Valentines day :)

Ah, and entire day to tell the people you love how much you love them. Can you think of a more perfect day? I love Valentines day.

I just read on a friends blog, "it's valentines day. 

and my motto, for this day of love, is to show the ones in my life that i love them...not just my husband, but my children and friends.

listen, hallmark made up the fact that this day has to involve you and a significant other.

  SO...go and tell your friends, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, grandparents, the random lady in the grocery store...whomever...that you luuuurve them." ..... and I couldn't agree more!

So, I embrace Valentines day with a full heart. The colors are very me. Pink has always been a favorite of mine, cream is quickly overtaking my house, and red looks so nice next to these two colors. Decorating for Valentines day is a blast.

I always love making any kind of  wreaths, but Valenines wreathes are to die for. 

I love writing notes, so making fun things like this for my husband is a real treat. I love the fact that we can count down the days to Valentines day as well as make him smile with short, sweet words.

I REALLY enjoy making cards. This year, one of my new years resolutions is to be a better actual neighbor. I think its quite sad that people live in so close proximity, but don't really know the people they live next to. I wanted it to be a mission for me to really reach out to my neighbors. I am trying hard to come up with ways to reach out. I made Valentines cards for them, but am still looking for more practical ways to serve. If any of you have an idea of how I can better reach them, I am all ears! ( I forgot to snap a picture of them before I gave them away.)

I also adore my kids at school. They are so precious and I love them so much. I made them some cute Valentine cards as well. 

I also made a cute bag of goodies for my two aids. I  do not know what I would do without them! They really help so much with my kids at school.

At school, we had a party for the kiddos. We made cookies, made crafts, ate way too much candy and exchanged Valentines. Sweet friends came earlier in the week to make these fabulous mailboxes with my kiddos. They were so excited, and when we filled them up with Valentines from everyone, they were in heaven. I love seeing them smile!

They kiddos, gave me lots of Valentines as well. I feel so loved!

Can't forget the sweet treats my mother in law sent me. She is the bests, and always remembers to send me special presents on special days. LOVE her so much!

My favorite thing however, is the present I bought Jeff this year. I made him a photo book with pictures from our 2012. It says, Oh how I love you, let me count the ways. On each page I have a reason why I love him with a picture that matches. He may really appreciate it one day.

I also wanted to think of a way to make Valentines day special for longer than just one day. I love the day, but we really should show others that we care about them on other days too! So I made this canvas with envelopes that hold coupons for things throughout the year. For example, one coupon is for breakfast in bed.. the envelope says "for when you want to sleep in on a Saturday" There are four others that Jeff can "cash in" at any time throughout the year :) 

Jeff also made Valentines day special for me. He bought me a charm for my bracelet, he took me out to dinner, then we went and walked around the mall and he bought me another special surprise :) He is so sweet, and I am one lucky girl.

Later, we wrote notes to each other in our book. We always write a note each Anniversary and Valentines day in our book. It is a fun tradition, and I know when we are old and gray we will love looking back and reading our love notes to each other on our special LOVE days.

I hope you had a very special day as well.

 Love, us! <3