Sammie’s Grandma Atkins gave her a sewing machine for Christmas! Very exciting. Then I arranged sewing lessons from a woman at church and here’s the result of the last month or so of sewing lessons!
She’s so proud and we are so proud of her and her dedication to learning something new.
She’s a little excited!
Showing off the pockets. She can’t wait to show her teacher. The next project is a skirt!
We had a little valentines party after school with the babysitting kids Tuesday. We dipped some more marshmallows (mainly because I had a whole bag of heart mallows to use up) and we made these giant Hershey Kisses using a double batch of Krispy treats and a funnel. The kids had a blast doing it! Although one of the little kids really was anxious to wash her hands after!
Sammie being goofy about helping make the Krispy treats for the kisses.
L loving the marshmallows even though she told me right off very emphatically that she was NOT going to eat it. She does NOT like marshmallows OR chocolate Mrs. Atkins! (When I told her- “Well, L, I am not sure you will have much fun at our party then!” Let’s just say she got over her revulsion of both because she was scarfing these down!
Tyler got to skipping the straw part and just dipping them to make “cupcakes”. It was a great idea. Especially after the chocolate cooled off a bit.
Isn’t that card as cute as can be in the center of all of that chaos? Tyler’s valentines day card for me and Thomas.
The “kisses” pre wrapped in foil.
Sammie’s after wrapping. She did a great job!
It’s so hard to get a good picture of Spencer, but at least he’s looking at the camera I guess. He ate a few marshmallows and the girls were so helpful with him making everything. They are all so good for him!
It was a fun Valentines Day for us. We didn’t do anything else really, just hung out here at home, but it was nice and relaxing after dealing with all of the kids for the party! Really it was just one extra kid. (Tyler insisted he invite a BOY to the party since it’s all girls except him and Spencer every day)
Yesterday we took the kids up to Jacksonville to meet our newest family member- Ella Leona- my brother’s newest baby.
Sammie loved holding her. Elle even wore the zebra print outfit Sammie got her for Christmas!
We thought their outfits coordinated nicely.
I don’t think Ella trusts Tyler. She makes the funniest facial expressions!
I think my sister in law got a better picture than this of all of the grandkids with grandpa Burnett, but this is the best one I got.
Darrin, Alexis, and Ella. I think Parker was running around from the sugar high I gave him from our valentines craft.
We did this activity. Except I didn’t bother with the homemade marshmallows- maybe some day, but I doubt it. Store bought marshmallows are still pretty good in this recipe. If you even call it that. It’s just semi sweet chocolate chips microwaved until melted with 1/2 tbsp. shortening to even it out a bit. Put marshmallows on a coffee straw and dip in chocolate, then dip in sprinkles. I swear it tastes just like Russell Stover's marshmallow hearts. YUM!
The kids had a great time and it was perfect for a toddler to do too. Spencer did one or two with help, but I didn’t get my camera out in time. They take a while to harden up and would do better in the fridge for that part, but waiting isn’t in a toddler’s vocabulary so they just ate them wet. Still really yummy!
Every year after valentines day my mother bought stuffed animals for the kids on clearance- valentine themed. They all have a huge collection of heart themed animals in their rooms.
This year when I was up in the present corner in my parents house at Christmas I found valentines dogs. Such a bitter sweet moment to realize this is probably the last time they’ll get a gift chosen with love from their grandma. She was so thoughtful about all of the holidays and really knew how to make it all fun for the kids. I hope to help carry on that tradition for the kids who won’t remember my mother.
Valentines Dogs- from left to right- named: Leona (my mom’s name and Sammie’s dog), Fireball Crash (Tyler’s) and Puppy (Spencer’s). He’s always chosen literal names for his animals.
We had a little oldies dance party the other day with the afternoon kiddos. It was super fun teaching them how to swing dance! This is M and L trying to do a between the legs trick. It was somewhat successful.
Tyler worn out.
It was a fun activity during our “time to stay upstairs and wait for parent pick up” time.
The kindergarten classes at our kids school always do a fun little performance called the 3 Piggy Opera. Let me just say it is about the cutest thing ever. My kids have been singing the songs all week! Sammie remembers her 3 Piggy Opera days very well and remembers most of the songs still. Here’s their favorite song:
This site has all of the lyrics and songs. It is super cute.
Tyler didn’t want a speaking part or to be the center of attention and pretty much wanted everyone to “Just don’t look at me please!” so he didn’t have the happiest face in most of these pictures, but he said he still had fun. (He also said he was happy that it was over!)
He was a musician for everything after the first chorus.
Sammie got to come and watch with me and we kept trying to make silly faces at him to make him smile and just got this face in return. All well.
He was happier when it was all over with!
Tyler with his music teachers.
Tyler with his kindergarten teacher- love her.
Overall, I think he had a good time.
We have been going to the park the last few days that the weather was so nice here in STL. It got into the 60’s both days!
The 2nd day we went we had to wait for this beauty to be done playing with her 2 friends. The kids thought it was about the coolest thing they’d ever seen. Except for maybe when we had a deer in our yard last year.
These are the newest additions to this boys ever growing collection of super hero costumes!
Thanks Meghan!
Action Shot: Doesn’t he look really into it? This is his red ranger suit from Power Rangers. By far the favorite!
Showing off his muscles for Meghan in his “Thing” costume from Fantastic 4.
I love the dress up stage. Spencer never really did it- pretend play was difficult for him even at a young age, but he did like accessories like Dora’s backpack and Blues Clues notebooks. Sammie was the princess queen. I know for her birthday one year she got the puffiest tutu ever made and just wore the thing out. Tyler has a treasure chest from Grandpa Burnett full to bursting with dress up clothes. I love it.
