The A Team Week 21: Be Mine

Like many, this week was all about love.  Unlike many the focus really wasn't on our "significant others", but rather on our friends and family as a whole (along with a few other things)...

First, there was some focus on our friends...For playgroup this week, a couple of the girls decided that it would be fun to throw the kids a little Valentine's Day party (which was a GREAT idea!).  We let Asher pick out his very first valentines to share (he selected Minion valentines which came with tattoos), and then went to the party to enjoy some time with our friends.  Allison and Alex did a wonderful job keeping the party low key but filled with fun activities and toddler-friendly snacks...

After a little bit of carefree playtime, we enjoyed our first activity of craft time.  Allison brought a ton of craft supplies and some white paper bags, and the kids enjoyed decorating a bag to place their valentines in.  Then, we also made some thumb-print art magnets to take home.

Asher working on his Valentine bag.

Addison, Alex, Jaxson, Heidi & Violet working on their bags.

Asher, Theo, Britni, Addison, Alex & Jaxson.

While the big kids enjoyed some crafts, the little ones enjoyed a little time around the water-cooler...

Kennedy, Violet, Avery, Etta & Lilou

We even caught Avery & Violet getting in a little hand-holding! (courtesy Allison M.)

When craft time was over, the kids enjoyed some game time.  They marched from the playroom to the gym and played an exciting game of "heart pick-up"!  I'm not sure who "won" as I was stuck in the playroom nursing Avery, but when the kids returned it sounded like they had had a good time.

Jaxson, Asher, Hannah, Kennedy, Alex & Theo (courtesy Allison M).

Alex, Jaxson, Theo, Asher, Zack & Elias (courtesy Allison M).

When game time was over, all the kids came back to enjoy a tasty snack.  Allison was thoughtful and provided awesome kid-friendly snacks: cranberry cookies, homemade graham crackers and clementines...Yum!

Jaxson, Zack, Hannah, Elias, Asher & Theo awaiting their snack.

Kennedy, Heidi & Violet enjoying some cuddles.

When snack time was over, the kids enjoyed a little more free playtime and then we worked on cleaning up the room and putting everything away.  Then, we enjoyed a little pizza party courtesy an anonymous supporter (thank you!) ;)

Elias, Jaxson, Addison, Zack, Theo & Asher enjoying their pizza.

Finally, once all the kids were stuffed and lots of fun was had, we finished up the party by exchanging  our valentines.

The kids beautiful valentine bags.

When the Valentine's celebration was over, I loaded the kids back into the stroller and headed home.  Since we had already had lunch, it was time for a nap but Asher was too wound up.  Rather than taking a nap he cried in his bed for a good hour and then played on the floor in his room while Avery and I enjoyed a little bit of rest time.  I feared what the rest of the afternoon might be like, knowing I would likely have a grumpy, tired toddler to deal with but thankfully he was in a surprisingly good mood for the afternoon, and we enjoyed the remainder of the day together loving on each other and enjoying Asher's love for space shuttles.

Video: Love For Shuttles

Asher's fort (after destroying the couch).

As the week continued, we continued to love our family life at even the simplest of moments...

Asher and Eric enjoyed singing the ABC song on the drive home from work/daycare...figures that Eric would teach him to sing, "L-M-N-O-PPPPPP!"

Video: ABC's...Daddy Style...

We loved observing the kids and the new things they do and say.  Avery has mastered rolling over and will typically roll from back to stomach as soon as you lay him down (unless you try to get a video, then he will refuse).  Asher has finally learned to say Yes, rather than just grunting at us and will often answer with a very cute, "uh huh, yes".  Unfortunately not long after he learned to say yes, he also learned to say, "No Way" and loves to answer with that as well.  :(  Asher also enjoys "parenting" with us, by yelling at Emma (saying "Emma NO!" when she gets near his toys or food, etc) and telling us "Abry's fine" or "You fine Abry" when his baby brother gets fussy.

Asher found our old baseball gloves and asked what they were.  We were torn with what to tell him, not wanting to spark his interest in a sport we hope to avoid (too boring!).

We also enjoyed loving on the kids during our relaxing Saturday morning.  When Avery and I woke, Asher and Eric were already gone.  Thus, we enjoyed some snuggle/play time together while Daddy and Asher enjoyed their Saturday morning McD's.

Video: Lovin' on Avery

Asher with his ice.

Video: Asher's Lovin' It (Enjoying a McD's hash brown...his Daddy/Son Saturday routine).

When Asher and Eric returned from their Saturday morning outing, they loved on me with a little Valentine's Day surprise: A chocolate cake/chocolate frosted donut...my favorite!

Video: Lovin' Me Some Donut (& Avery wanting in on the action).

When the afternoon came, we switched it up and got to spend a little more one-on-one time with our boys...but opposite.  Avery went with Eric to bring Emma for a haircut, while Asher and I enjoyed some time at home playing and doing a "project" (another of Asher's new favorite words).

Avery with Daddy at Target

Asher working on his "project" we made Daddy some Valentines Artwork.

Then, once everyone was back home together, we enjoyed the remainder of the day loving on each other-family style...

Video: Monster Love (Eric introduced Asher to Monster Truck YouTube videos...it may become his newest obsession!)

We got Asher's new travel bed in the mail and he and Avery enjoyed a snuggle to test it out.

My boys checking to see what was going on outside.

After some playtime at home, we headed out to pick up our four-legged family member and get some dinner.  We enjoyed our traditional "buy one-get one half off for a smooch" burritos at Qdoba and when we had finished our dinner, we braved the cold to get some dessert, by running down to Cherry Berry for some Frozen Yogurt (we got a surprise gift card in the mail from a friend at church..yummy)!

When our valentines was almost over, we got ready for bed and then gave the boys their traditional valentines gifts: books to remind them of our love for them.  As I wrote about last year, I started a tradition when Asher was a baby of giving our children a book for valentines day with a note from Mommy and Daddy in it to remind them of how much they are loved.  This year, after spending a decent amount of time at Barnes and Noble, I selected Baby Love by Sandra Magsamen for Avery and Always by Emma Dodd for Asher.

Asher opening his book.

Asher opening Avery's book.

On Sunday Valentines was officially over, but that didn't stop our love fest.  We still enjoyed some loving snuggles and Avery enjoyed sporting his love for his Daddy with his "My Daddy's So Cool" onesie to round out our week! :)

Avery & I getting our snuggles on.

Avery with his onesie showing his support for his cool daddy...an old gift to Asher from Auntie Julie & Uncle Dave.