A Day of Love

**I have a bunch of great shots to illustrate this post, spent the past 45 minutes uploading and editing them but stupid PC won't cooperate and will not let me insert them without freezing indefinitely with each attempt. Alan took my mac to Europe and I want to get this holiday post out before the holiday is over. So, here's the picture-less post. I will insert the photos (there are some great ones, too, of Cesia reading to her class, Isaac growing cuter by the day and Adara being sweet Adara) this weekend and update.**


Happy Valentine's Day! Honestly, I have never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. I have never gone out on a date, been given roses (though Alan did give me a fresh floral bouquet one year while dating on February 13th with a note that read, "Happy Non-Valentine's Day!") or even celebrated with a dinner out on this over-hyped commercial holiday. Some of my best friends absolutely love the day and go all out with Valentine's dates, chocolates, wine, the whole package. Other dear ones scoff at the day and go out of their way to protest it. I have always lied somewhere in between. Until I had kids, that is.


Holidays with kids are just so much fun. I don't care if it is a Hallmark holiday, it's also an excuse to take out the cookie cutters, bake with the kids, spend hours upon hours crafting and making the perfect Valentines to pass out to their preschool friends. More that that, it is an opportunity for teaching life lessons. This morning we talked a lot about Valentine's Day and what it all means. I told the girls that it is simply one day out of the year that serves as a reminder that we are loved, that we love each other and that we need to make sure we say it and let each other know because we have so much for which to be thankful. An extra Thanksgiving Day, if you will!


Valentine's Day does not have to be about fancy dinner dates or a surprise bouquet of roses. To me, it is about going out of your way to make loved ones feel special, to tell them you love them, to celebrate each other and all the things you love.


Some highlights from our Day of Love...


1. Waking up this morning at 6am (because 6am is considered sleeping in) to Cesia climbing into my bed to snuggle with me and Isaac. I whispered to her, "Isaac is still sick and sleeping, so please be quiet sweetie." She looked over and ever so gently petted his head and whispered, "I love you, sweetie Isaac." He kept dreaming.


2. Decorating homemade heart shaped cookies this morning with the girls. Watching Cesia pile mountains of sugar sprinkles on top of these otherwise healthy-ish little treats. Watching Adara spend 5 minutes per cookie making sure every pink candy jimmy was positioned just right.


3. Peeking in during Cesia's 3-year old preschool class Valentine's Day Party. I walked in to find her sitting in the teacher's chair on the rug instructing her 12 classmates to, "Pick a seat to listen to my book. I am going to teach you about this Dora Valentine's Book and teach you how to read." She sat there with a captive audience "reading" the book for a good 10 minutes. Sometimes I don't know where this girl comes from! Her confidence and strength convince me I am doing something right.


4. Next walking into Adara's classroom and watching Isaac crawl straight over a few 4 year olds to get a spot next to his big sister. Then watching Adara lovingly wrap her arm around him.


5. Going on an hour long run with the triple this afternoon in 94 degree heat (yes, it's 94 in winter in Woodland Hills, CA!) while chatting with the girls and playing "guess that fruit" game - their new favorite.


6. Cleaning up the house for Alan's arrival back home in less than three hours. As Cesia would say, "I just can not wait for 3." It has been a very long week, with little sleep and lots of crying from a very sick little Isaac. But we ended it on a high note, celebrating our love for each other and this life. What could be better than that?


How did you celebrate on this day of love? Are you a Valentine's lover or critic?