Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoying his Valentine's sugar cookie!

Over the years Paul and I have gone from one extreme to another when it comes to celebrating Valentine's Day. Some years we got each other a really nice gift. A couple of times Paul got me a nice piece of jewelry, for example. Some years we've given something small like a little bit of candy or a card. Other years we haven't bought anything. Most years we at least went out to dinner, although that didn't happen last year. The babysitter I contacted wasn't available this weekend, but we have plans to go out next Saturday (22nd). This year I gave Paul a candy bar and hand written card. For the first time ever, I got Nadia and Ian each one small gift. I got Nadia books #4-6 of the Imagination Station series and Ian a CD of John Williams' music (Star Wars, etc.). Yesterday we made the sugar cookie dough and let it chill overnight in the refrigerator. Today Nadia helped me decorate the heart shaped sugar cookies. Yesterday I helped Nadia and Ian make Valentine's Day cards for Paul, and I asked Paul to help them make cards for me.

I would have had him wear red, but he dressed himself today.

This morning I made a special breakfast for everyone. I used five eggs and six slices of bread (two for Paul and one for each of the rest of us). I cut a heart shape out of the middle of the bread (and put jelly on those small hearts for the kids) and cooked an egg inside the heart shaped hole (just an egg white in the one in the photo but I had an egg yolk in the middle of the egg white in the other five). Ian didn't eat much of the egg, but the other four of us enjoyed our special Valentine's Day breakfast. Nadia remembered that last year I made heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, and she asked that I make them for lunch. Ian declared it was the best lunch I had ever made. The dinner menu didn't include any hearts, but I made one of Paul's favorite meals (manicotti), which I don't make very often. Ian fussed and cried over the meal for several minutes, and then I forced him to take one bite. He loved it. Why must he assume he is not going to like everything before he even tastes it?

Everyone ate the meal, which was quite the contrast to last night when Nadia threw up at dinner, and Ian only ate a couple of bites of the ham and northern bean soup I made. Nadia and Ian asked me if I could make manicotti every week. Well I'm not going to make it that often, but I will certainly make it several times a year now that I know all five of us enjoy it. Dinner ended up being my favorite part of the day because of how well it went (and we weren't eating pizza). My other favorite moment today was when I was doing the dishes (not my favorite chore) and Oliver came up and wrapped his arms around my legs and said "I love you." He also told Nadia and Paul "I love you" at other points in the day. What a sweetheart he is!

Today we submitted Paul's application to Bucknell. Prayers are appreciated that he will be selected to interview for the position. Last night I submitted an application for him to the University of the Virgin Islands. I wouldn't mind living in the Caribbean for a couple of years.

The kids wrote most of the words in their Valentine's Day cards, but one part we wrote what Ian said. We had each child give 4-5 reasons why they love Mom/Dad. Nadia wrote her list for me herself. Here is what she wrote:

5 reasons I loves mommy

1. Played with my stickers
2. Gives grat hugs
3. Gives cises (kisses)
4. Reads books
5. Does schoolwork with me

I will definitely be saving this card for many, many years to come. Priceless!

Our Valentine's Day breakfast

Ian's lunch

Nadia's lunch