Owls and Mustaches... Totally acceptable ways to show the love...

I've been working SO hard to make the kids valentines this year ones worth remembering.  I incorporated a few different ideas I saw online, my kids personalities, and of course added my own little personal unique touch.  I'm SO PROUD of the end results and have been SO anxious to share them.

Who doesn't love those fun photo booth pics? 

I had forgotten just what a fun little reminder of those good times with friends they were until I had some done with the kids and their friends a couple months ago.

My kids are always pulling those little photo strips out and laughing at them.  So much personality in them too.

I thought that it would be the perfect way to showcase my kids personalities on their valentines.  I also wanted the ever so popular chalkboard look along with them so I headed over to my dad's place where my little sister has a very large chalkboard painted on the wall, camera in hand, and took some shots of my kids.  First I had intended on writing the little messages on the chalkboard, but quickly realized I wasn't all that great at making it look good.  I decided I would later attempt to create the chalkboard look in photoshop.  I'm WAY more comfortable with that.

Brenna is a huge Beatle's fan and I wanted to incorporate one of her favorite songs they sing into her valentines.  All things considered, especially on Valentine's Day, "'Owl' You Need Is Love".

Brenna will be handing out some cute little owl suckers along with these cute little photo strips.  

Sam on the other hand is such a goof ball and having seen online a valentine that read "I "mustache" you a question, will you be my valentine?" I decided to go along with that same theme, but used a little different phrase I also found online that I felt suited him better.  Such a perfect fit for this little guy! 

Unfortunately I couldn't find some pre-made mustache suckers to go along with his valentines so I made some foam mustaches, which I then slid onto the sucker stick so when the are eating it it looks like they have a lil' mustache.  

I had both the kids valentines printed this weekend and I am getting anxious for them to hand them out to their friends.  

I already gave a peek of these on facebook, but these beauties below are what is being mailed to other close friends and family.  

Are you doing anything fun and creative for your kids to hand out to their friends?  I'd love to see!

I Hate January. (Officially)

Here we are seven days into February and I can already tell that the month is going to be far more kind to our family than January.  I can say for certain that I got a real test of just how hard it is being a working mother.  I had the ability to stay home with my children for seven years, so I have never had to experience just how hard it really is.  I can say right now that I have the utmost respect for those mothers that have known nothing different than being a working mother.  It is NOT easy. Not even a little bit.  I had it pretty easy being a working mom for the first four months on my new career path, but January showed no mercy to me in this area.  With January comes snow, cold, inversions, and above all... ILLNESS!   If its going around, you can bet that my family was hit with it in January.  Poor Sam receiving the brunt of it.  Being a working mom, accompanied by sick kids, and a job that has a lot of responsibility hanging overhead daily made for a very high stress month.  So high stress that I'll admit I had a meltdown.  Not just a minor scream and quickly pull it together meltdown, but rather a sink into a kitchen chair, look around at my house in shambles, glance and my super sick boy, and sob uncontrollably.  A meltdown caused by feeling so helpless and overwhelmed.  The lack of sun didn't make it any easier.  Bill and the kids sat back and watched this meltdown unfold and quickly came to my rescue.  Dishes got done, floor got vacuumed, and I relaxed a little.  Bill shared in the stay at home with sick kids duties, along with help from some awesome family.  I seriously wouldn't have made it through this month had it not been for those so willing to tend to my responsibilities while I was unable to.  My kids come first, Always, but when you have an additional 40+ kids who count on you everyday its really hard to juggle.  The mommy in me just wanted to be home with my boy, but the responsible teacher me knew that I had to make that sacrifice of leaving him with someone else in order to pull through for those students and paying parents.  What hit me the hardest this month was those times that I couldn't be home caring for my boy.  I felt anxious and antsy every second I had to spend away from him and not because I didn't trust those who were doing the tending, but because I know that it's just not the same as when Mom is there offing the snuggles and administering the meds.  I felt guilty with every passing minute.  I knew that these sick kids moments would happen, I just didn't anticipate it to the extent that it hit us in January.  Really, what kid gets Influenza, Strep, and Scarlet Fever in under a two week span?  It just wasn't fair.  All this now past us and everyone in the household on the mend, I have yet to reach the point of "look back and laugh about it."  Not sure I ever will.  January did not treat us well and now that I look back on all the January's I can recall I don't think they have ever treated me well.  I am sure many can agree that January is hands down the hardest month to get through, but I have never until now had that overwhelming hatred for a four week span of time.  I hate January, and I now think I ALWAYS will.  

On another note... It's now February.  Valentines day is creeping up VERY quickly.  What do you have planned for the loves in your life?  I've been pulling together several festive things in my world.  14 days of gifting for the kids and then their valentines for school.  They are coming together well and I CAN'T WAIT to unveil the finished products.