Life is Like a Box of Conversation Hearts

True story -- the first time I ever talked to Scott, I told him that the quickest way to my heart is through a box of conversation hearts.  Hahaha.  Of course, the only reason he was calling me then was to interview me for a Valentine's Day edition article in the school paper, but he must have internalized that memo early on.  ;)

This year's 5 Days of Valentine commenced as usual, with some token gifts, treats, and poems.  Yes, you read that right.  Haha.  Several years ago (I think maybe even when Ethan was a toddler), I decided that 1 day was not nearly enough to celebrate all the love in our life.  So I decided to extend it to 5 days instead.  Every year on February 10th, our family holiday begins.  While I was at Target on Saturday (getting stuff for Sophie's birthday party) I grabbed a few Valentine items for the duration and Day 1 was a success with some skittles.  The next day, I opted for a more "creative" option with hopes of speaking to my "words of affirmation" love language-ers, and "A Haiku for Day 2" is how it went down.  Hahahaha.

ETHAN:

Persistent Constance

guarding a tender, soft HEART,

You are a good egg.

GRACE:

Fun-loving-est face,

Housing layers of cray-cray;

Always good with babes.

SOPHIE:

Sparkle, jazz, PIZZAZ;

Powerhouse of sharp wisdom,

Lighting up the light.

JANE:

Funny face I love,

Giggles and tweedling too;

Book-worm-y sweetheart.

ALEX:

Lover-est of Boys,

Cereal munching by Day;

Mario Master.

ISAAC:

Sugar-baby Lamb,

Snuggle-buggle, Dumplin' Buns,

Precious Child of God.

(I wrote them on Sunday night while it was still technically Day 2, but the kids didn't see them until they came down on Monday morning.)

Monday night found Jane frantically tackling her school project to bring in a decorated box to hold Valentines, along with the Valentines themselves.  She's known about the assignment for over a week now, but of course, she decided that bedtime the night before it was due was the PERFECT time to get it done.  Hahaha.  Oh Jane.  Thankfully, Sophie was surprisingly willing and excited to help her, so while Scott and I were trying to get Frick and Frack (aka Alex and Isaac) in bed,  the crafting twins were hard at work destroying the computer room.  Jane and her trusty Pinterest skills found an owl idea for her box and then, thanks to Sophie and her already-created-and-at-the-ready origami, she decided to give everyone in her class a paper crane for the big day.

 {Sophie already had 15 cranes in a basket on her desk and only had to make 4 more on Monday night.}

 Fun Fact:  Jane's favorite font is "Comic Sans."  Which, I don't know why, but that makes me laugh so hard.  Hahahahahahahahaha.  It's just so on brand.

 {Everyone loves a good photobomber.}

 Isaac was SOOOOOOOOO excited and proud of this Mario shirt I got for him at Old Navy -- now if only he'll start to wear his OWN clothes and not just Alex's.

 Alex's cute Valentine bag he made at school today.

Even though I certainly didn't do anything all that big or extravagant, it really warmed the cockles of my heart to see how excited the kids were each day to discover what I had planned.  Although -- truth be told -- I'm also kind of glad that the Five Days are done.  Hahahaha.  It's a little exhausting to think of 5 things times 6 kids, even if it is mostly just trinkety tokens.  ;)  

To close on some unrelated news, Dumplin' Buns has fallen asleep on the couch at the exact same time (2:15 ish) for the past two days in the most uncomfortable looking positions possible for impromptu naps that have thankfully not interfered too badly with bedtime.  I guess all I really need to do to make him take a nap these days is to park him on the couch in the early afternoon with a show on and he'll just fall right to sleep!  Hahaha.  J/K.  That doesn't always work -- and I don't even know if I want it to, because it usually makes his bedtime EXTRA late as a result.  But for this week, he must really just need to catch up some sleep.  Now if only I could do the same...  ;)

Playing "Twister" on Jane's Rainbow Baptism Quilt, Sunday after church.

 A Shopping List, by Grace

Vanilla Ice Cream

Neopolitan Ice Cream

Popsicles (Regular & Jolly Rancher)

Orange Concentrate

Lemons

SUGAR

That's all I really need. 

XOXO

Grace :)