Pop Tube Valentine's

Super cute Valentine's, made by my daughter, for her son's preschool class. 

She bought the colorful Pop Tubes from Amazon.

His teacher received a neatly decorated box with a cookie inside. :)

 

Valentine Chip Bags

Cody's friends at his day program will get these tasty valentines this year. 

Printables are from MabbRose Designs via Etsy. 

Valentine for Para-Professional

This is my Valentine's Day gift from Mrs. B...

The feeling is mutual. I love working with her!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This was my day yesterday...

The button came off my pants and I didn't have time to sew it back on or change before work, so I safety pinned them (which was a hassle every time I had to go to the bathroom).

When blow drying my hair, I knocked a dried flower arrangement off of the wall. I couldn't vacuum up the damn mess, but I made sure to throw what was left of the stupid thing in the trash.

I dropped Cody's Twinkie Minion Valentines on the floor. Some of them came apart, but repairing them would have to wait.

While teaching a group of kids during work circle, the secretary, via the florist, delivered these roses to me...

They were from my husband. The children loved it. So did I!

I couldn't drive all over town  holding a beautiful flower arrangement, so I had to leave work 15 minutes early to drop off the flowers at home before going to my hair appointment. 

Once I was home, I threw together half a sandwich and a Diet Coke to inhale on the way to the salon.

While sitting under the dryer, I received a text from Katelyn and Casey saying they were at my house waiting for me. Katelyn had forgotten I told her the day before that I wouldn't be home.

I ran late at the salon and had to ask Casey to stay at the house and get Cody off of his day program van. 

I had barely been home 15 minutes when Chase dropped off my grandsons (whom I love dearly) for me to babysit.

Doing me a favor, Casey closed all the doors in the hallway to keep the toddlers out of mischief, then he went home and left me alone with the two little boys and Cody.

I fixed and fed them grilled cheese sandwiches and popsicles for dinner.

I decided to attempt to start Cody's bath, but found his bedroom door locked...from the inside. I had to wait for Don to come home from work and help me unlock it. 

A mutual friend called to let me know Mrs. B. was in the hospital and we would be having a sub for Valentine's Day. 

Once the grand kids went home, I finished fixing Cody's valentines, vented via text to my mom and sister and got into bed by 9:15 without shedding a single tear!

I tossed and turned and when I was finally able to sleep, I had nightmares about Kindergarten and substitute teachers.

The morning, however, has come and gone and somehow I survived. 

That's the GOOD and BAD. In case you are wondering what the UGLY is, it's my attitude sometimes. I really am blessed. I have a good job and great family and friends. 

THIS makes it all worth while...

Treats from the Students

A Coke Calendar from Casey/
A Pie and Turtles (My Favorite Candy in the Whole World) from Chase and Talitha

...and a Thoughtful "I Love You" from My Husband of Thirty- One Years. :)

Minion Valentines

If you follow my blog, you have read all about Cody's passion for Twinkies. (If not, click here and here.) That's why I decided to make minion valentines for him to hand out to his friends at the day program.

I found free printables at HALEGRAFX. There are two minions to choose from...

They were simple to make, using double sided tape...

...and I think they turned out rather cute. :)

Sugar Cookie and Glaze Recipes

There are two times a year that I must make sugar cookies, Valentine's Day and Halloween. I have several sugar cookie recipes in my collection, but this is by far my favorite because of one little ingredient. 

Sugar Cookies

3 cups flour 
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (This is the secret to great tasting cookies!)
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients. Cut in shortening, Beat eggs, sugar and milk together. Add to first ingredients. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Roll out on floured surface. Cut with cookie cutter. Bake @ 350 degrees for approximately 8 minutes. (Adjust time according to how thick or thin you prefer your cookies and if you like them crispy or soft.)


Sugar Cookie Glaze

1 stick butter
1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons milk
1/4 cup light corn syrup
32 oz. package powdered sugar

Melt butter in large bowl in microwave. Add remaining ingredients. Mix with a whisk until smooth. Dip cookies in glaze. Let set for one hour.

*Glaze will frost a double batch of sugar cookies.

Bad Valentine Gifts

With the exception of buying me a fishing pole for Mother's Day once, my husband has been a fairly thoughtful gift giver.


I watched the following clip on Ellen today and had to post it on my blog. Men can be so blasted funny!

Berry and Cream Cheese Cake

1 package white cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines)

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

8 ounces Cool Whip

3/4 cup powdered sugar

cherry (or berry) pie filling

Mix cake as directed on package, using the egg white directions instead of the whole egg. Pour into a 9"x13" glass baking dish. Bake then let cake cool completely.

Mix softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and Cool Whip. Spread onto cooled cake. Top with your favorite berry pie filling. Refrigerate.



Love and Sex

I knew I was in for an interesting Valentine's Day when I walked into the living room this morning and the first thing out of Cody's mouth was, "Today on Oprah they will be talking about love and sex." He made sure to enunciate the "sex" part, then he kept repeating it until I finally said, "Okay, Cody. I heard you." He chuckled, somewhat mischievously, then dropped it.

Cody has no idea what sex is, but something tells me he knew saying it would make me a little uncomfortable.