Valentine's Day

So, we're a little late but I wanted to document Valentine's Day this year.  For the first year, it seemed that Kai was really aware of the day and what it meant.  He was excited for it, which I'm sure was compounded by the fact that I decided to have a playgroup Valentine's Day party at our house.  We invited friends over for a little brunch and Valentine's Day activities the Friday before the big day.  Kai was extremely excited about it and was very eager for his friends to come.  We ended up having 3 other moms with their collective 5 other kids that morning.  While it would have been more fun to have a bigger turnout, we found that the group of kids we had was just the right size for us.  The kids enjoyed playing and eating their cinnamon rolls, fruit, and french toast sticks and the adults enjoyed gabbing.  Then we moved to the kitchen table where we made Valentine's and frosted cookies.  It was a lot of fun.

When I told Kai that we would make cards for Valentine's Day he immediately knew he wanted to make a card for--Sister Smith, his primary teacher.  He was so anxious to make her a card and take it to her at church that it just melted my heart.  With everything going on during the party, I wasn't around to help him and he ended up making a fantastic card all by himself.  After he gave it to her on Sunday, he came home and wanted to make another one.  He said this one would be for his "other Best Friend, Sister Horton".  Sister Horton is our Relief Society president, my former VTing companion, and a neighbor who so willingly watches the boys for me when I need it.  Her daughter, Megan, has become our favorite babysitter.  So, here's the card he made that night.  It was so good that we didn't want to give it away, and he never mentioned it again.  But I still feel like I should at least send her an email and tell her to read this blog!  :)  This second card was nearly identical in design to his first card.  He wrote his name in glitter pen and then he used a heart sticker which he filled in with more glitter pen.  He did this completely on his own!

Once Valentine's Day arrived, Finn and I were feeling pretty sick.  We spent the day lounging around and finally took Finn into the pediatrician.  While everything checked out well, the pediatrician was worried about the hoarseness of his voice.  His biggest concern was that Finn had croup.  So, we left the doctor with a prescription in hand and hearing all the warning about what to do if.....(fill in the blank).  I was also sick and tired, so I called Reid and asked him to pick-up dinner on his way home.  While he did that, Kai excitedly made us our Valentine's Day presents.  He made a card and decorated a sugar cookie for both of us.  He was so excited to show his daddy when he came home.

Reid picked up Subway on the way home, as well as some flowers and chocolates for me, and a card and chocolates for Kai.  Honestly, Kai's enthusiasm for the day made it a wonderful Valentine's Day.  I'm looking forward to next year and hope to make it even more special for the wonderful boys I have in my life!

Kai's loot--a homemade card from me, chocolate, and an awesome Cars card that plays the movie's theme song.  Kai LOVED it!

The card Kai made for Reid.  He used so much glitter pen that it has curled at the edges.

The cards he made for me (left) and Finn (right).  On the card I made for him it said "I Love You" on the inside, so he began adding that to his cards.  Once again, he did it himself by copying what I had written.