A Valentine treat

Ethel was really into everything Christmas this past holiday season.  Really into it.  She chose outfits with red and green in them every day (laundry permitting), sang Christmas songs, and everything she drew revolved around Christmas.  As soon as the holiday was over, she asked what holiday would come next, and I told her Valentine's Day.  Thus the beginning of her obsession with red, pink, hearts, and Valentimes.

Valentine's Day is really more of a Hallmark holiday any more, but, the kids always get a kick out of another themed party at school when they can exchange candies and cards.  Generally, the exchange involves folded cards that Mom and Dad find at the store, donning their child's favorite character at that time.  Last year we got a lot of Strawberry Shortcake and Transformers, and some Star Wars cards.  This year, Ethel is on a kick of coloring hearts, and has come up with her own "Valentimes".

Ethel designed "love fans".  Once she mastered the art of drawing hearts, and once she was allowed to use her safety scissors, the love fans began to take shape (forgive the pun).  She carefully selects colors for each heart, and each fan has four hearts.  She chooses specific colors for each person she is giving the fan to, so everyone's fan is a little different.  She made make five fans for today for friends she'd see at a playdate and a birthday party. 

She colors, cuts, and tapes each fan all by herself.  They take some time, but she loves to make them, and loves even more to give them.  She even demonstrates how to properly use each fan to cool yourself, waving it side to side.  She judges how much air each fan gives, and notes her level of approval. 


I think we've found our Valentime card solution for this year!  Quick, easy, and free.  How could we go wrong?