Have you noticed that I really get into Valentine’s Day? I love it.
While Gracie and I were shopping this past weekend, we got a few extra supplies. I allowed Grace to pick all of them, so we got a lot of pink foam hearts and purple foam hearts and foam dogs. I added some glittery red foam stickers and magnets, and we were ready to go.
I have to point out that the roll of stick-on magnet I bought cost me 59 cents. The glittery foam stuff was $6.99. How bizarre …

Joe, Grace, and I spend almost all of our non-work/day care time together.
We’re one of those annoying families that like each others company. All three of us prefer to be together, in a group.
Joe and I don’t do many date nights because we like to bring Grace along. Grace and I don’t spend much time alone, without Joe, and Joe and Gracie don’t spend much time alone without me. (Working or migraine scenarios aside, of course.)

Because we spend so much time together, it’s hard for one or two of us …

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
When I was growing up, my mom and my grandma always made Valentine’s Day a family holiday. I remember receiving little trinkets and cards from the time I was small.
Valentine’s Day was always a time to say I love you, a time to think of the people who are special in our lives.
I’m continuing that tradition with Grace.
Valentine’s Day is a time to appreciate each other. Joe and I will celebrate our love for each other, certainly, but also our love …

We like decorating our Christmas trees. Can you tell?
We’ve done a lot of decorating this month. 2 dimensional trees, 3 dimensional trees, edible trees and inedible trees. It’s been fun.

If you have been reading a while, you probably already know where the idea for these two crafty projects came from.

If you haven’t figured it out, you’ll have to stop back tomorrow to read how we did them and where I got the idea.

Happily submitted to Wordless Wednesday, 5 minutes for Mom, The Not-So-Blog Blog, Wordful Wednesday, Go Graham Go, Mom …

As part of our simplified Christmas, Joe, Grace, and I have been decorating a Jesse tree.
Our Jesse Tree

How We Use the Jesse Tree Each Night
As I explained in my earlier post, the Jesse tree has become part of our nightly ritual. Each evening, before dinner, Grace helps me to light the candles in our Advent Wreath. We eat, and then Grace opens her Advent box.

Grace picked this box at the craft store a few weeks ago. There were several different styles, but she wanted the one that had a family …