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!

Remember When

I've had Remember When by Alan Jackson stuck in my head for the past 3 days. While contemplating something I could do that was quick and easy for Jakob I found myself reminiscing. I have been doing a lot of that as of late. I was reading our old letters and looking at some pictures from 2006 when he was a new missionary celebrating Christmas in our home, back before I knew the fairy tale I would step into, so I made him a "Remember When..." banner. I saw this idea on a blog somewhere but I can't remember where... my apologizes! I feel horrible not giving credit where credit is due!

On the back of each heart I wrote down a memory that was precious to us. To often I find we are looking forward to the future and missing out on the little moments. It's the little moments that mean the most to me. "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays" ~The Music Man. Jakob and I had a lot of fun "Remembering When" and we're thankful to have a lot of perfect yesterdays. Happy Valentines Week!

Say it With Love: Say it with A Fortune Cookie

Day 3: For today's day I made Jakob fortune cookies. I found this idea on Love Actually. This one is my favorite! They turned out perfect! And I'm sure Jakob is going to love them. For Christmas 2008, I gave him a jam jar full of pills that said take one daily and inside had reasons/ things I love about him. Same principle here; so put on your thinking caps and jots down some reasons why you love your one and only. Or if you want actual fortune cookie quotes click here. Here's a step by step tutorial for how to make the "cookies". I honestly do not know how other bloggers are able to keep their work area's so clean! Our craft table is our computer desk so I apologize for the clutter! Enjoy!

Things you'll need:

1 - take out box (You can find them at Michaels for approx. $1.25)
Or if you want to make your own use this template
3 - 12x 12 pieces of adorable paper (or more depending on the size of your circle.)
Some tape or glue stick depending on how thick your paper is.
Circular object of your choice in size.

Step 1:

(I apologize for the blurry pictures, I'm a shaker and the flash was not cooperating.) Trace and cut out your circle. I used the laundry detergent cup and I thought they were a little small which made them cute, however slightly difficult to fold.

Step 2:

Fold paper in half with pattern on the inside.

Step 3:

Unfold paper and place a piece of tape perpendicular to the fold. This makes things to much easier!

Step 4:Place note inside so it is parallel to the tape. Push along the already folded line and grab edges like so...

Step 5:

Secure tape
Presto! I think these are just the cutest. I used 3 sheets of different colored paper and then added a cute tag that said "I'm so fortunate to have you." I think today will be a hit!  

Fortune cookie messages take all forms - humorous, serious, motivational or Love.