Valentine's week

I have had a prolonged Valentine's week this year which is unusual for me!  As mentioned, I participated in Prana Light's Valentine swap.  As I hadn't been blogging, it didn't occur to me to take photos of the Valentine that I sent to my swap partner, Marie, or to Tracy!  But I took photos of what I received!

I was very surprised to discover that Tracy sent a Valentine to me!  K & N love when I get mail ~ the "what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine" expression come to mind!  Tracy's Valentine arrived shortly before Valentine's Day and the girls were quite anxious to get the Norwegian stamps that arrived as well.  (I claimed the entire envelop as mine and plan to use it in a Blogging layout for my "Twelve" scrapbooking class ~ see the sidebar for particulars on Twelve! ~ although I allowed them to take the envelop to show the stamps to their classmates!)  Isn't Tracy's hand-painted ATC gorgeous?

My swap partner, Marie, lives in England.  Her parcel arrived shortly after Valentine's Day which extended the joy throughout Valentine's week!!  She sent some lovely vintage Valentine's that she redid with sparkles (which I will somehow incorporate into a Valentine's layout as well as the postage stamp for "Twelve") as well as a pretty Mary Engelbreit book and the always appreciated chocolates (which, of course, I had to share!).

 Thank you, Tracy and Marie, for Valentine's week and for your contributions to my "Twelve" class!

a mecca for Valentine's

As proof that our home is a mecca for Valentine's:

 The girls enjoy decorating the windows and re-decorating and redecorating....  In the bottom photo, you'll see my protest snowflake decorations remain throughout the house until springtime.

It is so cute to see what N chose to decorate a Valentine for her best friend.  Who would have thought that her best friend holds the key to her heart?  So sweet!

Meanwhile, K was determined 3 weeks ago to hand-make cards for each of her 26 classmates.  I dutifully went to Michael's to purchase supplies and then she resisted!  After persuasion, she enjoyed herself making Valentine's in the craft room!  It is so nice not to have to fully supervise her in the craft room!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Valentine's Eve

Apparently, there is such a thing asValentine's Eve.  Celebrating Valentine's Day in our home has expanded into a month-long decorative frenzy of windows, doors and chintzy jewelry; let's not forget the tights and socks with hearts.  The weekend has been spent preparing Valentines for classmates, daycare-mates and teachers.  This morning, K and N ate heart-shaped pancakes ( ~ note to myself to butter the heart-shaped cookie cutters next year before pouring the batter into the frying pan); I prepared Rice Krispie cake with Valentine sprinkles for K's class this afternoon.  (Apparently the class is celebrating Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school tomorrow ~ who knew!?!)

After K and N put on their Valentine's tattoos this evening, K inquired: "Have you made our Valentines yet?"  Gulp.

Can you guess what I'm doing this evening?