's Day, but the festive fireplace was a new addition this year. The kids even made sure to get a big heart-little heart pattern going on.

Gotta love that kiddo creativity!

Special Delivery for the Senior Citizen Home!

Over 60 valentines made just this morning - compliments of Abby's second grade class!

Now to just make the delivery and email this picture to the class parents and thank them for sending in a bunch of great card decorating supplies!

Valentines with HEART!

Armed with stickers, foam hearts, glitter glue, and crayons, about a dozen kiddos (ages 2-11) got to work making valentines during our little decorating party last February. Between all of us moms, there were tons of supplies to go around! What impressed me most was how much time the kids spent decorating these valentines knowing they were for children at the hospital. They were definitely made with lots of heart!
 

Tomorrow morning, I've enlisted Abby's second grade class to make a bunch more homemade valentines that will be delivered to a local senior citizens' home this weekend - just in time for the big day!


Hopefully, the residents there will feel the LOVE that goes into making those cards!

A Valentine's Must Read - My Heart is Like a Zoo

Making heart animals with my kids has always been one of our favorite Valentine's Day crafts. (Cut out a bunch of hearts of different colors and sizes, and let the kids get creative!)

(Noah's Valentine Goldfish bag with heart bubbles - 2010)

So when I saw this eye-catching book cover a couple of years ago, my heart seriously skipped a beat! 



Vibrant colors, clever rhymes, and every animal you can imagine constructed completely out of hearts -



Pure genius and a perfect snuggle book for Valentine's Day! My kids loved it just as much as their mama.