Valentines Day has never really been a big deal in our home ... we always exchange small gifts and Scott always buys me roses but that's about it. This year is different however in that I have committed myself to making every holiday a fun one for E (and subsequently us) in 2014 and beyond so with that in mind, Valentines Day is about to become a big deal in our house. Not so much on the present/gifting front but more in the decorations, crafting and themeing.

I have bought Scott a canvas print of one of our favourite photos of us sailing on Tokyo Bay during the trip we took right before we found I was pregnant with E. I can see it hanging on the big bare wall facing our bed so hopefully he agrees. In return, I have 'suggested' he gift me with the new Glasshouse Limited Edition, Hong Kong. He bought me the Kyoto version last V-Day so its really not much of a stretch but I will certainly appreciate and enjoy it.

Presents aside, thanks to pinterest I intend to master the following special Valentines Day meals/treats for E. Its a kindy day for him so we will start it with heart shaped pancakes and then I thought I could send along a small heart shaped cake to share with his class as well as some Valentines fruit pops:




Ethan and I also got crafty on Sunday afternoon as the weather was so dreary and I 'helped' him make some Valentines cards to give to his grandmothers, cousins and beloved aunty 'Kaaaarrrr-keeeee'. They were pretty simple, I just stocked up on some pre-made red cards and let E go crazy with glitter, stickers and the like. We used mostly just double sided tape to stick everything down - safe and effective. On reflection, E is probably a little young for an intensive craft effort like the session we did but he had fun and next time I will stretch it out over a few days.

1. Make nuts and bolts - it's an Aussie thing involving nutri grain cereal and curry powder amongst other things.

Christmas for me is ... the most wonderful time of the year ... and yes, I did sing that line as I typed it.

I love the carols, the food, the shopping, gift-giving, preparation, decorations, the sentiment and most of all, I love to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

I have collected many decorations carefully over the years and am still building my collection however my favourite most precious Christmas decoration is my Royal Doulton Nativity scene. I bought it a little before last Christmas at a ridiculous good sale price after lusting over it for years. It gave me enormous joy to set up and look at last year in the lead up to Christmas.

This year the nativity scene will be displayed well out of the way of little fingers but its really important to me to teach E the meaning of Christmas the way I was taught growing up. Imagine my delight when I was scouring the internet for Little People sets and came across a Little People nativity scene! At $49.95, it wasn't cheap but I had a gift voucher to one of the online stockists so I couldn't resist buying it for E.

E loves his little people sets and seems to be at an age where he likes sitting 'playing' with them so I can't wait to pull this out with all of our home decorations and explain the scene to him and set it up like mummy's. I feel its a lovely way to share the Christmas message each year with him as he grows and it really makes him a part of the decorating and decorations with his own special piece to be responsible for.