Special Valentines!

Remember when we were kids and we used to secretly deliver valentines to our neighbors and friends? Well... those of us over 50, at least! I still like to do that. 

Every year on Valentine's Day, I create a box, a treat, or a special valentine card and deliver it to my grandchildren. I set the treat at the door, knock, and run! 

This year, I looked around the house for ideas. 

A shoe box, rescued from the trash, became the treat  box. In the pantry I found a sugar cookie mix, frosting, red sprinkles, and gumballs in a jar. Next, I went through last year's valentine cards and found a "blow me a kiss" label and some left over Valentine cards. Perfect!

My last great find came from the "special" cookie cutter drawer in my kitchen's island. It is filled with a collection of cookies cutters in various shapes and sizes that span over 50 years. It's the drawer that my "special little Valentines" have gone to over the years... discovering new ways to play, bake, and create. Imaginations can run wild with all the different shapes, dimensions, and colors. 

There were several heart shaped cookie cutters to choose from. Two were the exact same and so one was included in the treat box. I was confident it would become the best valentine prize of all!

I had several packages of sugar cookie mix so I mixed up a batch and cut various sized hearts, baked them, and included them in the treat box.

Lastly, I gathered up scraps of scrapbook paper and ribbon and decorated the top of the box. Presto! All put together for delivering! 

to my Special Valentines...

Happy Valentine's Day! 

"Share a photo that captures your "Special Valentines"

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Spilt Milk

February 11 is National "Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk" day. 

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the phrase “it’s no use crying over spilt milk” and its many variations as meaning “it is futile to regret what cannot be altered or undone.”

Well... our little guy took it literal!

A couple of days ago, I was at the sink rinsing dishes. Audrey left for only a minute to put in a dvd movie for the older kids. Baby J was sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor with only his binkie and bottle. Waiting for mommy. Harmless! Or so we thought! 

Just as she got back down the stairs, baby J was caught red-handed... sitting in the middle of none other than "spilled milk!" I perked up at my daughter's gasp and went to see what the fuss was about. Baby J was soaked from head to toe in milk, proud as could be, in a puddle of "spilled milk. He had his first lesson in Art! How clever! He was rubbing his hand through the fresh spilled milk, making prints, slapping his hand in the puddle, and spattering the white liquid from head to toe. Oh joy!  

Rather than scoop him up... we let him play. Looking up, he grinned from ear to ear, seeking approval from mommy and grandma for his creative art experience. Without hesitation we applauded and cheered him on as if he won first place in a race! 

There's no use crying over spilled milk! Our little ones are only little once. What does it matter that they make a mess, spill some milk, and tear through the house like a tornado? They are learning. They are exploring new vistas in their little world. They are discovering, creating, and learning to problem solve. Just the way it should be.  

I have to say, this grandma enjoyed a "candid moment" with baby J and "spilled milk" today! 

Tip: Woolies are water resistant. After we picked J up and wiped him down, he was dry instantly. Slick!

WINTER

Winters have always been interesting and quite unpredictable in the state of Utah, where I live. Granted, we are known for "the greatest snow on earth", where the snow seems to pile up in the mountains... bringing adventure to snow bound thrill seekers and skiers. But in the valley, we can get a wide range of weather patterns.

Below the rugged peaks of the Wasatch Mountains in northern Utah, the winter months range anywhere from drought and warmth, to ice and freezing temperatures. Sometimes the snow comes and goes as fast as it falls. But if we settle into a cold spell, like this year, it will linger longer, giving ample opportunities to build a snowman, ice skate, watch icicles form, and even shovel snow! 

I combined two writing prompts to this week's post. I went back into my photo archives to see what winter was like, starting in 2008. This gave me a glance of what our winter's have been like over an eight year stretch. And as contrasting as they were from year to year, I was not a bit surprised! This is what Winter looks like in my neck of the woods.

2008 - lots of snow! back yard in home town

2009 - winter rain, front yard in town

2010 - the snow is piling up! front yard in town

2011 - a beautiful winter morning from my balcony, on our farm in the country

2012 - a warm, sunny Groundhog's Day

2013 - freezing temps, beautiful icicles form on the eaves of our house

2014 - Springlike weather. A bird's nest remains intact, 

a reminder how mild the winter months have been this year.

2015 - Warm enough for the kids to run around the yard. It was 53 degrees F.

2016 - A long, cold winter. It's bringing the deer 

down from the mountains in search of easier access to food. These deer tracks are only a couple feet away from the front door of the house. With each passing day, we see more signs of them making beds underneath the maple trees. 

Some things never change... Winters in Utah are unpredictable, but always beautiful!

The only thing that has changed is that we moved from the town to the country. And, to me,

that was a very good move!