All Things Valentines Day 2017

All day yesterday I was a little bit sad because I felt like I had dropped the Valentines ball. I hadn't felt great the past few days, so no cutesie Valentines had been bought for my Valentines. I didn't decorate, and our house was the messiest! I mean, the messiest! I went to bed feeling a little bit defeated. As I sat down to write this post, only for records sake, I realized that we didn't have a crappy Valentines Day, or even an ok one, it was a good Valentines Day! One of the many reasons why I love this blog. Let me rewind to a few days before though, just because I don't want to miss any of the cute stuff.

The Thursday before is when we really started the festivities. Ellie's heaven-sent dance teacher had a little Valentines party that she had been looking forward to all week. Ellie and her 2 friends squealed and excitedly told me about their suckers, glittery hearts, and dancing on floor hearts. It was adorable. After everyone was dropped off we started on some Valentines cards for the grandparents and great grandparents. Fitz loved coloring with the white crayon (???) and Ellie switched between dictating notes and writing her name. Her E's have about a million lines in between, but I think they're coming along nicely. I wanted to get a cute picture to send in the cards, which I didn't get done until Friday, and then realized that I didn't have stamps, meaning the cards didn't get sent until Saturday. Luckily, our cards made it to everyone right on time. Nana & Papa even got to open theirs on Valentines Day.

On Saturday, Jeremy sent Ellie and I to the Sleeping Beauty ballet at Capitol Theater. It was so fun getting dressed up together, walking to the theater, and watching her watch the ballet. I'm still amazed that she'll sit through ballets. The ballet is a little different from the Disney movie, so we got a little lost at parts, but I think I mostly figured it out and was able to explain everything to her. She loved the costumes, especially Maleficent (not her name in the ballet) and her minions. We were pretty high up, but it ended up being for the best because Ellie had lots of questions and needed a 10 minute dance break during the last act. She was sad when it was over but happily danced out of the theater when I told her she got to go home and tell Daddy all about it. I love watching the magic in her eyes when she gets to do the things she loves. I love watching her dance through her days. I just love her.

Now back to the actual Valentines Day, it started very early with a tiny girl jumping on me yelling, "HAPPY BALEMTIMES DAY! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!!" We made our way down stairs, grabbed Fitzy and ate some delicious cereal. J.rue texted and asked if we'd join him for lunch downtown and we jumped at the idea. We got ready for the day in our pinkest pink (red for Fitzy) and ran out the door. We met Jeremy at the escalators and the kids ran wild through City Creek. We ate at Johnny Rockets and ended our afternoon date in the Disney Store. It was short and sweet and we all loved seeing Jeremy in the middle of the day.

The rest of the day was pretty low key, but I was feeling bad that I didn't have any treats for Ellie. So, after naps, we went to Target for some last minutes Valentines treats. We started with popcorn and then Ellie very specifically requested goomy, gummy, genie jellies. Ha! Of course they were out of most of their V-day candy, so I found a bag of gummy starbursts and lucky for me, "THEY'RE SO PERFECT! SO GUMMY AND SO STICKY!". Yeah, I'm pretty sure Ellie talks in 92% capital letters. Fitz is of course, the most pleasant laid back boy there ever was, and was also happy with a few handfuls of goomy, gummy, genie jellies. We enjoyed perusing the store to kill time before J.rue got home with dinner. We beat him home by about 30 minutes and hunkered down to watch Sword and the Stone. I had a little tiny on each side of me, and even though we were sitting in a house that looked like a tornado had run through it, it was the best. I too often take for granted that I have the unconditional love of 3 people. It's a very good thing.

We ended the night with stuffed crust pepperoni pizza (a Ruesch family favorite!) and Trolls. After the kids were tucked in tight, Jeremy and I ate hot cobbler and ice cream and watched Timeless. Not watching it? You should.

So like I said, not the most glamorous, but as I write it all down, it was pretty dang enjoyable. I love developing traditions that my family is excited about, but I'm so thankful that they're forgiving when I fall short and appreciative all the same. Happy Valentines Day my loves.

Valentines Day 2016

I'm not going to lie, I'm totally back blogging. I wrote my Easter and St. Patty's post before this, so just assume everything back to Christmas was done backwards. Anyway.

A few days before the actual day, some girls in my ward put together a cute little valentines party. Ellie loves frosting sugar cookies, running around, and making her fabulous heart headband. She has the cutest little friends in our ward.

Valentines day was on a Sunday this year so it was extra fun because we celebrated all weekend. We're working on establishing a few fun traditions as a family, so we decided to take the kids to the Movie Grille in Ogden. J.rue and I had been before and we LOVE it. The food is delicious and the ability to fully recline your chair while watching a movie is second to none. However, we didn't know how the kids would do.

We ended up going to see The Good Dinosaur and feasting on a little too much food. Fitz was a dream as per usual (during the day). We were sitting in the front row so Fitz had the floor to himself. Ellie sat on mine and J.rue's lap and did great. She loved the food and watched the whole movie. I don't know how things will go next year with Fitz BUT I think it's worth a try, we loved it. It's kind of becoming our favorite place. The rest of the day we napped and lounged and we loved it.

On Sunday we set out a couple of treats for Ellie. She got some chocolates, Sleeping Beauty, and the Little People fairies to go along with it. She loved it. We got all dressed up for church and of course we were running a bit behind so we didn't get a picture. So, after church we pulled out ye olde selfie stick and this was the best we got. Ellie had already dug into her chocolate covered strawberry peeps before I could grab her. But I don't blame her, they were delicious.

SO CUPID MISSED MY HOUSE...

Last year I was such a good valentine to j.rue. This year? Just no. I woke up this morning in the foulest of foul moods and of course j.rue popped out of bed like a spring-time daisy. He promptly went into a ramble about how he's not even going to go and play basketball tonight so we can spend time together, and probably some other things, but by the time he finished, in my most grouchy polite voice, told him that tomorrow was Valentines Day. And then I felt bad. Because today is actually Valentines Day.

So plans are in the works for a make-up this weekend (after we get our taxes done). I'm just very very disappointed in myself. I am a lover of all holidays old and young and I'm not even wearing a stitch of pink.

I don't know why this holiday gets such a bad wrap. I mean, yeah you can be dumb and go and buy the most gargantuan teddy bear that Target sells, but do most people do that? No. Also, why do you have to have a significant other to celebrate? Do you have a mom? dad? sibling? puppy? neighbor? I bet so! We all the know world needs more love, so why not give it. I know you have some to spare.

Come Monday, maybe expect some heart shaped pancakes, some red lipstick, and maybe a present or too, via pictures of course. I'm making a comeback!

Oh and for a nice Throw-Back Thursday:

Oh, summer. How me miss you so!