Valentine's Day 2016

I'm trying to make a comeback as Mom this year.  

I've been a bit of a failure for the past few years.

We got cards and candy done for classes (plus teacher gifts).  

I did not do class parties this year since we have Ruby Roo now . . .

We had pink milk, with pink pancakes and pink-ish syrup for those who wanted it. And although Ansen made it (I planned and bought it).

After 16 years Ansen knows what I get excited about and he found me Blackberry-Pomegranate syrup . . . two of my favorites.

We made sugar cookies - I even got some done for my Young Women's lesson . . . decorated one handed while holding Rubes.  

And finally we had Valentine's dinner, which we pulled it together and invited Banna, Branda and Ryan to.  But again, Ansen had to make it since I was pretty darn sick with Croup and Banna made dessert.  I did get cute little Vday gifts for the kids and red polka dot napkins.

I'm not a rock star, but I felt a little closer to one this weekend.

Plus Liv got heart attacked . . . we think it was her Activity Day group - but that hasn't been confirmed.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Drew could not have been more excited about getting his v-day cards ready.  

And he was a champion at signing his name. 

Addie is down to one more year of classroom valentine day cards.

Wasn't this seriously yesterday?!

Luckily Banna bailed us out of skipping tradition and made sugar cookies for us to frost and deliver. 

Always a class party . . . 

And a family dinner with my little Valentines.  

Love Day 2013

Too late . . . I forgot everything.  I only have a few pictures to tell the story.  For some reason I do feel like I remember that V-Day was a whirl wind holiday this year.

Pink milk and pink, heart pancakes (you can see some remenants in his mouth).

Poor Addie . . . We decorated this can in second grade and then every year we plan to do something new . . . and then the morning of we just grab the same old, same old and head to school!

Ollie Dollie got to decorate at school . . . so there's a little something special with glitter and flare!

And my little lovey boy - ate all those gumballs at once.

Hey and what's a holiday without class parties for both the girls . . . it would be nice . . . but I wouldn't know this year.

My little Love Bugs!

Valentine's 2012

Banna made our traditional sugar cookies,

helped them frost and took them around with the kids to a few friends.

Ansen and I got it together and heart attacked them the night before.  We finally took pictures a couple of days later when some of the hearts were starting to disappear.  BUT we still took it in the morning so we got authentic bedhead and pajamas.



One of our neighbors went way out of their way and signed up for dinners on V-day so we could have something special.  They brought separate pizza for the kids and Texas Roadhouse for us, chocolate dipped strawberries and we pulled out some Martinelli's and goblets.  We spent most of the dinner trying to get everyone to hold the glasses right or to put them down so that the glasses survived dinner . . . but it's those things that make life exciting.

Valentine's 2011

So I completely failed with flying colors on my motherly duties for Valentine's this year.  

Ansen brought me roses on Thursday even though Valentine's Day wasn't until Monday . . . but that's how I know my husband really loves me.  He buys me roses before the v-day price hike.

Ansen and I worked like crazy people last week . . . literally Ansen worked 15 hour days and I played neurotic, single mom with my "part time" job that just picked up big time for tax season.  We had talked for about 12 minutes by the end of last week and exchanged a few texts . . . when Ansen was available to respond. 

So, Friday night we went out.  We used our GC to Cheesecake Factory, went shopping while we waited for a table and went to sleep EARLY.  We actually got to be together and actually talk!

Ansen pulled the pink, heart pancakes, pink milk and purple syrup together for breakfast on Sunday morning (since he had to leave early Monday morning).

And my mom made up for everything I lacked with a fun Valentine's candle light dinner complete with sparkling apple cider and little packaged candy valentines.

The girls enjoyed their school parties and Drew enjoyed their candy. 

(I really, really hate the the dip stick candy with all the colored sugar.  Hate them.)

Then late Monday night I pulled out sunglasses and a caterpillar out of their shopping bags and just handed them to the kids. 

(I had imagined my special v-day wrapping paper, ribbons, love notes, and candy - but it didn't turn out).

We had to forgo sugar cookies (ahhh, my favorite part) and heart attacks this year! 
I guess it wasn't the worst ever, and I'm pretty sure my family knows

I LOVE THEM!

Lots of Love

I wouldn't ever say that Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday by any stretch, but as I'm putting together a blog post on V-day I realize for the second year in a row that we sure do a LOT to celebrate for a sub-holiday!

I guess when you have so much to love. . . .

THE V-DAY CARDS:

We dumped the idea of homemade this year . . .

Olivia wrote her name on ALL of her Valentines. I helped with the V and A . . . "An O, a line, a line with a dot, you help with the V, a line with a dot and you help me with the A."

I wasn't paying too close attention when I let Addison pick out her own V-day cards. For the girls she picked ones with little dogs. Turns out we (I) had to pick them all apart, pop the head out and then attach the dog to the card so that it was a pop up card. And then for the boys a little easier, but still a bookmark you attached through the little slit and folded.

We waited until 45 minutes post bedtime to start this project (Ansen was out of town and that's just what it had come down to by the end of the week). I also had thought some colored markers would be fun. Addie took it too the next level alternating colors per letter.

As we started I realized this would be a trial of patience, but it turned out to be a lot of fun between Addison, Olivia and me.

THE CELEBRATING:

Cookies every year of course. We made huge efforts (and huge strides) to not lick everything! I was the lick police and they made it through the first 1/2 at least.

PINK milk and PINK heart pancakes!

AND THE LOVE:

Ansen sent early roses since he was out of town during the week

(but he knew the real way to my heart . . . he figured out a way to get them for FREE).

They were complete with a red vase and silver beaded vase bracelet.

Pettiskirts for the girls . . .

And boxes, ribbon and wrapping paper for the boy

(which kept him just as happy and content as the skirts did for the girls) . . .

Cute V-day tights from Grandma Hatch

and Zhu Zhu Pets from Banna.

They come with a little warning sticker to keep away from your hair. For sure a sticker is sufficient, right? Olivia lost a huge chuck of hair the first night and a friend almost lost a chuck the next day. But they love their little Scootles and Nugget.