Three Things + 1 : Lots of Love (and giveaways)

I'll be honest and say I'm not much into the whole Valentine's thing. I'd rather do something romantic on the spur of the moment rather than just because it's 2-14. That said I love the themed products for everyday things.

This Valentine's Day will be very different for my small family. Our son will be recovering from heart surgery to repair his heart defect. I anticipate spending quality time together-sans gifts and fancy cards-focusing on the love that came together to create our son and the love that continues to bless each us each day through his life. This brings new meaning to all the "hearts" of Valentine's Day!

Those are some cute goodies! I especially love that heart bokeh print! we usually buy sweet treats and make valentines for each other (hubby and sons). We also like to make valentines treats for the boys classmates. This year I'm hanging valentines decorations where my Christmas decorations were because the 3 year old didn't want to take the Christmas decorations down! :)

Morning! Hope all goes well for you and by this Valentine's day, you'll have a new little sweetheart! Can't believe the # of posts on Wednesdays!
As for v-day traditions...I've only been married for 5 years, but have been an elementary classroom teacher for 13 and it is my favorite holiday, hands down! I always encourage kids to write down their classmates names on the cards, not send blank ones. This gets the kids writing for a purpose! Of course we do the sharing of candy and treats, but some kids in our impoverished rural valley don't have the money to buy cards. I tell them it is way more fun and meaningful to make them. I have a box of glitter, lace, hand me down papery delights, and foil doilies. Those that want to, go wild with the box. Usually, so many kids want at that box, that we just set aside special time to make at least one homemade fancy Valentine. Then, on the day itself, it's a flurry of passing out the cards. We have all made valentine holders and all at once every child rises to deliver. It's noisy, joyful and chaotic. But the noise is the best ever: such fun in giving to others. After the delivery, all is quiet: the calm descends, just for a bit as the kids return to their seats and open up their treasures. Then the noise level increases as the gabbing and admiring takes over. Let the party start!!

I usually bake chocolate heart cookies for my boys, and every year, I'm usually in one of my boys classroom helping with a Valentine party. I also get my children to decorate a bookmark with paint, ribbon and beads for their classmates (replaces the valentine cards...something the receiver can use all year long) It's just made out of cardstock and I add a strip of ribbon and the boys add the beads of their choice.

Valentine's is usually celebrated with homemade acts of love - special meals, little coupons, handmade cards and heart garlands. We're just starting to develop holiday traditions with our little one.

Wow! Those are some amazing giveaways. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.
For Valentine's my husband and I forgo the flowers and chocolates and "mushy" stuff in favor of buying something new for our bed each year. We figure we spend so much time there together, it's not the place to scrimp. This year I'm thinking it will be a new cozy down comforter.

We host a sweetheart bakery at our school. We have all the supplies and invite the parents to come decorate a cookie for their child and those who cannot come we decorate the cookies so at the end of the day each chid gets a cookies made especially for them. They love it and it is a lot of fun.

I LOVE Valentine's Day! It's my favorite holiday. We avoid restaurants because they are so crowded. I write poems for each family member, and make up goodie bags for them. My husband usually takes the 3 boys out and they buy me all kinds of sweet gifts - chocolate, jewelry, soaps, lotions, etc. I make a yummy dinner and either heart shaped cookies or cupcakes, or an English trifle with raspberries for dessert. We love to make homemade valentines with lots of glitter and doilies to stick up all over the windows, and to give away. Thanks for the terrific blog. Waiting excitedly to hear about your little darlin'!

I usually do something fun for my 4 girls and after school we make something fun and sweet for my husband (and us!) to enjoy for after dinner.

I have been brought up in a family that makes a point of saying why we love each other and Valentines day is just a day that I make a point of making sure each family member knows what makes them special to me. It's more about little notes and time for each other rather than .gifts and meals

I usually go to dinner and the theater with my husband a day or two before Valentine's. On Valentine's Day, I go to my kids school parties and we celebrate at home with our family. This year my kids are old enought to make valentines for my husband and their grandparents so we are going to start creating those very soon!

Valentine's Day is the only time of the year we make sugar cookies. It makes it all the more special for my kids. My dh is an Army officer and quite often gone so we usually exchange two cards; one 'lovey dovey' and one 'comical.' We keep things simple but meaningful.

We try to keep it low key.. a nice dinner and of course caramel hearts.

We don't celebrate Valentine's Day in a big way, but there are always lots of hugs and kisses, Little Debbie's valentine heart cakes, and maybe lunch at the Olive Garden.
I love the new Valentine lines that are out though, so myabe I can find a way to make it a little more special in telling my family how much I love them!

I like to decorate for Valentine's Day - it's my chance to do things in PINK (my favorite color) being the only girl in the house!

We don't do a whole lot for Valentine's Day. My older kids bring Valentines to school and the younger ones bring Valentines to their friends in the neighborhood. We usually have a nice dinner and the kids and I decorate heart shaped cookies for dessert. Pretty low key, but fun all the same!

We have a fun evening at home. I make a nice dinner and enlist the help of the kids to make heart shaped brownies. My DH brings flowers, cards and treats for all.

Ok my so my kids get chocolates and a small gift. I usually dress them in red and take their picture together to send to our family with late Valentine's Day cards. Always late. LOL Once we have put the kids to bed my husband and I order in Chinese food and buy some preowned dvd's from Blockbuster. Then we hop into bed and eat Chinese and watch movies. Maybe not what most would consider terribly romantic, but it is a bit of time just for us to hang out and just be us. Not mom and dad, but Chris and Veronica. It's nice. It's our tradition.

We make cards for our family and friends. After the school parties, we go through their boxes of valentines. We have a candle light dinner and special dessert.