Our Valentine family date--Filling our kids love tanks!

Have you read the book The five Love languages by Dr. Gary Chapman? It's a must read for any marriage or engaged couple. I find it helpful when raising children too...what's their love language(s)? I think most kids just want their parents attention. The book talks about children love languages at the end. You can take the quiz right now and see what your language is. I am Quality time and my husband is acts of service (that's why I cook and try to clean a lot for him). I was raised with parents who worked hard to create family memories on a frugal budget. It is possible to not spend a fortune and have a blast with a big family. I am following my parent's lead and on the look out for free and/or frugal outings for our family of 5 going on 6.

So, for this Valentine's day we spend some quality FREE family time together and made lasting memories. Here's what we did and it was a blast.

A local city in Utah was hosting a Winterfest and offered lots of free stuff to do (I found out about it from our newspaper)....but we didn't attend any events until Saturday night. We had some house cleaning and priming the basement walls to finish up. We told the girls we were working like Cinderella and then we would go to the fancy "ball" that evening. I was going to be the fairy godmother and make them beautiful. I put sponge rollers in their hair the night before, let them choose their dresses, and they wore sticky earrings and lipstick to the "ball". They are at the right ages to get excited about something like this!The concert music was a Beatles tribute band named Imagine. They were great and a lot of fun to watch. We had a blast!
We danced and sang a long through the familiar Beatles songs. We sat on the floor and had great seats. After all my extended families motto is, "Spread out and get what you can." We are true "go getters"! My girls felt like true princesses and had the time of their life. I would encourage you to go above and beyond and fill your kids love tanks soon. It was really fun for us as parents too. Parenting is so much fun with many highs and lows but I love the highs don't you?!

Holiday party hair-do's for young girls!

My daughter had a preschool program last night so I did their hair in a semi-up do. Sorry the pictures are dark (we were in a hurry of course). Click on photos to enlarge.The sides up pinned with bobby pins forming a bun. I ringlet curled the long part in the back.
A close up of the front of her pinned bun. Spread out the hair to cover the gaps.

This was a sophisticated easy quick look for my older daughter who wanted to be pretty as well. A low pony tail with half pinned and half long and a bit wavy or curled.
The half pinned side profile. I liked this look for her. She did too.

Flower hair bows

My daughter's love to have their hair done. So for school this year (and for friend gifts) we made white, hot pink, reddish maroon, and light pink flower hair bows.The supplies!

$4.00 flower bunches- I bought 4 bunches of flowers for $1.00 each from the dollar store with about 6-9 flowers in a bunch.
$ 0.00 Glue sticks & gun (I already had them)
$3-4.00 A pack of jewels for center of flowers- Purchased from Michael's-Use a coupon for 40% off one regular priced item
$0.00 old jeweled earrings from Grandma
$5.39 box of Alligator hair clips- Purchased from Sally Beauty supply (Walmart & Target don't sell them)

I had some old earrings & fake pearl necklaces from my husband's grandma who passed away a few years back. We removed the clip on earring part and used them as the flower center. This white jeweled one is my favorite. They are easy to make. We removed the stem part of the flower and glued the petals to the alligator clip (sometimes twice). TIP- Make sure the glue doesn't' ooze onto the underside of the clip and get stuck.

We made 28 flower clips for about $13.39 during nap time! My daughters were thrilled and want to give one to every girl cousin and girl neighbor for their birthdays. We had a great time making them. They are easy and cute too.

Creative hair-do's for girls!

I enjoy the creative license within motherhood...which includes hair. Plus my kids are easy to please and I bond with them by doing their hair. I help my girls express themselves through hair. "Is it a baby bun day, a high ponytail, a side swiped ponytail, braids, headband, or criss cross hair day honey?"

When we are getting ready for the day we get to talk, plan out our day, or I make an effort to compliment them on something they did or said recently. We usually are alone in the bathroom just mom and daughter- (screaming might be in the background but we are alone). I am savoring this stage before the tween and teen hair do days.

Here's a great resource for hair do's for girls called Hair Today. She no longer posts new do's but it's a great resource for hair ideas. Have fun with your daughters.