The Toy Box Years: Valentine's Day Care Package

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Yesterday, I FINALLY finished My Marine's Valentine's Day care package! Almost 2 weeks in the making....but it's done and ready to ship!

First, I decorated the box with this cute scrapbook paper that I got at Hobby Lobby on clearance for .53!! (I still need to glue some pictures on the flaps before I seal it up!)

Inside the box, I added some fun stuff, along with a stuffed animal and some crafts that the girls made for Daddy.

This little bucket contains chocolate X's & O's

Then I took an old candle jar and filled it with bubble gum & Hershey kisses. Awhile back, I had a picture of the girls and me blowing kisses. I glued it to the jar with a little note that says, "We're Blowing You Kisses"

I also made an "ABCs of My Love For You" "book". I found these oversized playing cards at the ARC Thrift Store for $1.50. I covered them with scrapbook paper, added some pictures of us and things I love and miss about him/us according to the alphabet.

And the icing on the cake (or cookies!) are these "lingerie" cookies that I made for him as well. I've seen these all over Pinterest and they seemed easy enough to make. And while they were easy to bake, decorating was a different story. But once I got the consistency of the icing where I needed it....it was a breeze!