Valentines Day

As I was making what seemed to be a quadrillion heart rice crispy treats for Emma's class that were taking all night long, I was wondering "why am I doing this again?" It was fun, just took FOREVER. But, when Emma came running in the door the next day and said, "Mom, everybody LOVED the rice crispy treats! They all, like, went CRAZY for them!" :) ... it was WORTH it! I remember being in 1st grade and my Mom making cupcakes with everybody's names in the class on them. It's something I remember... so ... I'm glad I could spend FOREVER making rice krispies with Emma... :)


On Valentines Day, we got to visit a nursing home with Emma's class. They delivered Valentine's Day cards that they had made. Emma's teacher just handed the cards out to the kids to give to the elderly. Most of them didn't get to give them the cards they had made. They let Lily give one and it just happened to be one that Emma had made. We got to see the lady that received it and her expressions about her lovely card and hear all her wonderful comments. It made Emma's day that she liked it! We got to talk with some of the old men. They are so funny. One joked with the girls that I was their Uncle, or boyfriend named Homer! :) When we were walking to the car, Emma said, "Mom, we should come here everyday!" What a good girl. We're going to try and volunteer there starting in March.


For Valentines, Austin & I actually had someone to watch the kids (we started a babysitting swap with some friends... I still feel bad that we had them watch our kids on V-Day though). We knew that restaurants would be crazy and stuff so Austin planned a Valentines at home! He made the most fabulous meal! He went to a fresh, local meat market and picked out 2 large ribeye steaks. They were still like $10/each, but the ones he bought would have been $30 at a restaurant. He made awesome homemade biscuits in the dutch oven. We enjoyed a FABULOUS, romantic dinner and it was just nice relaxing at home without the kids (it really is different having them gone... even if they're sleeping). We watched Casablanca and made a Walmart trip for some food for family to come over for Sunday dinner. It was an ideal Valentines Day. I think that Austin was very sweet to plan this for us...what a sweetheart!! I sure love him! :)