Happy Heart Day!

Valentine's Day is not my favorite holiday. It ranks right up there with New Year's Eve. Maybe because these are typically "date" holidays and Paul and I aren't real big daters. I would say its been years since we last had a real date! This year is no different from past years. Paul is out of town visiting his mom and working on her house, and the kids and I are just hanging out. I actually do have a gift for him this year though. Its very romantic. Its hair clippers! He was complaining the last time he cut Mason's hair that his clippers had seen better days, so being the romantic I am, I thought new clippers would make a great V-day gift! And I don't get into the whole flower thing. I can't look at a bouquet and appreciate it for what it is, I just see wasted money on something that will die in a few days. Drew, on the other hand, has totally embraced the holiday this year. She was so excited for her school party, addressing the Valentines, wearing her new red skirt and gaudy-Wal-Mart-sparkly-heart-t-shirt I bought her against my will but knew she would totally love. And she did: Big breath in, "OH MY!" and a huge grin on her face! I guess the $3 was worth it! About the only thing I think Valentine's day is good for is an excuse to make and "paint" cookies. We do it for every holiday and its a big mess and probably very unsanitary as Mason can't figure out how to paint a cookie without first getting some of that paint on his tongue. We decided not to pass any out this year because I couldn't be sure which ones were germ free. They are totally delicious and Darcy even got to suck on one. Boy was she excited.

Notice the frosting in Mason's mouth and we barely started!

Doesn't he look innocent. HA!

The finished product.

Mason specials. One with a bite taken out of it and the other with the frosting spread by his tongue!

An update on the kids: Drew is almost reading. She drives me crazy asking me how to spell everything and sound everything out, but I totally love it too. I just wish I knew how best to help her organize it all in her head because I'm sure once that happens she will just take off with her reading. She is totally into hearts and sparkles and girly stuff - everything I despise! It is difficult for me to support her love of this stuff but I am trying. I'm sure there are MANY out there who love the idea that Tiff is raising a girly-girl. UGH!

Mason is maybe not hitting so much? Or maybe I'm ignoring it more and not getting so upset everytime it happens. Unless its my face he is smacking and then I get mad ;) Last night he told me he was tired so I asked him if he wanted to go to bed. He said, "No, I just sleep on the couch." I was so surprised! I think that might be the first time I realized that he is capable of his own thoughts and expressing those thoughts in a mature manner. Totally cute and I look forward to having real conversations with him now.

Darcy is 7 months old! She is sitting up by herself, eating real people food, and she laughs constantly. Drew and Mason were put here on earth to entertain Darcy I think. Lucky girl. She is also getting the idea that she can be mobile. She lays on her tummy, arches her back, lifts her arms and legs off the floor, and start flailing around. She doesn't go anywhere and it is hilarious to watch, but I think this is the precursor to movement. Heaven help me, I am not ready for her to be mobile yet! Darcy is still just the sweetest thing and she makes me smile no matter how down in the dumps I might get. What a blessing she is to me!

Paul's mom is doing well. She is supposed to be released from her nursing home back to her own home on Tuesday. She has regained her spunk and taken control of decisions and its good to have her back! Hopefully she will like what the kids did to her house while she was on vacation!