Valentine Festivities

Well, as you know, Valentine's Day 2011 has come and gone. I don't know how each of you celebrate Valentine's Day in your homes, but in our home it is about the love that we all feel for each other...not just Bruce and myself. I know a lot of people think of Valentine's Day as a day that couples shower each other with romantic gestures--boxed chocolates, a bouquet of flowers, jewelry, etc. Sure, Bruce and I exchange small gifts, but they're typically gifts that other people wouldn't necessarily consider romantic. Instead, our gifts tend to say "I bought you this because I know it is something you are interested in or having been wanting. You work so hard for our family and I just want to show you how much I appreciate you." And not only do Bruce and I exchange gifts, but we also get Brinley a few little somethings as well to show her today is a special day that we are all celebrating as a family in our domestic church.

Gotta love care packages from Texas...thank you Nana and Papa for all the goodies!

The past few years, we really haven't done anything else for Valentine's Day besides exchange gifts. Either I was very pregnant with Brinley or Brinley was keeping us busy as an infant. This year however, I wanted a little craft that Brinley and I could do together that involved blessing others with Valentines, and when Elizabeth posted about Valentine Dots I knew it was something Brinley and I would have to give a try. Tried we did, and I think we have found a new tradition for our family. Not only can you make Valentine Dots for Valentines Day, but by simply using whatever seasonal colors of M&M's are out at the time, you can easily create Easter Dots, Thanksgiving Dots, Christmas Dots, etc. using the respective colors. Absolutely genius! Most of y'all know that our family tries to eat a natural diet by avoiding high fructose corn syrup, food-dyes, refined sugar, and the like, but I figure making these a few times a year probably won't be the end of the world AND it is an excellent craft for little ones to help with.

Helping Mommy unwrap the Hugs and Kisses.

"Cheese!"

After unwrapping the Hug, it had to be sorted in the right bowl.

After all the Hugs and Kisses were unwrapped, it was time to place them on the pretzels that were lined up on a cookie sheet.

The end result...yum! Now its time to package them and share with others.

We hope you all had a blessed Valentine's Day and that you were able to spend it with someone that you care for--whether that be your child, friend, neighbor, significant other or even pet. ;-) Most importantly, I pray that each of you have felt the most significant love of all...that which comes from our one, true Savior. ~Blessings~