PTA Founders Day

My husband at the second grade Donuts with Dad event.

For most of their school-age lives our children have been enrolled in private school.  Consequently, I've only recently become a member of the PTA but I have been very involved in similar organizations at the kids' schools, The Parents Club and Parent Teacher Fellowship. They are organizations with a similar mission and goals and I know all too well the importance of the work of parent volunteers.  They enhance every aspect of school and student life.  They help make schools great places,  serve the kids and grow community.  

So, hats off to all the PTA volunteers that make and have made Grandparents Day, Donuts with Dad, Open House, Field Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and countless other events and activities special for all our kids and a special thanks today to the founders of the PTA. 

St. Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

More than 140 million Valentine's Day cards will be sent and received today.   Count me among the enthusiastic senders (and, hopefully recipients). 

When my children were younger I loved having them create their own cards -- I'm more practical these days and am happy when they can settle upon a store bought type that they actually feel reflects their personalities.  

In our house I have a "clothes line for cards" (for lack of a better term) that hangs in our kitchen window.  

The card line, after my son's recent birthday

The card line has these great suction feet that allow me to put it up anywhere, but the kitchen window allows for maximum family enjoyment.

Just prior to a family member's birthday, the card line appears with photos from previous years' celebrations.  Then, Birthday cards are pinned there during and following those special occasions.  

But during Love Week, the line is reserved just for declarations of devotion, from grandparents, extended family and one another.  It's a happy reminder of our attachment to others in the world.  

I purchased my "card line" at the Hallmark store eons ago but recently found a similar item (except it's vertical) via another blog.  Alternately, you could make one yourself.  Here are the directions.  

I think it's  safe to say that our card line is a very own banner of love.  

Conversation Hearts

What the hollow chocolate rabbit is to Easter, the conversation heart, sometimes called the sweetheart, is to Valentine's Day.   They are ubiquitous (and how often can you use that word?) and the quintessential Valentine's candy. 

I am not a conversation heart connoisseur, but I have it on good authority that the Necco conversation heart is the best, less powdery and just the right amount of sweet.  I must admit, I wish they tasted a bit more like their candy cousin, and my childhood favorite, the Necco Wafer (makes the best gingerbread house roof, ever!).

Still, I've been known to consume just a few of the 8 billion lovely sugar confections, with their irresistible catchphrases, that are produced each year. That 's why I was delighted to find the individual-size packages, in addition to the boxes, on the drugstore aisle.  

 Let's hear it for portion control!  

I also found this cute item -

That comes with all of this -

And makes 24 of these -

Of course, if you're not into candy or crafts, you can always use them to decorate!