Between facing some hard anniversaries again
and Levi having RSV last week {yuck, I know}
we thought we needed to start this week off with a party.
Yesterday we invited all of Levi’s cousins over for a Valentine Party.
We set up a little table for the eight cousins who are all five and under.
Most of the decorations I re-used from Joel’s party this summer.
I made my own version of the heart strings garland.
The cute mailboxes were in the dollar bin at Target.
They were definitely the hit of the party.
And Levi passed out the cute have a ball valentines to his cousins.
The moms and grandmas sat leisurely for hours
sat for five seconds at the grown-up table.
Excuse the wrinkly tablecloth…I am not a fan of ironing.
Before the party Levi opened up his valentine from his daddy and mama.
Red Converse shoes…I found them on clearance at Target.
He is loving shoes right now. It is so cute.
Levi was very stylin’ for the party in his red shoes…at least his mama thought so.
My sister-in-law made cocoa pancakes with whipped cream for the kids.
What more do you need when you have chocolate pancakes?
There was lots of yummy food for the grown-ups too.
After the grown-ups sat for a few minutes and tried to enjoy our food…
it was FINALLY time to pass out valentines.
The best part.
Even Levi liked putting his valentines in his mailbox.
He thought he was such a big boy with all his cousins.
Levi and his sweet cousins…only Cora is missing!
The big cousins made Megan’s heart craft.
I cut out all the big hearts.
Then we punched the little hearts out with a Creative Memories heart punch.
The kids thought it was great!
And they all turned out so pretty.
The girls’ hearts were very girly of course…only pink and purple!
After the party Levi and I spent some much needed time outside.
We hadn’t been out at all last week because of all the snow and Levi being sick.
It was beautiful…and the snow is finally melting.
{Levi, don’t put rocks in your mouth!}
Levi broke in his new valentine shoes.
When dad got home Levi even got a wagon ride.
What a fun day.
Hope your Valentine’s Day was just as great!
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by Jess
Julie - What a perfect little cousin party! I love all the details.
And, I also have to tell you that i LOVE that picture of you and Levi outside. Very pretty (of you) and cute (of Levi in his new shoes).
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Devon - what a great idea!!
and i love his little red converse!
thinking of you during this time…
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Chelsy - Gosh I wish I was this creative! This is ADORABLE!! Love love love. Where did you get that table and chairs set? Looks nice and sturdy and very cute.
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Dave - How stinkin’ cute is that party?! You are so creative and Levi is adorable. Love his shoes and both pictures of you and Levi are so cute (especially the first one!).
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meg duerksen - THIS is good valentine’s!!!
i love this.
i wish i was at that party.
i am realizing my kids aren’t little and so maybe that is why valentine’s is not as fun…..because they aren’t as cute as little levi! ha ha ha!
love the little table and chairs!
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Krystal - What a cute idea! You’re so crafty! I couldn’t craft my way out of a paper bag! lol Also, I love those shoes! When my son went through the “I’m going to take my shoes off every two seconds” phase, we got him converse high tops so he couldn’t take them off! It was awesome!
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Tricia - You are so creative. What a fun and adorable party. Also, where did you get that large chalkboard frame? I love that!! Don’t tell me you made it, because I’ll feel lazy.
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JESSICA - So creative. I love the table with mailboxes.
I’m sure you get asked a million times a day, but what kind of camera do you have? If you don’t mind sending me a message – jtomasrogers at yahoo dot com – I would greatly appreciate it. We are searching for something now, and your pictures are always perfect…maybe you just have the perfect people to photograph.
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Heather | Cookie Mondays - absolutely adorable!!!
boo for rsv
i can’t believe we were just talking about that!
i want to steal those chairs
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Kristi REDISKE - I have been missing your posts but do understand-glad you are back and posted about the Valentine Party. You are so good at this stuff-I am amazed! Levi is such a doll and so are all the cousins-I am sure your Cora would have loved all this-i am sure it is so hard without her-but she is never forgotten. The picture of you and Levi is adorable!
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Gail - so.stinking.cute!!!
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Stef - love the shoes, love the craft! I saw it on Megan’s website a few days ago and my daughters and I went to Target and stocked up on supplies to make them. We’ll hang them up “late” but I say its never late to display love around our house
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Heather - I love this!! Such cute shoes too!
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Peden Family - I just LOVE everything you put Levi in. Where do you get most of his clothes? So hard to find cute boy stuff.
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k and c's mom - This is beyond cute. You are so creative, Jess, and so smart to make these family memories. And Levi in red Converse! You win the best Valentine award.
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Sadie - Sounds like an amazing day! LOVE the idea of a cousin valentines party! Those mailboxes and shoes are too cute!
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Michelle - What kind of camera do you use? your pictures are always so amazing
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Anonymous - he looks like daddy…
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Kristin - Love the picture of Levi’s shoes, and the one of the two of you-very sweet!
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Toni :O) - Awwww…loved the party, decorations and crafts but I have to say the photo of you two is the BEST!!! Great, great photo and you should have that framed. Those shoes are the bomb! Always praying for your sweet family!
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Anonymous - What a sweet party! I love Levi’s red converse! He is stylin’!
Praying for you in FL!
~Krista
aka babykatesmom
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Mandy - I don’t know you but I love reading your blog, which I found through Brooke Whitis…That photo of you and Levi is just darling! And kudos to you on your creativity and resilient spirit!
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Kimberly - What a precious idea! Looks like everyone had a great time & wonderful memories were made! Thanks for sharing! (BTW, I dig the red Converse!
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Danielle H. - You have the BEST parties!!! Gonna copy some of your ideas. I want to know what type of table you have too – it’s the perfect size for little kiddos. I’ve tried finding the old kids chairs but they are hard to find in my area. I guess I’ll have to come to Kansas!!! I also wanted to make those adorable “have a ball” Valentine’s but I couldn’t find bouncy balls that were big enough. I could only find those tiny ones. Where did you find yours? LOVE, love the pic of the two of you. Seriously cute! Hugs from Texas!
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Emily - Holy Moses I LOVE those shoes!! I need to check out my target… hmmmmm… : )
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Mindee@ourfrontdoor - Your parties are flat out inspiring. You should start a party planning business!
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Tara - oh my gosh! cutest, little party ever! i’m totally having one for the little cousins next year!
and LOVE the red converses! adorable!
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Karina - I thought the same thing before I read what you wrote…only Cora is missing.
Mr. Levi is extremely handsome, red shoes or not.
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Andrea - So cute – love all the details. Levi is looking so little boyish!….and I’m with you on the ironing thing (which is ironic since I need to be meticulous about it for all my sewing projects!)
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Nicole - Oh my! What a great idea to have a kids’ Valentine’s Day party! I have to say, RSV stinks. We have had it for about a month here at our house (with 3 kids, it takes a while to make it’s way out!). Glad Levi is feeling better. My little man is 9 mths old and he was miserable for about 2 weeks. I think the cute red shoes would certainly cheer him up (or maybe that’s just me). I have a little bit of shoe envy. Levi sure it stylin’!! Thanks for your blog and the amazing photos. I love stopping by!
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Rich and Carolyn Dewey - You are a SERIOUS party planner. Loved the mailboxes – all such great ideas! LOVED your lined out about Grandmas enjoying a leisurely meal. HAHAHA!
Oh, and those wrinkles??? How many kids commented on them? Zero? Thought so!
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Geo - Thats one big stack of coloured paper! makes me go oooooooh
and i LOVE Levi’s converse!! so jealous!
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Momma H - I want to join your family! You have so much fun and you are so creative.
Oh well, being a sister in Christ is great too.
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Miss G - SUCH fun! I love your heart garland. As soon as I saw the tablecloths I was reminded of Joel’s party. Way to re-purpose! Really neat! I love how you did the doilies under the plates too. Simple and perfect touch. Are your polka dot napkins from Michael’s a year or two ago at Christmas? I stocked up on those.
It must have been gray and red stripes year for boys for Valentine’s. My boy-o wore a shirt like three of your boys. One of my dear friends bought it for me last year when I was pregnant saying it was for Valentine’s this year. So fun.
I really like seeing the different ways the cousins did their hearts. Such creativity and expression. Kelly
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Regina - He is such a doll- love the party, what a great idea!
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Nancy - RSV ~ Yuck!! Bless his sweet heart! I am glad he is better & had a fun Valentine’s Party! You are so creative!!
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Marianne - Love:
1. Levi’s shoes
2. The pictures of you and Levi
3. The definite smile on his face in Levi’s picture with daddy
What a cute party!
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Michelle - This comment has been removed by the author.
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Michelle - I LOVE the old phone on you wall! Your party looks like it came straight from a magazine. We got mailboxes like that for Valentines a few years back and still have them on shelves in our rooms. The kids still write and hide letters back and forth to each other.
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Beth - I don’t remember reading your blog, but it popped up in my googlereader for the first time today (So I must’ve already!)… it was strange for me to read about your little Levi – my son’s name as well! And my Levi doesn’t seem to be much older than yours.
I love your party though! Oh my gosh, do I love it! I think the mason jar glasses and little striped straws are my favorite.
Beth
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Pamela - Adorable cousin party. I think that’s such a special thing to do. Making memories. Love Levi’s shoes.
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Anonymous - So, so, sweet. Right out of a magazine Jess. Loved everything about it. . .Nolan has the same red converse. And clearance too!
Carrie M.
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Jenny - What a darling party and a precious boy you have. Love his sweet red shoes too!
I just read about your sweet Cora, and am so very sorry that you lost her. That is something no parent should have to endure. Ever. I know Cora will always be with you, and I pray that Levi can help to heal your hearts.
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Alex and Jill - Amelia is having a Valentine party this year with a few friends and cousins. We’re having fun planning it and bought those same little mailboxes but in pink…I think all of our decor has come from the $1 bin at Target!
Such a cute party. I’m looking for a craft – might use the one you’ve shared here!
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Brown Apples - so sweet- you are an amazing mama
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Danielle - LOVE this Valentine party ideas. So fun!
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Anna - such a cute party, and I love the ‘have a ball’ valentines!
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Jerri Rivers - Great party! I’m featuring your “ball valentine” idea on Wednesday in a kid’s Valentine post. Please stop by and check it out!
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