Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!  The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics way.

Couples Valentine Party

February chalkboard

Valentine's Day

The kids woke up this morning with evidence that the Valentine Fairy had stopped by.  Snowflakes and hearts hanging from the ceiling, strawberry milk, poptarts, and applesauces on the table, with candy and coupons left in each individual heart pillow.  The boys got coupons to their favorite places to eat while the girlies got sock monkeys that sing, "Just The Way You Are".

B came home from school with this Valentine for me.  Makes me happy.  Must be a girl thing. That's "cupid the guy that shoots arrows and hearts" on the left.

Earlier today I took down the rock wall and the girls wanted to strike a pose for me.  It was kind of cute since they were wearing their Valentine dresses.

Here's my new favorite addition to my decor this year.

D asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day this year.  I told him something that was heartfelt and romantic.  He delivered!  Twenty one red roses for every year we've been married, and one white rose for this year.  Pretty sweet.  Then.  Then.....He knows my love language is "acts of service" so he cleaned out the garage.  Like, took everything out of the two car side, swept the floor, power washed the floor and then got it all back in there nice again.  I can park in there again.  I've got such a good man I tell you.

What did I do for him?  Well, that was a tough one for me.  When we got talking about our love languages, suddenly Valentine's Day didn't seem so fun anymore.  I love making, doing and giving.  That is his last language.  So, I owe him a back rub and I'll be taking him to an 80's concert.  He has to sport a mullet.  It was part of the deal.  :)

So although I didn't do anything "romantic" in my book, it's what speaks loudly to my husband and that it was it is all about.  Happy Valentine's Day!!

Lucky to be in LOVE

We had our couples Valentine party last night.  It was so much fun and I laughed so much that my cheeks hurt at the end of the night.  We ate dinner, took silly pictures with props, and played some clean adult games.  

What games did we do this year?  

The Not So Newlywed Game:

1.  What song would your wife want you to dedicate to her and then sing in her ear while dancing?

2.  What is the most romantic thing you have ever done for your wife?

3.  What is the last movie you went to see together?

4.  What is your husband's favorite breakfast?

5.  What is your favorite vacation you've been on together?

6.  What is your wife's favorite movie?

7.  What is your/their love language?

     a.  Words of Affirmation

     b.  Quality Time

     c.  Receiving Gifts

     d.  Acts of Service

     e.  Physical Touch 

8.  What do you find most attractive about your spouse?

Draw a picture of the setting with one descriptive word for when you first saw your wife:

After the men drew their pictures, they met up with us wives and we passed around the pictures until we recognized ours.  Then, the husbands elaborated on the pictures.  Some of the descriptive words; whoa, young, talented, beautiful, wow, obnoxious.  

Stuck On You:

We had the men in a line on one side of the room facing their wives on the other side of the room.  Everyone had five stick on Velcros to place on themselves.  One on each arm, one on the torso and one on each leg.  Then we got all the couples together and on the word "go" they had to match up all their Velcros without using their hands.  It was hard keeping our balance while waiting for our pictures so everyone was holding on really tight.  This was fun.  Pictures don't lie.  :)

And as I'm explaining the Velcro game to everyone, something SO innocent yet SO bad came out of my mouth.  I was horrified while everyone was laughing their heads off.  It seriously was so funny and I'm sure it will be talked about for a very long time.  If you ever play this game, which you should because it's hysterical, ask my how to phrase this game.  You need to be careful.  :)

Music Box Dancers:

Every couple was given a piece of poster paper to stand on.  When the music started, they had to dance within the lines of their paper.  On the next song, they had to fold the paper in half.  The next song, they folded the paper in half once again.  I think we made it to three folds, and that was with a lot of cheating and laughing.  We had to get really creative on how to stay on our paper.  

D's brother and his wife were really good.  They were doing the swing down to the very last fold.  We all watched while oohing and ahhing at them.

I love doing this party and we really try to find or make up games that couples do together.  Team games are always played, but I feel like it's more fun for Valentine's Day to play couples games.  Sure way to send them all home ready to kiss the night away.  Plus, we sent them home with lip glosses that have complimentary flavors like cinnamon/vanilla or cherry/lime.  That has to help some.  :)

Such a fun night, with a such a handsome hubby.  I'm so lucky to be in love.  

I'm a romantic and I like traditions

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

It was the perfect day.  The kids awoke to Valentine snowflakes and hearts cascading down from the ceiling, heart pillows filled with treats and sock monkeys, dishes full of gummy cinnamon lips, cherry hearts, and suckers with pop rocks speckled on them.  The kids also found a cross word puzzle with clues about themselves and each family member including me, the Valentine Fairy.  My way of saying "Happy Valentine's Day and I love you".

D was greeted with a Cherry Chocolate shake for breakfast this morning.  He thought it was pretty neat.  I thought it was rather romantic.  ;)  He headed off to work with his newest little treasure.

The kids raced off to school with their Valentines for each classmate and their bags and boxes ready to collect their received Valentines at their class parties.

The girls and I each wore our Valentine shirts.  We felt rather festive.

I worked so hard today on D's last gift.  I wanted it perfect.  Ha.  That whole thing of taking a picture of yourself with your arm extended.  What a joke.  My head was everywhere.  Half my head.  One eyeball.  Yesterday's mascara.  I had to wear makeup....just to get a lip shot.  But, my lips aren't perfect.  So, the picture got bigger and bigger.  And still no perfection.  Right when I thought all was lost, I got it.  I got me.  Me at 40.  Not me at 40 airbrushed to death trying to look 27.  So, it did turn out perfect.  Even with the paint in my hair.  Because that is so me.  I threw in a few words that I thought were kind of sexy.  My kids will die if they see that I wrote that word.  They're not allowed to say it.

After running the kids to piano, dinner to a sick friend and then to piano again, I returned home to these beauties in the arm of a really handsome hubby.  I may have sent a little text to him today saying that it was not a hint at all, but that Trader Joes has the best flowers just as a little piece of knowledge.  He texted back saying, "Thanks for the knowledge".  I felt a little sheepish, but I'd rather have a little input than having Albertson roses walk in.  I love you D.  :)

I was so excited to show D my efforts of his last gift when he got home.  He read it and began laughing.  He said, "Did you tell everyone that you hate when I take control?  That you would never let me pull your body in closer?"

Well, I'll have you know that no matter what it said, or how true he thinks it is....we were kissing.  A lot.  He he.  Makes for an awesome Valentine's Day.

I know there are those out there that believe we should love each other every day of the year, not just on Valentine's Day.  True.  But I'm a romantic.  And I like traditions.  They make me happy.

Smooching the night away

I rounded up some couples for a Valentine's Day party on Friday.  I promised everyone that if all went well, they would be smooching it up all evening.  Last I heard, it did just that.  ;)

As the couples arrived, we had them "carve" their initials in the tree by signing their names together on a huge tree I had drawn.  Then they wore name tags on their sleeves.  We ate a yummy dinner that consisted of rice with Italian creamy chicken, mixed greens salad with blueberries, granny smith apples, seasoned sliced almonds and poppy seed dressing, potato rolls and chocolate dipped strawberries.  Oh, and everyone had their very own bottle of "love potion no.9" to drink.  (I down loaded the wrappers off of a website) Then it was time to get down to business.  

Did you know that a long time ago people would pick a name out of a bowl and then pin that name on their sleeve for a week?  That person would be their Valentine.  Thus the phrase, "Wear your heart on your sleeve".  

We had a lot of fun playing some clean adult games.  

I took the women in another room where they each applied red lipstick and kissed a poster board with hopes of their spouses recognizing their lips.  There actually were a couple men that guessed right.  

D had the men draw pictures of how they proposed to their wives.  When we met up with each other, the women had to recognize their picture and then tell the story.  There were a lot of "Awes" and laughs.  Funny stories.  Here's mine.  I recognized it instantly with those fireworks going up my parent's driveway.

Then we did a "The Not So Newly Wed Game" game.  These are the questions that we came up with.

1.  What song would your wife want you to dedicate to her and then sing in her ear while dancing?

2.  What is the most romantic thing you have ever done for your wife?

3.  What is the last movie you went to see together?

4.  What is your husband's favorite breakfast?

5.  What is your favorite vacation you've been on together?

6.  What is your wife's favorite movie?

7.  What is your/their love language?

     a.  Words of Affirmation

     b.  Quality Time

     c.  Receiving Gifts

     d.  Acts of Service

     e.  Physical Touch 

8.  What do you find most attractive about your spouse?

That game was hysterical.  Let's just say that some people need to go on a vacation, some need to do a little more in the romance department and all men but one love personal touch.  Funny!!

Then we played a game where the women pulled out their lipsticks again and gave as many kisses as they could to their spouse in thirty seconds.  How some got over twenty and another planted just six is crazy.  Plus, the six were on the forearm not the face.  haha

Up next?  The clothes pin game.  All men were blindfolded, well, I forgot that detail so they just closed their eyes.  The women placed twenty five clothes pins on themselves.  The men had to find them while keeping their eyes closed.  It was funny being on the camera side of things.  I heard little, "Oh"s every once in a while with little giggles.  

We served up dessert afterwards, pointed fingers at each other's wedding and engagement photos, and then called it a party.  

I collapsed in bed afterwards happy that I had finally had a party.  I'm a party person and it's been waaay too long!  Now to finally try these neat kisstixx that I ordered.  They're called fire and ice.  Cinnamon and Vanilla.  Supposedly they go well together.  Can't wait to find out.  D, bring your cinnamon lips over here and let's get smooching the night away.  XOXOX

I love you D

Just because I've got romance on the brain for the next month, here's a little something for D's office right next to my kiss from last year.

No matter the language, I love you D.

Visit from the Valentine Fairy

As the kids headed downstairs this morning, they were greeted with the almost magical "Valentine Wonderland". They were thrilled to see that the "Valentine Fairy" had come by again. She's now been coming for about fourteen years. This year she left a candy buffet complete with different candies, cupcakes, rice crispy treats and white chocolate dipped strawberries. Yummy.

Makes me happy. Happy Valentine's Day!

Practice makes perfect

So, D told me that he liked looking at his "kiss" all day. Made me happy. It got me thinking...now that I've done all that practice getting my kiss just right, I might as well show off what I'm good at. After all, practice makes perfect. So, I kissed to my little hearts content for 30 seconds.

I'm pretty sure D approved of the whole thing. I mean really. Look at those eyes. He totally digs me. Can't help but think he likes the new red lipstick too.

How many kisses can you give in 30 seconds?

Girls, what are you waiting for? Valentine's Day is in six days! Get your shoes on, run to your local drug store and pick up some red lipstick. They have fun names. Mine is "Misbehave". Brought out a whole new side of me. I mean seriously now, lip gloss couldn't do half of what I've done in the last two days!

Your sweetheart will thank me. I mean you.

Giving him a kiss

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a kiss right? It takes a lot of practice. Tehe

After applying several coats of my new red lipstick (it's the new thing this season), puckering up and kissing the paper over fifteen times, I finally got it right. FYI, press your lips in the center and then roll side to side.

I love kissing D, so it only seemed fitting to give him this larger than life kiss just because it's romantic and Valentine's Day is coming up. Oh, I do love me some Valentine's Day!

Here's to giving him a kiss. My kiss!

XOXOX

Love you D

Still got his moves

D and I went out last night for Valentine's Day. We had a good time dancing and laughing. He danced while I laughed. That's how it usually works with us, although that hasn't always been the case.

He can let his hair down and be the craziest dancer out there, while I on the other hand, am a little timid and I rock from side to side. I used to be too self conscious out on the dance floor and I would get mad that he was so animated. I'm serious! He doesn't just dance. His entire body dances! His eye balls about pop out of his head, he mouths the words to every song, (That's not correct. He sings the words to every song. How does he know every word to every song?) his neck moves all kinds of directions, he does the Van Halen "jump", he does break dance, he pantomimes, and he flings his arms in every direction similar to the scarecrow.

Thing is. . . I love it now! I have a huge grin that goes from ear to ear knowing that he's with me and that he's mine. He draws a lot of attention out on the dance floor. I think he likes that. I just smile at everyone that is smiling at him while he dances the way that I wish I could.

From time to time I have to pull him back in so that he doesn't plow someone over. It's all good.

His dancing makes me happy. He makes me happy.

He wrote a note to me today telling me all the things that he loves about me. I loved it! I returned a note back to him saying that not only did I love him, but that I was in love with him.

Thanks for a simple yet Happy Valentine's Day honey. You've still got your moves.

Now, I'm going to slip into something a little more comfortable like my vest and boots. ;) he he

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, the "Valentine Fairy" is pooped! She's headed off to bed. But before she does, here's just a glimpse at what she's been up to.

My cute in laws brought over cookies, icing, conversation hearts, and red hots for the kids to decorate their Valentine cookies. Hey, my mother-in-law said she got the red hots for me, so I decided to just "dunk" my cookie into the red hots. How fun is this?

Just a "little" note to welcome my honey home for the weekend.

Watching the boys unload their boxes from school. Tons of goodies, pencils, and Valentines. They were so cute sitting there sharing with little g.

Yes! I saw these as soon as they walked in the door. Love, love flowers. And...there was a love note with them! It said that D liked my seven days of Valentines. Yippee.

As the flowers walked in, there was something under D's arm. What is it? I wondered. D then pulls out a pinata. Okay. I thought it was a little weird at first. A pinata for Valentine's Day? But then I noticed it was a pepper. I've called D my "hot tamale" for years. How cute I thought. He found a pinata of "himself". Then he said, "I got you a chili". Quite confused, I pointed out that it was a hot tamale not a chili. Well, I guess it's full of my favorite candies. Can't wait to see what's in there. I've never had an entire pinata to myself. Am I supposed to go scrambling for the candy when I bust my hot tamale open? I may just have to think of it as a chili after all. I don't want to take a bat to my "hot tamale".

Here's the table set and ready for tomorrow morning. Everyone got a note in a heart pillow, a jar of candy, and a rice crispy treat kiss.

Here's little g's stash.

These are three of the snowflakes I hung. I used to cut them out every year. Way too much work. The Valentine Fairy needs her beauty sleep. So, I laminated them and pull them out every year.

It's been a fun week. A busy day. But it's all worth it! Tomorrow is the day that we get to tell those we love, that we love them. And having said that... Here is my all time favorite Love thought. Had to save it until now.

Love is the twinkle in your eye. A special smile, so bright it's like a window straight to the heart. Love brings me to a special place, a magic place where I can't remember how I got here but I never want to leave. And just the thought of you warms up my coolest evenings. Love is generous, and forgiving. For me, it's you, because I'm in Love with you.

Happy Valentine's Day D. I love you. Thank you for the flowers, the love note, and the pinata. Can't wait. :) Can't wait for our date tomorrow night. Cross your fingers no rain. Actually, who cares, because you warm up my coolest evenings. Thank you so much for all that you do for me and our family. I'm very blessed to have you. Love, T