Valentine's Day

When I started to think about Valentine's Day this year, I realized that I now want it to be something for us as a family.  It's such a "Hallmark Holiday" anyways, so I figure I might as well make it an awesome day for all three (and a half) of us.  Roland will have started his new schedule by then, so he will get off work at 6am, and more than likely sleep until about 2pm.  Kaleb will probably nap and wake up about the same time Roland does.  

At first I thought, for just a millisecond, let's go out to eat.  But then I realized that Valentine's Day, with it's two hour waits, is probably not the best time to take Kaleb to a sit down restaurant.  So I brainstormed for a bit, and came up with the idea that I will make the boys an awesome dinner and desert.  Mind you, this is a gift all in itself lately, considering I get ill just thinking about cooking.

I start with appetizers.  My boys are super easy, and super laid-back, so I will be making a seven-layer bean dip.  I will probably end up putting the olives in a heart design, or something to make it fit the theme.  For dinner I am going to attempt something that I rarely attempt.  I am going to try pepper crusted filet mignon.  The tomatoes and spinach (which I will probably replace that recipe with a garlic spinach that I have made before) look amazing, and I'm sure will go with the filet wonderfully.  So now on to dessert!  My favorite part, of course!  I am planning on regular chocolate cupcakes (cupcakes are my new fave because they are super easy & a blast to decorate!) with some awesome Valentine's Day decoration.  This photo is my motivation! 

I should be able to pull off a couple of these, and since they are cupcakes, I can do them the night before.


I just need to think of my table decorations now, but I already have a red tablecloth, so that is where I will start.  Maybe add the crystal candle-holders and call it a day!


As for gifts, I think I am going to get Roland a gift card to a video game store.  He wants to buy some movies for his PSP so he can take it to work with him, so I figure that way he can go pick them out.  I am also going to make a list of reasons I love him and get him some yummy sweets that he likes.  For Kaleb we are going to get him a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal because he has been asking for Pooh to go with his "Tiggy".  We will probably pick him up a little bit of chocolate as well!


I honestly can't wait to have a special night with my boys.  All of our nights spent together are special, but just to do something a little extra for them will be a lot of fun for myself.


"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day.  When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon."

 m.