School Parties

I've always enjoyed being a room mom for one of my kids. This year, it's 6th grade. Sometimes, this can be a challenge. Finding easy, fast ideas for a party that they think is interesting can be a challenge. They don't want to play baby games or make cheesy crafts (I like cheesy crafts, *sniff*). But, thanks to a little inspiration from sis & bff, I prepared a craft they found challenging, but capable of. We painted wood blocks and glued on a patterned paper and word cutout. The kids had a blast, and I'm sure a few of their mom's loved the gift.

We also gave them the assignment to bring a Valentine box/container already decorated. They sure did a good job. I got a few pictures of some very creative boxed. And, you gotta love the ability they have to do. it. themselves!

Valentine's Day Dinner

Although I don't really agree with the complete commercialization of all the holidays, I do appreciate the reminder to tell the ones I love "I love you." And sometimes, this means simply taking the time to do something special or extra for them. Since I've gone back to school, I usually don't fix fancy meals, or make nice salads, or even set a table. Too often, I throw something together last minute and the kids have to serve themselves. I thought tonight I'd try something they may have forgotten: a family meal around the dinner table (we have a bar, they usually sit there, and we don't pass food around). Being Valentine's Day, the meal did end up being pink and red themed, but it was still good.
Course 1: salad w/spinach, berries, candied almonds, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
Course 2: rice and stroganoff with green beans.
Course 3: dessert - red velvet cupcakes. Ok, so those were store bought. I don't have time to bake these days.
(And yes, my camera takes awful pictures, especially in my house with my colored walls and especially in poor lighting. Someday, I'll be able to afford a "real" camera.)




I included a valentine note to each kid (including the Big Kid, aka, Dad) attached to a pink drink - all different pink Sobe variations (they were on sale).

Plastic Bag

"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?"

My son took this awesome picture last fall. We were up in the hills playing on the 4-wheelers, when I challenged all my kids to take a cool picture. As soon as we saw this bag, C took off running to take it's picture, and we spent the next five minutes singing "Fireworks."

I think of this picture every time I hear the song, and keep reminding myself to post it, but it has taken this long for me to sort through my 4 SD cards to find all the pictures I've been meaning to do something with.