Happy Valentine's Day

I love the idea of doing projects with the kids, but really struggle with my whole perfectionist streak. I have this image in my head (I'm sure fueled by parenting magazines) of everyone smiling and laughing and having fun, in their perfectly tidy, beautiful homes, creating amazing works of art, baked goods, or whatever else the project happens to be.

Well to start with, the only time my house is even somewhat tidy is when I know people are coming over...hello! I have three children and all the stuff that comes with that (not to mention James and all his grownup toys). Just being honest here.

Secondly, as much as I love this house, I have major issues with our kitchen. I mean it is just ridiculous. We have NO usable counter space and I'm not exaggerating even one tiny bit. The only counter we have is right by the sink and is about eight inches wide and has cupboards immediately above, rendering it completely useless, other than for dirty pots and pans (which do indeed reside there far too often, for far too long).

We bought a portable dishwasher when we first moved in here, because there wasn't one and the top of that is the sum of our counter space. So I rolled it into the center of the kitchen, in order for us each to have access and we started!

Arran and Bryttain were excited (I'd had the sense to wait to start this project until Asia was down for her nap). Within five minutes there was flour everywhere. On their clothes, on the floor and a little left on the counter, for rolling the dough. They would push it around, pick it up, pretend it was rain, pretend it was snow as they clapped their little hands and made it fly everywhere. They were having fun, I was trying not to nag and keep calm while explaining to them that I needed the flour on the counter to stop the dough from sticking.

Then we set out to cutting out the cookies, they would smash down the cutters in the middle of the dough, while I repeatedly tried to explain that we needed to keep the shapes close together so that we could get as many cookies as possible between rollings. They didn't mind though, whether I rolled out the dough three times or fifteen times. Oh for life to be that simple again.

The cookies finally made it into the oven, and they were sent to take naps while the cookies cooked and cooled.

After dinner we started the task of icing the cookies. By this time I had to call in reinforcements before I lost my mind. I wanted the kids to enjoy it and I was tired and far too uptight, so in steps daddy - hurray for daddy! He calmly 'helped' them pipe the remaining outlines, while I prepared our red and pink glazes to fill the centers.

Meanwhile...Asia was busy creating her own entertainment with Arran's new Wall-e sunglasses.

They really did so great and I was so proud of their accomplishments. They were both so excited to be able to give these to some of their friends to show their love.



Sprinkles were finally added to the cookies (as well as the table top and all over the floor) to finish the effect. Beautiful!

It was fun and not something I'd done before. When I was growing up in England, Valentines day was, and I assume still is, a romantic holiday, a time to reveal secret love or a crush, confirm ongoing love, or on the other side, to feel, once again (no really I'm not bitter) rejected, alone, or forgotten.

I like this way of doing things much better, it was fun and everyone gets to feel the love. Parents and children, friends, whoever.

Happy Valentines Day!

p.s. Maybe next time I'll remember to put on a nice dress, a full face of make-up, dress the kids in cute GAP clothes and have us all wear matching aprons...that will make things go much smoother, I'm sure! :)