Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a fabulous Valentine's Day! It started out with the boys going to Best But and the girls going to the grocery store. While we were at the store I told Addie I had a special Valentine's Day surprise for her. She then asked, "and for you and Daddy and Callen?" I said, "well, for Daddy and Callen and Addie but not for Mommy." of course she asked why and so I said, "Well, I guess no body loves mommy." and She said, "(gasp) mommy! a lot of people love you. (then she starts counting on her fingers) like Daddy and Callen and Me and Grandpa Bob, and Grandma, and Avery, and Avery's mommy, and Laura and Hayden and Hayden's mommy and Uncle Jake and Julie." I was shocked!! She just kept going. I guess when we put things into perspective we are all loved very much. I am so thankful for such a fantastic family and circle of friends.

Then we went home and did our tradition of Treasure hunts. I had different color hearts for each person to follow throughout the house with clues on them to find the next heart. Callen's questions ranged from things like Can you help mommy with the laundry (and he ran to the washing machine) from things like Are you a cowboy? Where's your horse? and he ran into the basement to his rocking horse where he found a ginormous thing of awesome bubbles. So Addie after witnessing this knew just what to do and faithfully followed her clues until she had one that read, Mommy is going to church, but where are her shoes? So she ran into my closet and found my church shoes and threw them to the side and said, OHHH! mommy look, I wanted this, i am so excited, thank you so much mommy!" Those are her exact words as she hugged the box of her PJ Sparkle dolls. She is such a sweet girl. Then we all followed Brian around as he tirelessly tried to figure out his clues. I made his hard. The clock was the hardest for him. he couldn't figure out what had hands but did not move around. It was great. At the end of his (which ended in his tool box) he found a homemade giant chocolate/ peanut butter kiss with a note from the kids (I had asked them questions about dad and then wrote down their responses, It was so stinking cute) and then a letter from me. It was such a great morning.

Then off to the couples conference. We had a stake couples conference and dance. There were three amazing classes to attend that each taught a different way to be a better spouse or improve marriage relations it was phenomenal. Anyway I was asked to help with the dinner part so we were there all afternoon preparing food and making it look pretty and it turned out great. All the stress was worth it. i know Laura took pictures so you can check her out I am sure and she will have some. I am so horrible at that. I sis not even get pictures of the kids doing their treasure hunts. Anyway back to the dance. so the whole night we were in the kitchen trying to keep the food table filled and replenished and finallywe got to go out on the dance floor for a few minutes. It was a lot of fun. We have a great stake here in Missouri.

I love Valentine's Day especially when it is your kids that remind you how much you are loved and appreciated. It is nice to be able to recognize all the things that I have in my life that I might take for granted on a daily basis like a fantastic husband that is so good and loves his wife and children with all of his heart. It is good to love and be loved. Happy Valentine's Day!