I just "Plane" love you!

When I was in the first grade, I experienced my first Valentines class party. I don't remember much about it, but I do remember getting one of these little airplanes from a boy in my class. I thought this was the coolest thing I had ever seen! An airplane made out of candy=best idea ever.

Here are instructions for you to make your own:
You will need:
*rubber bands
*lifesavers
*smarties
*Sticks of gum

1st: String the rubber band between two lifesavers. 2nd: Balance the smarties in the middle of the life savers.

3rd: Wrap the rubber band around a stick of gum. 4th: Add a message!

The kids loved this! Little hands need some help to make them, though. It's a lot of balancing with both hands!

One thing that kind of bothers me is that the lifesavers have to be unwrapped. I tried poking a hole in the plastic to wrap to string the rubber band through, but that didn't work very well. I think the best way would just be to use a glue gun to put it together. Can you think of a better idea? Leave a comment if you can!

Gearing Up for LOVE day!

There's a lot of excitement going on around our house! Last year's Valentines holiday was celebrated with a visit from "The Love Bugs" (click HERE to see that story) and we are hoping that this year is no exception.

Yesterday the kids decorated a love bug box from the directions found in the February 2010 issue of Family Fun. Here's how we made it:

You will need:
*An empty kleenex box
*Red wrapping paper or other paper to wrap the box in
*2 pipe cleaners
*2 large googly eyes
*White felt
Wrap the kleenex box as you would wrap a present. Make sure you remember which side the hole on the top is. Cut through the wrapping paper to the hole in the top of the box. Tape around the edges of the paper and hole.

Curl the pipe cleaner, attach googly eyes with hot glue. Make two holes in the top of your box (I just used a pen and poked it through) to stick the pipe cleaner eyes through the holes.

Cut out white teeth from your felt and glue gun it to the inside of the box. Add a heart nose, and you're done!
Here are the kids getting ready to do the project. Maya and Hayden thought it was fun to wind the pipe cleaners around their fingers to curl it. (And Maya thought it made a good mustache)

Hayden is a little concerned that the love bugs might be a little frightened to visit this box. He thinks it might be too scary for them. I told him we'd put both this box and our mailbox from last year out and then the bugs can choose.

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We also LOVED this project from the blog Make and Takes! (click HERE to see the project)
Maya was so excited after we made these cards, that she got her valentines all ready to deliver. Each card got a plastic bag and the bags were filled with items from our pantry!
Stale pretzels, yum!

Like I said, we're gearing up for Valentines day over here!
More ideas to follow...