Valentines Day Extravaganza

Our last blog post referenced how having kids means the festivities surrounding every holiday surge to new levels.  Valentines Day was no exception.  For the past two weeks, we've been talking about Valentines Day, identifying our Valentines, baking heart-shaped cookies, making Valentines crafts, and hyping up what was a relatively insignificant holiday before we had all these miniature people running around.

This morning, Merryn woke up and insisted she wear something very "fancy" in honor of Valentines Day.  She decided on a lightweight, cotton sundress that is a size too small even though it's 20 degrees outside with a blanket of snow everywhere.  We had a "Valentines Day party".  That is, if the 5 of us sitting around the kitchen table constitutes a party.  

 What's a party without gifts?  Okay, I've been making a conscientious effort to scale back the excess materialism/commercialism/consumerism around here.  In fact, I just completed a huge toy purge to benefit our local Goodwill.  But have you been down the Valentines Day aisle at Walgreens lately?!  It's oozing with singing animals.  And nothing makes Josie smile like singing animals.  I couldn't help it.  She only got one...(at least until they're on 90% off clearance tomorrow in which case, she does have a birthday coming up).

 Josie could not stop kissing the bear with the heart shaped glasses and hula hoop that sings the Four Tops classic, "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)."

 And then there's this little lady who is obsessed - OBSESSED - with gymnastics and everything "Gabby Douglas."  She has been begging and pleading for a Barbie Gymnastics set daily.  It's a major topic of conversation around here.  So many times, we fought the urge to just buy it so we could quiet the unrelenting child and move on with our lives!  But we waited for a special occasion to roll around; an occasion in which she received one simple gift.  Just one.  

 THAT FACE!

It was only made even more priceless when it was followed by the comment, "Why did you guys get me Barbie Gymnastics for Valentines Day?  Because you wanted me to stop saying it?"

 You know those scenarios with kids in which you have to look away to prevent yourself from busting out in laughter, falling on the floor, and rolling around in hysterics until you pee your pants?!  Yeah, it was like that.  

"No, Dear.  We got you the Barbie Gymnastics set because you've been such a good girl lately and you've been so helpful around the house and so kind to your sisters.  We got it for you because we love you."

 Then there is our little Biddy who also received a Barbie set because she loves anything and everything her big sisters love (Not because they were buy one, get one 50% off.  Certainly not).  And it was definitely not a last minute substitute gift because her real gift hadn't arrived in time...

Instagram followers realize that Lydia is our little makeup fiend.  When she goes missing, there's only one place to look: mom's makeup drawer.  And even though Dad put a child-proof lock on it, she can still squeeze her little hand in there just enough to grab something - usually concealer - and then she goes to TOWN as fast as she can before we realize she's missing and she gets busted and the cosmetic contraband is confiscated.  

So one of these days, when the mailman comes through for us, Biddy will be the recipient of her very own "Just Like Mommy Cosmetics" makeup collection.  Totally authentic looking makeup, without the mess.

And that, my friends, was our Valentines Day party.

May you spend today surrounded by the people that you love.