I agree with you. Valentine's day has become a family holiday in our house, too. I would prefer to avoid the crowds this weekend and spend time with the family. After the kids go to sleep, my husband and I can put in a movie, put on the fireplace, and pour a glass of wine to unwind and relax. It has become another time during the year that challenges us to make a conscious decision to stop running around and remember to be grateful for each other at least for one night.

My favorite gift : chocolate turtle cheesecake scented candle. I can indulge in the scent without having to go to the gym afterwards.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!!!

Wow! I need to get one of those candles. I'm dreaming about it now. I like what you said about stop running around and just spend time together with the family. It's so important.

Thanks for your comment!

Sue

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! This year we will gather our nieces & nephews to celebrate Grandma & Grandpa’s love. If it were not for their love, well we wouldn't be here!

I’ll put the older kids on task with the Trader Joes whole wheat pizza dough and the younger half can make banana bread. A fancy glass punch bowl can secure some ginger ale punch with heart shape cherries. Oh yeah, I promise not to forget the good champagne for the adults, smile. Our entertainment will be Art – Make your own Valentine! Games – Bozo buckets full of V-Day treats & Pin the Heart on the Cupids bum! Photo slide show – Family pictures up the movie screen for G & G to fondly reminisce.

Much like any other celebration, it's about us being with those who we care about 365 days a year. Hopefully they’ll be no inquiries how the love made the babies, lol!

Monique, How do I get invited to your V-Day party? That sounds like a blast! I like the family photo slide show idea. I bet that makes Grandma and Grandpa feel so loved. Enjoy!

Sue

Many of the Moms I know agree-when you have kids, your expectations of many things just naturally change. It becomes more about the kids-and that feels fine to me.
What I do (and I have a fun time doing it) is what my Mom did for me; I put together a special Valentine package for my teenage step-daughter which includes a card, chocolates, and other goodies whether they be cute heart pens/stationary...just a bunch of fun stuff to celebrate the holiday. For my little guy who is two, this is the first year we can do anything. It is just about cutting out hearts from construction paper, signing his name and gluing them onto posterboard right now. Though Scooby Doo is his favorite and we handed out Scooby Doo Valentines to all of the kids in his class this morning. He actually said something close to Happy Valentines! At least that is what I heard....I seem to get a different kind of joy now celebrating through my kids. And as Sue said, I am okay with that!
And of course, once the kids are is in bed my husband and I can have a glass of wine and exchange cards (and hopefully some chocolates for me!)

My husband and I do celebrate Valentine's Day (or some Saturday night close to) as we take advantage of the 'holiday' to spend some time together. With 2 kids and 2 careers, it is hard to find time to carve out for us and it is so important that we have our time together.
We also love celebrating it with our kids. I love surprising them with their box of valentines to fill out for their classmates. They love seeing the theme I picked for them, I think it reassures them that I know what they are into and have been listening to them.
I also try to get the kids a little something to let them know I was thinking of them. This year it will be kid sized snuggies, as they keep taking mine! : )

Shout out -- If anyone one is interested in the chocolate turtle cheesecake candle (or pink chocolate) or any other type of candle for that matter I would like to recommend a local business called Amy's Accents. I have always been impressed by the quality of her work and her prices. The business number is 847/452-0919 and the link is www.amysaccents.com.