Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's day celebrations started a bit early for us this year because the actual date was during Sam's mid-term break so his class held a cookie swap on the Friday before the break.  The teachers ran out of class time for the kiddies to decorate their shoeboxes for the cookies so they each brought one home to have Mommy and Daddy help decorate them. We made a batch of heart-shaped sugar cookies to bring in and trade with the other kids. The boys loved icing the cookies (well, maybe more just the icing itself!), Sam decorated about 5 of them and Jasper just did one...and ate it!

Sam was so excited to show me all the cookies after school and he was very generous in sharing the cookies with Mommy and Jasper.  In a moment of surprise, Sam exclaimed to me, "Mommy, we didn't do any work at school today!!"  It was really cute because he seemed genuinely astonished that the day was over and they didn't do their "normal work" at school.  He then explained that they did the cookie swap, played outside, watched a movie and a few other things.  I bet he wished everyday was Valentine's Day at school!

On the actual Valentine's Day, we went to town in the morning and got the boys a "Valentine's surprise" which was a couple of helium filled heart-shaped Elmo balloons.  I think they were happier to get these than some chocolates!  We then bought two carnations from a couple of boys "selling" them on the street for De Boys Day Out Club (you give a donation for the flowers and this organization is dedicated to the emotional and social well-being of young men in Bermuda so what better group to give to?!?) and brought them to Daddy's office.  Daddy definitely felt the extra love on this loving day.

After Jasper's nap, Kate, Mimi and Evy came over for a playdate.  They decorated a Valentine's Monster with some stickers and played outside on the porch.  Evy stayed over for dinner and even got to say hi to Po Po and Gung Gung who called on the webcam from the cruise ship.  It was also Po Po and Gung Gung's anniversary so it was extra nice to see them.

Grandma had also sent some really cool Valentine's cards to the boys but we were so busy we forgot to open them until the day after!  Both cards play music and the boys had lots of fun with them.