1. this was most likely the last year I'll be creating adorable home-made photo valentines. Except maybe for Anna. The two older children had already forbid I do it. And Grant relayed the following sentiments after handing them out: "it's embarrassing!" "my smile is totally freaky" and "It was a really bad idea, mom! Next year no picture!" I'm guessing someone at school may have teased him?
2. I will always always hold on to our cute tradition of writing love notes to our family members on paper hearts and then displaying them throughout the month on the kitchen cabinets. The notes are so precious and rarely do I take the time to make this happen.... gathering the family round to write notes to one another. It is so sweet though, I hope to always fit it in. Side bar: Last month, I had mentioned to Evelyn that Dane might need a little more love and support. She's been amazing in her efforts to "work on" some of her mean behavior towards him and instead, show love. Her little note to Dane was truly so kind and it warmed my heart.
3. I should probably not assume (at least out loud, in front of the kids) that my husband has bought me a hugely expensive gift I discreetly mentioned months ago and that it has just arrived on my front porch---ha! One day upon arriving at our house after picking the kids up from school I saw on the front porch a rectangular box with a picture that appeared from far away to be a new battery operated Dyson vacuum! The vacuum of my dreams that would make my life 1000 times easier! And that I had mentioned to Blake months ago would be my heart's desire! Never mind the fact that we looked it up on line to discover it was HUGELY expensive and out of our price range for time being!!! But there it was! I was so excited and gushed to the kids over how sweet and thoughtful and kind their father was! They were equally excited and told me their plan to go get it off the front porch and then hide it in the garage! They would tell Dad that I had never seen it and it could then be a surprise for Valentine's day. Unfortunately, as we came closer, we all realized it was not a vacuum cleaner, but rather a chain saw that Blake had ordered so that he could do some much neglected yard work. Ha!!! It was not cool. But in the end, the kids secretly told Blake the whole story and they all secretly went to Costco the next night while I was at church and bought me the Dyson vacuum for a true surprise on Valentine's Day.
And to think! My only present to Blake was our traditional strawberry waffle breakfast, and a life size poster of he and I photoshopped into the Grease scene...hehe. He loved it! When I reported the scenario to my sister she said.... "the saddest part of this story is the fact that you were that excited to get a vacuum for your valentine's day present!"
4. We look forward to Grandpa's tulips that arrive the week before Valentine's day not only for me, but for Evelyn and Anna. It is such a treat and smells so good and looks so beautiful the entire week! Tulips equal Valentine's Day for us! And Grammy and Papa always send a 1 pound Sees candy gift card which the kids adore filling and gobbling up, along with personal mail for each grandchild with a 5$ bill--thrilling for two money earning little boys!! I hope to remember as a grandparent the little holidays and create fun little traditions such as these for my adult kids and their children. We are so grateful!
5. I went a little emoji-overboard this Valentine's Day! Ha... because Evelyn is loving emoji's so much with her new found inner-family and close friend texting abilities. She's gotten all of us a little obsessed. The kids all have their favorite faces picked out-- this year, I used those faces to represent each child on their chore charts, and on their valentine's love notes from mom. It's not supposed to be a forever thing- haha, Grant's fav is the cash tongue! But it's a current favorite and it's pretty fun.
PS also... I probably won't take quite as much time writing a note to each child next year. Dane took one look at the note and stated it was too long so he didn't feel like reading it. Grant told me he couldn't read well enough to try. But I will say, Evelyn treasured hers-- I found it in her special drawer.
6. I think the reason I love Valentine's Day so much is because I feel a lot of love for my little family and I really like to make a big production of that during the season of love.
Love Fest Party at the Douds:)
Everyone LOVES to vacuum now!
