Now I Understand

When I was a little girl, I remember my Mom always telling me how my homemade crafts or pictures meant more to her than something I could have bought at a store.

I never did completely understand why. I wondered, who wouldn't want something new from a store over some picture that was drawn on a piece of paper? I really thought she was just saying that to make me feel like my drawing was more worthy than those diamond earrings at the store.

Not that I had enough money to buy her diamond earrings.

Now that I am a mother, I completely understand how a child's artwork or craft project is more worthy than a pair of diamond earrings. Actually, I could use a pair of big diamond earrings.

To see the excitement in my child's face as they hand their homemade gift to me ... it is priceless.

And now I completely understand. Of course my artwork meant more to her than those diamond earrings. Just like my kids' artwork means more to me.

Silly me.

For Valentine's Day, Mason made me this vase of flowers at
school ...

And the kids drew me these pictures ...


And this one, to which Mason assigned the below captions ...

Mommy says, "I love you."
Daddy says, "I love you too."
Mason says, "Happy Valentine's Day, Momma."
Payton says, "Do do dow."
Addison says, "Mama."
Zoe {the dog} says, "Woof ... I'm hungry."

And Mason gave me two dollars to buy myself anything I wanted ... isn't he the sweetest?

A great time had by all ...

We had a great day yesterday celebrating my Grandmother's 78th birthday. It was nice to just hang out with family, which we don't get to do often enough. We ate, the kids played {so nicely, I might add}, we ate some more, the men drank beer and the women played Apples to Apples ... which I totally lost ... it was such crap.

But I'm not bitter.

It was fun for me to be able to have some different subjects to photograph ... here are some shots my cousin's kids ... well, two of her kids, at least ...






And some shots of Chicky for good measure ... man, I am so in love with this kid ...





How in the world did I end up with no shots of Mason outside? Ei yi yi ... sorry Bubs! I didn't get any of the little ones inside either, so I guess they are even.

The older kids spent a lot of time playing outside ... they had so much fun, but it was cold! In fact, it even started snowing ... err actually, more like sleeting. But that didn't stop them from playing outside ... uh, nor did it stop the men from their beer and fire ...

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is the day we celebrate love. For me, it is the day I celebrate the love I have for my husband and my children.

They are my loves.

And ... this day brings another special meaning into my life. It is the day my grandmother was born. Way back in 1931, she blessed this planet with her birth.

She is my second mother. She and I are in essence the same person. Today we are off to celebrate her life ... to celebrate her 78th birthday. And there is no other way I'd rather spend this day.

Enjoy your loves today everyone ... and Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank You Grandpa and Grandma!

Be My Valentine

Don't you just love Valentine's Day?

I remember being a kid and being so excited to see the Valentine's that I got from my classmates. Why, I have no idea. These days I love being able to watch my kids get their Valentines ... they get just as excited as I used to.

This year, I wanted to do something extra special for the kids' teachers. They both have awesome teachers this year and they have done so much for us.

So I set out to find a unique idea for a teacher's Valentine ... and I found it here. Isn't it cute?! Plus I figured teachers always could use a good hand lotion because they wash their hands so much. They do wash their hands a lot, right? Well whatever, I love a good hand lotion, so there ya have it.

Here is Payton's creation for her teacher ... I wanted to share it with you now just in case you wanted to run with my this idea.