Love No Matter What

We have had a sweet Valentine's Day today. We ate dinner with candles and Samuel was very excited about lighting them and blowing them out. He thought it was a birthday so we sang "Happy Valentine's Day" to Justin when he came home from work. We gave Samuel a card that sings "You Are My Sunshine" and he and Annalee loved the music. After supper he played with the play dough we gave him and cut out heart cookies. Annalee was asleep by 6:20 tonight!





I read No Matter What to Samuel today. He did not really understand the book but I held back tears the whole time. Mom gave the book to me when I graduated from high school and now that I have children I really "get it" Justin always gives me a little alone time at night and tonight I started thinking about my family. I don't talk about it much on this blog because I know what everyone will say.... but it is HARD to live away from them. I miss the daily interaction with everyone and I miss just knowing they are a phone call away or a mile down the road. So tonight I thought about my family... Mom, Dad, sisters, Grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins and I smiled and cried thinking about growing up surrounded by so much love and support. Debi Gliori writes, " But what about when you're far away? Does your love go too, or does it stay? Look up at the stars They're far, far away. But their light reaches us at the end of each day. It's like that with love- we may be close, we may be far, but our love still surrounds us... wherever we are." So from Gates County to Lbg to Rincon, GA and all in between I LOVE YOU!!!

Pictures, Books, and Budgets

Here are a few pictures over the last several days. We have enjoyed playing outside in the warmer weather and we have discovered that Annalee LOVES to swing. (She takes after me :))Samuel is a lot more independent these days and can climb, slide, swing, etc. all by himself. He is too sweet giving me butterfly kisses. The last picture was taken one day when Justin came home late from work. We had a long afternoon and Samuel said, "Mommy hold both babies" So I stopped everything and rocked my babies for awhile. A girl at school said to me yesterday, "You have your children forever but you only have a baby for one year" :(





Two other things....
Have you read the Snowmen All Year and Snowmen At Night books to your children? They are OUTSTANDING. I think they are my favorite books that I have found working in the library. Check them out! They have hidden pictures too that are great for older children.
Justin and I are getting on a serious budget. I am going to attempt to make laundry detergent soon. You can go to www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm for the recipe and directions. I have heard that it is great and super cheap. If you have any budget ideas send me an email beth.johnson@pcs.k12.va.us and I will share them with everyone.