Impressive Valentine

   Honestly, (not to sound negative), Valentines is just another day for me. I want to make it fun for my kids though. So we play games and we built random things with legos and we colored with new markers.  Of course, since they have awesome grandparents they got Valentine treats. From Grandpa and Grandma Brooks they got cute monkeys, valentine cards and candy PEZ (their favorite candy). From Pappi and Grammy they got balloons, candy and valentine cards. From Grammy Great they got cute Valentine cards and some money. Dad and Mom got them simple five dollar Backyardigan movies with love notes. What impressed me though so much was how they react to the simple things in life. They loved their dollar monkeys and balloons like they were given a hundred dollar toy. Addison was thrilled with a simple sucker from Grammy. It made me realize as a parent, how much I make to big a deal over things. My kids are content with collecting rocks outside and I fret over what to get them for a simple Valentines Day gift. 
      Ethan also showed me how grown up he really is. When Addison and Ethan received money from Grammy Great they were so excited. Addison has only gotten really money one other time. So not enough to know the difference in how much she is getting but enough to know that you can get toys with that green paper. So as soon as Addison got her money she kept saying, "Toy, toy, toy!" I promised her that we would go to the store and get something. After saying this I thought that Ethan to would want to go to the store and get a toy of some kind, but without me saying a thing he looked at me and said he was going to put his money in his wallet and save it to get a Batman lego set he wants. Talk about Whoa! I kept asking him if he was sure that he was going to save it, expecting him to change his mind but he didn't. In fact, he didn't even go to the store with Mommy. Addison and I went to the store in which she found a Despicable Me 2 paint book with her money. 
      I was nervous about coming home with this paint book and seeing what Ethan would do. Ethan did really like Addison's new paint book and he did look like he would have liked one to. In the end Addison let him have a page to paint out of her book and then Ethan realized that painting to him was boring. Addison though could stay their for hours and paint. In fact, we usually have a little bit of a fit when it is time to be done with painting, even after she has done it for a whole hour. 
       Like I said before, my kids taught me a lesson that we Moms don't need to spend money for their love and when she does it doesn't have to be a lot. All they want is attention, love, monkeys and balloons. (wink). 

 

    I love my family. I feel like this is why Valentine is just another day because I always love my family. I don't need a holiday to remind me that I love my kids and my husband. (It is nice, though, to have an excuse to give your kids and husband a gift). I love my husband. I love that he loves me for who I am and puts up with me. I love that he has given me two wonderful children and that he has been a great support in raising and providing for them. I love my children. I love the lessons they teach me. I love each of their personalities that I am seeing more and more each day. My family is my love. My family is my life.