Happy Valentines Day!!

A few weeks ago, the kids agonized in the aisles at Target as to which set of cards they wanted to pass out to all their friends today. Paige wants them to be cute, but not mushy (heaven forbid!) while Ben just wants the ones with Candy attached to them! Both Paige and Ben are having parties in class today, which I know will result in them each bringing a bag full of 'character' cards home all proclaiming some level of love or friendship. I can guarantee that they will sit and compare each and every one while eating some sort of candy in a heart shape.

Sam is WAY beyond the age of passing out Valentines to all his friends, but still not too old to get a valentine from his dear old Mom (cologne and a dark chocolate chocolate bar!). He also has a long distance girl friend, so I am sure our phone line will be busy tonight!

Mark and I don't like to go 'out' on Valentines day. The restaurants are all too busy and crowded, so we usually plan a special meal at home and tonight is no exception. We have found a couple of appetizer type dishes that we are going to make (Grilled Asian Chicken Wings-to die for! and Sweet Chicken Bacon wraps - haven't tried these yet but they sound yummy!) and have rented some great movies and will spend the evening with the kids. We have a date night scheduled for this Saturday so that will be OUR 'valentine' date.

Every year, Mark has bought me a huge heart shaped box of chocolates. This year however, Mark and I have made major lifestyle changes and as a result have both lost weight (Mark has lost over 20 pounds and I have lost 11!) so I asked for the chocolates to NOT be around! Instead, Mark bought me a GORGEOUS arrangement of flowers and a wonderful new perfume by Ralph Lauren! I am thinking that this might have to be the start of a new Valentines gift tradition! Less fattening and lasts alot longer too! Of course, there is only one thing Mark wants for Valentines day (and Christmas and New years and Easter and....) but I am going to keep this blog G rated and won't get into it! Suffice it to say that he always gets what he wants! :)

We hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating it in your own way.....remember, Valentines day shouldn't be about the chocolate and the cards and the 'commercialness' of the Day, but about the many different kinds of love you have in your life!

Hugs to you all,

Mark, Jaye and Gang