And it smells like this!Let me back up. I have always disliked Valentine's day. Ever since I was twelve and I received my first heart shaped box of candy from a boy who liked me. I felt so...manipulated. In high school I broke up with a perfectly good boyfriend once on valentine's day, because I just couldn't take the pressure. The flowers, the candy, the carefully chosen tokens...there is something so nauseating about it. Does anyone else share that problem? That intense aversion to pink, pre-packaged romance?
My sweet, patient husband knows I have these weird hangups. (One of the countless adorable things about me.) He likes to call my bluff, like when I made fun of my roommate's boyfriend for bringing her flowers, Mike put flowers on my windshield the next day. And this weekend, he booked a romantic room at the beach and planned my perfect day. We hiked, shopped, ate seafood, hot-tubbed, napped and went to a movie. All of these activities are in my top-10 favorites, and half of them are in Mike's bottom-10 dislikes (can you guess which half?).
Here are some pictures from our romantic hike to Drift Creek falls:
Looking down on the waterfall from the suspension bridge.
Sunlight through the mossy trees.Thank you, Mike! And...it's hard to say, but here goes: Happy Valentine's day!
I have come to terms with my dislike of the holiday by making it all-about-the-kids. The last couple of years we've done fancy dinners (at home) and chocolate fondue with the kids. This year we let them have a "party," with heart shaped pizza, games, and heart-shaped cookies made into "fruit pizzas." Yum.
"Do you love your neighbor?"Next time you have a bunch of kids over, of any age, this is a great game. The person in the middle asks, "do you love your neighbor?" If the child says yes, the neighbors have to switch places before the "it child" grabs a spot. OR the question "do you love your neighbor?" can lead to "No. But I love people with bare feet..." (or some such qualifier) then all those children have to jump up and switch spots. The child left in the center is "it."
Big, loving fun. I hope your weekends were equally wonderful!
9 comments:
Seafood, chick flick, shopping at the outlet mall? I must have been in a daze after gazing into your eyes...after 16.5 years, your eyes still remind me of Oregon. The browns and greens are like a misty, mossy forest on a cool, clear day. Happy Valentine's Day! - Love, Mike
STOP IT MIKE! You are making the rest of us look bad!
We all have different love languages, yes? My honey spent all day yesterday fixing our ailing dishwasher. The chocolate rose he gave me lasted about two minutes. The sound of swishing water in a working dishwasher will remind me of his love for me every day.
Both Nathan and I hate Valentine's day so it really takes the pressure and expectations off both of us. When you told me about your weekend away I didn't even equate it with Valentine's day.
I know the bottom of Mike's list would be teh shopping and eating seafood.
I DID like Valentines Day. Until this year. I didn't plan anything and was saved by mutual-- kind of. I was sick the day before and still not feeling that great yesterday so I haven't even written anything in the cards (note that today is a day after Valentines Day). I love my family but I would just rather skip every holiday so I would only have to worry about birthdays.
Way to go, Ken!
Dad said he realized that a big gift doesn't count for more than one occasion. It really doesn't matter whether the gift is small or large; what matters is that you're remembered.
Thanks for making the day so special for my kids! Of course they loved it.
We took your idea from last year and kept a low key stay at home Valentines this year. Both grandparents gave Greyson valentines and he spent the whole day carrying them around, it was adorable. Looks like you guys had a great time and what an amazing hike!
I guess I don't hate Valentines Day. It's fun to have an excuse for a romantic getaway or a nice dinner out. Matt took me to the coolest restaurant in downtown Hillsboro called The Venetian. I want to go back..it was great! Your getaway sounds amazingly fun and relaxing and I am a fan of the various activities you partook of while at the beach. The sugar cookie fruit pizza idea is a great one. I might have to use that some time:0)
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