Valentines Week

 Valentines. How can Valentines have already come and gone? I really enjoy Valentines (as with all holiday's) because not only do I do Valentines Day, but I do Valentines Week. I try to do something special every day for the entire week before Valentines. Gifts and little notes are my love language 100%. Jakob works so hard (which happens to be his love language) and I want him to know that I appreciate it so one day just isn't enough. This year the budget was tight so I kept things pretty low key.

Day1:

 A sock bouquet because Jakob is always in need of more socks and giving them to him just as, ya know, socks was lame. So I rolled him a dozen sock roses. They were adorable! 

 Day 2:

 I just love the funny things kids say and E is at a great age for funny phrases. For Jakob's second day I made him a heart chain that had reasons why E loves him on them. Some things include: He feeds me, he go to the zoo with Ethnie, Duke and Mommy, he play cushion game with Ethnie and Duke. So cute!

Day 3:

 Once upon a time, probably three years ago, Jakob wrote me a Christmas letter that had this picture on it. Since then I've embroidered pillows with the same picture and now we have a little mug set. You can buy them if you don't want to DIY it. I couldn't bring myself to pay $26.99. I got my cups at Wal-Mart (because my dollar store didn't have any. Weird right?) for $2. It was super fast and easy to make and you can find several different tutorials on Pinterest. 

 Day 4:

 We wrote out a questionnaire about Daddy from Ethnie. Her answers were adorable!

Day 5:

 I made up a game with simple questions about each other. It's amazing how much I learned about Jakob! Under each question I had written down my answers. Before we started I had Jakob write down his own answers and then we quizzed each other. It was fun!

Day 6:

 A mirror full of reason why I love him. 

Day 7:

 Jakob was in need of another tie rack.

Day 8:

 For the final day I gave him this little card. 

Costco is sort of an inside joke with us. We tend to go there unintentionally for special events birthdays, anniversary's, graduations. After awhile it just became our place which is convenient because it's delicious and cheap!

Saturday morning, this is what my hubby looked like. Sick, with the flu. It was seriously depressing. He didn't leave our bed for the entire day. I also happened to sleep on the couch... on Valentines. Yup, it was awesome. He wrote me a letter which is the best thing I could have asked for and he said that I had a gift coming "in the mail." He swears that he didn't forget ;). 

 I never made it to Jo-Ann to get fabric to make Duke a backpack like E's. Maybe next year. He got some chocolates and the coolest Lego toy ever!! 

 E's back pack was stuffed with goodies. 

 In the morning she asked if Santa came. She's hilarious. 

All of her goodies including an Ariel with TWO arms!! That was a pretty big deal! Despite Jakob and the kiddos being sick (kids are rocking a cough and colds) it was a great Valentines. Perhaps next year we can do without the illness. :) You can find all of these ideas and much more on my Pinterest Page. I hope everyone else spoiled their man and that your man spoiled you! Happy Valentines!

Matching Father Son Bow Ties and Little Man Suspenders

To kick off Halloweek I decided that everyone should be dressed to impress for church. So I made Duke and Daddy matching bow ties. Jakob's tie was one that you could actually tie. They looked so cute but Jakob was less than thrilled. He really dislikes "holiday attire." He says they are cute for little people but not for him, even if his wife went to all the effort to make a legitimate bow tie and not just a clip on. Oh well!

This kid looked awesome!!!

I made his suspenders a bit big and took a tuck in the so he could rock them for a few years. Watch out ladies!

They looked cute as a pair and Daddy was gracious enough to take pictures. He then changed his tie to a black and gold one. Not as cool but at least he still coordinated ;). Happy Halloweek! Let's bring on the fun!!

Bane, Catwoman & Batgirl Halloween

 I love parties! I love hosting a parties, decorating and having friends over. What I don't love is when I'm cranky and spoil things. Good golly, I ruin everything. Nevertheless people just ignored me and my cranky behavior and the party went on.  Here are a (*ahem*) "few" pictures of the evening half of which consist of us just because I'm vain like that. ;)

 Bane! What a guy! I think secretly Jakob and I both want to get all dressed up again. We had so much fun being Bane and Cat Woman.

 And who could forget little Bat Girl?

 Here's a better picture of her little wings. Good golly, I can't get enough of her! Halloween should happen twice a year!

 When Jakob first came down the stairs with his head shaved and his contacts in Ethnie started to freak out a bit. He sounded like her Daddy but he totally didn't look like her Daddy. She kept a close eye on him for the rest of the evening but she had no problems with us in our masks. Further evidence this is no girly girl!

 The Batman family.

 This is how the movie should have ended ;).

 Mom and Dad were nice enough to stop by and help with things before our guests arrived. We sure do love and appreciate them!

 There were LOTS of snacks which included monster apples, sand "witches", bean dip, duffle (truffle with only two layers), and the prize winning Halloween colored bunt cake. Silly me I forgot to take pictures.

 I did snap a shot of my Skeleton bones though. Love them!

Our guests: Ryan was Spongebob only he grabbed the girl one? I couldn't tell the difference.

David and Britni. He was the companion cube off of the game Portal and Britni was the player. 

 Steven and Amanda were Maverick and Goose.

 Funny thing was Steven and James showed up in the exact same costume only James was Goose and Steven was Maverick. They didn't even coordinate either. Jakob and I won best costume but we passed the prize onto Steven. :)

Then it was Haunted Mansion Time!! This is my favorite!

 Jakob made a hamburger and fries. Lame. Totally NOT a Haunted Mansion!

 Chuck and Emily came as eachother. Thier house looked pretty quaint from the front but in the back there was a decapitated gummy bear who was being eaten by a zombie. Graphic I know! 

 The winner of the Haunted Mansion competition was David with his "Rise of the Peasants" theme.

 

 A closer look at the winning house.

 Everyone's final product. I love Stevens tower! Ligit!

It was a fun evening and I loved having everyone over. I can hardly believe Halloween has come and gone. It's time to bring on the turkey! Thanksgiving is on my birthday this year. Best birthday dinner EVER! I just love this time of year.