Valentines with the Valentines

We really do enjoy Valentines Day around our home & this year was no exception.  Not only was it a lovely holiday but a day to celebrate because MAMA got behind the wheel again! The day began around 7 when Robby threw me the keys & deemed me the driver to the donut shop around the corner. He figured it was an easy driving test to boost my confidence ; ) I was placing our order & the lady kept trying to give me a total until I rolled down the back window & she counted all the kids...then she laughed & continued allowing me to order an absurd amount of sweet treats! We have been eating rather healthy (for the most part) since the beginning of the year & splurged that morning on some delicious donuts & kolaches. The girls were excited about the Valentine themed sprinkles & the boys were excited about any bite of any thing that was purchased there. 

We have a love-hate relationship with "donut day." It sure is fun & all are excited but man oh man, the boys are insane screaming "MORE, MORE" with a full mouth of food & plenty on their plates. It's like they have never been fed in their life. Following the sugar high is the sugar crash that makes us say "we are never getting donuts again!" All that to say, it is rarely worth it but on "our" special day it was. 

Instead of buying cards for the kids, I asked Robby what he thought about drawing the girls pictures since he is pretty talented when it comes to paper & pencil. He quickly agreed & the eve of Valentines Day, we got to work. The final product makes me smile & made the girls smile too. 

For Charlotte, Robby decided to draw all of us including Bella Blue driving around town with him singing The Lumineers Ho Hey "I belong with you, you belong with me you're my sweetheart" which is a family favorite for belting out while on repeat. The boys even request it saying "Hey Hey Ho." 

For Eloise he drew himself with the girls riding/hanging off the cart at Central Market. We have been going there on Saturdays as a family & it is always fun & almost always a little painful. I love that Eloise has on her cowboy boots which she wears about 90% of the time. She has acclimated to the lone star state well! The song he chose for her is also by The Lumineers & is called Elouise. He sings it to her often & she actually knows the chorus by heart. We have to laugh that the first part of the chorus is "Eloise, why'd you leave?" since she takes off in Lolo world & requires us to chase her down for safety's sake.  Very appropraite words....

Robby definitely shows me up when it comes to drawing but I made my best attempt to brighten the girls' day with my rendition of a happy moment.  Robby said they both look like mini'me's & we had a good laugh about the banana boat in the drawing for Charlotte.

I made a quick stop at CVS on Friday evening to pick over the left overs. There were a couple adorable tween-age boys doing some shopping on the stuffed animal aisle. I left with some new Clifford toothbrushes, a couple of Reeses Hearts (my ultimate fave) & some stickers to fill the goody bags.

I think this house is my favorite for holiday decorations. My burlap banner ended up needing to be cut down to accommodate a doorway & the kitchen window.

In closing, here are our little Valentines, some calm, some silly & all sweet...

Oh, if you were wondering why Anson was making that face....it's because he was notified we ran out of donut holes which are called "roly balls" by the kids. That boy likes to eat ; )