Valentine's Day: more to love

I love holidays! 

We grew up changing the color scheme of pillows, towels, accents, pot holders, magnets, candles, and nic-nacs every season. There were crafts, cooking, baking, and other small but wonderful things my mom did to make each holiday special. It might be a fairly impossible reach in the baking department, but I've definitely inherited the love of celebrating. 

Marriage advice: figure out how holidays work between you. I can't get enough, but TJ isn't at all inclined to run around the house screaming 'It's ninety days til Christmas!' or dye the milk green, or do Easter baskets, or have American flag streamers around the house.

However, he married me, so he'll be enthusiastic, watch the movies, eat the food, and when I decorate he comes home and goes to each room to exclaim.

 (Literally. I ask him to go say it so I know he notices and I feel affirmed. It works). 

He enjoys the holidays this way.

However, I also married him, so I don't ask him to decorate, cook, plan or organize; I gladly do it myself and try to keep the glitter and confetti out of his hair. Also literally. Unless I'm feeling vengeful. 

I enjoy the holidays this way.

This year, I have two boys to share this love with! 

Attempted some photos for valentine cards

Not quite.

I ordered other shots, JJ stuck stickers all over Ninja Turtle and Thor valentines, and we mailed out love to the Grandparents. 

Cowabunga! 

(How often is there a valid reason to say that? You can't pass those moments up).

I had grand thoughts of valentine baking, as I was still fresh from multiple victories over the Christmas season. 

Nope. 

Regardless, I was determined to have something for TJ and the boys to do Valentine's day morning. A heart trail seemed a fun way to celebrate with kids (having done a scavenger hunt for TJ our first married Valentines), and armed myself with heart confetti and stickers at the faithful (and cheap) dollar store. 

Did I mention I got up at 5:30 to do this because the little man actually slept?

But that JJ decided to wake up early?

So I unashamedly plopped him in front of a Batman episode to keep him occupied?

cheesy song queued on you-tube. Feelin the love.

Overcoming those obstacles, I sprinkled and stuck a maze of hearts around the house, 

with some small gifts along the way. 

Every holiday they get a Mom Favorite book. This V-day was Ferdinand.

Panera Bread coffee: Happy Daddio, unimpressed son.

Did I also mention we soon realized that the heart stickers wouldn't come off the carpet? 

So we went to Cracker Barrel to recuperate

Cheery Mama who doesn't have to cook
Cheery baby eating pancakes.
Joy comes in all sizes.

My nerds.

We then enjoyed the afternoon with Buppa and Gigi. Wrestling, hugs, and eating Valentine's Day cards. Who could ask for a better day? 

                                                               

Every year we have more to love