Fri-YAY

This has been a really long week. I never thought Friday would get here. I'm finally getting around to writing this and now it is almost Saturday. My Friday was pretty amazing! We ended the work week with a great day. The weather was gorgeous here in southeast Arkansas and although tomorrow should be warmer it is going to be another spring like day and I am pumped about getting back outside. Okay, maybe I'm most excited about not having to entertain Jack inside. He can run and play and hopefully crash tomorrow night. A mama has to have dreams, right? So let me get to it.

1// My Secret Pal is AMAZING! Inside this red bag is a bunch of toys like a slinky, playdoh, and a light up stick. She also gifted me this yummy mocha which was very much appreciated. I love having a secret pal to surprise Jack and I with fun things.

Also, inside the bag was this adorable Valentine shirt for Jack. His outfits are now planned for Monday and Tuesday. He'll be wearing this shirt on Monday and this newest shirt on Valentine's Day. 

2// I went with straight today and I kinda like it. I took this picture for the photo challenge I'm participating in. I've started MANY photo challenges and so far I've actually stayed on track with this one. What has helped is the Productive app. The free version lets you track five habits. I've been able to mark complete on each item since I've downloaded the app. Y'all, it's the Powersheets. By the end of 2017 y'all are gonna get sick of me talking about the Powersheets. Sorry in advance.

3// My dad got Jack and my nephew Bennett matching gators for Christmas and they LOVE them. Today was just so gorgeous that after school we let them ride. Trying to get these pictures was lots of work on my end. They don't want to stop. It is super cute when they ride together. What isn't super cute is when Jack runs into stuff on purpose. Y'all he is such a daredevil. He just goes full force into a tree and then laughs. Today I made him stop riding because he just wouldn't stop running into stuff. It is too new to break it just yet. Oh raising a boy!

Tomorrow should be a great day. The weather is going to be gorgeous so I want to spend a lot of time outside. We are going to make heart cookies also. Tomorrow afternoon I'm watching my sister's kids so her and her husband can do an early Valentine's supper. We are going to order pizza and decorate cookies. I'm also going to go ahead and give Jack his Valentine's gift so the boys can play with it outside. 

Happy Weekend!!!

What Happened to the Shoebox?

This week Jack's teacher sent home a note, a cardboard bag, and a big sheet of yellow paper. The note said it was time to make Valentine bags. When I was in school we decorated shoe boxes to put our valentines in. My mom said they made a heart pouch out of paper or paper plates. Well in 2017 they make bags. 

I blame Pinterest and moms like myself. We see cute stuff and we wanna make it for the world to see. Part of it is we love the praise but we also love having a creative outlet. 

When I saw the supplies I actually was really excited to do this project with Jack. They supplied each kid with a cardboard initial. I let him paint it red while I covered the bag in the yellow paper. By the time he finished painting it he had red paint all over himself. 

We used supplies on hand. We had a Dollar Tree wreath hung up that had cute felt hearts all around it. I tore the hearts off to use on his bag. I also cut out construction paper hearts. I let Jack place the hearts on the bag and hold them into place while the glue dried. We kept it fairly simple and we both enjoyed doing this project together. 

I've been making photo books so I've come across previous Valentine pictures. It is so fun looking back at how much he has grown. It is also fun to think about how much I've grown as a mother. 

Jack's first Valentine's Day

Jack looks just like me as a toddler in this picture. 

In 2015 I let Jack have a Valentine's bath and as you can tell he had a blast. I think we will do this again this year. The boy loves a bath and mama loves any time that he is contained. 

When you were in school what did y'all put Valentines in?

Valentine's Day Gifts

First let me say, sorry about these awful pictures. Total bad blogger move but life is so crazy busy right now and I still wanted to share the gifts I got for the special people in my life. 

JACK

I ordered him a personalized shirt. I picked the fire truck seen below. I love shirts with his name on it. He'll wear it this week and for his Valentine's party at school. 

On Valentine's Day he is getting this fun game that I got on clearance at Wal-Mart for $11. I also got him a sweet card but that is mostly for me to put in his memory box. He's not getting any sweets this year because he will get PLENTY at his party and from his friends.

 

This week I gave my Secret Pal this shirt from jane.com. Instead of the teal I got the sleeves in a pretty pink. I went ahead and gave it to her so she can wear it at least a few times. I also picked up a pair of Valentine socks that are super festive. 

My wonderful parents will also get a gift this year. They had these sheets on Amazon deals and since they just purchased a new mattress I thought some nice sheets would be a great gift. I also picked up my dad a box of sugar free chocolates since he is diabetic. 

Jack has the BEST teachers. A friend told me about this lady who makes these super cute cookies.  I'm having them shipped and they should arrive the day before Valentine's Day. I'm going to add a sweet note and I really hope they enjoy them. 

Valentine's Day is a holiday I really love. I enjoy giving gifts to my love ones. Do you have any special gifts you plan on giving this year? 

V-Day 2016 is in the Books

Let me start with saying that nothing I do will make this left justification work. #bloggerproblems

This boy is getting bigger and bigger every day and learning so much. The other day he called me "mean mama" which turned out to be cuter than I thought it would. 

At the last minute I made this tag and stapled them to a small bag of chips. All along I had planned on doing chocolate bars wrapped with a cute Valentine saying for my co-workers. With it only being the second month of 2016, a lot of our teachers are dieting and well being an elementary school we already have a lot of chocolate around. The chips were a big hit. 

Staying on the diet was extra hard on Friday. I received so much candy. I also got this wonderful smelling soap and the tag attached is just too much cuteness. (now my left justification is working-go figure)

Jack also walked away with a bag full of loot. This is the first class party I missed and boy did I hate missing it. When he got home we went through his bag and we both had a few bites. He wanted the chocolate and I wanted the Airheads.

We have eaten chocolate or candy for dessert with every meal. Eggs, biscuits, bacon and a chocolate heart. Sloppy joes with a side of fun dip. All that chocolate and candy we had on Friday just might be extinct come Monday morning. Isn't that what you are suppose to do-get rid of it all.

I had to buy bacon this morning and the store was stocked with peeps, Reese peanut butter eggs, jelly beans, and lots of other candy like those Russell Stover nests made with coconut.

Holidays ruin diets.

Friday I came home to precious cards from two wonderful bloggers Whitney and Tabitha. Snail mail is a wonderful thing. Bloggers are keeping the mailmen (or in our case mailwomen) in business.

Olive did such an amazing job painting her card. This is the second year getting a card from Tabitha. Both ladies had the sweetest things to say and sure make a gal feel special. 

Ran into Wal-mart for milk and walked out with 8 of these bad boys. 

This picture does not do it justice-they were huge. I figured if I were getting chocolate then I needed wine and if I were getting wine then I needed new pajamas and if I had new pajamas then I needed a new book. 

These were very dangerous chocolate dipped strawberries. 

I had a lovely night so it was worth it all. 

I'm in love with this book. It is like reading posts from your favorite blogger. Shonda is smart and oh so funny. I can't believe I waited this long to pick up this book. If you haven't read it, stop what you are doing and add it to your shopping list, or goodreads, or Kindle, or forehead. You will love it-promise. 

Have you read Year of Yes? If so, what did you love about it?

Valentine Thank You Cards

Teachers work really hard. Imagine lots of little children hyped up on candy-it isn't an easy job. However, it is a sweet job. I got loaded down with candy and other goodies on Valentine party day. 

I really enjoy sending thank you notes. Even the smallest of gifts deserve a thank you card. It is also important to me that my students see me sending thank you notes. I want them to see the importance of being thankful. Saying thanks is important but there is just something a little extra about giving a written thank you note. 

I want to share the thank you note I created using picmonkey.com. 

Happy Valentine's weekend!

Valentine Bucket List

Yep, It's a Valentine's Post

Jack sent me flowers to school. I didn't expect anything this year being that my husband is probably getting his girlfriend something this year instead. It was a nice surprise! 

I left work a little early on Friday so I could rush over to Jack's Valentine's party. All of the other kids are nicely eating their food and then there is Jack who has....well you can see. Yes, these two year olds are eating cheetos, cupcakes, sugar cookies, and ice cream. The other kids picked at their food but not Jack. I finally had to throw away his ice cream after he had eaten everything else and half of his ice cream. I kept thinking this kid is going to get sick any minute.

The ladies at the daycare said they had to take Jack out of the room because while they were trying to set up he kept eating the food off everyone's plate before the party got started. We can't get him to eat at home. Now I know why. We aren't feeding him cupcakes, cookies, and cheetos. This child was in sugar heaven.

I get sugar cracked out Jack home and find that I have gotten a Valentine in the mail. Like in the real mail. I seriously love snail mail! Isn't this card so freaking cute too??? My friend Tabitha from A Hundred Tiny Wishes thought of me. Do y'all even know how much that meant to me? I have never actually met her and this kind woman didn't just do a random act of kindness, she actually thought of me, took time to pick a card, write in the card, address the card, and mail the card. We too often forget how thinking of others can change someone. Tabitha, the fact that I know you cared enough to think of me during this time is just beyond words. Thanks is just too sucky of a word. You made a difference in someone's life today and I want you to know that. My parents were like who is Tabitha and it was nice to say "she is my friend". 

On today, the day of love, let me leave you with this. Buying someone something because you are "suppose" to doesn't show the love you need to share. Don't forget to say the words that are on your heart. Maybe those words are I love you, I appreciate you, I'm thinking of you, whatever it may be, make sure you mean it and it comes from the heart. Also, don't forget to tell yourself how much you are loved.  You may not love everything about yourself but say a few positive things to yourself tomorrow. Pay yourself a few compliments and mean it. 

Straight Up Random

I really wanted to stay on my blogging game and keep posts coming out on the regular but boy can life get in the way of that at times. Since I skipped Monday-Wednesday I'll just combine everything in one post. Cliffnotes people!

1// I finished with Jack's classes Valentines 3 days early!!! I think it is because I'm still new to this that I find it fun. I'm sure by the time he is in the first grade I'm going to be throwing some cartoon paper Valentine's together. For now, I still find it Mama Fun to be cutesy.

2// We were suppose to go to court yesterday but were able to work a deal out because his lawyer really didn't want to travel to the hearing. So as it stands right now Jack's dad can see him from 10 am- 7 pm every Saturday. I also get $25 a week in child support. I'll be putting this money into a savings account for Jack.

3// We do the whole Secret Pal thing at work and well my SP hooked me up yesterday. Just look at my loot. 

The necklace has a stone with Jack's birthstone (how sweet!). Candy....thanks please! There is also a notebook of sticky notes of various sizes. Any teacher loves (and always needs) sticky notes.

4// I can't get Uptown Funk out of my head. Ever...even in my sleep, I am jamming.

5// I'm off work Monday and daycare is open. This Mama is taking her kid to daycare and I'm taking the day for myself. Yep, sure am. I may lay in bed and watch Scandal all day and eat a half priced boxed of Valentines chocolate. I'm not sure yet. I'm still planning. Gotta love when a Mama has options!

Valentine Books for Kids

1// Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stick

deGroat always delivers with Gilbert and his crazy antics. You can pick up this book at Amazon here. 

2// There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose

A spin on the classic that is cute and very fitting with the love holiday. 

3//Happy Valentine's Day, Little Critter!

I just love all the Little Critter books. You can pick this one up at Amazon for $6.00.

4// Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine

Who doesn't love the Amelia Bedelia books? The kids love the story and the adult get to enjoy the underlining humor that the younger kids may not get just yet. 

5// A Valentine For Norman Noggs

I saved my favorite for last. My students love this book. It is super cute. They think it is gross that Norman has a crush and they always say ewwww. Even though they think it is gross then always love and enjoy the story. This book went great last week because it was also Kindness Week. There is some bullying that takes place in the story so we discussed that as well.