Valentines!

Once you start a tradition with my little ones, it seems that you can't have the holiday without all that accompanies it. A few years ago, we decided that it was more fun to make Valentines a family holiday. I remember making heart shaped pizzas when I was a kid, so now Valentines is not a complete holiday without it. This year the kids did not have school on Monday due to Presidents Day, so we decided to spend the holiday at Grandma and Grandpa Renchers. They were really good sports as we took over their kitchen making individual pizzas and sugar cookies. We found this great pan, so we didn't have to roll out cookies, but my kids felt robbed. (In truth the cookies turned out better, but I guess they felt like it wasn't nearly as much fun. I fear next year we will go back to rolling out dough.)

I am still trying to cut out starches, so Michelle made an awesome really healthy pizza out of wheat. Wyatt loved the pizza Adrian made. I am not sure I have ever seen a pizza piled so high and it had all sorts of meat on it. I am sure he was glad we did it at my parents. When I make our pizza the best he gets is a supreme. The weirdest part of Valentines was not eating any chocolate. I think that will be the hardest part of my new diet. It is pretty easy to keep sweets out of the house, or to let the kids have sweets that I don't like. Not sure, what to think about all the holidays where there is a traditional desert. Michelle had grapes for her stocking last Christmas where everyone else had their favorite candy. Seems rough....what are the holidays without their special sweets? Bah!

Anyway, Great Grandma, Grandpa, and Tammy came over and we had a big party for Jo's birthday and my father's. It is really the only picture we have of her blowing out candles on a birthday cake. Thanks for bringing the party Grandma! She brought over chocolates for Valentines, and when we had to take off the next day my mom threw them all in the car. We are still finding packages of chocolates under the seats. Guess it is time for a real car cleaning. The kids love that we suddenly have candy in the house. All in all it was a great holiday.

The Everetts took the kids for a weekend the weekend before Valentines. We were feeling particularly poor, so we used our gift certificates from Christmas for dinner and then just pretended the house was a hotel. It was fun to have all that time to just us. We haven't had a weekend away in much to long. Wyatt wanted to watch Zombieland. Just so you are aware. Not the most romantic movie. Kinda funny though. All in all we had a great time and were reluctant to pick back up the kids. I fear weekends like this will not convince my husband that we should have another child, but I am grateful to the Everetts anyway. Thank you for restoring a little of my sanity.