Valentine's Day 2011

There was the traditional heart attack, little presents for the kids, fancy dinner: flank stake, red mashed potato's, strawberry tossed green salad, homemade rolls, and individual chocolate fondue pots. Our neighbors came and then we played Wii Dance, Ryan sent me a dozen roses, and chocolates, that had a sweet love note that I will keep forever.

Valentine's Week

A real Heart Attack. I saw this off Life, loved the idea, & remembered I'd done this to a boyfriend or so lives ago. I "Heart Attacked" the kitchen with love notes for everyone in our family. This started on Monday.

Things I love: the way Jacks runs, Tanner holding my hand, Emma's dances and songs, Dad's laugh, Landon's love of rock music, that we are having another baby..... my list goes on and on. And everyday I have loved "looking" at these hearts with things I love.


More kisses please. My version of a kissing ball. I followed the felt flower tutorial here. It hangs over our kitchen table, the heart chandelier I made last year hangs over the kitchen counter.
Cookie Flowers Bouquets. A tradition learned from my mom. I think all my sisters and I make them. They make there way to teachers, and friends, and neighbors (as thanks who hunted for our lost children.)
Tanner's rocket valentines, from familyfun, but with smarties.
Emma's butterfly valentines.
My mantle. I put this up right as I put Christmas away.
Bits of love hang throughout my house.

I decided last year to love and prepare for Valentine's day. I want those to know how much I love them. And I do! It really is my favorite holiday.

This week everyone, including Ryan, needed fruit trays for their parties (Ryan's work/squadron had brunch for someone PCS'ing, ie- military term for being relocated). Valentine cards needed to be made and flower bouquets dropped off, with Jackson being sick I felt so busy. I had hoped to make these love pouches in time for my Family Valentine Dinner on Saturday. But just could not get it done. Next year for certain. (you can buy the pattern here from my dear friends at may&mae on Etsy).

I have been in a bit of a funk. Miss my old life a bit, and feel the monotony of motherhood. Laundry and cleaning and meals. Planning for Valentine's Week in our home has made me pause. And just love. I went to the Temple this week, Ryan stayed home and watched the kids, and once again, I am reminded that is not our purpose here to love? That it is.

Valentine's Dinner is Saturday night for my family. My menu is set. Going to try these molten lava cakes for dessert.

Oh, and Ryan added some hearts to my heart attack. His said, "I love moms decorations/crafts." And, "I love the way mom smiles." Celebrating those I love, always makes me smile.

Happy Valentine's weekend!

Valentine Week

Just the logistics.

- Went to the zoo Monday... it was too nice to pass up. Then to my doctor then to the craft store again and then I thought, way too many outings in one day.
- Had playgroup at my house Wednesday. We made candy necklaces (okay, Amy S. made almost all the necklaces. Thank you for helping Amy!)
- Had my family Valentine dinner on Wednesday night.
- Thursday, lunch with all my LDS neighbors.
- Friday the kids got there mailboxes. Books and sweets, little toys and Jackson got a stuffed squealing pig. Ryan gave me some cute Brighton jewelry. I got him a chocolate fondue pot for 2. We went out to a white linen Italian spot for dinner. Vincenzo's. (One of the doctors Ryan worked for gave him a gift card 2 years ago. I did not like my meal. Way too fancy for me. But just me and Ryan was nice. Jackson cried almost the entire time we were gone.)
-Saturday we went to the Primay Activity. They had breakfast and some fun games. We brought Ryan dinner at the hospital at night.

Throughout the week we painted and prepped for our house listing this month, paid an exhorbant amount of money for Ryan's board fees, I went back to my opthomologist for the eye I damaged almost 3 years ago by running into a basket (I'm a dork). It's still bothers me and they need to puncture the surface of my eye they think. Ryan had a phone interview with a program in Mississippi. He liked the program and the hours the best so far, not even on my list of places of where I would like to live though. Jackson was up sick one night. Tanner said he couldn't give his flower sucker valentine's out at class because they had candy. Oh, and lastly. Ryan told me a 24 year old woman came in who just delivered her first baby. She had a fever and uterine infection. Her husband (25) had died 2 weeks before in a car accident. She was so sick, she coded and died in the ER. His attending told him. So sad. Puts life in perspective. How much I have enjoyed this week, thinking of ways to show my family how I love them. I think Valentine's Day is one of my new favorites.

( just to show that Landon's been de-clothing lately. He ate dinner with us like this.)

Valentine's Dinner for 6

We had our family Valentine Dinner last night.

(after the Valentine themed Playgroup at my house.)

Ryan has to work through this weekend.

Crusted Pink Salmon. Strawberries. Warmed rolls. Rice and corn. Pink sparkling punch. Hanging overhead was my homemade "hearts on fire" chandelier.

(see? really homemade. It was these dang hearts I bought at Hobby Lobby last week that caused Jacks to tumble head first out of the shopping cart onto the top of his head.)

Chocolate mousse filled cream puffs for dessert.

We took turns telling things we loved about one another. Landon insisted on loving Wii and Gameboy. As we tried to better explain the "game" we asked him again what he loved, "You Rock!" was yelled with his hands in the air. Tanner laughed and laughed.

That made me love last night the most.

Well. And him too. His first Valentine's. Another piece of my heart gone for good.

ps- I have a true kidless Valentine Dinner of my own tomorrow night with just Ryan. And my Valentine mailboxes to give out.

Valentine's Day 2008 Recap

For Dinner (the plan)

Chicken Alfredo with brocoli on Angel Hair

Spinach Salad with Strawberries

French Bread

Sparkling Juice

PINK strawberry cake with mom's Fudge Frosting.

BUT, Ryan worked, which I did not realize til after the groceries were bought. (So, hopefully Sunday Night.)

We did have Fruit Faces with yogurt and Macaroni and Cheese and, yes the Strawberry Cake. The best part.

Emma thought it was her Birthday all day long. I had to keep explaining to her it was "the day of love" but, she was certain the pink heart cake was for her nonetheless. I got a sweet love note from Ryan with Godiva Chocolates and we made sure each of the kids woke up with a small valentine gift at each of their places at the table.

Lastly, I found this card for Ryan a month or so ago. When he opened it he thought it was a "bald old guy". WHAT? I had to point out that it was a cupid with real feather wings. Way to bring on the romance. Note to self- anything that might be construde as a person with thinnage of hair causes senstitive reactions.