Our Valentines(really late)

We spent our Valentines Day away from our children.

My lover lover and I happened to be in Logan, Ut; while the kids were their grandparents in Central Utah.

I missed them.  We got home early evening on Valentines and I granted the kids with their own box of chocolates and a sweet message of what I love most about them. It was fun to see them smile proudly when I told them why I loved them.

I think a holiday to remind people while we love them is beautiful.

Speaking of chocolates, and beautiful people that I love, Jonathan gifted me these sweet chocolates from Bluebird.  A favorite spot in Logan.

Awe.  I love this man.

I had these great intentions of posting our Valentine ideas while we were traveling; I was just too mentally exhausted.

I figure with the beauty of Pinterest I can still post it now; and if you like the idea you can pin it for next year.

Sorry I am a little late, or you could look at it like I am a year early.

Jex came up with his Valentine idea.  He is really in to Pokémon right now.  He thought it would be fun to use the character “Axew” , and say “Axew" a question; like ask you a question.

I thought he was brilliant.

I came up with the idea to add “popped” and share popcorn, his favorite treat.

We stapled a package of popcorn to the back of his card.

Stella wanted to use owl’s on her card; she has her mother’s fascination with them.

We decided to use this printable that I already made for years past and put them on the water bottles.

Click on the image above to take you to the printable download.

We attached her printed Valentine with some cute pom trim and stapled a red drink packet to it as well.

This Valentine was a hit; because it is unique. 

Isaac picked out fun dip for his treat.

That made for a very simple saying; but an adorable Valentine.

We also stapled his treat to the back.

…and just because I can’t leave out the littlest cutie:

We made her one too.

To answer any of your questions, I made all of these in Photoshop CS5, you could also use Photoshop Elements.

I used some of the same techniques that I used to digital scrapbook.

I then upload them to my favorite printing sight as a 4x6 image and have them printed.

I love how personal the Valentine becomes.

I also love that with a possible move; their friends can remember them with a picture.

…and if I wasn’t feeling so mentally exhausted on Valentines Day, this is what I would have posted to send all my love to you.

Happy Love Day… only a few weeks late.

Ups & Downs

February has been a month full of it’s up and down.

I always know that life has been busy when I don’t have single picture taken with my Nikon during the month.

My camera is my passion.  Thank heavens for iPhones and the ability to take pictures with ease and convenience.

What have we been up to?

We started the month making a 100th day project.  Money does grow on trees.

$100 dollars for 100 days of school.

We had a few sick days around here.

At the end of the first week of February, we received shocking news that our dear friends lost a daughter and a sister. 

Alesa was serving a mission for our church; and was killed in an accident.

The Smith family(including Alesa) was like our second family while living in Arkansas.

I was lucky enough to travel to Arkansas to attend the funeral. It was a beautiful service that touched me and taught me.

I felt blessed to give the opening prayer.

I was touched to read these words in her program:

Missionary: Someone who leaves their family for a short time so others can be with their family for eternity.

We love you Smith Family.  We miss you Alesa.

Before I left for Arkansas, I worked quickly to get my kids Valentines done, and pack for Utah.

I sent their Valentines to school early because we were in UT on the actual day.  I will share more about those little love notes later this week.

I came home from Arkansas late on Thursday night and we left for Utah early Friday morning.

We were happy to arrive in Utah.

It was nice to see “the greatest snow on Earth.”

Jonathan and I had the opportunity to visit with several medical practices in UT; to decide if “This is the place.”

If you are from Utah you will understand my pun.(wink wink)

Along the way we also enjoyed:

being in Park City for a couple of days.  Jonathan did some skiing at the Canyons, and did a lot of convincing that this should become a new hobby for me. However, I really enjoyed hanging out in my nice warm hotel room in the Canyons.

enjoying the little treasures in Logan; Herm’s Inn for lunch and Bluebird Chocolates(for Valentines of course); listening to our Nephew’s mission talk and saying goodbye as he leaves to Eugene, Oregon to serve our church for 2 years; he is also holding our new nephew that Jonathan and I got to meet for the first time; meet Joseph; and bowling with my family(six little people bowling, and seven adults; Tess was the winner.)

We are still in the process of figuring out where we will be in the next four months.  It is scary to finally be making the decision about where to settle down and plant some roots.  It is also exciting to decide where to settle down and plant some roots.

We are using a lot of faith on this decision.  Pray for us.

We are back in PA now.  Trying to settle in.

I threw a baby shower the day after we got back.  It was really fun. I love friends.  What a great gift from God.

Speaking of baby; my sister decided to have this little cutie just two days after I left Utah.  Meet: Liam Mark Robbins.

Liam you were two days late!  I guess you will have to wait a few more months to meet your Awesome Auntie Andrea.

I have also been trying to catch up on housework, laundry, 1/2 birthday treats for all 3 August birthdays, visits to the dentist, helping out some friends; and fighting a nasty cold.

Not to mention Stella is home sick today with the stomach flu.  YEAH!!

It’s good to be home.

I swear it is so much colder here in the East then it is in UT.  This wet, windy, chill you to the bone cold is extreme.  I think I like the dry sunny cold better. 

Maybe Utah really is the place.

Mountains to Climb.

I know I have been MIA lately.

We have had a lot going on around here. 

I will be back to share little snippets of what has been happening in the JandA&Co. household as of late.

For now, I share with you the message my father sent to me this morning.

As we all have mountains to climb; I hope this brings you strength, and the courage you need to climb them.

For those of you who don’t know, our church puts together these videos as messages of encouragement and hope.

The thoughts come from the leaders of our church.

The messages where shared during one of our bi-yearly conferences which we get the privilege to listen to via satellite, internet, television or radio.  These talks are heard all over the world.

Then these small videos are put together as a reminder of some of the most poignant thoughts shared; as a way to share them with others.

This talk is poignant to me at this time; so I am sharing it with YOU.

Thanks Dad for sharing it with me.

Be the good FREE printable.

Last week, I shared a little bit about our families theme for the year. 

You can read more about it here.

I had several blogger friends ask if I would share the printable; and possibly in a few varieties of colors.

Today, I am doing just that.

Here is the printable that I made for our family:

This is what it looks like in our home:

I put it in a simple frame.

It is in a place that you can see right when you come in the door.

If you would like one for your home, I have made it in a few other colors:

red          coral

 

blue                brighter green

 

darker green           brown

 

gray           pink

purple

If you would like to download these for personal use, you will find all of them by going here.

This print will not have my watermark on it when you go to the download.

They are made to fit an 8x10 frame.

When printing printables, I have just used my home printer. 

However, I much prefer the prints that I took the time to print at a lab.  mpix.com is a great place for that.

Enjoy!!

Along with this little print in my home, I also made these fun pots for my front porch:

I made them out of #10 cans that I spray painted.  I picked up the trees after Christmas for around $2.00 a piece.

I added “be the good”, by using rub-on letters, for one more reminder when we walk through our door.

I know we can all use the reminder to “be the good.”

I love these little winter pots.

They go so well with my winter wreath.