cards the girls got from their Mimi and they carried them around all day.

I still love Valentine's Day
even when I am sick.

I was a little worried on how I would deal with my over the top holiday attitude and not being able to get out of bed - but I PACED myself through the day. Valentines Day at our house is kind of a big event. I kept thinking of the Grinch whole stole Christmas line at the end and how Christmas came no matter what and it with the spirit that made the day. And it was true Valentines Day came and was awesome in a new kind of way.
The girls had donoughts and chocolate covered strawberries for breakfast and found cards from their mimi waiting on the table. They found little stuffed animals left from their dad. (I make that guy look so good and I love it!) They carried those cards around all day.My mailman brought me this darling handcrafted card from Lelly which is now hanging in the middle of my wreath on my door.
He also brought me a letter from the White House. We were all so excited. It is a thank you letter from President Bush for sending him a Christmas card. Did you send one this year? If so you will get one soon. It also came with his New Year's letter that documents the events in the country. While I fully know he did not sign it and probably never saw our Christmas card I just love that his staff appreciates Good Mail.
President Bush gave a speech from the White House lawn yesterday. He finished his speech, said thank you and took no questions or comments. Watching him walk back that man needed a hug. He carries a huge weight on his shoulders - I would never want to be President but I guess I am grateful there are people out there who do. What a huge job!
This postcard from Tasha could sum up my past two weeks. Well said Tasha, Well said!
I got this Valentines package from my mother in law and it was just for me, not even for Jeff. Yea for me. She sent it in a darling valentines bag and just stapled the top. creative packaging i love it.

a girl in my ward, who has the BEST hair cut ever, stopped by unannounced to bring me dinner for Valentines day. (when she came to my door at 4:00 pm I was still in my pj's from Monday and sitting by the front door ever so sad) I found out that she makes one extra dinner a week and then calls the compassionate service leader (the other cute girl who gave me the ribbon book) and sees who might a need a dinner. She does this every week! this is amazing to me. When I make someone dinner it is like a two day event. Getting sick was almost worth it to just learn this about this amazing girl, again with the best haircut ever. cute valentine they made at school, with the heart holding the kisses.

This was Caroline's first year for Valentine Exchange. I was so proud of myself for ordering her Valentines weeks ago from a Pink Christmas sponsor, Polka Dot Press - it turned out to be a good year to not have to make them. Thanks Kim, everyone loved them. I always take photos of the Valentines the kids bring home as I think it dates the time period. There are all those Valentines that represent the popular characters. - that will be fun to remind them of their youth. I wonder what my Valentines would have been, Strawberry shortcake, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars.
These were Annie Kate's Valentines. Idea from Family Fun Magazine.
Such a funny theme coming from a mom who never knows where her cell phone is and only uses 50 minutes a month. I thought this was a darling idea from Annie Kate's teacher to each get a homework pass. Annie Kate's class turned cereal boxes into mailboxes. What was so funny a few weeks ago they each had to bring one in. Not many kids any. So I went to my good mail box stash and sent Annie kate to school with 8 cereal boxes - I am sure they were all Lucky Charms and her teacher fears for health.
someone had asked me recently about sending mail in food boxes. I will say I have not had one sent back yet and they are so great because they are so light. Have you even noticed how heavy mailing boxes are ( i am sure it is for durability) I don't ever wrap them but just put the stamps on them directly. I weigh them at home and use the USPS website to calculate postage and stick them in my mailbox. ( i have not been to the post office since December) Depending on what you send you should be able to keep it at a first class rate which makes this kind of shipping so cheap. I hope that helps. I will say I cam up with some creative mailing today and can't wait for the 10 people who will be seeing it in the mail. Unless the USPS did not like my new idea and send it back.....The Valentine fairy still made it to our house even though we were all sick. Yea for thinking about Valentines in January. Annie kate had made a miniature scarf and hat for the fairy a few weeks ago and had put it out her window the night before. That girl is going to need so much therapy when she finds out about all these fake characters in her life.

So, my thoughts on holiday traditions. Some years you just can't do everything you may want to do. some traditions you may do once and never do again. One year you may have the energy to go over the top, but never again. I say don't not celebrate because you think you may not be able to do it that way every year. That is the beauty of a tradition - it is yours the way you want it. So this year we didn't decorate the gingerwood house. (even though my friend Jen sent me the cutest stuff to do it for my birthday)I didn't decorate the front door. Annie Kate and Caroline in 2004

I didn't take Sunday photos of them in their Valentine dresses...Annie Kate, Caroline & Sally Jane in 2006
Like I could have asked my friends, "ya can you take my kids to church and me to the doctors' and then stage a cute photo"

I didn't make a heart shaped dinner and set a fun table.

Jeff and Caroline and Sally Jane 2006

We missed getting a photo of Jeff wearing his Pink Valentines tie as he was out of town and we missed him terribly.

But Valentines still came and went and it was great in a new kind of way. We felt loved.

How was your Valentines Day?
Would you want to be President of your country?
Did you send a Christmas Card to the White House?
Does the Valentines Fairy find your house too?
Am I still over the top even though I was so sick? -
don't answer that. I think I know the answer

one more thing. those Valentine dresses are one of my favorite Gymboree purchases ever. They are called "Groovy Valentine" and are on ebay all the time. When I originally purchased the dress I only had two girls and then later bought the other on on ebay. They are one of the cutest Gymboree Valentine lines they have made. So if you want one check out ebay.