St. Patty's Day fun...

Once again the presence of little ones has proven to greatly enhance a somewhat mid-level holiday.  Sure St. Patty's Day has seen it's share of big celebrations, a few in college and then those right out of college years where we were still pretending like we were in college, but lately its really just been another day with an excuse to eat corned beef and cabbage and wear green.  

However this year we jazzed the day up a bit by getting the kids involved.  Adam was adamant that everyone wear green - even making Grandma change her shirt - and was thrilled to find himself drinking GREEN milk for dinner! 

We also set up a St. Patty's Day after nap activity and I'd say the kids nailed it!  What adorable rainbows they made and I'd like to think these sweet angles are our proverbial "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow. 

Lucky...yep, that's what we are. 

Love was in the air...

It really is amazing how much more special the holidays are when you have a child.  I obviously knew Christmas would be taken to a completely new level and of course egg hunts would once again grace our Easter celebrations, but I never realized how much more fun Valentine's Day would be. It really is almost a kid's holiday, and I don't mind one bit.  

The celebrations started over the weekend as Adam and I started to prepare his Valentines for school. We also did a Valentine craft from his Highlights magazine and had fun letting Olivia in on the fun.  

We sent bubble wands in to school with little love notes to his classmates stating how they each "blow him away!" I love how they turned out and especially loved the lack of sugar! :) 

Adam came home from school on Valentine's Day with a substantial stack of love notes...and sugar...but he had a great time and I'm told the party they had at school was very fun and chalk full of red and pink treats! 

It wasn't such a bad day for the adults, I was gifted with some very lovely flowers and Andy made my favorite, chocolate covered strawberries!

I definitely have a new found *love* for this lover's holiday! 

A handmade and heartfelt Father's Day...

I remember making handmade gifts for my dad in Girl Scouts each year.  I don't quite remember what they actually were, but I know they were handcrafted and while I'm sure they served absolutley no practical purpose, my dad's face would still light up as he'd open whatever popsicle stick, pipe cleaner concoction was hiding under that thin sheet of decorated tissue paper. 

It's a bit like deja vu, watching Adam come home from school with handcrafted treasures and while I'm sure the look on Adam's face is one of extreme pride, I'm more focused on that familiar beam that shines from Andy's face.  The kind of look that only a dad can make.  

This year Adam came home with a handmade card from school that had a poem attached:

 "Daddy's Boy"
Author: Patsy Gaut
My little eyes are watching,
My ears are listening too.
They take in everything
That you say and do.

My little hands are eager
To do the things you do.
I'm hoping and I'm dreaming

I'll grow up just like you.

I am just a little guy
Who knows that you are wise
You'll teach me what I need
For someone just my size.

I'm a bright eyed little fellow
Who is watching what you do
And I'm waiting for the day
I'll be grown up just like you.

I'm not sure there are better words to describe the relationship between Adam and his Dad.  Change the title to "Daddy's Girl" and I'm certain it would have fit perfectly on the back of a popsicle stick picture frame featuring a photo of the best Dad I could ask for and me sitting on his lap.

Happy Father's Day to all those amazing dads out there.  With special love being sent out to my pops, the pops that taught my son's pops to be so awesome and of course to the best pops Adam could ask for! XOXOXO

Winter wreath...

I hate saying goodbye to my Christmas decorations.  It's just about my least favorite day of year.  My house always feels so empty and dull once the lights and garland are down.  Luckily this year I had Pinterest to help pull me out of the post-Christmas doldrums! 

I had seen this wreath and knew it would be a fun activity and a great wintry wreath for January.  Making the yarn balls was actually so fun and almost therapeutic.  I simply bought different sizes of styrofoam balls and wrapped them in various styles and colors of yarn. 
For the wreath I just bought a cheap wooden wreath from Michaels then wrapped it in yarn.  That was probably the most tedious part, but I'm glad I did it.  Then I just used A LOT of hot glue and finished it off with some glittery picks that I got on major post-holiday sale. 

I think I'm going to add some additional balls to it to thicken it up, but for now I'm loving how it looks hanging in our morning room. 

Thank you Pinterest and Two Junk Chix! :)