A Valentine's Day Walk

We were so glad that Valentine's Day landed on a Sunday this year so we could spend it together as a family! :) We slept in and woke to our room being filled with the most beautiful, soft, pink light.  Everdeen opened some very coveted swimming goggles and a handmade sock monkey. My husband got me the biggest box of dark chocolate Junior Mints...and I may have already eaten half of them...maybe. In high school, Martin was late to orchestra practice almost everyday because he had to stop at the Snack Shack for his box of Junior Mints. I guess we still sort of love them in this household. 

Last year on Valentine's Day, we got to go on a beautiful hike...in the middle of February none the less. We thought we would make it a Valentine's Day tradition, as long as the weather holds out. We tried again today, but all of our favorite places were closed from our big snowstorm a couple weeks ago.  So we ventured to the Love capital of the country, Loveland, CO.  We walked around the Benson Sculpture Garden and then attempted to have a picnic amongst the wintery scene. Let's just say we were more than ready to get back into the warm car. We are aching for spring over here! 

Hope you all had a beautiful day surrounded with those you love the most! Happy Valentine's Day!

(she got a little nervous and suddenly ran back to the safety of the sidewalk ;)

A Valentine's Day Walk

I think we found a new favorite spot for family hikes. I especially can't wait to go back this summer.  It was nice to be able to spend some family time together on this warm Valentine's Day.  We have been enjoying our very mild winter here, but I know it's confusing for the trees and plants.  We saw signs of spring on our walk...little tiny blades of grass, new and green, starting to poke up from the earth.  We tried to tell them that spring is still a month away, but I don't blame them for enjoying the warm sunshine too.

Martin is busy in the kitchen as I type, preparing our family Valentine feast.  We're indulging tonight. When we were in college I began a tradition of cooking Martin dinner on Valentine's Day. Spaghetti with pesto and cherry pie for dessert (mostly because those were two of the only things I knew how to make).  Well, my very sweet chef husband has adjusted the recipes so that we can still enjoy our traditional dinner...spaghetti squash with pesto and gluten free cupcakes filled with cherries.  Not quite the same, but I'll take it!

Hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing weekend surrounded by those you love the most! 

little valentines

I left school yesterday as soon as the bell rang so Everdeen and I could spend the afternoon preparing her little Valentines for her friends at daycare. She peeled, I chopped, and we put the colorful pieces of crayons into a silicone tray.  I popped them into the oven at 230 degrees for about 20 minutes and Voila! The perfect little Valentine gift for her two year old friends.  I was pretty much feeling like mom of the year as I cut and wrote out the messages on each of the cards.  Then when I went to pick up Everdeen from school today I noticed that all of the kids' Valentine bags were filled to the brim...um wait what!?  Yeah I was that parent. I've been on the other end of this moment so many times...kids with a panicked look in their eyes. "Mrs. Wolfe! I forgot my Valentines!" 

I sheepishly asked her teachers if I could still bring her Valentine's tomorrow and they sympathetically looked at me and said, "Of course! Another parent forgot too!"  Good, at least I'm not the only one. Sigh...someday I'll get this motherhood thing down.