14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 10

Teacher gifts.

I saw a similar idea on pinterest, using Hershey's Hugs.  The store I was in didn't have any, so we used kisses instead.  We wrapped the candy bags up with red yarn, some of our homemade pom poms and they're ready to go.

Note reads:  You can't live on apples alone, teachers need a KISS too.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 9

A little love note.

Sometimes it's just good to hear why we love one another.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 8

Afternoon movie, (rock-paper-scissor to see who gets to choose the flick) and Mother Goose popcorn in a delicious pink.

Mother Goose Popcorn

16 cups popped popcorn
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
food coloring

Pop popcorn and set aside.  In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water and coconut oil.  Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Add vanilla and food coloring.  Stir well and poor over popcorn.
Spread popcorn mixture on a few cookie sheets to cool.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 7

We get to practice our stealth ninja skills.

We are HEART ATTACKING!

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 6

Tonight was a man clan favorite - we made and decorated sugar cookies.  And of course ate them.

Yummy for our tummy.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 5

It's pom pom central in our lair.

Hot red pom poms are hanging from our ceiling and we have a few pom pom garlands hanging around.  These imperfect yarn puffs are absolutely delightful.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 4

I made a valentine refreshment for the man clan as part of their after school snack - fresh strawberry lemonade.

I added 1 cup of strawberries (these are the strawberries we picked this summer) to 1 cup of lemonade and let the vitamix to do all the work.  Since the strawberries were frozen, I didn't need to use any ice.  Delicious!

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 3

We were invited over to our friends house for a Superbowl party.  Surrounded by friends and delicious food, we were rooting for the 49ers!  I love San Francisco, and hello, they wear red.  I just knew they'd win because they fit into the Valentine countdown perfectly.
Unfortunately, we had to leave a before the game ended.  Operation Meltdown happened and one of our wee ones was inconsolable.
AND, unfortunately the 49ers lost.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 2

We made scrumptious heart shaped pizzas.

We had loads of toppings...

SO good!!

My favorite was Lach's who made a hotdog pizza.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - OUTTAKE

Strawberry covered chocolate cake.  I had a big fail on this project. Tastes delicious but oh my goodness, was it a disaster!

The plan was to layer brownie batter and strawberry cake in a cupcake liner.  Add pink icing and voila, a valentine yummy morsel.

Disaster #1 - You can't get the brownie out of the cupcake liner!!

I only have one muffin pan, so the rest of the batter I layered in a 9x13 and baked it.

Disaster #2 - although the toothpick came out clean, the brownie could have baked five more minutes.

Disaster #3 - you know when you mix cornstarch and water and it's either thick like glue or super runny?  That was my icing.

Disaster #4 - when I put the icing on the cake, it wouldn't spread without ripping up the cake.

Total disaster but super, duper good!

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 1

Aren't these just the best banners?  I love them.  Assembling and hanging them are the first of our Valentine's festivity countdown.

Want to have these cuties from Whiskergraphics?  They are a free download -  Click here.   

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 14 OF 14

A family candlelight dinner.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 13 OF 14

Chocolate fondue - a man clan favorite!Strawberries, blueberries, marshmallows, oranges, bananas and chocolate - lots and lots of chocolate. What a delicious way to end the evening.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 12 OF 14

Make and deliver love bites.On day 2, the man clan made sugar cookies and ate every last one. This time, the cookies are being delivered (and a few snitches will be okay.)

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 11 OF 14

CRUSH party!

On the menu:

Drink - CRUSH in strawberry and grape

Appetizer - Falafel chips and humus

Main Dish - Bacon Gouda burgers with all the fixings (and vegan morsels for me)

I have a happy, happy man clan. I think it's because of the bacon.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 10 OF 14

Black and white brownies.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 9 OF 14

Homemade granola bars.

And of course, one batch needed to be hearts for our love fest.This recipe is so easy and yummalicious.

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup finely chopped almonds

1 cup dried fruit, of your choice

3 ripe bananas

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla

Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl - make sure dry fruit isn't sticking together.

In another bowl, combine bananas, oil and vanilla. Mash banana mixture and pour into dry ingredients.

Spread onto a cookie sheet, about 1/2 inch - 3/4 inch thick (or as individual cookies) and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Blueberry Girl and Anja

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 8 OF 14

I was really worried about what I was going to do for the man clan today. Time is not my friend today - it's one of those super hectic, CRAZY days and tonight is the last of our ghost hunting classes, but I didn't want to disappoint the kiddos.

I was on the computer this morning and saw these cute DIY valentine fortune tellers. I wondered if I could get away with it, or would the man clan feel jipped? The older boys were awesome with the wee ones. The finger holds and motions were new for them, but with practice and big brother guidance,it kept frustrations at a minimum and it turned out fun, especially for our six year old.

via Design Mom via Dandee

PS. Do you remember making these at school? I used to LOVE these!

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 7 OF 14

A love letter telling my son why he is my favorite.

~ Four sons ~ Four love letters ~ Four favorites~

These mommy love letters were on their pillow when they came home from school.

My envelope was inspired by sparrownestscript.

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY 6 OF 14

Popcorn and Be My Valentine Charlie Brown. Classic.