Love Day Selfies

The festive table,

balloons, table scatter,

and yummy food was good and all, 

but when I remember Love Day this year, 

it's gonna be all about 

these family selfies tonight.

Every time I look at Isaiah in this next one, he looks like #grannytown.

And it cracks me right up.

(The same time that Benj is playing thug life. They kill me.)

#stilllaughing

And in this last one, everyone's pretending they're in a romantic kiss.

Benj even has the arms going. 

Oh boy.

This throwback of Mia from Valentine's dinner 5 years ago goes right along with this theme, so I thought I'd share it again. (It's one of my faves.)

I think Audrey Hepburn had it right when she said this:

"The best thing to hold onto 

in life is each other."

#always

#happyvalentinesday

10-Year-Old Valentine

At our house, Valentine's Day is a family affair. 

Even if I did have a significant other at this time (which I don't), who'd want to go out to eat on Valentine's Day?

Crowds. (Check.)

Long waits. (Check.)

Tons of people. (Check.)

No, thanks.

I'd opt for a romantic getaway the weekend before or after, but not on the day itself.

I'm a pretty simple gal, and what I value most are the everyday pieces of my life: my people, my home, music, books, good food, a good run, the people I love and friendships that bring meaning to my life. These are the things that make me happy.

I put a roast in when I woke up that morning, and Claire and I bought balloons and table scatter for decoration.

When I wrapped up work, I put on some fave love tunes and finished up some valentines for the kids.

I hung the balloons and felt gray hearts from the ceiling over the table, chopped up cauliflower for roasting, started the potatoes cooking on the stove that Isaiah had peeled and chopped earlier.

I made scratch gravy and a salad, put ice in the glasses, made "Christmas juice."

I put their love bags on their plates and then we dimmed the lights and sat down to eat.

And we ended up going around the table, from person to person, and saying things we love about each other.

Isaiah said that he loves that Benji always sticks up for him, no matter what.

Mia said that whenever she's bored, Isaiah will always play with her.

I said how much I love Claire's free spirit: the way she walks like she's going places, the way she's talkative and sure of herself.

Benji said that he likes that Mia is a good friend.

And after we ate?

We went into the front room and opened our bags full of the notes we'd written for each other over the last couple of weeks. And they were full of sweet sentiments and kind words, but one of them made all of us laugh. 

I pulled it out of Claire's bag, but it was a note from Benji that was intended for Isaiah.

It sums up 10-year-old boys and their humor.

(over)

If this isn't a 10-year-old boy's valentine to his twin brother, I don't know what is.

Lots of Heart

Valentines 2015: A Picture Essay

I love this.

Every year.

Love Boxes

On the first of February,

we were around the kitchen table making love boxes.

It's a pretty well-established tradition at this point.

A smattering of paper and stickers, scissors, glue, ribbon and tape, crayons and markers.

They are being filled now, and I'm trying to decide what the menu for Saturday night's valentine dinner will be.

What I know for sure?

There will be candles and music,

bubbly, 

balloons,

a small surprise for each of them on their plate, and a big fancy cake 

that I plan to make on Saturday afternoon.

I love the stability of traditions, a way to mark the years as they go 'round.

Valentines was...

Valentines Day was...

Heart-shaped toast with eggs

 Cupcakes with the. most. delicious. chocolate. frosting

I do believe I have ever partaken of.

Seriously.

I may or may not have eaten it plain.  With a spoon.

And yes, that sounds disgusting.

Shameless, I know.

I don't know if I can make normal chocolate frosting again.

 A decorated table: 

balloons, festive plates and cups and table scatter, a dozen long stemmed, gorgeous roses, and presents!

 A fascinated Claire, 

mesmerized by the balloons.

 Stuffed love bags, 

ready for opening.  

 And dinner.

The menu?

Beef pot pie with gravy, from scatch

Salad with berries and onions and feta and cashews, etc.

Fresh roasted asparagus

Bubbly with heart-shaped cran-raspberry ice cubes

Hope yours was a good day, too.

It's Love Day, a holiday that has become one of my favorites.

I'm just about to sign off and go make breakfast.

Then we're going to make chocolate cupcakes with creamy chocolate buttercream

Nutella frosting and stuff our valentine bags for friends.

Then we'll make deliveries and pick up balloons for our table tonight.

Then we'll make finishing additions to our love bags that we'll open after dinner.

Maybe snuggle up and watch a movie with the kids.

Or read Harry Potter, because that's what they always request in down time.

Then make dinner, complete with cranberry juice heart ice cubes.

Yup.

It's going to be a busy day. 

Are you wondering what to do today?

Here are some things we've done this past week that I can offer as suggestions.

1.  Listen to this, or read it here.

Or, you can even watch it.

I listened to it on my morning run today.

I loved it when I heard it and I love it still.

Today it gave me the inspiration to stay focused on what's important, work for what I most want,

and handle with care those things that I want to last forever.

It's a great love day talk.

2. Make Peppermint Bark

 3.  Write "hidden" messages with white crayons on white hearts.  Hide them and have a hunt throughout the house.  Then, paint over them and watch the messages appear. 

4.  Make valentines.

(I am not sure there is anything cuter than a 7 year old boy not thinking it's weird to put a "kiss" stamp on our neighbor's valentine.  He loves this guy!)

 5.  Make sugar cookies.

Found a new recipe, and it's the one I'm using from now on.

YUM.

Aaaaaaaand #6.  

Hold the people that you love close.

You  never know how much time you will have to let them know what you feel.

Happy Love Day.

Hope it's a good one for you and yours.

xoXOxo