Confession: Mom Valentine's Fail

Every year, the girls and I create our own Valentines for them to give out to their classes. It usually involves me letting go of the perfectionist in me, helping them cut our hearts, letting them write their names and put stickers on everything.

This year, with the addition to Pintrest in my life, I was bubbling over with ideas I stole borrowed from other blogs. I mean, how cute are these ideas?

(Click on each picture to visit the blogs of these AMAZING moms!)

This weekend, I took the girls to Walmart with me to get our goods for our Valentine's. As we skimmed past the "store bought" valentine isle, Emma said, "Oh mom! I really just want to give out these 'Twisted Whiskers' cards to my friends." I stopped dead in my tracks. Slowly, I looked at her and said (through gritted teeth), "You want to give your friends these cards instead of the pencil idea?" She grinned and said, "Yep! I love these cards."

Then, a mutiny began. Emma wanted "Twisted Whisker" cards. Hannah saw some "Kitty and Doggy" cards she just couldn't live without. My last hope was Catherine. She wasn't begging for any cards, so I tried to keep her eyes on me and get off that isle. But, there they were...on end cap...right as we turned the corner: TANGLED VALENTINE'S. It was over. The battle was lost. Catherine drooled over them and I gave in.

So, Sunday night, we sat at the table writing each child's name on their store bought valentine's while all dreams of homemade cards went up in flames.

Note to self: Next year, avoid Walmart the entire month of February.

Oh yeah! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! (At least they haven't boycotted the coordinating holiday shirts and hair bows!)

Our Love Story

Just call me a band-wagoner. :) In honor of Valentine's day coming up, I thought I would link up and tell our love story.

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We have been together for 11 years (minus that one year hiatus.)

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Travis and I grew up together. We were in church choir together when we were little. However, when I was 17, I noticed him at track practice with some of his friends. I made the one off comment to a friend that he was cute. A few days later, he and I ended up sitting by each other at lunch. We flirted off and on during lunch. (Gosh...thinking about that lunch makes my heart flutter!) That weekend, we happened to be hanging out with mutual friends at the happening spot in our town (read: Fred's parking lot) We started talking and ended up cruising town together. He called me when he got home that night and we talked until 2 in the morning. The rest, my friends, is history.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We have been married for 7 years....8 next month!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

Travis and I got eloped in Eureka Springs at the Crescent Hotel. (Long back story to eloping...)

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

I jokingly started calling Travis, "Travie". It kind of just stuck and now I catch myself doing it all the time. Travis only calls me "Bon" when I am over-reacting about something and it is in the context of "Now, Bon..."

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

I love that Travis is the most amazing and handsome husband and father.
I love Travis for being the calming voice of reason in our family. With a house full of girls, his even-keel personality is going to be a great asset in the teen years.
I love Travis's dedication. Anything he does is with 100% effort. I have never seen that man do anything half way. He's an "all-in" kind of guy.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

Travis proposed on Friday the 13th (February 2004). He had a huge plan of romance for Valentine's Day. But, apparently, the ring was burning a hole in his pocket. We were watching TV that evening. He walked in front of the TV and was staring at me. I told him to move because I couldn't see. Then, he got on one knee, said some sweet things about me/us and proposed. It was hilarious, and sweet...and so US!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

So, here's the thing about Travis. He has never really been a "gifts" kind of guy. Unfortunately, he married a "gifts" kind of girl. In the 7 years we have been married, he has gotten so much better about giving me things. But, Valentine's day is slightly before my birthday and a month before my anniversary, so it's kind of glossed over. So, I would say he's a card kind of guy. (Which I love!)

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

My goodness...prior to kids, I would have said a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl. Now, I will take any uninterrupted time with my husband I can get. These days, that translates into a movie and couch night. That's just the reality of where we are in our lives and I am SO good with that.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

Travis and I both want to travel to Italy and Greece. He is fascinated with history and I love art. We are dying to take this trip together and will do it one day. Doesn't it just sound romantic too? 10 year anniversary sounds good to me...

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We are planning on a night in with our little family. We usually get the girls some fun gifts and each other a card or something. I expect we will do that with a nice dinner cooked by yours truly.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Actually no. Like I said. My birthday is three weeks later. I cannot come up with a thing I want for my birthday, so he's pretty much on his own in the gift department. (GOOD LUCK, TRAVIE!)

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Be each other's best friend (As Travis calls it be on the same team). I quote Taylor Swift when I say in marriage:

"Life makes love look hard.
The stakes are high, the waters rough,
But this love is ours"

Remember that. Don't let plans/jobs/kids distance you from one another. Plans will fall apart. Jobs come and go. Kids grow up and get their own lives. But, your marriage and friendship will remain. So, keep it fresh, be each other's best friend and have regular sex. (Ok...that's three things...whatevs.)

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Movie Night; Chevron Glam and the Super Bowl

Friday nights, we almost always start the weekend off with take out and a movie. By the time Friday arrives, we are just too tired to do anything much more productive. The girls LOVE it because it means having a "picnic" in the living room floor and watching a movie (this weekend, it was Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue).

After Travis and I watched that with the girls, they wanted to watch "just one more movie", so we let them. (Because sometimes...it just feels good to say yes, even if it means they stay up WAY too late!). We did move them into Hannah and Catherine's room to watch that.

Travis and I decided to watch Ides of March. It was a really good movie. I didn't know how it would be, but was dying to watch it (Hello..George Clooney AND Ryan Gosling).

Saturday we hung out around the house and then, the girls went to spend the night with Lisa. Travis and I took them over there and ran some errands (read: wasted time). We rarely get to do that without the kids, so it was nice!

Saturday night, we went to Rachel's birthday at Mermaid's. Tara did a phenomenal job (as usual) with the tablescape. We had so much fun talking and enjoying the company of some of our favorite friends.

Funny story: Rachel asked for some deer horns from Travis a while back. We all kept forgetting until it came up again the next time. So, Travis wrapped some horns up for her and gave them to her at dinner. It was HILARIOUS!

Sunday, after church, we had to get ready for the Super Bowl party. Last year, we tried to have the party at our house, but the snowy weather put a stop to it. So, with no snow in the forecast, we decided to host it, again.

We had tons of yummy food, cake and good laughs. The kids had a blast running around, playing games and doing whatever it is they do. It was a fun night and we really enjoyed having everyone over.

But, after that full weekend, we are looking forward to a rather low-key week with very little planned for the weekend ahead.