A few days before Valentine's Day, Leith started making a valentine for a friend at school out of construction paper. I asked him if he would like to make one out of some better materials I had in my work room. He jumped at the chance and we got out some great things that I have collected over the years. India joined us, and we spent several days creating some really lovely valentine cards. Leith loves a project-he and India spent about 4 hours on this one afternoon and evening.

Some of India's designs-she gave these to her friends at school.

Some of my work

Leith's creations

India made this one- it says, "I 'FISH' you a happy valentine' day"-strange, but clever.

The boys wore pink oxfords to school on the day of their class Valentine's Day parties. Niall has his box for collecting valentines and Leith has a card for his teacher and one for his special friend, Dyllin, who is a girl :)

We had a fun Valentine's Day. We ate 'toad in the hole' -with heart shaped cut-outs and bacon for breakfast. Niall sang in a special group of children with the choir at church and Leith gave the Article of Faith in Primary. They wore their pink shirts again, but with ties and Sunday pants. Later, we had a nice dinner with Kevin's parents, Heather, who is married now and on her way to El Paso, Coral, Lance, and Diana, who is moving back to CA shortly. We will miss her-and her pies. She brought a fresh raspberry pie as a final farewell offering.

I think of Valentine's Day as day for family fun and celebration. My parents met at a Valentine's Day activity, and over the years, my mother has always sent cards and gifts to us and to our children. I have been frustrated with the dread with which my teen aged girls have approached this event over the last few years. I hope to draw them into a more wholesome view and to continue to reject over-priced flowers and crowded restaurants on this holiday.