I know i sound insane when i say... "I couldn't WAIT to decorate for V-day!" I mean we JUST had Christmas stuff ALL-OVER!
BUT....
I have a cousin who is SOOO great at motivating me to be the best mommy and wife ever! and usually she doesn't even realize she is doing it! I am just at a point in my life now where i am remembering that my FAMILY & HOME come first. and that it is MY domain! i know it sounds a little silly, and a tad wierd. but seriously, my husband is out working ALL day, and Macie is at school ALL day, when they come home they need a home they WANT to come to. they need a SAFE-HAVEN filled and built with love and caring... NOT dreading the noise and the routine. A VERY good friend of mine reminded me of the beging part of some very basic things that i had forgotten all about when our kids started school together... I was complaining about this and that, and she "busted out the basics" that i had NOT been doing.
I have had a whole lot of "self improving" going on with me lately. And my cousins re-assurance and guidence was needed. the thing is our HEAVENLY FATHER is the CENTER of thier life as well, so i know any advice i get is always with a decision BASED of good values! and it was needed! my priorities get a tad obsesive sometimes... like for example... i obsess over a clean floor and table, but im a harsh crazy person to get it this way. Lately Ive been feeling the guilt over the "busy mom syndrome"... its like an image i have in my head of a mom with crazy hair, stained clothes, dishrag in one hand, broom in another, cup of COLD coffee on counter, kids are clean and happy, there are freshly baked muffins or pastry of some sort on the counter, but no one wants to be around her! And she yells.."don't you all REALIZE i do this BECAUSE i love you SO MUCH?!?" ...
umm.. hello crazy lady..... no, they can't tell... cause your a bit insane.... LOL
thats me!
Anyway, ONE thing i am doing is making sure things are DIFFERENT from time to time. and it might be wierd, but i think if things are changed up here & there, it makes it fun for kids and fun for us too! ive been really trying to bake and cook more "home cooked" meals, like if it takes a couple hours to make OH WELL- i have to stop being intimidated by "time stealers". (if it benefits my family, saves money, and makes everyone happy and NOT stressed.. um DUH)
So if we REALLY think about it, every month has some sort of holiday or seasonal change! so i am trying out a new look on things and trying to be more FESTIVE. it might be something SMALL and trinket sized, but it will keep my kids saying.. OH- how cute MOM!- I think a part of me LIVES for pleasing my family. and i had to STOP and realize i need to do it with a heart for God. and in a way that Glorifies God. not be GRUDGINGLY (is that a word?) doing these tasks. but embracing a new attitude WHILE doing them. I LOVE LOVE LOVE when Macie wakes up in the morning and gets all Giggly over my decorations i set out that night! I hope that making these special TWEEKS to our "mundane" day-to-day life will help her, and everyone else, have a fun way of looking at nurturing your family.! (see, my cousin has ALWAYS done this, i am JUST NOW figuring life out!)
John was even a bit bummed when christmas decor came down. He said.. "our house felt so "HOME-E", " I am hopeing this was what the dr. ordered for him as well! i mean, he goes to work everyday to PAY for this house, I want him to be HAPPY when he drags in the door!
So for starters.. Valentines day!
first & foremost:
I called my cousin to pick her brain!
Then i set off to Wal-mart, Target and JoAnns craft store.... I made my own wreath, i hung decorations, and spurts of "love" through out!
EVERYONE was happy i did this, john was impressed with my wreath and said......
"yes hunny, our house NOW looks "festive".... I think thats the first time ive ever said "FESTIVE"...." and we both started laughing!
I love it that he goes along with all my crazy ideas'! he lets me get them out of my system, and some work, and others don't, but you NEVER know what parts your kids remember! i want mine to have LOTS to choose from!
Here are some pictures!

At Jo anns, i picked up some .50 cent scraps of fabric and turned them into placemats!

You can see the girls playing in the back yard all bundled up!


At the end of the bar you can see Macie's New "fish bowl"... we love our .28 cent gold fish!

the CUTEST canvas w/ holder i saw at Target!!!

Like i said, it isn't ALOT, but it adds a touch of the holiday!

My wreath! awwww.....

my door way outside.....

my door inside!
Well, thats all this momma's got to talk about right now! Hope you all leave a comment!
love you!