My Kind of Valentine's

Since our anniversary is right around the corner, Branden and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day with each other. He gets me flowers, I write a mushy card. That's about it.
(This year I got tulips, our wedding flower. He did good.)

No, this holiday is about our kids. And boy was it a hit this year! I enlisted the girls' help to make cookies for friends and neighbors. Madelynn claimed to be an eggs-pert egg cracker (ahh ha ha!). She wasn't. I declared resting time and finished them myself. For better or worse, I struggle to be the mom that lets her kids make a GIGANTIC mess in the kitchen for the sake of memories. (PS- I don't have a dishwasher....)

For their gifts, I bought the girls a Cuddle Bug. This is a little stuffed bug with a zipper backpack to hold goodies and bendable feet to hold a love note. Madelynn has been asking for one for years. Seriously, since she was 4. I stuffed them full of DollarTree candy and wrote a love note and left them at their breakfast places. The look on Madelynn's face was indeed priceless. Sadly, I had not had my coffee and was not conscious enough to capture said magical moment.

After enjoying our pink, chocolate chip pancakes, Madelynn headed off to school and McKenna and I took the babies grocery shopping. I secretly laughed at all the men buying the last minute flowers and candy. I know, shame on me....

When Daddy got home, he brought the kids an armful of goodies. The girls got beautiful blooming flowers with stuffed animals and Marek got animal cookies and fruit snacks. So appropriate.

In return, Madelynn gave Daddy a Valentine she wrote herself:

Over dinner, Madelynn described what, she believed were each of our God given abilities in this world. Of course, she is a beautiful singer. Daddy has the ability to "love good". Mommy is a "good cooker". And McKenna? In a stage whisper, "She's good at being crazy!"

So there you have it, folks! Not a Hollywood Valentine's, by any means. But I wouldn't trade it for the world!