February: Nursing homes and Chocolate Martinis

One of the things I still love about the Pacific Northwest is the early springs. This is my 10th spring here, but I still get so excited in February when all the flowers start to bloom around me. Growing up in the Midwest,  we would still be buried in below zero snow for at least another month or two.

Blooming in our backyard

February has had a lot of activity.
My mom was here visiting and we got to celebrate her birthday by going on a Portland chocolate tour. Yes, you heard that right..a three hour tour of sampling, drinking and learning about all that is chocolate.
I can now tell you the difference between Belgium and Swiss chocolate and what makes white chocolate white. AND, I can tell you that the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland makes the BEST chocolate martini.

4:00 chocolate martini...I could get used to this.

And it wouldn't be valentines day unless we had a bag of cheap cartoon valentines. Evie had her preschool  party. Luckily Grandma was here to patiently sit with her at the table while she signed each of her 18 valentines. I can't even imagine the amount of valentines we will be buying, signing, and delivering when I have all four in school. 80 maybe?! Anyone want to come over and patiently sit with the boys while they sign theirs?! ;)
Speaking of cheap cartoon valentines, when did those go out of style? This is the second year that Evie has brought home a bag of  elaborately hand crafted,  witty, candy-laden heart-shaped masterpieces. Ok moms, when (and why) did you spend so much time on these?
I hope everyone enjoyed the beauty of Evie's  Disney tear apart ones that I bought the day before because I got them for 70% off at Fred Meyer.

Speaking of Pintrest Mom, I admit, I can not judge because I do have a bit of that in me too.
I did do one slightly creative valentines day project/surprise this year. After all were in bed,  I decorated the outside of everyones bedroom door with hearts. On each heart I wrote things I loved and appreciated about them. (However, like the handmade valentines,  I think I appreciated my effort more than anyone else did...;) 

Ok, I'm realizing that I might not be able to complain about the Valentine Diva Moms after I write about this next activity...
 When my mom was here, we baked heart shaped cookies and the kids (well, really Evie) passed them out at the local nursing/ rehabilitation home. (I know...I know...I still have that teacher in me and I feel like my kids need meaningful field trips...)
I didn't really know how Evelyn would act around older people in wheel chairs who really had a hard time hearing, talking and moving. Nonetheless, I knew it would be a great experience for her and would get her out of her pink and red heard shaped, sparkly bubble.

I have to say it was a delightful, meaningful experience for everyone. The residents all really enjoyed seeing the three boys run around and they loved sweet Evie politely asking if they wanted a cookie.

Evie did so well. She seriously LOVED  walking up to every person and handing them a cookie. This is something we need to make more of a habit of doing in the community.

"cookie anyone?"

The boys really just wanted to eat the cookies themselves

Speaking of community, we are enjoying our neighborhood even more this Spring. John and I took the four kids out for a walk around the block the other night and to our amazement, no one wandered off or needed to be chased! It was really MANAGEABLE! We even stopped and talked to our neighbors while the kids played together on their driveway for about 30 minutes...all without any meltdowns, attempted escapes or catastrophes!

Life is changing folks!
There is light!!
The chains are slowly breaking!
We WILL be able to do family outings without being stressed out of our minds!!

Yet another reminder that life is but a series of Seasons....the "three baby and one toddler season" has ended and we are now in the "three toddlers and a young child" chapter.

Still terrifying and exhausting...but it promises a little, tiny, teeny, bit of more sanity in the house ;)