Spring and cookies!

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Eve and I went out to deliver Girl Scout cookies today (finally!) and found these lovely things growing in the yard.  Our first flowers always bloom in the middle of the yard. 

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Delivering cookies with our new wagon.

We bought a wagon just for this reason. Last year we delivered the cookies, in the snow, by carrying boxes and bags in our arms.  It was exhausting! The wagon made the process a whole lot nicer.  It took us over two hours, but we finally got all the neighborhood cookies delivered!  Family, friends, and school were delivered last week, so now we are done!  Whew!

Feelings

Eve made herself this amazing sign for her bedroom door and I love it. She took dinosaur stickers and guessed at their feelings and emotions. I asked if it was a book about feelings and she said no, just a regular sticker book. I especially love the face with steam coming out of it’s ears under the “Don’t come in” words, and the “hangry” one, and well… I love them all! I mostly love that “Happy” is the default checked box. :)

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How are you feeling today?

Valentine Express

We have this book called The Valentine Express that we’ve had for years and years. It’s a cute story of bunny siblings that learn about Valentine’s Day in school and decide to make Valentine’s Day gifts for all of their neighbors. We read the story every year and often get inspiration for cards.

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The Valentine Express

Today, after a late night at hockey, Eve spent the afternoon in her room making Valentine’s Day treats. She decided to make treats for each neighbor and came down once to have me help her count houses.

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Meanwhile her new dog enjoyed a a delicious popcorn snack. :)

She finally finished around 5:3pm and wanted to head right out and deliver them. For some reason she wants to put them in mailboxes, not knock on doors. We’ll see what the neighbors think of that. She signed them all “from Cupid,” but I thought it wiser to have her name on them. :)

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Two Valentine “trees” and a very serious face.

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A sampling of her creations.

Seeing as it was 5:30pm, dark, and 2° outside, I talked her into waiting until morning to deliver the goods. She agreed, reluctantly.

She then had a mini-meltdown when she realized how messy her room was, hid herself under the coffee table with a book, missed dinner, and went to be in tears. Sweet tired girl. Hopefully an early bedtime will help her make it through the day tomorrow. <3

Missing Eve

Miss Eve is at her first ever sleep over tonight.  I just went up to check on the kids, like I do every night, and she’s not in her bed.  That makes my mommy heart sad.   I’m sure she is having fun, hopefully sound asleep by now, but I want to snuggle her and kiss her sweet face.  Growing up is hard, for mom!

My sweet silly Christmas elf

Eve used her “Christmas Shopping” coupon today and we went shopping, to the grocery store! That’s where she wanted to buy presents, and that’s where I needed to buy groceries, so it worked out very well. Lex came with us, which complicated matters a touch because her main idea was a gift for Lex. Luckily she is a clever one and turned a complication into a great time at the grocery store! She took one of the paper bakery bags and carried it with her, sticking gifts in it along the way. She snuck away from Lex (I knew where she was going) to get his, then discussed gift ideas with me for a few other people. At one point, standing in the candy aisle, she lamented that she would never be able to buy a present for me because I was with her. I asked if she had an idea and she said yes, it was right in that aisle. Silly girl. So I walked on down the aisle and she snuck something in her bag. A few minutes later she started a story with, “Mom, when I was getting the Swedish Fish… OH NO!!”  She’s so dramatic with her reactions and I was laughing hysterically.  The whole way through the store she was talking about how excited she was and she kept asking Lex if he wanted clues about his present.  When we got to the checkout she slipped back to the candy aisle and swapped my Swedish Fish for something else.  Then she asked the checkout lady to put the bar code reader INTO the bag so Lex and I would see her presents.  The lady was very sweet and played along happily.

The whole way home Eve talked about her gifts.  “Mom, do you think dad will like the gift I got for him?” “Lex, can you guess what I got for you?” “Mom, your gift is the biggest!”  On and on she went and I enjoyed every minute.  She was so excited about giving gifts.  Then she says “Oh, I feel like a million pounds lighter.  Like a big weight is off my shoulders” (or along those lines)  I asked why and she said, dramatically, “I was so worried that I wouldn’t have time to get these presents.  I’m so relieved that we went shopping today and I was able to get this big job done!”  Ha.  She cracks me up!

When we got home she went right down to the basement to wrap everything.  She told us that she would probably be down there for hours!  Not that long later she was done and she snuck all of the presents under the tree, giggling and merry the whole time.  Grocery shopping with Eve has never been more fun.  That was my true gift from her.

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Sweet gifts from Santa Eve nestled all snug under the tree.