Happy Valentine's Day

What do most people do on Valentine's Day? I've never really liked it as a holiday...the whole "forced romance" thing. Plus, restaurants are packed and flowers just seem so insincere on this day. My hubs is so sweet and brings me flowers lots...just on random days! And I'd rather have a romantic date night with him some other night when the kids aren't amped up on sugar, babysitters don't charge quadruple and I don't have to stand in line for an hour just to get in the place. Our little escape this year...while the boys are in school on Friday we are sneaking off for a lunch date and a movie. It's the little things!

This year we had a "visitor" for the Valentine's Day festivities...Bouncy Bear. This rather fur-less, and slightly smelly guy spends the week with each student in the class and participates in activities with them. Kind of a Flat Stanley thing. We take pictures, the kids write about it and it goes to the next student. Nathan has taken this extremely seriously and Bouncy Bear has done EVERYTHING with him. 

While I objected to his germs of unknown origin sitting on my kitchen table, Bouncy Bear helped Nathan finish his Valentine's cards

Nathan still struggles to write so this was no small task for him.

The part of Valentine's Day I love is sharing it with the kids. I think my memories of Valentine's breakfast, usually before school, as a kid were such happy ones. Usually there was a little decoration on the table and one little Valentine-y gift for each of us. Nothing big, just small stuff like the little wind-up lady bug in the picture.

We have a few more decorations now, although still not many, and we give a couple little gifts like chocolate or gum, but it's really the same thing. Strawberry milk, cereal in little plastic heart bowls, and confetti make it a really special breakfast. 

And who doesn't love muffins in a cupcake stand? These are the best muffins in the world...and that's not easy to say when you eat gluten-free. They are apple cinnamon muffins made with almond flour and agave. SO good!

Oh joy, look who sat on my table again.  Just love the missing fur on this well loved bear. Speaking of missing things, check out the toothless grin on Nate!

 Last night, in stead of going out to dinner, we had a special one in and then the boys decorated cookies. Our pushy guest had to get in on that too, although we did make him pretend to wash his paws.

It was a nice day but now forever haunted by memories of losing our baby two years ago. Ugh. But then again, I guess most people have some bad memories of this day (not being asked out, still being single, in a bad marriage, husband forgot, etc.) which I guess is one of the big reasons that I just don't rank this day up there very high in my list of favorite holidays. 

Oh well, on to Saint Patrick's Day!!