Valentine's Day Traditions

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I'm not sure if holiday's are more fun for kids, or for their parents. Last year Maverick was still pretty little and couldn't do very much for 'fun.' So we left him home with James for a night to celebrate Valentine's Day and that was just fine. But this year...this year we are going all out and our night is going to be so fun!

For as far back as I can remember...our family has done a fun RED THEMED supper on Valentine's Day. We would wear nice clothes (dad always wore a red tie!) and eat meatloaf or spaghetti and red jello and red-dyed mashed potatoes (or anything else my mom could think to add food coloring to). Valentine's Day has never been just another Tuesday for us, oh no. We set the table with pretty white china from the china cupboard, and the part that was the most fun...eating in the dark with only candles lighting the table! Sometimes we would drink sparkling cider from goblets...sometimes we had something extra-special for dessert...mom and dad would exchange their cards and small gifts, and then Jamie and I always got something small to open. Usually it was bath and body lotion or fun socks...gel pens, chapstick...you know, stuff all little girls love.

Well...I now live a life where the boys outnumber the girls in my house BUT I DON'T CARE. What I loved about Valentine's Day growing up had nothing to do with it being a "made up holiday revolving around commercialism." The parties and treats in our classroom at school aren't even what I remember (I take that back, I DO remember shoebox decorating being stressful with our dear mother ;) I just loved doing something different and special, with our little family. Planning the 'menu' with our mom the week before...putting a table cloth on the table...and I distinctly remember eating in the dark was a highlight (dad hated that part, which is part of the reason we liked it so much).

So even though our parents are in Manson tonight having a red dinner of their own...we are carrying on the tradition for ourselves! And I wanted to share what I pulled together for our dinner table. Most of these plates were no more than $1.00 to add to my collection, and I love using them for things like this. Jamie and I have had fun 'planning' everything these past few weeks and I think our parents are secretly thrilled this is yet another way we get to bond as siblings in this new stage of life we're all in.

Who knew dying mashed potatoes pink would have had such a lasting effect on the traditions we would choose to carry on with our families/boyfriends/kids...haha. I'd encourage you to zero in on a few simple, easy, but special things you can do with your families to make today special.

Hope you're all celebrating love today! Love for your spouse, significant other, kiddos, but most importantly...love for our Savior! Which is the only reason we're able to know true love.

1 John 4:19: We love because He first loved us.

Happy Valentine's Day!

MmB

...also please remember with me this photoshoot from last year...

A centerpiece made from One Spot cake plates and ugly china!