Valentines Day

For Valentines day this year I told the kids we were going to keep it simple.  I fell like in the past we have gone a bit overboard with presents for the kids.  I really don't want to get them Valentines presents but because we did it before I think they were expecting it.  I warned them that we weren't going to give them presents and even though they were disappointed that really helped.  I also didn't want to skip the holiday completly.  I know it is a big deal in elementary schools and because we homeschool I feel like I need to make up for the school party.

So we ate heart shaped food all day.  For breakfast they had strawberry homemade greek yogurt with granola.  This was a treat because they often get plain homemade greek yogurt with granola.  The strawberry jam mixed in sweetened it up quite a bit.  I didn't get pictures of the other meals but for lunch we had toad-in-the-holes with heart shaped holes.  And for dinner we had mini homemade heart shaped pizza's.  We even fit in time to make heart sugar cookies.  They were a hit.

The kids made cards for each other.  They did it all on their own and it was super cute.  We all sat down while they passed them out.

 Penelope and Scarlett even made a bead thing for Beatrix.

I also painted the kids faces.  We have face paint and I really should look for opportunities to use it more.  We all think it is fun.  Tucker decided not to get any this day because he had to go to band at school and he thought it might be a little weird.

 Bob and I did get one small Valentine for the kids.

This was the highlight of their day, I think.  To have their very own candy that they get to eat or save and not share is a big deal for them.

I wanted to do some sort of craft so they drew valentine pictures.  I didn't get final images but I'll let you imagine the heart robots they drew.  Thank you Art Hub for Kids!

I asked Bob not to do anything for me for Valentine's day this year.  He did get me some chocolates before the baby was born because he wanted to do something.  I'm trying to eat healthier now and so I appreciated him not getting me more treats.  It was really nice to just spend the day with him and the kids at home.  I love him not going to work.  It is sooo nice to have him home to take care of the kids so I can rest with Beatrix.  Tomorrow will Bob will go back to work full time and so wish me luck.

Grandma and Grandpa

We were all excited for Grandma and Grandpa Woestman to come visit us.  They were going to come back in October but because we got sent to San Diego that didn't happen.  Instead we rescheduled for once we got home.  

We also decided to do another late Christmas with them since they were coming out.  Because we weren't home for Christmas we didn't want people to send us gifts,  our kids got them all spread out this year.  It was kind of nice.

Grandma Woestman made the boys Jedi robes.  It was perfect because they couldn't be more into Star Wars right now and Tucker has complained on more than one occasion that the girls have dress up clothes and he doesn't.  Plus Leon is the cutest jedi ever.

In this next picture you can see Penelope holding a bag.  The girls got a $25 shopping spree with Grandma.  The ended up getting mini dolls that match their 18" dolls and coloring books/markers.  Penelope had a couple extra dollars and bought cookies which she nicely shared with everyone.

Then on Valentines day Grandma and Grandpa gave them all a Beanie Boo.  Penelope has been wanting the unicorn one for a while, so when Grandma asked for ideas I told her about it.  She bought it and was waiting for this visit to give it to her.  Meanwhile Penelope saved up enough money to buy it herself and begged me to take her to the store and let her buy it.  I had to stall her until grandma came.

It was so rainy when they came that we mostly just hung around the house.  The kids loved to play games and read books with their grandparents.  Before they came Penelope was telling me how one of her very favorite things to do is to play tickle monster with Grandpa.

We weren't planning on doing another project when they came, but when Bob is around his dad these things just happen.  I'm totally ok with it, it is a project I wanted to do.  I just hope Bob's parents were ok about working on the house while they were here.  I really appreciate it, and I know Bob loves to have help on the projects.  I usually am not much help other than telling him how I want things to look.

In these pictures they took the cable from the other side of the room and put it in the wall so there is now an outlet directly behind my tv.  No more cords hanging around, I love it.

On Sunday I had to go to church early so They got ready all on their own.  

We love it when they come to visit and are excited to see them again in only a couple months.

Valentines Day

I know I am super behind, but I am just now getting to post about Valentines day.  With Scarlett in preschool now she was finally able to pass out valentines to her class.  I think she has been looking forward to this day since she saw Tucker first do it years ago.  She worked hard writting her name on the back of all 7 cards.  I think this was the first time she has been able to get the e down.  She spent like half an hour on it.  Normally she only writes the S and C then I help her and she adds on the tt at the end.  After school Scarlett was so nice she shared all her candy with her brothers and sister.  It wasn't until the next day when she was out of candy that she started crying and said she wished she didn't share.

We did a few different heart hairstyles this year but these are the two I took picturse of.

Penelope also spent a long time on her cards.  She probably spent even longer than Scarlett, but she had over 20 cards to do and instead of just signing her name on the back she wrote who they were to as well.

We had a small problem with Penelope's valentines.  When we went to put them into her backpack the morning of I saw little ants on them!  She was upset.  Luckily I had extra starburst so I quickly just ripped off any starburst that had an ant on it and glued news ones on.  She had to take them to school with the glue not dry but she said it worked out ok when she got to class.  Hopefully no one got an ant in their candy.

Bob's parents came out to visit (more on that tomorrow) and they were kind enough to babysit so Bob and I could go out on a date.  We went out to dinner and then to a stake dance.  Not very many people showed up but we had fun.  I even wore one of my actual prom dresses from 10+ years ago and we reminisced about when we went to the youth dances.

We also did a couple small crafts and played some fun valentine themed minute to win it games with the whole family.  We even went to a friends house for a homeschool Valentine party.  It worked out perfectly because I was worried about Tucker missing out on all the school fun on this day.  

I know the holiday is very commercialized but I really enjoy it!

Watch What I'm Wearing

Last week I borrowed Penelope's heart bow to wear to church.  I made it so I consider it fair game.  Plus it was just the right pink to tie in with my skirt.  I love how simple and comfy this outfit was, perfect for a nursery leader.  In the pictures it almost looks like I am wearing a black t-shirt.  But the shirt is actually black lace in the front, you can kind of see it in the third picture.

Shirt: Ross  Skirt/bow: Made it  Necklace: Thrifted

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Happy Valentines Day

This year for Valentines day Bob and I went out to Anthony's with some friends for dinner.  It was nice to get out and my steak was yummy.

Afterward we got some ice cream and headed home for games.  We stayed up kind of late and Bob was exhausted, but we had a good time!

We also got some little treats for the kids and made valentines as a family.  Everyone had to write one thing that they love about each member of the family on a heart.  Then we taped them up to the window.  

Happy Valentines Day from the Woestmans!

Watch What I'm Wearing

I accidentally bought this bright pink dress a while back online and haven't worn it much since then.  I meant to get the light blue one not the hot pink.  After I found out that the pink one was on its way to my house I thought, oh well maybe it will come in the mail and not be too crazy.  But it is super bright and kind of crazy so I never really wear it.  If there was any day of the year to pull it off Valentines day would be it.  So I wore it when we went out to eat for V-day.  I even tried to tone it down with dark accessories.

Dress: Jane.com  Shoes: Ross?  Scarf: Kohls  Jacket: JC Penny

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Double Heart Braid Tutorial

Penelope had her preschool valentine party yesterday so I tried out a new heart hair do.  This Valentines Hairstyle might be my favorite one yet.  It was pretty easy and it looks fancy.  Perfect for a little girl or even an adult.  I would totally wear my hair like this.  I'll let the pictures do the explaining.

1. Take a heart shape section of hair on the top of her head and put a rubber band on it.
2. Do a topsie tail but make sure the hair comes out the top by making a gap in the hair before the rubber band then send the ends of the hair through the gap starting down and going up.
3. Split the hair in half and make two braids.  Then curve them into a heart shape and use a rubber band to connect them.
4.  Pull the rest of the hair into a side ponytail and add the braid ends to it.  Then braid all the hair!

For more hairstyle ideas check out my ebook!

Valentines Day Hair

It's almost Valentines day!  Do you have plans?  Bob is planning a date for us but I want to get a few things together for the kids.  They seem to be the ones who get the most excited for holidays anyway.  We are making fun Twinkie/minion valentines for Tucker's and Penelope's classes.  They are pretty easy and say "Your One in a Minion!"  There are lots of tutorials for that on pinterest if you are interested.  We need to make about 30 so I should get busy with that.  I got my husband a present but then I remembered that I got him something he already has.  So I guess I'm just going to give it to him anyway and he will have two.  I also want to put together some fun valentine food for the kids.  Time for me to get on pinterest!

Anyway, I want to repost a couple heart hair styles for you or your little girls.

First are these cute heart pigtails.  Go here for the tutorial and video.

This next one is definitely harder but also cute.  Go here for the french braid heart hair tutorial.

I might do one of these for Penelope this year... or maybe I'll try to come up with something new.