By Heather Sanders.
Each year a few members of our homeschool cooperative get together to plan a Valentine’s Day party for the teachers and students. The kids exchange cards, play a game or two, decorate cookies or cupcakes and eat goodies. The perk of our growing co-op is that party planning and other responsibilities can rotate, giving members an opportunity to contribute more equally. This year I am not responsible for any portion of the V-Day party, not even games.
Can I hear a HALLELUJAH in the house??!!
Because of the co-op’s half day and full day schedule, our Valentine’s Day party is going to be very early this year, specifically on Monday, February 4th. The reality of the timing kicked in last Thursday, so on Friday we made our annual trip out of town to Hobby Lobby so the kids could select and purchase their supplies. Later that afternoon our friends joined us for a card-making extravaganza.
The kids and I have created handmade Valentine’s Day cards for years now. Unfortunately, the first few years’ worth of cards are not posted online anywhere to share, but in February of 2007 I began documenting a few of them on my blog and on flickr.
In 2010, my friend Cindy and her boys joined us in an effort to “blend Valentine’s Day with a smidgeon of learnin’. We chose to blend Art, Math & a few necessary Life Skills into our families’ Valentine’s Day preparations.
The whole process continues to be a big hit with the kids, and in the words of Cindy’s older son Kaleb, a “family tradition” we continue to do year after year.
In the past, we primarily made cards that opened and closed (with a front and back), but this year we decided to make postcard size cards, decorating the front and leaving room to write on the back. This meant the kids’ budget of $10.00 each would stretch much further at the craft store.
Emelie decided to use her typewriter instead of purchasing sticker letters, which meant she was able to purchase a higher quality packet of printed paper this year.
She purchased some really beautiful stamp stickers to complement the paper she purchased. Lately, Emelie enjoys creating layered art, so I expected her to go that route, but her Valentine’s Day Cards were almost minimalistic in their styling.
My cousin Olivia joined in on the fun with us. The girls and I shared some of our purchased background papers with her and then she accessorized her cards with the assortment of ribbons, stickers, etc…she found and brought from home.
It is amazing what one can find by digging through craft supplies and drawers!
When the kids wanted to decorate a card for someone who was in the room, they announced for whom they were decorating a card for, and then moved their supplies to the kitchen table for more privacy.
Or, as was the case with our petite Olivia, moved under the schoolroom table.
After decorating Valentine’s Day cards for a couple of hours we can all get a bit goofy.
Overall, it is just an exciting, artistic day of organized chaos. Making Valentine’s Day cards allows us to reflect on our friends and loved ones, and think of what kind of card they would enjoy receiving. It is also a time to spend with friends and family, sitting around, talking, laughing, and enjoying the freedom to create.
**The kids asked me specifically NOT to post photos of their Valentine’s Day Cards until after they give them to their friends and family. So, for anyone interested I’ll post them on Valentine’s Day.
What do you have planned for Valentine’s Day?
OMSH/Heather L. Sanders is “Momma” to three kids, Emelie, Meredith and Kenny. When not homeschooling, or writing about homeschooling, Heather is busy designing websites or going on dates with her husband Jeff, the love of her life.
Thinking of Home Schooling? Read mine and 24 other homeschooling families’ stories shared in the new book, You Can Do It Too!