Love Day!

I love Valentine’s Day.  It’s so fun to spend a day thinking, and doing things, for the people you love.  We had our traditional mailboxes out on the sideboard starting about a week ahead of Valentine’s Day.  The kids spontaneously started writing little love notes to each other and placing them in the mailbox (flags up!) so the recipient could find them.  So sweet.  On V-morning, they also found little gifts from me.  There were chocolates and candies, as well as little individual gifts.  Sophie got turquoise yarn to crochet with, Sarah got a clip on reading light, Noah and Nick got mini Lego sets, and Alexandra got a little Hello Kitty car.

This year, I also made some cute skirts and coordinating t-shirts for the girls to wear to school.  Even though Valentine’s Day isn’t really celebrated here, they were still excited to wear their new outfits on the big day. Alexandra got one, too, but I didn’t get a picture of her.  After they rode away on the school bus, the real fun began.

I got to host the Valentine’s Brunch with the Lovely Ladies this year.  It was so fun! Jessi had been to the American Base the previous weekend and brought some darling partyware for the kiddie table. The table runner underneath was made by me, last year. I am very pleased with how they turned out.  They add just the right festive flare. 🙂

This next picture says so much about why I love spending time with this particular group of ladies.  Terrian is the.best.storyteller.ever!  These are not made up stories, mind you.  This is her just  relating to us what happened over the weekend or whatever.  But she does it in such a fascinating, entertaining way that you feel like you’re listening to the latest John Grisham novel on cd, or something.  I so think she needs to write a book, or at least do a video blog of her life.

Anyway, the second part of the picture, besides the awesome mounds of delicious food, is Tanya.  If you are going to take the time to tell a story, you want Tanya listening in.    I always love when I am telling her about some incident and she busts out with her signature “Wu-hat?!?”   That’s when you know all your frustration/hurt feelings/etc is completely justified.  In short, Terrian tells a story with her whole body and soul, and Tanya listens and reacts the same way.  Who wouldn’t want to hang out with people like that?

These were the lovely ladies listening in on the other side of the table.  Notice Julie’s festive red sweater that coordinates so well with the other decorations? 🙂  Meanwhile, during the story telling, in the kitchen we had some busy bees making sure we had delectable breakfast burritos to savor.

It was a wonderful morning of eating, talking and just feeling the love!  I am only sad that not all the invitees could join us.  Fortunately, there is always next year…

Of course, after the feast, I was not in the least big hungry for lunch, nor did I even feel like cooking for my children.  But I did. 🙂

Tanya stayed after everyone had gone home and made the fantastic suggestion that we reorganize my kitchen.  Not in a “holy crap, woman, you’re working in a cesspool here” kind of a way.  More like a “it’s fun to throw away other people’s junk” sort of way.  I totally let her.  It took all afternoon, and we didn’t actually get through all the cupboards, just for an indication of how much junk there was to wade through.  The scary thing is, I have been really good at decluttering my cupboards on a mostly yearly basis for awhile, but it’s always good to have an impartial, non-sentimental helper.  I still need to get a few more organizing bins, but I am super happy with all the changes.  Chris’ comment was, “I’ve been wishing you would do that for years.”

Of course, the very first thing he said when he got home was “Happy Valentine’s Day” and handed me a bouquet of gorgeous flowers.  Sadly, I took no photo of them. 🙁

Naturally, we spent the afternoon decorating sugar cookies for our friends and neighbors.  The kids all made little cards for their friends as well and signed their names.  Then we loaded up a big tray, climbed in the car and went to deliver them all.  It was so nice that I knew where everyone lived this year. 🙂  Still, it took a little while to deliver all those cookies, so we didn’t get home until almost 7.

For dinner, we finished off our Love Day celebrations with heart-shaped waffles and homemade strawberry topping and then everyone hopped into bed.  I am so thankful I have so many people to love and to be loved by in my life.  It makes for a great day!