After four kids, ten moves and nearly two decades, we are still blissfully in love (most of the time) and I found myself back in the state I was born and raised in. It has definitely been a journey. In fact, on our 18th anniversary we pulled the last of our stuff up over the pass and into Montana, leaving our surprise love, Idaho, behind. But Montana is a great place. The last best place according to some. And we fully intend to explore as much of it as we can! Join us on our continued adventure through life, love and other stuff that comes with it.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

My Valentines


The husband came home with individual invitations to a Valentines Day celebration on the day before Valentines Day.  He put them on our plates before dinner.   Those of us who could read opened them and commented on the "formal attire" line.  

"We get to dress up!" I said.  

"I know EXACTLY what I am going to be!" Violet said.

"I am going to be SPIDERMAN!" Carsten said.

Ummm .... that isn't exactly formal, I thought to myself as the husband and I were laughing.

We did manage to get the kids dressed in their most formal attire, including a fun hairstyle for each of the girls.  

Except for the shoes.  Apparently they objected to shoes.


This whole thing was the brainchild of the husband.  He decided he wanted to do something fun and memorable.  I am going to spoil the story here and say that it was the best Valentines Day EVER!

We had fancy clothes, fancy jewelry, a fancy menu ...


 and a fancy order of events. 



See how fancy we are??



 He even let me crash his fancy bar-b-que and demand a selfie of our fancy selves.  Isn't he handsome in that hat and tie??  I think his daughters swooned over his handsomeness.  His wife most definitely did.  Even if he hadn't gotten me those fancy new earrings that I love I would have swooned over his handsomeness.
 

Fancy table complete with fancy flowers and fancy place cards.


 The sky even cooperated and showed off its fanciness. 


A fancy boy with sour cream on his face.  I don't think he is wearing shoes here either.


 A fancy girl with curled hair and fancy new earrings.


 Another fancy girl ... oh wait.  That is the crazy one.


 Here.  Another fancy girl with curled hair and a fancy dragonfly necklace.


 The oldest fancy girl with fancy hair and fancy new earrings.  When did she get so grown up?!?


And a fancy grandpa.  What?  Who invited him??  


Oh, that's right.  They were driving through and stopped for that fancy tie to wear with that "fancy" shirt.  At least that is what I think they meant when they said they were stopping for some appropriate attire and would be here for dinner.  The man makes me laugh. 

And look!  A fancy girl has captured the heart of the husband.  This kind of thing just makes me melt a little.


This was hilarious.  I couldn't seem to get the Heart and Soul duet thing down.  And I had only had one glass of wine.  So grandma took over.  What does Grace do??  She starts playing double time!!  Of course, grandma is good, but she tells Grace it is too fast.  


Grace, being the smarty pants that she is, started playing in SLOW MOTION and just gave grandma this classic look like she is daring her to try to keep up.

I don't know where she gets it.

Oh, wait, maybe this is where.  That guy with the red tie! 


I didn't know that there was a slide whistle part to Heart and Soul.  Apparently he is quite musical and I had no idea.  This picture was right before Grace got laughing so hard she just put her head down on the keys because she couldn't play anymore for laughing.

We cooked, we ate, we laughed, we played piano, we listened to poetry, we danced (Violet had to dance with Olaf and made a big show of dancing down the stairs with him and then was just dancing to whatever was in her head while the rest of us swirled around her), and we laughed some more (when grandpa just picked Calla up to dance with her and Calla declares that dancing is really easy).

And then we laughed some more.

All because of this handsome guy.  He managed to pull it all together and then, with a little help, we were all able to pull it off.  

 

I must say, it is SO nice to be back together and functioning as a happy family again.  I don't think I can describe it.  But I know that it feels really, really good.  And I know that this guy and I are a team.  That is what made this Valentines Day so great.

And these people.  I love that the two adults in this picture are close enough to just stop by.  I love that they do.  And I love that the four kids in this picture say things like, "I hope grandma brought grandpa!" when they hear they are coming. 



Best Valentines Day ever.  Because we are all together in one place.  And because we all care enough to make it work.

And because we are not above having a ton of fun!

This guy ...


I love him.  I know what life is like without him.  And it is SO amazing to have him back! 

Best Valentines Day EVER!!!

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