Valentine's Day is an interesting day. It can be a day full of excitement and fun, it can be depressing and sad, or it can be a time to show those around you that you love them. Kevin and I have have had a tradition for most of our marriage that we would go out before the actual day for our special date, and usually that was our gift to each other. This left the actual day to be about our family, and showing our kids we love them.
I love this tradition of ours, and even though I didn't get that date with Kevin this year, it was a wonderful day. To prepare for it, the kids and I made their Valentine cards for school. I decided to go back to one we did a few years ago, as it is cute, personal, and VERY easy to do :).
On Valentine's morning, I woke up early to have a special breakfast for them. For years, I have made heart shaped pancakes for dinner on Valentine's Day, but this year we had other plans for dinner, and so we had them for breakfast :). I also put out their box of chocolates from me and a special Valentine card from their daddy. They were so very excited about it :).
Soon after breakfast, we received a surprise call from Kevin. It was the best Valentine gift ever, and really set my day up to be wonderful :).
My day was filled with Valentine parties. I am Derek's Home Room Parent, and so I am in charge o the parties (which I like, because then I can contain the chaos). Because I am in charge, I never get any pictures of his party, and so I made sure to get a couple. And when Derek wouldn't smile for me, I had his sweet friend Molly get in the picture, and his face automatically lit up with a smile :). (She is one of his "best girls.")
For the party, I read them a cute Valentine book, they did an art project, ate healthy snacks (since they were getting all that candy), passed out their Valentine's, and then I taught them a silly Valentine song that I used to sing with my 4th graders. They loved it, and it was fun being back in "teacher mode".
For Lily's party, I was in charge of the activities, and her class was so much more wild and hard to keep under control, that I left and realized I hadn't taken a single picture. Oh well. They had a great time, and I taught them the song as well. It was a blast :).
When we got home, their was a special package waiting for them from Grandma Valerie - girl Legos for Lily, and a Star Wars transformer for Derek. They loved them, and really loved getting a package.
It was then that the UPS man showed up at our door with a giant box. I was so surprised.
Kevin had sent me the most gorgeous arrangement of flowers, since we couldn't share the day together. I love them, and so does Lily - since there are lilies in the arrangement. What an amazing husband I have!
Then it was time for the kids special dinner. It just happened to be Culver's night for the school, and so we went and got them their kids meals and ice-cream. It is always one of their favorite things.
I didn't eat with them, because I was going on a "date" - actually, a large group of my friends were going to the restaurant by the golf course for a 5 course meal, and invited me to join their group. So I went stag, but still had a fantastic time, even though I was there with 5 couples. They were good friends and just happy to include me. The company was great, and the food was wonderful.
And while I was off having fun, Derek and Lily were having a blast at the Young Women's camp fundraiser. They were babysitting at the church to earn money for girl's camp, and they had all sorts of games, crafts, and other activities for the kids to do. Lily and Derek thought they were at a giant party :).
When we got home, we discovered, not just one, but two special treats on our front porch. Two of my friends dropped them by for us, and it was yet another reminder of how blessed I am. And so, yes, it was a wonderful Valentine's Day. A day that could have been sad, was full of fun and surprises, and reminders that my children and I are loved :).
PS. And another reminder to my forever Valentine, Kevin - I love you more :).
Fun filled day with lots of love. =)
Posted by: teresa | February 18, 2012 at 04:59 AM
sounds like to turned out to be an awesome day! Love all around!
Posted by: shannon b | February 17, 2012 at 10:53 AM