Our Valentine's Day

So I'm not one who usually goes all out for the commercial side of Valentine's Day. I'm not a huge chocolate fan, I despise waiting for 2 hours for dinner that is served by a cranky and overworked waiter and is mediocre at best, and expectations that have been set by the greeting card company to boost their bottom line. But I got a killer deal on a new truck set for Vance (Wal-Mart's after Christmas clearance is AMAZING once January 31st rolls around). So I did cave and bought gifts for the boys and Tj. The day was filled with chorus' of "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy!" from the boys, a surprise delivery of flowers (from Tj to me), and a semi-relaxing comfort-food-filled dinner (roast, mashed potatoes, gravy and Rhodes Rolls which would have been ideal if I had a personal chef to make it for us but alas was marred only by the fact that I made it and was stressed trying to time it so that it was all ready at the same time). Literally I could not have scripted a better Valentine's Day. This is partially due to the low expectations. Let's rewind to LAST Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day 2010. Tj was going on month TWO of training in Washington DC while I held down the fort in FL. We had planned for Tj to come home for the long president's day weekend- the first time we'd see him since his leaving for training (approx 42 days). Then the HUGE winter snow storm hit and the his original flight was delayed, and then delayed again and finally canceled. Shortly after he should have been arriving- but wasn't because of the dang weather- I began an intimate relationship with my toilet thanks to a stomach flu. The next day was spent in bed and the following day was spent also in bed with Tj's dear Grandmother watching the kids as I was completely out of it. This was followed by the boys spending the remainder of the day at Nama and Pa's only to be returned at bedtime and put to bed by Nama and Pa because I was still out of it. Needless to say it was less than a stellar Valentine's Day that extended through the entire weekend.

So this Valentine's day was already a step ahead seeing as how Tj was home! The rest was just icing on the proverbial cake. Here are some of the highlights:

The boys with the package from Nama and Pa.

Spiderman chocolate and funny cards,
doesn't get better than this!

Except of course for the bubble wrap!

The other gifts (from Mom and Dad).
Toy Story chocolate- score!
New Leapster Game for Joel,
New truck set for Vance.

Tj putting together the truck set.
My hero!

A little thought on love.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner inevitably thoughts of love are brought up. This year especially I've been thinking a lot about what love is and the different forms that it's found. The boys have been exposed to the idea of "boyfriends and girlfriends" and kissing (thanks to the gym as well as friends who have teenage brothers and sisters) and so I had been thinking about the things that the world teaches about love and what I think and feel about love. My dear friend gave me Mindy Gledhill's newest CD for my birthday called "Anchor" (you can find out more about her HERE). It is such a great CD! But I love so many of the love songs on it (my previous post was inspired by one of the songs). One of my favorite songs is the title track 'Anchor' and here's my favorite line:

There are those who think that I'm strange
They would box me up and tell me to change
But you hold me close and softly say
That you wouldn't have me any other way

Here's a secret about Manda. I am incredibly self-conscious, fairly insecure and very critical of myself. I love this line because to me it sums up what I think one of the best aspects of mine and Tj's relationship. He is not only so accepting of me and who and what I am but his love is so encompassing that it does not even occur to him to want to change me. I love that if I am my own worst enemy, then Tj is my biggest champion. That is the love legacy* that I want to pass on to my boys.

*DISCLAIMER: To avoid being labeled as "one of those blogs" (you know the ones I'm talking about where everything is written with rose colored glasses) let me assure you that Tj and my relationship is far from perfect! However, that being said I love my husband and know that he loves me. And if you can't gush about that around Valentine's day when can you?! Now back to our regular programing. =)

I'll Take Less

"I'll take less if more means having less of you." Mindy Gledhill

I was talking with Tj the other night, okay I'll be honest I was whining about how frustrating life seems. It seems like I can either keep up with the housework, laundry, meals, dishes, etc or I can spend time with the boys taking them to play dates, parks, riding their bicycles, etc. It's either one or the other. And that to me is frustrating. I don't function well in chaos (although sometimes to look at my house you wouldn't guess) but I also feel this clinching in my chest every time I realize that starting this fall Joel will be gone half of every day. It's frustrating and heart-wrenching feeling like I've taken the last several years for granted and trying to make the most of what we have. Maybe I'm being dramatic (Manda dramatic, you don't say!) but I just love these boys so much and want them to be able to look back on their childhood and remember more than mommy just always washing dishes or scrubbing bathrooms. I want them to remember me playing with them and knowing that I love them. Here's my question to all of you supermommies that I'm lucky enough to call friends; how do you strike the balance between what you have to do and enjoying your time with your children?

On a less sober topic here are some pictures of the last little while.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner I decided to do a craft with the boys. I know that some day in the not to distant future crafting with Mom will be so not cool. I found these cute hearts on Martha Stewart and decided to give it a go. You can find the full instructions here. I did basically all the prep work and then for Family Home Evening we cut them out.

Vance was so excited to be able to cut ALL BY HIMSELF.
The ones that he cut were definitely all HIS. =)

Joel showing off his work.
He is actually quite good with the scissors.

I love this picture of Tj. =)

Nama and Pa bought these cars for the boys probably two years ago. You shake them to give them power and then they crash and make lots of noise. The boys LOVE them! It's amazing the lasting power of simple-albeit noisy- toys is.

Vance continues to LOVE his bicycle. Joel will ride his but Vance would live on his if we'd let him. He loves to go out with Tj and ride to the park or ride circles around the alley behind our house. Joel will sometimes join in but Vance is always up for a ride.

One of their favorite games is Tj the tire eating monstor.
Basically Vance has to ride as fast as he can away from Tj
so that his tires don't get eaten. Tj also taught him chicken.
Awesome!

Tj's already had to lift the training wheels for Vance.
I predict Vance is riding training wheel free by his birthday.