I Love You Because

This year's 5 Days of Valentine was more tedious than fun -- if we're being honest about it.  Womp Womp.  I think it was mostly due to the fact that all 5 days consisted of Alex whining/crying/complaining/demanding that I had to buy him some certain kind of Pokemon cards for the occasion, and that got old real quickly.  I think he has misconstrued our extension of the Love holiday as some sort of Christmas, Jr.  Which it is NOT.  Nor has it ever been.  So, I'm not really sure where all his expectations were coming from.

(Day 4's offering was a bunting of hearts with an "I love you because..." for every member of the family.)

Other than that, though, the holiday passed by as it usually does, with conversation hearts, token "gifts" and treats, and -- of course -- the making of actual Valentines and boxes to hold them in.  The older three have all phased out of this rite of passage now that they're in the upper grades, but Jane, Alex, and Isaac are still fully in the fray.

(BE MINE)

Watching the process of creation for all of their valentine-y goodness was one of the more entertaining parts of the month.  Each one was so perfectly THEM that it made me laugh out loud.  Jane took the longest -- because my little artsy-craftsy moonbeam had a specific vision in mind; Alex was finished the quickest -- because he mostly really doesn't care about making stuff like this; and Isaac was hilariously attentive to details as he fashioned his little box out from an empty sandwich bag box along with construction paper and hearts.

(He insisted on writing his name on the INSDE of the box.  Hahaha.)

As for the valentines themselves, they each went a different route and I loved the final products!  Initially they were all going to use an idea from a few years ago, by making heart-shaped crayons from broken crayon pieces in a silicone mold.  In the end, I convinced Jane to use some smaller flower shaped molds instead (they required FAR fewer crayon bits than the hearts), and Alex totally came up with his own idea that he executed on his own and finished in a matter of minutes.  Isaac was the only one who used the hearts, and since he doesn't have nearly as many kids in his preschool class as the other two, we had just enough crayon pieces left to finish his batch.

 (I haphazardly created this little graphic and pun myself!  It was the only thing that sold Jane on the idea of using the flowers instead of the hearts.  Hahahaha.)

 I literally LOL'ed when I saw Alex's valentines and heard his under-the-breath comment right afterwards.  He used some of the dozens and dozens of Pokemon cards that he already has and turned them into "Valentines" by adding everyone's name from his class.  When I complimented him that it was really nice of him to give away his cards, he as quick to say that he was fine with it, followed by the aforementioned follow-up of "I gave them all weak cards."  Hahahahahahahaha.  Oh Alex.

Lest you think the older three missed out on Valentine's Day this year, have no fear!  They each had their own special experiences this season, too.  Ethan was given a "candy gram" type secret admirer gift at school -- I didn't take a picture of it, but it consisted of a can of Strawberry Crush soda with some kind of punny note attached to it with curly ribbon -- and I think he was equal parts baffled by it and flattered.  Hahahahahaha.  Grace was in charge of the decorations for the Young Women Valentine Party for mutual, and let's just say she went ALL out.  She spent HOURS working on stuff up in her room every night for a couple of weeks before the big day and she also required an hour and a half before the party started that night to set everything up with Sophie, Gianna, and their friend Katie.  I'm pretty sure it made quite the impact.  :) And FINALLY (I've saved the best for last), Sophie had her own not-so-secret-admirer experience on Valentine's Day as the deacon in question colluded with Grace to get all the goods delivered.  I think everyone in the family enjoyed the spectacle.  Hahahaha.  :)

 These hand-cut hearts were hot-glued to fishing line to make a "curtain" for the entryway to the room.

 Balloons, streamers, photo backdrops -- she went with the works!

 (Scott's texted commentary while the decorating was going on was pure comic gold.  Overheard from GRACE: "I'm going to be an amazing Young Women's leader when I'm older.  I already kind of am." Hahahahaha.)

 (Gianna, Grace, and Katie)

"Because I like you I try too hard,

that's why I write in this card

To explain my feelings it's kinda hard,

that's why I write it in a card."

And that is about that, folks!  Another 5 Days of Valentine in the books.  Maybe next year's festivities will be more inspiring...  ;)

 I did cave and get them all a present for Valentine's Day itself.  And even though Alex was initially dismayed (UNDERSTATEMENT alert) that I didn't get the Pokemon cards he wanted, once I sat down with him to work on the Pikachu block building set that I got him instead, he was able to dry his tears and enjoy his day.