Thursday, February 11, 2010

Balentines

I love the way little kids say it. Balentines. Awesome.

Ok, so lots of love at the Starnes house this week. Get ready.

Our oldest son on his way out the door to the last day of the week and the Valentine party. (off Thursday - Monday) Such a punkin.

I made his card box this year due to time restraints. Per his request, "torn paper and make it KU colors". Love how Carter embraces our home town. I surprised him with the jay hawk....cut from one of the many drawings he has made. He LOVED it. Made me proud.

Our cards.....assembly below.

Teacher gift.

Classroom Moms/Nursery Teacher gifts. This is one of my favorite things. I keep these small opaque craft bags and the labels pictured below on hand. They'll fit almost any occasion and can be used to quickly put together last minute gifts. I filled these with large conversation hearts.

The labels......Martha Stewart design from Michaels. Lots of cute stuff to choose from.

We joined the party at Carter's school as we always do. Lainey goes just for the food.

The kids decorated cookies......Jack and Lainey made their own, too.

Lainey never met a cookie she didn't love.

Get it all, girl.

Cute game in the classroom......kids lined up and raced to see who could open a Hershey kiss first with mittens on. Go, Carter, go! 3rd graders are so cute.

More cookies.

OK, the cards. Round one included adding the stickers.

Meow Meow got lots of broken off dinosaur limbs and heads.



We later adorned them with hand-cut construction paper hearts and red doilies. Mega-mess.





The punks make it worth the clean up.

They're not pretty. But, they're hand-made. I included small photo valentines of the kids......picture to come.

Went to a Mom and Tots party this morning. My sweet friend, Ali, hosted it....she's our table leader at Building Better Moms.

Can you believe it? Jack found a train in the toy stash.

Lainey invited Meow Meow for a muffin.

Crafts!

Caroline......this one is for you......sweet Leigh Marie and baby!

Got home after some errands and started nap time......only to be startled by Jack running through the house chanting "Mailman came! Mailman came!"

Opened the door to find 2 boxes of goodies......first up, Mae Mae's always special box of fun. Chocolates and treat bags for each kiddo. Cards for everyone.

And, Sara sent the kiddos some candy and these darling Grateful Dead dancing bears. My hippie heart is singing. Oh, and what you can't see under that blue tissue is a darling wine stopper for me! Loved it all.


So, there you go. And, we haven't even made our sugar cookies.

It's non-stop sticky sweet, over the top, Valentine schmoopy love in Kansas right now!

24 comments:

Momma to the A's said...

Love the home made Valentine's! We made some too, so much sweeter that way!

You go with all the Valentine Love in your house! The kids look like they are having a blast doing up Valentine's this year!

Adaptable Kay said...

Oh My Goodness Gracious-LOTS of pictures....And everyone knows I love pictures :D :D :D

That Valentine's party looked like it was swingin'-Ah, to be young again and have Valentine's Day Parties with homemade boxes where everyone gets a Valentine...

It looks like you all got some AWESOME goodies in the mail, too!!

Thanks for the very lovely post :D

Dee said...

Your kids are adorable!!

Jodee said...

First, I love balentines! When Carson was little, he pronounced "dessert" "bessert" so it will always be bessert at our house!

Second, I love the homemade Valentine's Day cards. Maybe some day I will get a creative bone and do something similar. In the meantime, it was Scooby and the princesses this year!

We love mail too -- especially V-Day gifts. The kids got two yesterday! We also took sprinkled V-Day cookies to all of the teachers yesterday. It was sooo much fun!

Hope you have a great Valentine's Day! Can't wait to see more pictures of the punks!

Brittny said...

I love it! Lil' Soph and Lainey could do some damage together I tell you! We are making our sugar cookies today. Looking forward to the mess!

Dee Stephens said...

Carter is looking so much like Blake with his hair short!
Love all the Vday fun!

Lauren W said...

Wow!! That's a whole lot of love going on there. I think we are coming to your house next year and we will just spend the whole week in your basement soaking up the Valentine's fun. I am honored that I got to make a Valentine next to Carter.

The Soladay Family said...

Love the handmade "Balentines"! The little Lainey...eat her up!

Anonymous said...

Lainey and I could really get a long--she knows what's up. The best thing about a party is the food.

I love how crafty you all are. I could set up a tent in a Michael's store and live forever. If only I had more time for such things...*sigh*

happy balentine's day!

donatelli98 said...

You guys are so dang cute. I'm with Lainey - I haven't met a cookie I didn't like and it shows! Love her pigtails. Do you wash your aprons? I am kind of afraid to let them do serious baking in them ...

JB's Cookinglady said...

Casey you rock making those homemade Valentine cards so cool a good way for children to get creative and spend time with mom

Thanks for stopping by my blog I'm already following you.

Have a great weekend

The Rand's said...

Love the homemade balentines. So cute. And love it even more that you let them do it all on their own.
You and Blake make such precious kids. You should have another one!
That Lainey is smart! Cookies are yummy and she looks so cute eating them!

starnes family said...

Thanks, peeps! Lauren, you're welcome anytime. And, we won't put you in the basement. BrownEyedGirlsMom, I do wash them, but don't dry them. We use them all the time!

FROGGITY! said...

awww that's some carepackage! cute!

look at carter's haircut, he really looks more grown up all the time!! i love the box, how creative.

sigh, Balentine's is so fun. :)

The Lenzers said...

LOVE is the Air!!! I cant belive you let the kiddos have real glue. mine just the glue stick.

timmonstimes said...

Happy Balentine's Day!

When I was a teacher, I always heard the kiddos say, "Happy ValentiMe's Day!" and it always brought a smile to my face :)

Hope you guys have a great weekend celebrating Balentine's Day!

Sara said...

Lainey and that cookie are too cute! I may have to go home and make Balentine cookies now.

Carter looks so grown up with hair...such a cutie pie!

Jack and his trains. I wonder if he'll outgrow this fascination with trains???

So glad you got the Balentine package!! And tell Blake that he has to share the bears.

Happy Love Day!!

aunt caroline said...

great post! Thanks for the pic! Leigh Marie already looks tiny again!

Dimes2Vines said...

Your children are adorable!
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Jenny said...

Nothing sweeter then little kids at a Balentine party. I love that you handmade invitations with your children. Sometimes I think there are too few mothers left like you in the world...and then I find a blog like this and it makes me happy!

The Potters said...

Excellent idea on the opaque craft bags! Hobby Lobby, here I come! And I love the kids' aprons. Darling!

furygirl3132 said...

The kiddos sure look like they're having fun! New Friday Follower, stopping by to say hi. Have a great weekend!

Eloise
Mommy2TwoGirls
http://mommy2twogirls.blogspot.com/

kanishk said...

Hope you have a great Valentine's Day! Can't wait to see more pictures of the punks!
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Tutus and Choo-Choos said...

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!!