My Rowdy Valentine

Ray and I don't think much of Valentine's Day. While the concept is nice, anything you are expected to do as a couple is just cheese overload. Who wants to eat a fixed price menu at a sushi place? Not us, but that is what happened last time we tried to grab a dinner out on what just happened to be Feb 14th...

This year we also happened to do something on what just happens to be Feb 14: host a weekend playgroup. While we technically weren't celebrating Valentine's Day, we did get in to the spirit- this is what having kids does to you! We busted out with heart shaped cookies, pink heart plates and Love dip (that's really it's name from CM, btw). We even hung Truitt's V-day art from school on the doors to welcome his friends!

It wasn't quiet or quaint or romantic in a Ventiney way though. It was 10 toddlers worth of rowdy. I will say it might have been the nature of the day but we were definitely heavy on the girls. Very unusual in this age group in this neighborhood...

Boys and their Mamas: Kaiser and Elmie, Cade and Diana, Heather and Vincent

Lucas playing with fridge letters; Benjamin handed out Valentines

And some of the girls, girls, girls

Kennedy; Maestri

Lila and Maestri; Madeline

Also, Truitt and Benjamin continued the bro-mance they started at T's b-day party. It revolves around food, demonstrating that Turtle is indeed his mother's son.

At every gathering of toddlers, there is one "toy" that isn't really a toy but that everyone must have a turn with. This time it was Truitt's bike helmet:

Alex, Lila and Truitt all take the helmet for a ride

And at every gathering of toddlers, some parent does something at some point to entertain the group. This day it was Ray, reading a Sesame Street counting book in his very best Count voice. I think the parents enjoyed it more than the kids. It takes us back, while they're all just Elmo-tized!

Not such a bad way to spend the first few hours of the quintessential Hallmark holiday!

But in case you are some hopeless romantic who has bought in to the whole thing, this is for you:

Happy Valentine's Day

from our family to you and yours