Happy Valentine's Day

Our little Valentine! Yes, she has a small cut in her eyebrow - playpen fight. You should see the other guy!

And, now, a short anecdote:

The night that Will left for SD, he came home from school late after recycling club. He was rushing around the house, trying to get packed so he could drive up to his parent's house and leave with his dad for the lake that night. My mom was over because she was going to help me take the kids to swimming lessons, and we were feeding the kids dinner. I wasn't really paying attention to what Will was doing, and it was not until later that I realized that part of what he was doing was gathering all of our recycling so he could put it out on the curb. He was doing this, despite the fact that he really just needed to get on the road, because he didn't want me to have to do it. I thought that was sweet. The next day, as I was pulling out of the driveway on an errand, I saw that Will had put all the recycling into boxes instead of using our bins. Why? So that I wouldn't have to carry the bins back up to the back of the house. I knew right away that he had been thinking that I would have enough to worry about being on my own with the kids and that he didn't want me worrying about the jobs that were his.

I don't know why, but I really thought this was just so sweet. It may not be candy and roses all the time anymore, but not a day goes by that I don't feel terribly loved by my husband. He makes us all feel safe and loved, and no giant teddy bear or grand gesture can compete with that. It truly is about the little things. This past Friday night, we were sitting at the dinner table, and Ethan was singing his "Please and Thank You" song from school, and Eleanor was blowing kisses. Will said, "Well, this is by far the best part of my day." Ordinary but extraordinary, no doubt, this little family of mine.

When I think back to all the sad, lonely Valentine's Days I have celebrated, I know that they were all worth it to get to where I am today: completely loved and in love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some overdue pictures of Ethan's school program, the blizzard, and other winter events.

This was his pajama program, and they sang songs about nighttime, going to bed, and morning. Cute stuff.

Here's Eleanor before she fell backwards, causing a bit of a ruckus (oops) during the program.

Ethan (sort of) with his teacher.

Here's one of Eleanor's boyfriends, Jason. She's keeping her options open.

I took this the day Will came home, I think. Ethan was feverish but still playful.

Before

After

The drift in front of the garage was pretty substantial. Funny how some parts of the driveway were completely clear but others were piled so high with snow.

Eleanor was still a bit under the weather, so we didn't let her outside. I love this picture of her watching big brother out the window.

Never too early to start them on fitness.

This was Eleanor's first time actually in the snow.

She likes it!

Ethan and I went to his favorite park, which was a bit ridiculous since it was buried. I had to rescue Ethan a few times.

Eleanor's best Sue Sylvester impersonation.

I snapped this picture of Ethan playing the other day because it was just too cute. He's so good at independent play sometimes, and this was him playing with his dinosaur and fire station. He was talking to himself the whole time. It reminds me of Andy from Toy Story, a bit and how he uses all of his different toys in play scenarios.

Saturday night, I invited Will (seriously, I made an invitation on the computer) to a picnic dinner in our living room. The menu - tilapia milanese served over quinoa with roasted asparagus and a small arugula salad.

Here we are! Who needs fancy dinner reservations? (Will commented later that he loved that there was a dirty cloth diaper in the background of the picture - oops. Well, this is as romantic as it gets in the house with two kids.)