Valentine Treats

I would say that our snow day was very productive...

8 dozen pink heart marshmallows

 3 dozen Strawberry Chocolate Chunk Cookies

And 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies!  Whew!  What a day!

I think the Christmas before Ella was born I was watching a special on the Food Network where Tyler Florence made homemade marshmallows.  Since then I have been wanting (ok, really really wanting) to make them, but had no reason.  As I started thinking about Valentine's day I knew the kids would love to make these marshmallows.  I finally had the perfect reason to make homemade marshmallows.  And it was worth it!  They were delicious.  And the kids had a blast making them (I actually had to cut them out  because they were a little more delicate than I had anticipated).  I used this recipe on The Food Network.  We just added the food coloring and red sugar crystals for Valentine's Day.

Miller only goes to school on Wednesday and Friday, so he had his Valentine Party today at school.  Because of that we had to get all of our Valentines finished early.  The kids made the marshmallows for all of their friends and the strawberry cookies for their teachers.  I know that we will most likely not always make their Valentines, but while the kids love it we will.  In the process of making everything, Ella probably told me 6 times how much fun she was having.  Things tend to get pretty crazy around here and there is always a little bit of chaos.  But what wonderful memories we are making of always taking time out in the midst of the chaos to do special things together.  Now it looks like cooking, painting and making things together.  In a few years it may mean going to the movies or to a concert together.  It may mean late nights talks, going shopping or taking long runs together.  Whatever it looks like, I pray that I will always be searching their hearts to know the special ways that show them how much I love them.

I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love!