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

Usually I make a nice homemade dinner for my husband - a little more special than the usual fare. This year I hope to FINALLY finish the mini-album of "us" that I had previously started.

My dad does the funniest thing every year, since I was little. He gets all of us kids (and now our kids) together for a dinner. But he dresses up, and says he is "Pierre" my dad's fake twin brother. Pierre lives in Alaska and only comes down once a year to make Valentine's Day dinner. He talks in a french accent and wears his hunting gear. He always makes us our favorite TV dinner, but he has a menu with Moose Flambe and Caribou Stew. When I was a kid, we really thought my dad had a secret brother, and if we asked about him during the year my dad would tell us he doesn't talk to him because Pierre shot a bigger moose than my dad did. I loved it as a kid, and now my little boy loves it too!! Such a fun tradition for us.

I always make my husband a card and some type of memory book and he gives me a card and a gift. Since my birthday, Valentines Day and our anniversary are all within a few days we have one great celebration dinner at our favorite restaurant.

Oh my gosh that isphotography print is absolutely gorgeous! I'm definitely going to have to order one for myself soon!
As for Valentine's it's usually pretty low-key for us. If we have a babysitter available we usually go for dinner and a movie. If no sitter then we usually go out for dinner as a family and then come home to watch movies together here!

My kids like making projects, so a week or so before Valentine's Day I pull out a bunch of colored paper and my heart-shaped punches and stickers and let them go to town. We send out cards to all the grandparents and aunts/uncles, as well as their cousins. Lots of fun!

I make every meal heart shaped...sometimes pancakes, always grilled cheese for lunch, pink potatoes for supper...it's all about the love and the food of course!

We usually go to dinner the weekend before or after to avoid crowds. LOL We love going out to dinner, though! And DH tends to give me a little stuffed animal or keepsake. Last year, I made the felt book inspired by your Weekend Creative post for him...and my new kitten swallowed the needle I'd been using to stitch a button on the cover, so we ended up in the vet ER until 3 a.m....with a hefty bill for emergency surgery. I'm hoping that's one tradition we won't be repeating! :)

we start the day off with pink heart shaped pancakes topped w/ strawberries. I'll go to the school to snap photos at the class parties. for dinner we do pinks an reds by candle light with sweet "i love you" notes tucked under the plates. after we will do valentines the old fashioned way secretly with a knock and running and laughter.

We don't have any traditions.....I just love the day.....no pressure...I make sure the house is decorated and try to bake something and wait and see what happens....my favorite was when my twins were in pre-school and they made costumes as the king and queen of hearts....and I have pictures!!!!!!!!!!

Wow...great giveaways....THANK YOU!
Since I'm a florist, Valentine's Day has always been one of my busiest days of the year! I do acknowledge it by putting something special in my kids lunches, but we usually end up celebrating on another day.
All my friends get special homemade Valentines, which I make way ahead!

I love Valentine's day - my little kids still make cards for school (which is always a blast) and I try to sneak in little things to remind my children I'm holding them in my heart and mind - notes in their backpacks, cookies after school, and chocolate on their pillow. It's always just little stuff, but so fun.
And, I cherish the cards they have made for me over the years. I was going through boxes after Christmas and ran across several - the perspective is so sweet. Children just think differently. I found a note my daughter had written when she was six - all of the reasons why I was a good mom. She listed things like "you tell me when to come inside" and "you tuck me into bed" and then she ended with "without you'd I'd be so sad." Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Peace. Susan

I have the girls help make Valentine's cards for family & friends who live far away. I will cut all the pieces and they glue it into place. A fun way to celebrate the month of "Love".

My past Valentine's traditions are: kid parties at school and having my kids make their own class Valentine cards and Valentine presents for my kids. We plan to start a few new traditions this year. I want to make red velvet cupcakes, have heart shaped pizza (from Papa Murphy's) and a XOXO photo shoot to make mini books of my 4 kids for grandparents and dad. I would love to add some of the great new Valentine products for my minibooks. Thanks for your great tips on your blog and in your magazine.

Oh, what a wonderful giveaway!
Here in Norway, the Valentines Day tradition is not as big, but I love to do something sweet for my hubby on Valentines Day. Maybe make dinner - since he is the one who makes dinner normally ;) And then, I love to make him a card or a small canvas or minialbum, something small, inexpensive and cute :)
I could also say flowers, but we always have flowers :o)

Last year was the first year that we really "celebrated" Valentines Day with the kiddies! Even though they are just 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 this year we will decorate, make valentine's together, read Valentines books, have Valentines treats (of course) and most importantly talk about who we love and why we love them! We love "LOVE DAY"!!! :)

My first hand made card was a Valentine for my husband. That was 5 years ago, and I've made one ever since. (He has saved them, so I think he likes them!)

I always get my kids mini heart boxes of chocolate and sit them on their plate at dinner time.
Later that night, I have a cheesecake I made for the hubby.

I'd love to come up with a tradition, but we haven't yet. I know when the boys are a bit older, I want to give them love notes in their lunch as a surprise. For now, I'll make due with extra hugs and maybe a little something sweet for each!

I always get both of my kids the little heart shaped box of chocolates and DH & I exchange cards. We make a family dinner and eat by candlelight. If I'm off from work, we'll watch a romantic comedy after the kids are in bed. Looking forward to 2.14.09 already!!

I started a Valentine's Day in our family when our first son was 9 months old. I always make heart shaped meatloaf for each person, mashed potatoes and peas. Those were all things that my son could eat at that age, and although I could change the sides up a little, I like that this is what we have always had. My boys are now 8 and 9 years old and love the tradition, and my husband too:) Besides that we usually have heart shaped pancakes for breakfast, heart shaped sandwiches for lunch and I make everyone a little handmade valentine. It's a fun holiday that is special and such a good time to appreciate all those that I love.