The types of things I pin most are kid activities, recipes and parenting advice. So, Andrew and Mike have become my official Pinterest experimenters... sampling new recipes, testing various disciplinary tactics and of course creating crafts!
For Valentine's Day, we did our best at re-creating this Pin from http://adamandhaleykjar.blogspot.com/2011/02/homemade-valentines.html:
Here's how ours turned out:
Andrew actually cooperated during the process, which was the big win of this project! He has hated everything I've tried so far that forced his hands to get messy... so, his desire to participate was all I needed! I took some liberties with the project, because I liked the idea of showing his palm print and his face at the same time... plus, that's how you blow a kiss! I would say they were successful, the Grandparents and Aunt seemed to like their cards! Some action shots (notice my learned lessons of carefully covered kid's table, smock, and pacifier to keep paint brush out of mouth... check, check, check):
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| It looked like a crime scene afterwards... nothing a little glitter and some hearts can't handle! |
I was also inspired by this pin for Mike's Valentine gift:
http://s270.beta.photobucket.com/ (This was all Pinterest had to link to... I feel bad not giving proper credit!)
Here's how mine turned out. Less alcohol (there is one bottle of Patron in there), more snacks and things he complains he doesn't have, yet never buys for himself.
Andrew's Valentine's gift was red and racy...
He's not necessarily ready for this, but he is very interested in the potty and tells us when he poops and goes to get the diapers, so we figured, "Why not?" We aren't pushing this and his pediatrician warned me that on average, boys are potty trained around 3 years old. Yikes, that seems far away!
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| Just checking to make sure it's still there... (He is going to hate me for these later!) |
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| You want me to do what, where? |
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| This does not seem like much fun. |
My next Valentine's idea wasn't from any particular pin, but it's the kind of inspiration I get while pinning - it's the simple things that are so easy to do and make me smile! Mike asked for a dessert with strawberries, and since I didn't have anything pinned other than Santa Strawberries (cute, but wrong holiday) and chocolate filled strawberries (instead of covered... less messy!), I dusted off a cookbook and made Strawberry Shortcakes. Just add a heart shaped cookie cutter, and wah-lah - super cute despite the cake just being "eh". Mike actually ended up stealing the glory (surprise, surprise) by making homemade whip cream that was the best part of the dessert!
Much to my chagrin, Day Care informed me that the Toddler class will be exchanging Valentines... which means that Andrew will need to bring in cards for his classmates. His classmates that range in ages from 1 year old and are barely walking to two and learning how to use a potty. His classmates that that don't have a clue what Valentine's Day is, certainly can't read which card is from which kid, let alone remember each other's names (there are days I wonder if Andrew knows HIS name!), and will most likely chew on them and tear up their Valentine's Day bag. I know I sound cynical, but why start this early on a tradition that just makes kids feel insecure and uncomfortable later on? Trust me, after spending 5 years teaching in elementary schools, I can assure you that is how 90% of the class feels. They wonder if they're going to get cards from their crush, they read into every little saying on the store bought cards, they judge how cool/cute/expensive the cards are and if a treat goes with them, extra points! It's just a shame. Ok, that's the end of my little tirade on Valentine's Day for kids. Rest assured, Andrew is going in with Valentines, despite his crazy mother's rantings... I'm hoping the little girl Logan he danced with the other day gets him a nice card. ;)
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| The only cards that were age appropriate... $2.50 though, heck yeah! I tried to capture the 3-D effect below, but its harder than you'd think to take photos of a glossy 3-D card. |
Now, getting Valentine's in the mail from people he actually loves, that's a whole other story. We LOVE getting mail! :)
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| This was his card to me... my heart completely melted when he handed this to me. |
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| This came from Gram and Pop in Florida! The Dinosaur popped out on the inside, and there were instructions from Gram that Andrew was supposed to let his Mommy know he could rip it up if he wanted to, because it was his card. :) |
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| Gram and Pop's card had window decals in it... Andrew enjoys taking them off and crushing them in his hand more than sticking them on the window. I moved them further up on the window to preserve them a little longer... despite the directions from Gram to let him play! |
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| Grammy sent a box with a present we left in PA from Christmas and this adorable monkey! |
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| Andrew got this card with a little something for his piggy bank from Mom-Mom! |
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| This one came from Aunt Amanda - it was Aquarium themed, of course! |
Andrew is one very loved child. Happy Valentine's Day!
