Valentine's Day

Holidays with kids are magical and so much fun! Baylor has been so excited for Valentine's Day for weeks now. She has a countdown in her room that Paige helped her create and she has a secret hiding place behind one of the chairs in our family room that she has been hiding gifts and cards that she has made over the weeks. The day before while Paige was at school, Baylor spent the day decorating for the big day. She made cute signs to hang all over the dining room and even made a love maze out of some big paper that she taped to the ground.

Nate went to work late so he could be there for the morning fun and Baylor came into our room a little after 7 and exclaimed "Happy Valentine's Day!" She was so excited for the trail of candy that I left that led to their gifts on the table. McCall was also happy to crawl from candy to candy down the hallway examining each piece as she went. 

Then it was present time. Baylor was so excited to receive her gifts and give her gifts. It was the cutest and sweetest thing to watch. Paige got her a big giant kiss which she has done for a few years now and she says she wants to continue this tradition forever even when they are old and may be far away from each other so she will mail her one. :) Baylor made everyone homemade cards and she just re-gifted her stuffed animals to McCall and her candy to Paige. It was really sweet to watch and she how she had this great love and desire to give gifts to everyone she loved and she worked with what she had.

Paige gave us all the sweetest cards and made a sweet handmade gift for McCall. She also made a Power Point for Nate and I and her teacher that really made all of our days. It ended up being a snow day so her Valentine's party at school got postponed a day. It was fun to have my girls home for the holiday and they played well together and we played lots of games. 

McCall's first Valentine's Day! She was happy and content with everything and anything she could get her hands on.

Some of Baylor's cards she made- we all got a kick out of Nate's card! :)

I made the girls pink, heart pancakes for breakfast. This was my fourth pancake but you should have seen the first blob that looked nothing like a heart. I definitely did not inherit the amazing pancake shape making skill from my mom and grandma. 

I love my little Valentines and of course my forever Valentine who loves his girls more than anything in the world!

I made these little punch cups for Paige and Baylor as a countdown to Valentine's Day and each one had some candy in them and they loved taking turns punching a cup each day.

We had our traditional spaghetti dinner for Valentine's Day. Paige had fun setting and decorating the table. We had spaghetti, salad, some pink Jell-O, and some heart shaped cheesy bread. Paige even used her edible markers and drew hearts all over McCall's teething cracker that she enjoyed for dinner. During the day I made a chocolate sheet cake that I frosted with pink frosting and sprinkles. I used a cookie cutter and cut hearts out of the cake and I loaded up the girls and took treats to all my ministering sisters. I was able to deliver it to all of them in one day which was great and it was fun for my girls to take part in helping me do this. I also made some chocolate dipped strawberries, mostly for myself, but we took a few of our treats to our neighbor Melanie and had a good visit with her and then ended our evening taking some treats also to Nona and Pops. It was such a fun filled day filled with so much love!

One of my favorite traditions that I do (I can't remember when I started it) but each day in February leading up to Valentine's day, I put hearts of things that Nate and I love about each of our girls on their bedroom doors.

Here's what Nate and I love about Paige:

• I love how you love to go to the outlet with me.
• I love reading your stories and things you write.
• I love the sparkle in your eyes.
• I love listening to you play to violin and seeing your love for it.
• I love how kind and caring you are.
• I love seeing you be yourself and having fun with friends.
• I love your help and ideas whenever I work on a project.
• I love your jokes and silliness.
• I love your willingness to try new things.
• I love watching you play with Baylor and McCall.
• I love seeing your create new art.
• I love how you are such an amazing example and show so much love.
• I love you!
• Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Mom & Dad

Here's what we love about Baylor:

• I love seeing you smile and light up!
• I love playing hide and seek with you.
• I love seeing you play with your sisters.
• I love your drawings.
• I love how funny you are.
• I love our little games and fun things we do in the car while waiting to get Paige.
• I love listening to you sing when wearing headphones and your little dance you do.
• I love when you giggle.
• I love how silly you are and the funny things you say.
• I love when you sing your made up songs.
• I love seeing you dance and twirl.
• I love tickling you and hearing you laugh.
• I love you!
• Happy Valentine's Day! Love Mom & Dad

Here's what we love about McCall:

• I love seeing you splash in the bath.
• I love your wispy hair that stands straight up.
• I love your laugh.
• I love my little miracle baby!
• I love your dimple.
• I love seeing you try yummy new foods.
• I love your smile.
• I love how observant you are in taking in all the world.
• I love your little duck lips.
• I love seeing you roll and explore and get where you want to go.
• I love our middle of the night cuddle sessions.
• I love how you rock on your hands and knees.
• I love how excited you get when someone comes to pick you up.
• Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Mom & Dad

Nate and I got an extra amazing surprise this year from Paige and she surprised us the first day and she had made her own hearts and each day we got something that she loves about each of us. It was the sweetest thing and I loved seeing what she put each day and it made my day every day. I sure love that sweet and thoughtful girl of mine! 

Here's what Paige loved about her dad:

• I love you because you comfort me.
• I love how funny and caring you are.
• I love to play the violin for you.
• I love having you read things I write and sending you emails.
• I love it when you print my things.
• I loved it when we played soccer. Love, Baylor
• I love how you are strong in the church.
• I love it when you tell me childhood stories.
• I love how patient you are.
• I love it when I get to help you sell your "goodies".
• I love going to the outlet with you.
• I love it when you rub my back.
• I love you!
• Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Paige

Here's what Paige loves about me:

• I love all the delicious meals you cook.
• I love when we watch movies together.
• I love it when you and me cook together.
• I love how creative you are.
• I love it when we play games together.
• I love how you are strong in the church.
• I love playing hid and seek with you. Love, Baylor
• I love how you take your calling seriously and care for each young women.
• I love you because you care for me.
• I love playing the violin for you.
• I love having you read the things I writ.
• I love how you are always up for an adventure.
• I love you!
• Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Paige

(I mean, come one, some of those just made me melt and feel so much love!)

I'm so grateful for my sweet Valentine's!