Love Day

Music

I'll run around all day long for my girls.  The day is really all about them. I'll make sure they have all of their valentines ready to go







and that they're wearing all of their pink heart clothes.  I'll make breakfast pretty for them and play sweet valentine music in the background. 

(bed head blurry pictures... didn't have time for a take two)


I'll pack heart cookies in their lunch boxes.  I'll volunteer for the Kindergarten party.  I'll set up a special Valentine snack for after school.  Yes sir, I'll exhaust myself but I'm in heaven... I love a holiday (even a Hallmark one) 

But today I'll think about MY valentine.  He's been my valentine since I was fifteen.  And I remember him being so creative on Valentines day 'back in the day.'  My favorite was when I was just an engaged 22 year old in my first year of teaching.  When I walked into my third grade classroom on my desk was a beautiful gold heart locket with our initials engraved on it.  Oh he already had my heart but to get up at the crack of dawn and pull off that surprise... he's my valentine.  When I told him this last night he didn't even remember.  He's one for romance but once it's done he forgets it all. 



Looking forward to a sweet evening with my little family.  (and maybe a little less running all around) 

Happy Valentines Day!

Tickets

Music

I raised my little girls on Raffi.  He is my all time favorite young children's singer/songwriter. 

And even though Anna is nine and Abigail five he still sings every single day in my house. 

There's just something about his voice, the guitar, and the magic in all of the songs I know.

So when I found out that Raffi was coming to Connecticut I raced to buy tickets.  I even took the money I'd been saving to redo our kitchen hardwood floors out... they can wait! 

I have my whole life to have new shiny hardwood floors in my kitchen.  I feel like the clock is ticking on seeing Raffi in concert.  It's not that he's old (even though he is now) it's that my window for my girls loving and belting out these songs is closing. 

But it hasn't closed yet.  When I asked Anna if she was too old to go to a Raffi concert she looked at me with puppy dog eyes and said, "oh please, can I go?"  I thought I'd give her the opportunity to back out of a 'baby' concert.  But these songs are ingrained in her too and she doesn't want to miss it.  I'm grateful for my little nine year old. 

I'm so excited I think I might cry when I hear him strum his first cord.  Abigail has fallen asleep to Raffi every single night since she was a breast fed baby.  We even bring the "Quiet Time" CD on vacations.  It's that crucial.  And Anna was always more of a rockin out to 'Let's Make Some Noise'. 

See you soon Raffi. 

Be My Valentine

Music



During our first day at home (blizzard) the girls wrote out their Valentines for their classmates.  It was a challenge for Abigail.  She'd never written her name that many times in a row. 

But she did it and it was so much fun to watch her!







So here are their Valentines for school: Anna's front side



Anna's back



Abigail's front side



Abigail's back



And then our second day of the storm we worked on our homemade Valentines.  Oh we loves these the most! 



I was oh so happy that I had added to my "making valentines" bin this year.  I had all sorts of crafting fun for the girls.  And we had plenty of time thanks to the blizzard.

Look at that snow out my kitchen window!

The set up... I have to make it pretty before we can start.





Anna likes the creative pieces like doilies.  Abigail loves the peel and stick hearts. 



Ribbons and lace, paint and tissue paper... oh my!





She loves using the glue and too much of it of course!










These girls love their daddy!





A splatter paint bookmark for Grandpa, "because he loves to paint!"






I love Valentine's Day!

"Snowbounded" (abigail says) Blizzard 2013

Music

No school... waiting for the snow to start!



It really started out for me on Thursday morning.  I decided to turn on the weather while I ironed.  I knew that a big snow storm was coming but I was curious.  So when I heard that over 24 inches were headed for our town I turned off the iron and rushed to the grocery store just like every other mom in our town.  I have a 'thing' about not only having our house stocked with 'the basics' but I also have to have at minimum three dinners planned and shopped for at all times.  It's just my thing.  I knew I had one more dinner on my list and shopped for so I needed to head out. 

All of the hype gets me so excited.  I cook, I plan, I nest. 

So Friday morning of course there was no school.  Once the flakes started flying down Abigail wanted to take 'Petunia' out in her snow suit.  I took these pictures thinking that I would take some after the blizzard in the same spot.  There was no getting to that spot the next day. 



So here's Abigail just as the snow stared falling on Friday morning. 






And then it snowed all day and all night.  At some points it was snowing up to 6 inches ever half hour.  Amazing. 



The state and all activities were cancelled for Saturday.  (yahoo) But then again on Sunday everything closed! 



And even today... Monday... no school.  It's 8am and not a car is driving on the roads.  It's as still out there as it is in the middle of the night. 



We have a whole system of cool tunnels and forts in our backyard. I think it's like a huge gerbil cage for our girls. They couldn't be happier.


(daddy digging the tunnels)





Huge amounts of snow!





This is where Abigail was standing before the storm started. There's no getting there now!











Handsome daddy on day two of snow blowing.



And digging out our front door.



Oh yeah, we're having 'snow' much fun!



And yes, I'm as happy as can be with all of the flutter of 'real life' closed and just us cozy in our house together.  I was shocked when they told us that schools would be closed Monday too but Scott's been the only one out on the roads and says that it's still not all plowed. 

But tomorrow I'm sure all of this cozy family time will end. I'll be rushing around again getting everyone where they need to be; getting the final touches on Valentines Day; and all that comes with real life.

Little Purse Camera Post

It's storming outside...we're really just hoping that we don't loose power with this one!  But they say it's snowing about 6 inches every half hour at this point. 

The girls are tucked away in our bedroom tonight.  We have two blow up mattresses that we take out for special blizzard and hurricane occasions such as this.  I love a cozy family sleepover. 

I've got to get out there tomorrow once it stops to take some pictures for sure.  But for now just a purse camera post...




a valentine for her sister
first time ice skating with a special friend
I logged countless hours with viola lessons and this is my view
a magazine I've always wanted that I just ordered
a letter of congratulations from the dentist for breaking the bear habit
piles of chocolate chip cookies
valentine clothes

Learning To Read and a Historic Storm

I know that I should have held my phone horizontal... I'm learning.

I took this quick video of Abigail reading! I love a beginning reader, and this book about two puppies named Bella and Rosie could not have been more adorable!

The funny part is the "salad" part!



PS ~ We're expecting a possible 24 inches of snow tomorrow... NO SCHOOL... Yeah! While others say "ugh.. another" I am so excited. I spent the morning (after being in Kinderland) picking up a few ingredients for three batches of soup (gotta have three different soups), running to the post office for "love" stamps for my Valentines, and then reorganizing the girls playroom. I packed away a few things and shuffled around a few things to make it feel new and exciting. I got the box labeled "Valentine Making" down and added in a few things that I'd picked up over the past month. (doilies, ribbon, and such). I love to create a Valentine with a photo but really there's nothing like paste and scissors and love! It's so romantic.

I'm the only Mom in the world that LOVES cabin fever. Bring on the storm... I can't wait!

She's Got The Moves

Music

Abigail has the most 'teacher talented' teacher I've ever met. She is on top of the curriculum, each student, goals, and where she wants them to be. She is super organized yet laid back. She's created the happiest classroom environment I've ever seen. It's such a special place to learn. It oozes with love and creativity. 

And she's super fun too! Like her spontaneous 'dance party' that Abigail could not stop talking about at home. I'd be getting her ready for her bath at night and she'd break into a cool dance. And that girl.. she's got the moves!



So when I was in the classroom yesterday I asked her teacher about this dance party that the class loves and she asked if I wanted to watch it. Oh boy... I was laughing hysterically and loving every minute.



Oh Kindergarten... you are fun!!!