Valentine's Day 2011

Okay, I know I'm slow to getting these pictures up, but whatever--they're up. Our family had a really great Valentine's Day this year. It was busy--but good. First, I helped with Katelyn's class party and did a chocolate fountain for the class. A real hit for sure! (Sorry no pictures). But I had so much left over chocolate we decided to do one at home with the fam...

We also did a "Love Box". I originally wanted to start this on February 1st, but couldn't get it all togther, so we actually started it a week before Valentine's Day. The idea is every night you write on a little cut-out heart a reason why you especially loved someone in your family that day. Then the idea was to read them all on Valentine's Day, but that didn't happen either (we had a bit of a crazy night that night with Katelyn sick in the urgent care) so we did it later. But it was a fun activity and new tradition.

I have been wanting to make these suckers that I found on one of my most favorite blogs for a long time. In order to make these you have to prepare for it at Christmas time and stock up on mini-candy canes. I actually made some with my Achievement Day girls and with MY girls. They turned out really cute!

Then on Valentine's morning I put together little love baskets for my kids and had them ready for them that morning, all placed by their bar stools where they eat breakfast. Complete with little love notes. Nothing fancy. Just little dollar store stuff. They loved them....

We completed the morning with pink, heart shaped pancakes....

But one of my favorite parts of the day was a card Emma made for me and Josh. It was a heart made with 2 pieces, each piece representing me and Josh. (Notice Josh's side is in blue and says BYU.) Pretty funny, clever and sweet.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great how some parents spend Valentine's night as a whole family having a nice meal or out to dinner. But I prefer to do the fun "kids stuff" in the morning and during the day. As long as I know I've done something special and out of the ordinary for them that day, I don't feel guilty going out with just me and Josh that night. In fact, that's the EXACT reason we had Mason induced on February 13th because I just knew that if I didn't, he would come on Valentine's Day and then Josh and I would NEVER have a Valentine's Day to ourselves again. A decision I'll never regret.