Valentine’s Day Awesomeness

I am turning over a new leaf (just for today) and posting about a holiday on the actual day it occurs (never mind that I haven’t finished my Christmas post yet).

Valentine’s Day celebrations started early at our house, with this sweet little gift that Lizza gave to me and Daniel yesterday.  Our very own Valentine wallet! (to share – she made us promise to take turns.) She was so excited to give us something that we could “actually use, like to take to Target, or the bank, or work, or wherever else grownups like to take their wallets.” 


The part she was most excited to show me about was how it even had real pockets on the inside.  She demonstrated their usefulness by putting my phone and keys in there.  I must say, I took it to Target last night (inside my purse) after Tristan informed me he had volunteered to bring ice-cream to his class party, and it worked like a charm.


Then Rachel couldn’t bear to wait, and asked if she could give me a present early, too.  She justified it by saying that I might really want to use her present on Valentine’s Day, so it was okay if she gave it early.  It was a special Valentine Coupon Book.  Inside there were coupons for “one dinner I’m going to make it”, “a day of washing the dishes”, and “a day of cleaning the house” (a whole day! for sure I will use those ones on a weekend to get the best use out of them).

This coupon was by far my favorite, though – “A hole after noon of peace and quiteness.”  Haha!  This girl knows what makes me truly happy.  Do you think I could make copies of this coupon and use them over and over again?

Pretty much all day yesterday was spent making Valentine cookies for the older three kids to take to school.  We did the kind with royal icing – they’re so fun, because it’s easy for even the kids to make neat designs.

(well, not Henry – he just covered his with dots of frosting and ate it)






We made more than 70 sugar cookies!                            



And now for an awesome Valentine story:  Tristan’s 5th grade teacher had a great idea for their class Valentines exchange – she requested that they each think of a compliment for every person in the class, and then write it on their card for that person.  When Tristan told me about it, I thought that he would just write out a bunch of quick, meaningless, two-word notes (you’re nice, you’re smart, etc.).  I should have known better (this is Tristan, after all).  He took his cards into the study and started looking words up on dictionary.com – I asked what he was doing, and he told me that he didn’t want to repeat the same words on everyone’s card, but he knew he was going to want to tell a lot of them basically the same thing, so he was going to look on the thesaurus to find more good words to use.

I didn’t really think about it again until last night after the kids were in bed and I was putting all of their cookies in little bags and attaching the cards.

Out of curiosity, I turned over one of the cards to see what the compliment was:  “I like how you are very friendly and affectionate.”  I started laughing to picture what some little 5th-grade girl was going to think about this compliment (or her parents!  affectionate?), and then I remembered Tristan’s thesaurus use, and decided maybe I should check the rest of his cards. 


I started reading some of them out loud to Daniel, and we were dying laughing by the end.  Maybe it was because it was 11:00 at night, but every compliment just seemed so funny when I pictured the puzzled looks that were going to be on the faces of his classmates.

“I like how you are always cheerful and I can honestly say that I have never see you upset or angry!”   (so glad he’s being honest here)


“I like how you are responsible and hardly ever getting off task!” (I love the “hardly ever” – because hey, we all get off task once in awhile)


Another “hardly ever”:

The exclamation points after every one are killing me!

This one is one of my favorites!  “I like how you are secure and how you never give up!”  (Because really, what 5th grader doesn’t want to be told how “secure” they are?) 


I noticed on most of his notes he went the extra mile and gave two-part compliments, and usually the second part at least had something to do with the first (supportive=helping others), but I’m not sure I see the connection on this one.

Other awesome characteristics Tristan has noticed in his friends:  “open-mindedness”

“Optimism”:


“Calmness” (plus, this one never “acts up” like some of those other rascals in class) 


Then he got to the funny kids, but of course he couldn’t just say “you’re funny!”.
 
“I like how you are so good-humored and are always saying funny things.”  (Good humored??  Has an 11-year old ever even said those words before?  I am 31 and I know for sure I haven’t.)

“I like how you are always making jokes and acting comical!”

Oh, Tristan, how we love you!

Here is my Valentine to you:

“Dear Tristan:  Thank you for being such a thoughtful and sincere and kind person.  I like how you are cheerful and mature and responsible and hardly ever get off task or act up, and you are calm and supportive and secure and never give up, and you really are excited about everything and optimistic and open-minded and good-humored and maybe even a tiny bit comical at times.  And I can honestly say I think you are the best 11-year old ever and I love you a million.  Love, Mom.”