More Valentine fun!

We are fortunate to live in an incredible neighborhood. From the day we moved in our neighbors have been very kind. Some have come out in hurricanes to help us stop flooding, snow plowed our driveway for free and some send a birthday gift for our girls every year. 

So, we wanted to show a little love right back atchya this Valentine's Day! Of course, I again went rummaging for what we already have on hand. Luckily, I had some left over almond bark and colorful sprinkles (toddler staple). All I needed was some cute pink and red M&M's. 

Ohhh huuubby!

This is what we ended up with:

Super easy! Super cheap! Super cute!

1. Line baking dish with aluminum foil.

2. Spray with cooking spray, or brush with oil

3. Melt almond bark in microwave and pour into pan.

4. Dump candies on top.

5. Refrigerate for 2 hours

6. Break into pieces and divide into packages. 

This is how we packaged them. I had left over large treat bags and tied on a pink bow. We include organic peanut butter cookies in our goody bags. I didn't actually choose to make organic cookies.

 I did mention we live in an awesome neighborhood right? A neighbor offered to come to our house with supplies to bake cookies the day before Valentine's Day (we were trapped inside on our 3,023rd snow day). Not only did she bake cookies with my kids, but she did the dishes and threw a dance party with the kids in my living room! I know! We made her some chocolate covered strawberries to go with her almond bark as an extra thank you (and because it would be weird to give her the peanut butter cookies she helped us bake. I wonder if that is like regifting?). 

We even left a treat bag hanging on the mail box for our mail carrier since he has delivered our mail during every single snow storm this year. 

Have a recipe for super simple Valentine's treats?

Happy Valentine's Day

OK Valentines Day has officially come and gone, but I am just getting a chance to update with pics now. I never really intended to start a blog. But, after posting pics of things I do with my kids some friends suggested I start one so they could access the ideas later. (So, this ones for you Kelly!)

My kids are big fans of count downs. It adds to the excitement and gives us something to look forward to each day! So, after we hung all the glitter hearts we could make, baked the cookies and painted hand print decorations we got ready for our count down starting the week of Valentine's Day.

The only time I can get out to shop (and think) is after my kids go to bed. In recent weeks we have been trapped inside by big snow storms and sickness. Shopping alone for Valentine's Day was not an option So, I had to use what I had on hand and get creative.

And from that came our Valentine's Day mailbox and activity center. My girls love getting mail and I thought why not leave them a little love each day as we count down to the big day? I did a quick Google search for a coloring page, some Valentine's Day jokes and a jigsaw puzzle, and finished with a love letter written by me. I left one of those each day in the mail box portion. They enjoyed checking the mail box every morning. They could play with the activity center any time they wanted. After a little digging around the house I found I had more Valentine themed items than I knew I had. A few books, a puzzle and some laminated matching cards. I slowly added some other fun items as the week went on. Since I didn't really plan ahead I just had the girls glue some glitter to cut out hearts and taped them along with left over store bought class valentines to the wall around our table. I also taped a plastic table cover to the wall and draped over the kids table in the kitchen. The whole thing cost me zero dollars which is my favorite amount to spend. It just took a little rummaging through my house and using what we already have on hand. It was a huge hit! Already dreaming how to make a similar activity center for St. Patrick's Day! 

What are some fun Valentine activities you do with your little ones?

The day I became The Whatever Mom

I am blessed with twin daughters. It is the most amazing gift I have ever been given. I am also very lucky I get to stay home with them. I do not however have access to family, back up child care and my husband works 98% of each day. Most days I am out numbered.

Let’s go back a bit. I should tell you that I am a type “A” personality. Which basically means I am very high strung and I want things done my way. I fall apart when this does not happen. And, by fall apart I mean I have a full systems meltdown; which I did when my girls were around two and a half.

Now, let me tell you that having twins is hard work. Especially if they are your first born. There is a major learning curve to being a first time parent. Whether you have one, two or several, that first year is all about getting your parental bearings. It seems the more kids you have at the same time the stress of that learning curve can take over. The first year after my girls were born was the easiest so far. I had them both on the same eating and sleeping schedule. Juggling feeding and bathing two babies alone was difficult, but I managed. By the grace of God they both took two naps a day. I had approximately three and a half hours to complete my household chores, maybe rest and watch TV. They were in bed by 6 p.m. and I had three more hours to get things done and relax. Since they were so portable we went for a walk three times a day. Errands were nearly effortless when I only had to pick up their carrier and lock it into the stroller. I was able to still get things done- maybe not as perfectly as I could before kids. But, my house looked pristine, my kids were clean and dinner was on the table every night. I felt like I was THE domestic goddess. My type “A” was happy! 

Suddenly, it all changed when my twins could walk. In opposite directions. I could no longer keep them contained and everything they touched was now out of place. They started protesting against diaper changes, wardrobe changes, bath time, car seats, the stroller and what was on the menu. It was exhausting. But, somehow I was determined to continue operating at a level of perfection only I had created. Until one day I landed myself in the emergency room with my first ever panic attack (a fore mentioned full system melt down). I hated it. I hated feeling like I did not have control. That was the scariest part. After meeting with a neurologist because I was convinced it must be “a tumah” I realized I needed to make some changes. She was ready to prescribe me Xanax and recommend a good therapist. That’s when I realized I needed to get control again. I needed to let go. My kids deserve a healthy mom. So, “whatever” became my mantra. I started saying “whatever” to the dishes now and then. I started saying “whatever” to the crumbs on the floor and the splatters of paint on the table after art projects. I even started saying “whatever” to keeping every single thing perfect. I lowered my standards from unattainable perfection to “whatever works.” I’m not going to lie. It was and still is difficult to do. I still get a twinge of “oh man I should be doing THAT!” when I go to other kids parties, or see friends awesome Pintrest projects. I get in a rush to make things bigger and better than I have planned. Then reality sets in that the only extra hands I have are little ones and I call upon my mantra of, “whatever” and I let it go. 

I have lived my whole life trying to be Martha Stewart. Thankfully it hasn't taken me that long to learn I don’t have to be Martha to enjoy life.