My Mom

My mom was the one who was busy sewing us new clothes to wear, making us delicious meals to eat including the one where she just threw stuff together and called it a “Hupe Special!” Sometimes they were just delicious, too! She is the one who patiently made me ride my 2-wheel bike back and forth on the sidewalk in front of our house so I would finally learn how to get started on my own. I mastered “riding” the bike long before I mastered being able to start without someone holding the seat! (Thank goodness for nice neighbors who would help me if fell or had to stop for some reason! LOL!) My mom helped my sisters and I all learn how to sew our own clothes, too. She must have been patient to do that! LOL! She instilled in me a love of classical music through hearing it on the stereo and from taking piano lessons. I enjoy playing my piano, although, I can’t always say I liked practicing my lessons!

The Night Before Easter

‘Twas the night before Easter. All was calm and laid back.
Fred, the mouse in the kitchen, snarfed down a late snack.
The eggs were all dyed but still drippy and sticky…
To be honest, they looked just a little bit icky.Easter Humor, Poem, Easter Bunny, Twas the Night before Chirstmas(pixel.gif – 0.04 K)

There were big jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and such,
And as Fred stuffed his face, he sighed, “This is too much!”
Phil and Rose were in bed watching late night TV,
While munching saltines with low-sodium Brie.

Then a sudden commotion rang out in the night.
It shook Phil and Rose, really gave them a fright.
Phil’s hair stood on end, and his eyes bugged out big…
Rose whipped off the covers and knocked off her wig.Easter Humor, Poem, Easter Bunny, Twas the Night before Chirstmas(pixel.gif – 0.04 K)

They lunged to the window, yanked open the blinds…
What they saw was amazing; it boggled their minds:
Across the night sky, with a noise like the dickens,
Soared a minivan drawn by eight overgrown chickens!

At the wheel sat a bunny — cute, fuzzy and fat –
In designer blue jeans and a Panama hat.
Like a speeding space shuttle, those chickens they flew,
As the van driver called to each hen in his crew:Easter Humor, Poem, Easter Bunny, Twas the Night before Chirstmas(pixel.gif – 0.04 K)

“Now, Ashley! Now, Sheila! Now, Kelsey and Bo!
On Bethany, Liza! On Daphne, on Flo!”
The van made its landing lickety-split …
Nearly wiped out the shrubs and the barbecue pit!

Then up on the roof, much to Phil’s consternation,
They squawked of egg prices and space navigation.
They made so much noise that Phil started to stammer,
“If you guys don’t shut up, we’ll get thrown in the slammer!”

Fuzzy hopped down the chimney, amidst all this racket,
And emerged from the fireplace, adjusting his jacket.
This bunny was chic, he had class, he had flair ..
Not your average bozo, not your typical hare.Easter Humor, Poem, Easter Bunny, Twas the Night before Chirstmas(pixel.gif – 0.04 K)

His ears were enormous; his huge overbite
Was right under a nose like a pink neon light.
His manner was smooth, he was hip, he was cool;
This floppy-eared bunny was no fuzzy fool.

“While I’m here,” he smiled, “Everybody relaxes …
I’m not selling storm windows, won’t audit your taxes.
I’m just here to bring you some fun and delight.
Eat, drink, and be merry! Let’s party tonight!”

So they sipped diet soda and swapped silly jokes,
Those birds and their bunny just being plain folks.
Then flop-ears said, “Hey, friends, we’ve had quite a ball,
But my chickens and I are now due in St. Paul!”Easter Humor, Poem, Easter Bunny, Twas the Night before Chirstmas(pixel.gif – 0.04 K)

He crossed both his eyes. Then he wiggled one ear,
And he yelled to his chicken team, “We’re outta here!”
As the minivan rose in the 3 a.m. sky,
He called out, “Later, Phil! And to you, Rose, good-bye!”

As he sped out of sight, his two friends heard him say,
“Happy Easter to all! Have a beautiful day!”

Valentine’s day- Heart Puzzle

“Heard” The Love

When I was growing up I do not recall hearing the words “I love you” from
my father. When your father never says them to you when you are a child, it
gets tougher and tougher for him to say those words as he gets older. To
tell the truth, I could not honestly remember when I had last said those
words to him either.

I decided to set my ego aside and make the first move. After some
hesitation, in our next phone conversation I blurted out the words, “Dad .
. . I love you!” There was a silence at the other end and he awkwardly
replied, “Well, same back at ya!” I chuckled and said, “Dad, I know you
love me, and when you are ready, I know you will say what you want to say.”

Fifteen minutes later my mother called and nervously asked, “Paul, is
everything okay?” A few weeks later, Dad concluded our phone conversation
with the words, “Paul, I love you.” I was at work during this conversation
and the tears were rolling down my cheeks as I finally “heard” the love. As
we both sat there in tears we realized that this special moment had taken
our father/son relationship to a new level.

A short while after this special moment, my father narrowly escaped death
following heart surgery. Many times since, I have pondered the thought, If
I did not take the first step and Dad did not survive the surgery, I would
have never “heard” the love.

By Paul Barton from “A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul” Copyright 1996 by
Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk

Legend of the Valentine, The

The legend says St. Valentine
Was in a prison cell
Thinking of his little flock
He had always loved so well
And wanting to assure them
Of his friendship and his love
He picked a bunch of violets
And sent them by a dove.

And on the violets’ leaves
He pierced these lines divine
That simply said, “I Love You”
And “I’m your Valentine”
So through the years that followed
>From that day unto this
Folks still send messages of love
And seal them with a kiss.

Because a Saint in prison
Reached through prison bars one day
And picked a bunch of violets
And sent them out to say
That faith and love can triumph
No matter where you are
For faith and love are greater
Than the strongest prison bar.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Recipe: Two Hearts Together

Submitted by: Robin

Ingredients:

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 egg, separated
1 teaspoon almond extract, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup whipping cream, unwhipped
colored sugar (pink)

Directions:
In mixer bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, cream
cheese, egg yolk, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, vanila
and salt until well blended. Add flour, mix well.
Chill 2 hours.

On floured surface, knead dough to form smooth ball.
Divide into thirds. On floured surface, roll out each
portion to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out heart shapes
with cookie cutter.

Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush
with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with
colored sugar. Bake in preheated 375 degrees F (190
degrees C) oven for 7 to 10 minutes. Cool.

In saucepan, combine condensed milk, whipping cream
and remaining 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Over medium
high heat, cook and stir until mixture comes to a
boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until
thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool. Sandwich “two hearts
together” with caramel mixture. Store tightly covered.

Makes 2 – 3 dozen

Recipe: Valentine Trifle for Two..

Subject: Valentine Trifle for Two..

Light and luscious dessert for Valentine’Day

Raspberries and chocolate are two of the tempting
ingredients of this lighthearted Valentine Trifle for
Two.

The dessert is a light version of an old English
favorite, originally made with combinations of cake,
fruit, custard and cream. This version has a North
American twist: it uses chocolate brownies and a silky
white-chocolate pudding.

Valentine Trifle for Two

375 mL (1 1/2 cups) whole frozen raspberries
15 mL (1 tbsp) sugar, or to taste
90 g (3 oz) white chocolate pudding (recipe follows)
375 mL (1 1/2 cups) cubed low-fat brownies (recipe
follows) 15 mL (1 tbsp) Cointreau (orange flavored
liqueur)

Thaw 180 mL ( 3/4 cup) raspberries and process in food
processor or blender until smooth, about 10 seconds.
Strain, if desired, using fine sieve to remove seeds.
Stir in sugar until dissolved. Set aside. Reserve
remaining raspberries for assembly of dessert. (Fresh
raspberries may also be used.)Prepare White-Chocolate
Pudding. Cut brownies into 2.5 cm (1-inch) cubes.

Arrange cubed brownies on bottom of clear glass bowl.
Sprinkle with 15 mL (1 tbsp) Cointreau and top with
about 125 mL ( 1/2 cup) white-chocolate pudding.
Evenly distribute raspberry sauce over pudding.
Sprinkle reserved frozen berries evenly in a layer,
especially around sides. Spoon another 125 mL ( 1/2
cup) pudding over berries. Finish with a layer of
sauce and raspberries. (Store any remaining pudding
for another use.)
Serve soon after assembly, while berries are still
partially frozen.

“We are all brothers and sisters. Let us all look to one another and see
God in everyone’s eyes.”

Recipe: Pink Lassies

1 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1 cup vanilla ice cream

Put all ingredients in blender, cover and process on STIR until smooth.
Serve in cocktail glasses with straws.
About 2 1/2 cups

Everything Valentine – Assortment

Matching hearts game.

This is in another email I sent, but thought I would send seperately as
I thought it would make a good party warmer for everyone….

MATCHING HEARTS Cut out hearts from red paper. Then cut each heart in
two pieces with a pair of scissors. Each heart should be cut in half a
little different. When each kid arrives each of them will receive one
half of heart. They must match up their half with someone with the
other half.
Valentine tablecloth fun.

TABLECLOTH DECORATING Get a long sheet of plain white paper cloth and
crazons and or different water color markers. Have the children each
draw their own valentine themes on the paper.

Valentine party help for children aged 8-11

A SLEEPOVER PARTY for Girls ages 8-11.
by Danielle

INVITATIONS: Make up your own invitations. By using your imagination.

FAVORS: Stickers, Lollipops, waffle cone stuffed with valentine candies
and wrapped in red cellophane with a ribbon to tie it shut.

DECORATIONS: Paper chains- use red, pink, and white construction paper;
Streamers- use red, pink, and white colors; Balloons- use red, pink, and
white colors; and Red Papered hearts.

GAMES:

MATCHING HEARTS Cut out hearts from red paper. Then cut each heart in
two pieces with a pair of scissors. Each heart should be cut in half a
little different. When each kid arrives each of them will receive one
half of heart. They must match up their half with someone with the
other half.

VALENTINE SOCKS Have a decorating contest of kids designing original
valentine socks. Have everyone come over wearing their original
designs. You can make a music video with the camera just on people’s
feet.

SOCKS OFF!

This is a rowdy game. Do not use your original valentine socks. Have
everyone bring a pair of old socks. Draw a circle on the floor with
masking tape or simple choose your boundaries. Have everyone get into
the circle. On GO everyone must pull off everyone else’s socks. You
cannot hold onto your own socks. You can tickle! Once your socks get
pulled off you are out of the game. The person who wins is the one
remaining with at least one sock partially on! Watch out lots of
screaming. Please have a safety monitor so that the game does not get
to wild or rowdy!

VALENTINE COMICS MIXER This is a fun game for either sleepovers or
groups (you will need several comic strips). Cut out a comic strip.
Cut out each panel. Mix them up! For this game you will need clear
tape. You tape the mixed up comic panels on people’s backs. One panel
on each person. On GO they must arrange themselves in the correct order
so that the comics can be understood. Have a teacher or parent be the
judge!

GUESS WHO? (Older elementary, pre-teen, teen)

This is a fun guessing game which should bring a lot of smiles. Pass
out little strips of paper to everyone in your group. Have them write
the most embarassing thing that may have happened to them on the piece
of paper. Make sure it is not anything too gross or inappropriate.
Everyone then folds up the papers small and it is collected.
One by one the strips are read aloud and everyone has to guess who the
person is.
(To make the game more guessing fun have everyone complete at least
three papers eachs!)

TABLECLOTH DECORATING Get a long sheet of plain white paper cloth and
crazons and or different water color markers. Have the children each
draw their own valentine themes on the paper.

T-SHIRT PAINTING You Will Need: Scissors, a white t-shirt per child
(each child may bring their own t-shirt), brushes or sponges (the
sponges should be the kind where it grows when put under water. Cut out
before putting in water), large brown grocery bags, and fabric or puff
cloth paint.

Cover your working area with newspaper to protect tables and floors.
Fold up the brown grocery bags and place into each white T-shirt to stop
the paint from leaking through onto the other side of the t-shirt.

Cut the sponges into different heart shapes and then place in water to
that it will enlarge. (Hint: be sure to cut the sponges when they are
dry and not wet!)

Get the heart shaped sponges or brushes and dip into fabric or puff
paint and now paint the shirt.

Lay the painted t-shirt outside in the sun to dry.

Hint: When you machine wash the t-shirt make sure you turn it inside
out!

ACTIVITIES:

VALENTINE WAVES Things you will need for this art activity:

12 ounce plastic bottles with screw-on caps (1 per child)

6 ounces of cooking oil per child
6 ounces of vinegar per child Red food coloring glitter and plastic
heart confetti (sold at art supply stores)

a funnel rubber cement or strong glue If there are labels on the plastic
bottles, then soak them in warm water to peel off the labels.

Using a funnel pour the cooking oil, vinegar, and red food coloring into
each bottle.
The children can put in their own glitter and heart confetti into their
own bottle. Seal each bottle permanently with its matching cap tightly
using rubber cement or glue to prevent leakage. When done each person
may shake their own bottles and watch the wonderful patterns and images
the red liquid creates.

MAIN MEAL – Heart Sandwiches Items you will need to create your heart
shaped sandwiches:

A big heart shaped cookie dough cutter, Bread (white, wheat, French
rolls, etc.), Peanutbutter and jelly and/or meat and cheese Let everyone
make their own sandwiches. Each child may select the type of bread they
want.
Each then may use the cookie dough cutter to cut out a heart shaped
slice of bread.
Give each kid the choice of what types of meats, cheese, peanutbutter
and jelly, etc. they may wish to put in their sandwiches.

RED VALENTINE DRINKS:

Cherry soda or fruit punch SNACKS Popcorn Heart Pretzels (make before
party)

In a large bowl, stir together 1 package of yeast, 1 1/2 cups warm
water, I Tbsp sugar, and 1 Tbsp of salt. Stir 4 cups of flour and kneed
the dough until it’s smooth. Form dough into hearts. Brush with beaten
eggs and sprinkle coarse salt over dough. Bake in 425 degree oven for
15 minutes or until golden brown.

Fruits and Dip Rice Cakes with peanutbutter spread on it DESSERTS:

World’s Longest Banana Split Have fun making a long banana split! Use a
six to eight foot plastic rain gutter. You may wish to custom cut the
gutter depending on how many people you are having attend the
sleepover. You will need about six inches per person. Wash and dry the
gutter. Line the bottom of the gutter with plastic food wrap. Have
everyone help make the bananas split. Put in peeled bananas, scoops of
your favorite ice creams, cookies, chopped nuts, chocolate syrup, etc.

A Valentine teen sleepover ideas

A TEEN VALENTINE SLEEPOVER PARTY

AGES: 12 and UP

INVITATIONS: Use your imagination, decorate your own.

FAVORS: Balloons, candy, stickers, and waffle cones stuffed with
valentine’s day candies and wrap them in red cellophane, tie with a
ribbon.

DECORATIONS: Paper Chains- use red, pink, and white construction paper,
Streamers- use red, pink, and white colors, Balloons- use red, pink, and
white colors. Put up red cut-out papered hearts.

GAMES HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD You and a friend act out a part from a movie
( Since it’s Valentine’s Day use Cinderella, Now and Then, Romeo and
Juliet, etc.

ROMANCING THE STORY (appropriate for older teens)

Give a paper and pencil to each of the guests. Tell them they are going
to write a Number 1 “Best Selling Romance Story.” Start the story by
telling everyone to create a girl’s name and her description. Then the
fold the paper down and hand it over to the next player. Next, let the
talented young writers come up with a boy. Write his name and his
description. Then, pass the paper on to the next player. They will
continue to write and pass the stories along. You may use any of the
following plots or ones you can think of.

1. How the boys and girl met.

2. Their first words to each other.

3. What happens next.

4. What their parents think.

5. What their friends say.

6. Any difficulties in their relationship.

7. Their future together.

When you are done, unfold the papers and read the funny stories aloud.

DANCING WITH THE DJ
-You Will Need- A cassette or CD player Kids can bring their own dance
tapes and CDs (make sure they each label their names on their tapes and
CD’s and take their own home afterwards).

Play the music and just dance away.

SLEEPING BEAUTIES Get into a circle and give each person 8 rubber
bands. You will then design a hairdo with the person’s hair. Take
photos or do a video fashion show! If you really want to get crazy put
on make-up and different clothes on and perform your own fashion show.

HIGH HEEL RACE Two pairs of high heel shoes. Have everyone divided into
two teams. The object of the race is to set up an obstacle course which
the person has to walk around (no running!) On “GO!” the first players
on each team put on their high heel shoes and walk the obstacle course.
They return and the next person in line puts on the high heels and walks
the course. This continues and the first team to return first wins!

MUSICAL SLEEPING BAGS This is like musical chairs. Lay the sleeping
bags in a circle. There should be one less sleeping bag then the total
number of players. Begin playing the music.
Everyone walks in a circle on top of the bags. When the music stops
each person must get into a sleeping bag. Only one person per bag! The
person left with out a sleeping bag is out of the game. Continue
playing the game until only one person is left!

FOOD: MAIN MEAL Heart Shaped Pizza
- You Will Need- Pizza dough mix or pizza bread (ready made pizza crust)

knife spaghetti or pizza sauce pizza toppings
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese rolling pin cookie sheet or pizza stone cheese
grater
2 Tablespoon All purpose Flour
1. Prepare your working area so that your food preparation will be safe
and clean.

2. Follow instructions off of the pizza dough box on how to make your
pizza dough.

3. Sprinkle flour on the working surface, then roll out the dough until
it’s 1/4 inch thick.

4. Cut the dough into a shape of a big heart. Discard the extra dough
you cut off.

5. Place the heart shaped pizza on a cookie sheet or pizza stone.

6. Spread spaghetti or pizza sauce on over the dough and use according
to how much sauce you want on it.

7. Grate the mozzarella cheese
8. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of the dough.

9. Let everyone add their own favorite topping(s) (i.e. pepperoni,
olives, bell peppers, mushrooms, etc.)

10. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees and then bake for 15-25 minutes.

SUGGESTED SNACKS: Popcorn, veggies and dip, and fruit kabobs.

DESSERTS: Cake(s), Ice Cream, Sugar Cookies DRINKS: Fruit Punch Cherry
Soda or Other Sodas; Ice Water with Red Ice Cubes (mix water and red
food coloring and put into ice cube tray. Then freeze.)

Valentine’s Day page -
http://freespace.virgin.net/derek.berger/valentine.html
_ _
Sugar and spice and everything nice cookie

SUGAR AND SPICE and EVERYTHING NICE COOKIE

by Emily Metrock, junior

Who needs an expensive card when you can just as easily win over your
Valentine with these cinnamon sugar cookies? Slip a cookie or two – or
the whole batch – to your sweetheart and they’re sure to be yours
forever.

Ingredients needed:

1 cup sugar
1 cup softened butter or margarine
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup hot rock candies
1 tablespoon butter or margerine Heart-shaped cookie cutter, about 3″
tall

Directions:

Heat over to 400 degrees F. Combine sugar, 1 cup butter/margarine, egg,
and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed until light
and fluffy. Add baking powder, flour, salt, and then beat at low speed
until a soft dough forms.

Sprinkle flour on counter top. Roll the dough out to about 1/8″ thick.
Cut dough with cookie cutter (that has been dipped in flour). Place
hearts 2″ apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 9 – 12 minutes, or until cookie edges are golden brown. Set
the cookies aside cool down.

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt hot rock candies and 1
tablespoon butter/margarine, stirring the mixture until smooth. Dip
half of each cooled down cookie into the melted candy, allowing excess
to drip off. Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.
Refrigerate until set.

Add a handwritten love poem, a rose, and voila! You are all set to put
cupid out of business!

Yields: 3 – 4 dozen cookies!

Red Jello Hearts.

RED JELLO HEARTS

You could make hearts with red color jello (Raspberry or Strawberry
flavors). Prepare the jello by the directions on the box. Pour into
pans. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out the hearts when the
jello is set.

Everything Valentine – Soaps, oils, etc

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Victorian Essence

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