How Valentine's Day has changed

 

Our first Valentine’s Day together was sweet. Ten years ago now.  It seems like a lifetime ago. We had a romantic dinner and cute, little, thoughtful gifts for each other.  I still remember picking each individual gift and writing a note to go with each one.  It was all about the two of us and our new and exciting love.

The next few years we started this tradition of making dinner at home together.  But it was a pretty elaborate dinner.  There were always gifts and making a pretty big deal about spending the day together.  He was busy trying to make up for all the crappy past Valentine’s Days I had with old boyfriends and I was trying to spoil him.  

Things have really changed.  The past several years, I can honestly not remember what either of us has gotten from the other.  I think we haven’t done presents for some years.  We definitely didn’t this year.  Well, actually I told Jay that he got me a Starbucks coffee today, that I picked up at the drive thru on my way home from the pet store with the kids, while he was at the gym. 

In years past we may have gone out to dinner.  I don’t remember.  It sounds like something we would do. We usually did try to plan a date day or date night.   

It sounds terrible, right?  That Valentine’s Day isn’t that important to us anymore?  But it really doesn’t bother us.  It has nothing to do with our relationship.  We are definitely more in love and committed to one another now than ever before.  Our celebration together, or lack there of isn’t cause for concern.  

Valentine’s Day has changed over the years. Now it isn’t just about us.  It is way more about our family.  It is the day of love, but not just romantic love.  

Our girls love Valentine’s Day.  Actually, they love every holiday.  They probably got that from me.  

Each girl wants their Valentine’s Day clothes.  My 6 year old probably has a future career as a party planner. One year they had to decorate the entire house in hearts.  The ENTIRE house.  They wanted to surprise daddy when he got home with a Valentine’s Day party.  Of course they came up with this idea that morning.  

We had to throw the BIGGEST Valentine’s Day party.  It even had a photo booth area.  They needed a double-decker heart cake for him. They had to decorate it too, of course.  The sprinkle overload was quite impressive.  Told you, party planner.  

This year was no different. This whole week was full of preparation for all of the festivities.  

We made mini cupcakes and decorated them with pink and white frosting.  They had an array of sprinkles to add to their creativity.  All three of them are obsessed with this cupcake decorating show on Amazon Prime.  They frequently want to try out their new skills.  

Addy usually starts off well but then ends up licking each candy heart before putting it on the cupcake.  She gets her cupcakes put in their own special container.  

We filled out and stuffed Valentines for school friends, gymnastics friends and dance friends.  No one can be left out.  Even Addy was so excited to take the cupcakes she made and her valentines for her daycare friends.  Don’t worry, I sent the cupcakes that I decorated and not the ones she licked.  

This year was my 4 year old’s turn to have a special box for her Valentines at school.  In true fashion, it had to be elaborate.  She wanted a mermaid box and well it was no easy feat.  I am not an artist. It took me all week.  Fancy scissors, glitter glue, sweat, some tears.  But, I made her box and she loved it.  She was so proud carrying it into school.  It was worth all the time I spent to know she was so excited by it, just like her older sister the year before.  

Friday, the girls had their school parties and each had a blast.  They were all dancing around, hopped up on sugar and going through each valentine.  Their excitement and joy over each tiny card is a great reminder of focusing on the little things in life.  Emmy got this weird rubber chicken thing on one and it is her new favorite thing.  

My oldest even had grandma take her to the store so she could buy a rose for each of her parents.  She made us this really cute card to tell us she loved us.  

Today, they got their little Valentine’s Day gifts from us.  Nothing big, but the girls were really excited for their new Trolls coloring books and crayons.  They all spent a decent amount of the day coloring.  

And for dinner, tonight it was lasagna.  You have to have a big fancy dinner on Valentine’s Day.  Just ask my party planner, Elly.  She insisted that we have it so this afternoon we made our lasagna.  Now, each girl likes to help and usually they do pretty well.  We cook and bake a lot around here.  But, I guess ricotta just reminds Addy too much of frosting and she kept trying to eat it, along with handfuls of mozzarella.  It got to the point where daddy had to carry her off kicking and screaming in protest to save dinner.  

It was a nice family dinner.  Just the five of us.  Everyone sat nicely at the table.  Addy even wore all her clothes.  We enjoyed a nice meal together.  Everyone said their own special prayers for our meal.  

I loved our first few Valentine’s Days together.  But, I love this more.  Spending time with our little family, making memories.  Seeing how happy our kids are over all the little aspects of each holiday. After ten years together, we get to spend this day with not just us, but with the kids that God has given us.  We can celebrate our love for one another any time.  But Valentine’s Day is really important to our kids.  

Children are such great reminders of what is important in life.  Elaborate gifts and over the top expensive dinners are not how a gage the success of a Valentine's Day now.  Now, it is how happy our kids are and seeing them filled with joy by showing love to each other.  

It was a great day.  

And tomorrow...my party planner will start planning St. Patrick’s Day.