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| 2/14/12 |
We've had a fun time celebrating Valentine's Day together.
It started a couple of weeks ago when I saw a post on the 71Toes blog that I like to read. The idea was to cut out paper hearts & write messages of love on them for each other.
I put a stack of paper on the table intending to work on it over the weekend. Kyralyn excitedly cut out the hearts & wrote messages. I did a few to show her the idea.
And that is as far as we got.
She used them as decorations.
And to anyone who still "sees" them, they are loving reminders of joy.
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| (Kyralyn taped up envelopes by each of our bedroom doors with our names on them. She has been giving us mail. Paul & I have been sending mail. Although not nearly often enough.) |
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| (She occasionally still gets her 'd's' backwards) |
Monday I received a knock on the door from FedEx.
I was puzzled.
I did not recall ordering anything recently & Paul usually tells me when he is expecting a delivery.
When I opened the door, I was excited to see the ProFlowers box standing on the porch.
But then I realized it was Valentines Day.
Paul had probably gotten some kind of great package deal on some roses.
I felt a mix of emotions as I took the box inside.
I love getting flowers.
I don't care too much for roses.
But I love getting flowers.
When the knock came, I was racing through the day trying to get as much done as possible before the kids came home from an early day at school.
It felt awkward to have a bit of attention focused on me during the race of the day.
Of course I usually divert any sort of attention ever focused on me anyway.
But I love getting flowers.
All of this is going through my mind in the short 5 second walk from the door to the table.
Then I opened the box.
And my smile grew very large;
clear down into my melting heart.
Tulips.
My absolute favorite.
I love you, too Paul.
Being early out day, Monday was our getting-ready-for-Valentines-Day-at-school-day.
Kyralyn & Parker were to bring boxes.
Parker also volunteered to make a box for Aubrie, a girl in his class who has been unable to attend much school because of severe (& mysterious) illness through the year.
Dallin didn't even know if he was having a party or if he should bring anything.
At the last minute he decided to bring the left over candy just in case.
But for a 6th grade boy, there were no cute notes to go with it!
The boys each have 35 kids in their class & Kyralyn has 24.
Sorry kids, but I wasn't about to make up cutsie little things for that many people.
(I'm glad that you enjoyed the valentines from the kids (or the parents) who did go the "extra" mile!)
Parker preferred a sense of anonymity to his notes.
Kyralyn's teacher preferred a lack of specific identity in hers.
Of course when you are fielding 24 students who can barely read (or not at all) other kids' names, I suppose it's much easier to avoid addressing the notes to anyone in particular!
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Today dawned bright & early, as every school morning does.
Breakfast was "brown sugar oatmeal" (steel cut oats cooked & topped with brown sugar).
The boys were off to school & then it was time to get Kyralyn ready & out the door so that I could get to work.
Paul had a special treat & note for each of the kids to find on their beds when they got home from school.
That is a special favorite thing around here - something on their beds just for them when they get home.
And coming from Dad makes it even more special.
I still remember the year, I think I was 10 or so, that my Dad came home from work with a special Valentine for each of us.
I was playing school downstairs with my sister in our "red house."
He came downstairs & gave me a pink & purple pencil sharpener in the shape of a double heart.
I suppose there are several reasons that has stuck with me.
But that is another story for another time.
I still have it tucked inside a box.
The few hours at work were busy, then I stopped in to pick up my Valentine for my husband, my kids & a few special friends.
Corrine had taken her girls & adopted daughter, Kyralyn, to McD to play with Amber & her kids.
When Kyralyn got back we delivered my valentines & loaded up for Parker's guitar lesson.
We had to cut it short because he was to meet his teacher to go with him to take Aubrie's valentine box & notes to her.
Parker has been able to go with Mr. O on a few different occasions to visit Aubrie. What good experiences these are for him. He is so thankful for this privilege.
The kids all helped with the dinner preparations. Dallin on the sausage, Kyralyn on the beans & Parker on the noodles.
I am especially thankful to Parker who took care of the noodles, and saved me from a careless kitchen disaster.
I am especially thankful to Parker who took care of the noodles, and saved me from a careless kitchen disaster.
I got so far as to direct him to set the water on to boil & then I wandered over to Kadee's house.
Of course I was gone longer than intended.
Friends are just right for that!
Of course I was gone longer than intended.
Friends are just right for that!
When I remembered that dinner was on the stove & ran home, I thought I would find either a half empty pot of boiling water or noodle slime & water all over the stove.
Instead, Parker had remembered to put the noodles in, to stir them a bit so they didn't stick & also to turn the stove down so they didn't boil over!
Way to go Parker!
Thanks to each of the kids' help, we had a yummy dinner of spaghetti & green beans.
Parker was even so thoughtful as to send Dad a scrumptious looking picture of his full dinner plate.
A starving Paul saw it right before he went out onto the gym floor.
He just came home.
Still hungry.
Parker was even so thoughtful as to send Dad a scrumptious looking picture of his full dinner plate.
A starving Paul saw it right before he went out onto the gym floor.
He just came home.
Still hungry.
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And there must be dancing!
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I'm often amazed at the time I take to prepare a nice dinner, only to find myself sitting down to the meal mentally preparing for an efficient clean up.
Since Paul was reffing a game at North Seiver, I had a few choices: let the kids fill up & walk away, ask a few questions that I hadn't asked about their days already, talk about the love, or just start cleaning up anyway.
I opted for a little bit of it all.
Dallin even found some love songs on his iPod touch to play while we all cleaned up.
Two of our family favorites are David Archuleta's "Something About Love" & Lee Brice's "Love Like Crazy".
After the kids helped clean up they went upstairs to read to each other while I prepared their Valentine gift from me.
When I was ready, I called them down.
Parker saw the box on the counter and immediately went toward it, not even looking at the table.
Dallin was hoping all afternoon that he might get some.
Kyralyn came down the stairs playing a game on Parker's iPod touch and didn't even look up.
Happy Valentine's Day family.
I love you.
(And don't worry, the cheesecake will keep for a few days if you've had too much junk already!)
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| The "piece de resistance" |
