Finishing Our Hearts

Today, Valentine's Day, our family finished the Conversation Hearts and while we were excited to reach the last paper chain heart it was a little bittersweet because our son looked forward to tearing off a heart each day. He actually liked having to think about his answer and always wanted to go first.

Yesterday's Question: Something I wish my family would do more of is...
Son - I wish we could go out to dinner more. (We went out to dinner this week for Valentine's Day and our son isn't always the most behaved when out to dinner so we don't go out a lot. Unfortunately this week was also one of those times. He isn't one to be standing on the table or running around but he is exceptionally loud and doesn't want to listen.)

Today's Question - What is good about a snowy day?
Son - I get to go out and go sled riding.

As I have stated before, I'm not insanely crafty and your family's conversation hearts could be a lot prettier and the design better executed but I'd recommend everyone doing this at least once. Your child's answers will surprise you and the questions can be a lot of fun.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Conversation Hearts

Our family's Conversation Hearts continued...

#7 - If you could have one magical power, what would you pick?

Son - I'd pick a wand and then I could do whatever I wanted. 

#8 - What is your favorite book? 

Son - The Berenstain Bears - Get the Gimmies

#9 - What was the best part of your day?

Son - Going to sign up for baseball and trying on my jersey. 

#10 - What is your favorite season? Why

Son - Summer because I can go to the pool. 

#11 - What are you thankful for? 

Son - Donuts and the show Austin & Ally that mom sometimes lets me watch. 

#12 - What do you want to get better at? 

Son - Soccer so that's why I practice. 

Valentine's Day Party

Today was the big Valentine's Day Party at preschool and the kids and mom volunteers seemed to have a great time. I know I did. The little ones started out with being able to make their own sundaes, vanilla ice cream with a real fruit topping of their choice and the not to be forgotten whipped cream. The kids were excited about the ice cream but I think they would have liked anything besides goldfish. Goldfish are a great snack and they all seem to enjoy them but as a parent you know they are common.

Anyway after the preschoolers finished we moved on to the games and craft stations.

Station 1 - Craft: We painted the kids hands bright red so they could make a handprint heart on paper. Special note to parents - kids love paint and when you paint their hands with a brush they think it's "one of the coolest things ever."

Station 2 - Game: Place the sticker heart on cupid's heart - Valentine version of pin the tail on the donkey. The kids liked helping spin their classmate around three times.

Station 3 - Game: Move the tissue paper heart from the table to the bowl by using only a straw. After the kids got the hang of this, we would give them a minute to see how fast they could go and then they counted the hearts to see how many they had. (I can say this is the game I brought and while I thought it would fail because it wasn't fun enough - the kids really loved it and I was pleasantly shocked.)

Station 4 - Craft: Decorate the I love you sign language heart. No mess, no fuss and kids love stickers.

Conversation Hearts #3, 4, 5 & 6

Although I haven't been posting each day the Conversation Heart that we are discussing, our family is successfully continuing to count down to Valentine's Day.

#3 - What do you like to do when you feel happy?
Son - I like to play the Wii, especially swords.

#4 - What is your favorite game to play?
Son - I think football or maybe soccer.

#5 - What is something you would like to learn this year?
Son - I'd like to learn how to ride my dirt bike when we get our new home.

#6 - Tell us about an adventure that you would like to have this year?
Son - To go swimming at the big pool with my new baby sister (expecting her late June).

Conversation Heart #2

If you could be invisible for an entire day, what would you do? 

That was the question from tonight's Conversation Hearts and tonight we were all able to enjoy dinner together along with a Saturday night movie, The Little Rascals. 

Son's answer: I'd play the Wii all day if I got to be invisible. 

Husband's answer: I think I'd spy on people because they wouldn't know I was there. 

My answer: I'd play fun tricks on people so they wouldn't know what's happening. 

Our son was very intrigued to know what kind of tricks I'd play so I started with when daddy put toothpaste on his toothbrush I'd hurry and wipe it off without him looking at the brush. Then when he reapplied it, I'd wipe it off again so he'd feel silly. Then I told him that while we was watching television and eating a chocolate covered pretzel for dessert, I'd move the pretzel behind him so he couldn't see it. (Just as a side note - my husband and son love Sarris Candies chocolate covered pretzels so when we have them in the house they don't last long.) My husband looked at me like I was losing it by teaching my son how to play silly little tricks because he's mischievous enough without me helping. But...kids have to be kids. And yes, I'm well aware that the statement I just made will come back around full circle at a different time. 

Conversation Heart #1

I had mentioned that our family was going to start our version of Conversation Hearts on February 1st and our son would pick off one heart from our paper chain and we'd all answer. Unfortunately my husband couldn't be at the dinner table tonight but he can answer later.

The first question: If you had a lot of money to spend, what would you buy?

I told my son he should go first that way I know he will answer with whatever is on his mind. Before I tell you what he said I'd like you to think about what a four year old would say. See I thought it would be for toys, one specific or just lots of tots in general. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Chips! Yes, chips. And he followed up with maybe some pizza too. I wonder if his answer would have been different if he hadn't been eating spicy homemade chili.

Conversation Hearts - Countdown to Valentine's Day

I wanted to make some sort of countdown to Valentine's Day for our family but I was looking for something other than presents or gifts. I was reading another blog online about a family that put a bunch of questions on paper, cut them apart and placed them in a box at their dinner table. Each night one of the family members picked out a question and they all had to answer - now the family had older kids so much more in depth questions but I loved the concept. I wish I could remember the mom's blog because I would link back. 

Okay so how do I make this look like it's for Valentine's Day and incorporate some sort of countdown? (Please keep in mind that I am not the most arts and crafty person; not even close to being mediocre.) 

I decided to make Conversation Hearts our way. I came up with 14 different questions that included, what is your favorite book, what do you like to do on a sunny day and if you could have one magical power what would it be. I plan to cover each question and how it was answered in upcoming posts so please come back to read. I then put a question on each pink or red strip, folded in half and shaped like a heart. I paper chained them together so we can hang on our pantry door and my son can pick off a heart each night, starting February 1st. I'm really looking forward to hearing my son's and husband's answers, especially the magical power question. Actually, I'm not sure what power I will pick. What about you? 

Valentine's Day School Party

I've been scouring Pinterest for great game ideas to have at the Preschool Valentine's Day Party and there are some really fun ideas but these are preschoolers and b-i-n-g-o is out! I really liked the idea of shooting Nerf darts at hearts or balloons and while I think the kids may have a blast doing this, I'm pretty sure the teachers and principal may not be so keen on this idea for obvious reasons.

I'm a homeroom mom so I'm in charge of finding the volunteers and asking the parents to bring in the snacks, ideas and crafts. I have to say out of the 15 kids in the class, 14 of the parents are absolutely involved and willing to help. Our class and I really lucked out, I know a lot of homeroom moms that aren't so fortunate.

For this party the menu needs to be vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, blueberries, bananas, light whipped cream and water. We aren't allowed to bring in syrups or sprinkles but they get ice cream!!! As for the valentines, well the kids aren't allowed to bring any type of food to distribute but I'm thinking that's becoming the 'normal' thing throughout many school parties which is just fine with me and my little guy. He likes the pencils, books, crayons and stuff much more than the snacks.

Anyway the harder part of the party instructions ... the craft and the two games. The craft I think is much easier - kids love to paint, play with play dough and make things with stickers but as far as the games, I'm stuck in a rut. I want to have something fun, make them move and not be too difficult to learn in a short amount of time. I'm open to suggestions and help is appreciated. Thanks!