Valentine's Day

We spent a wonderful Valentine's Day. First my husband surprised us with Valentine's bags with candy and cards in the kitchen. The girls went crazy. I let them eat chocolate candy hearts before breakfast. Later my husband came home early and took us to dinner. We ended the night buying a dryer at the mall.

Oh, buying a dryer isn't on your list of romantic ways to spend Valentine's Day? Well, I'd blame it on the fact that we have four-year-old twins, and being without a dryer for more than a few days is really an inconvenience. The reality, though, is we have a history of doing these things.

Several years ago we spent Sweetest Day on our backs in the crawl space with staple guns. We were putting insulation under the hardwood floor in our family room. It's true, although anyone who has ever heard that story thinks we're messing with them.

It might just be me. I'm all for my husband telling me he loves me and spoiling our girls. I just don't want it to be done on one day. I'm the same way with Mother's Day. I don't want to go to brunch or stand in line at a restaurant. Please! I'd rather my husband and the girls make me breakfast, and spend the rest of the day some place low key with my family.

The girls are really young still. These moments fly by so quickly. I don't want to spend all my time trying to get away from them. I want to build the memories and family traditions they will carry with them forever. A family dinner on Valentine's Day is perfect for us. Mother's Day eating at a diner in a small town nearby is wonderful. I want them to understand it's about spending time together and showing we love each other -- not a big gift or fancy dinner.

Buying the dryer? Well, that was just a bonus.