Valentine's Week 2014

Since about November, this has been the weather report across the country...

It seemed a fitting backdrop for Aaron's "Hibernation Day" at MSP... Pajamas, pancakes, blankies, tunnels into the "cave" (classroom)...and what was the highlight? Flashlights! They got to have flashlights! #preschoolrocks

If you're gonna have a no-snow snow day,
have it during the Olympics and just
before the Valentine's parties. #catchingup #inourpjs

Last week, we came especially close to seeing snow, so they closed schools Wednesday, delayed them 2 hours Thursday, and then had an early dismissal Friday. It all made for an adventurous Valentine week. Minus the actual adventure.

Instead, we got to watch others flinging themselves off mountains or headfirst down ice tubes at 80mi/hr in Sochi. Between the cold, watching the Olympics, drinking hot chocolate, ski-jumping off the couch, copying Shaun White's hairdo, and making valentines (paper and cookie), we had a lot of reasons to enjoy the extra time at home.

Some dear friends who joined us this year.

Several years ago, we started the tradition of celebrating Valentine's at a dance the Saturday before (Fabulous Friends for Africa), then spending the 14th with the boys for a special family dinner ("special" because we have chocolate fondue & decorations - it doesn't take much).

This year, I was elated to not be pregnant or post-partum, which meant I was 1) able to wear the dress I wore the night I met Josh, at 18 years of age, 18 years ago (though I have to admit it's a very forgiving cut), and 2) able to dance and stay awake past 10pm! (though not by much) If you're still in that new-baby season, know that it doesn't last forever!

This week the boys still managed to squeeze in a few Valentine parties during the hours they were at school. They both gave Star Wars Lego cards with bouncy balls, but at Noah's insistence ("The girls aren't interested in that! Except Marasta."), we got different cards for the girls, except Marasta. ;) Both boys were thrilled to come home and sort through their cards, arranging them on the kitchen table for our special dinner.

Noah's class singing "Happy Valentine's Day" and a few other songs, with hand motions, after their party.

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Going through the cards from his class, Noah said, "She gave me a paper airplane. Well, it was only folded once, so I finished folding the wings."

Yes, he's talking about the paper heart (valentine) from a girl in his class, who might find this interpretation of her gift rather surprising.

Then he gave me mine...

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet,
and so are you.
Love,
Noah

Meanwhile, Aaron came home from his party to shout, "We had a Thanksgiving party at school today!!"


Finally, we had some friends over for dinner on the 14th, and I realized afterward that we'd invited 3 little girls. (#subconciousmatchmaking? #nevertooearly) I also found an uninvited guest in the grocery-store-bought salad. I decided to let him have the arugula...


Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! ;)