Happy, Happy Valentine’s Day!  Or is it… Happy Money Day for the Chocolate, Flowers, and Greeting Card Businesses?  Oh well, I’m glad to have a day to make those I love feel special.  I try to do something for our kids pretty often, but today I spent extra effort to make my kids smile.

First thing this morning Nate and I made heart-shaped pancakes and heart-shaped sausage for breakfast; this is a more-than-special-treat not only because of the heart shapes, but also because it was prepared this morning– I’m not a morning person, so most breakfasts are made in batches ahead of time and warmed up in the morning.  The cooking with Nate was really fun, too; kinda romantic, actually.  ;)

We then spent a bit of time taking valentines to the kids’ friends.  Because we homeschool there’s not a Valentine party at school for the kids to exchange treats with their friends, so we took the treats to them!  It was fun to suprise other families, and for our kids to experience the joy of giving to others.

Supper was a very special event.  Throughout the week I gave the kids dining etiquette lessons, and so tonight they took their baths early, got dressed in church clothes, and came to a very fancy supper in our dining room.  We used our wedding china, my grandma’s depression glass, and linen napkins, plus put out the ‘extra’ silverware to make sure they could use all they’d learned.  See the beautiful roses Nate suprised me with? 

Nate and I served the kids, calling them “Ma’am” and “Sir” and they loved it.  It was so funny, they hardly talked at all during the meal; maybe I should tell them it’s always time for good etiquette!