Skip to main content

Making valentines one last time, and a couple of other new beginnings

Since this is Christopher's last year of elementary school, it will mean the last of the classroom parties (other than the last day of school), so I thought I'd better enjoy the moment! I've never liked the cheap, cheesy valentines sold at the stores and we've nearly always made our own. Here's what we did this year. Several months ago, I bought two packages of note cards that said "hello" on the front from Michael's on clearance for fifty cents a pack. I loved the red and white look, and knew I could embellish them into something better so here's our transformed valentines for Christopher's class.
The hello on the right is just printed on the card. The sentiment on the left is stamped on white cardstock, then layered on an oval piece of black cardstock, adhered to the card, then a little gemstone bling added, and topped off with a punched out folk heart. Christopher loved making them.
This was the very first year he's ever really been excited to make valentines. He enjoyed doing the crafting, which is really a new thing for him, and was excited to deliver his pieces of art to school today to his friends. He also latched onto my mono-adhesive tape dispenser and conned me out of it so he could keep it at school. He thought it was a clever invention.
The funny thing about these cards, that look all classy and pretty, was that he wanted to add something funny to them and I found some glittery Santa cut-outs that I bought a long time ago on a clearance sale, and he adhered a Santa on the inside of each one, with a Happy Valentine's Day sentiment next to it. He's got a delightful sense of humor makes his friends laugh a lot. He put the remaining Santas on the outside of his valentine box and cannot wait for Chelsea to ask him why he has them on his box. He's going to ask her why doesn't she have Santas on hers. And other silly responses like, "I like Santa. He's my valentine." He's so funny.
The completed masterpieces were paired with a bag of Skittles for each student and here is Christopher's very cool box, which he was quite proud of.
Lindsey was explaining how next year at middle school, the only celebrating will be when you just give any friends you want that you see in the halls at school a piece of candy or a valentine. That will be a new beginning for him. Speaking of, last night Lindsey participated in the annual New Beginnings program with her Young Women group at church and here are the lovely desserts that were served. Paige made all these lovely cupcakes and the heart ones too.
Jenn got the cookies at a bakery in Round Rock. Apparently her friend there used to work for the Ace of Cakes guy! How exciting.
Not only did they look fabulous, but they were very tasty.


To tie into my post title, I have one more new beginning to share about yesterday. Our microwave has been torching foods sometimes for a while and some things have literally been smoking and flaming. It no longer cooks popcorn properly (unless you prefer it smoldering) so we finally went shopping and picked out a new one at Home Depot. I really like the new one we had installed yesterday.
It was worth the $100 to have it installed because it took three men working on it together for a long time to try to figure out how to get it attached. They were contracted by Home Depot and were frustrated it was taking forever and told me it really wasn't a "standard installation" and that if they couldn't get it figured out soon, they'd have to send someone else back to do it later. They got it eventually, so I'm glad Kelly and I decided to go that route. We waffled back and forth, and it was a good call since he's been really busy with work lately.

Comments

the microwave looks great. Christopher is so funny. He's a great kid. I know this might sound weird, but the picture of him holding his valentine's box he looks just like Kelly. Those are cute valentine's though. Way to go, Christopher! Yours will be the ones everyone remembers! Lindsey did a great job last night as always! She's a great young woman.
Lonna said…
I love the little twist on the standard valentine card...a Santa that is so great. Pretty sure that my mom never put that much time into helping me make class valentines, and I have to say that I think that was a good idea to make sure that the slot on the box was big enough to fit some super treats and cards in there.

It sounds like the new beginnings went well, I am glad to see that you were well taken care of in the sugar and sweets department. One can always count on the YW for that. Good call on the microwave installation, who would have thought that a little old microwave could practically stump three men. It looks really good in your kitchen.
Hildie said…
Duh, Kelly! Come help my kids make cards next year! I'm going the tacky-card-but-cute-homemade-cookies route.
Happy The Man said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Happy The Man said…
Wow, I need to have a nap after looking at all the work that must have gone into those valentines and the new beginnings cupcakes.
~ Tina said…
What special treats... the cards, the cupcakes, the cookies, the bready-bear - you are so lucky!
valerie said…
I love your new microwave and the style of it. It's very modern. We have had a couple of microwave popcorn fires and they are not fun. I hope your new one is working perfect.
Kellie said…
Thanks for posting the New Beginnings food... I was home with sick kids and when Shauna told me how cheerful they were, I was longing for a photo. Good thing you were there.

And by the way, the dinner party looks DELICIOUS! It looks like all of your thoughtful and deliberate planning paid off.

Popular posts from this blog

Book of Mormon Stories Pool Party!

Hopefully this title, Book of Mormon Stories Pool Party , does not sound irreverent, because as an Activity Days leader, I felt compelled to come up with a fun end-of-the-summer event that is also uplifting, and after all, who doesn't love a splash in the pool on a hot day in August?  My current church calling, or official role that I volunteer for, allows me to plan two activities each month for girls ages 8 to 11, that will encourage them to learn and live the gospel, serve others, and use the talents Heavenly Father has given them, to learn to do many good things.  This year's seminary course of study for high school students is The Book of Mormon, and since I am a huge fan of this inspired book of scripture, I came up with this idea to have each girl show up to my house with a written summary of one of her favorite stories from within its many pages, and share it with the rest of the girls, while outside in our swimsuits near our backyard swimming pool!  As each girl shares

Our new daughter!

This picture was taken at church a few days ago while Kelly was on his way to the US for work this week. We have some wonderful news to share.  We are adopting 7-year-old Yeh Min Yu, who has been in our home off and on the last couple of months.  There's a lot that goes into making this official, dealing with US Homeland Security to arrange for her immigration visa, Taiwan courts and Chinese documents, getting a home study done by a licensed, qualified person, applying for a passport.  You have no idea.  I'll be glad when it's all done, but I couldn't wait to share this bit of joy with everyone.  We will name her Hannah to go on her new US birth certificate.  She's excited and nervous to go to America with us.  She can say more than 100 words in English so far.  Some of her favorite things to say are "small dog, butterfly, apple, pig."  She says it more like pig-uh.  We love her and feel this is one of the reasons we came to Taiwan.  Who would have thoug

Elder Larson to return from Thailand soon

Soon is relative, I suppose. Our son has been away from home more than a year and a half as he has been volunteering as a full-time missionary in the Thailand Bangkok Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since September 14, 2016. He will be home in four months and is working so hard, knowing his time there is winding down. He has been assigned to train Elder Ben Meyer, from Sydney, Australia, as they serve in Ubon, Thailand. Christopher has been there since November. We are very proud of his dedication and hard work. This week in Thailand, the new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, with his wife, Wendy Nelson, along with one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and his wife, Patricia Holland, will be on their world ministering tour and be where our son is. The Church members and missionaries in Thailand are very excited and happy for this special visit! I can't wait to hear how it goes, and I look forward to pictures and stories to come.