Starting traditions

I have never been a big fan of Valentines day, especially during my dating years. There is just to much pressure and expectation, exchanging gifts is always fun but I've always feel uncomfortable when opening gifts in front of people. Anyways I remember loving Valentines day when I was in Elementary school. It was so fun to make the little mail boxes for your desk and then passing out all your valentines. I remember sit at the kitchen table with my class list and pick out which invitations I would give to who, plus who doesn't love a party day at school where they serve sugar cookies!?!

It was never any grand gesture or elaborate gift, but on Valentines day my Mom would always clean up our rooms for us and decorates our beds with candies and a Valentines day card and letter. I mentioned this to her the other day and I am not even sure she remembers doing it, but it meant the world to me and always made the day seem extra special. This is why I have chosen to carry the tradition on with my own children. I know AJ is a little young to get it yet but I did it this year anyways.

We spent Friday making cookies and decorating them for all our friends. I guess I never realized how hard it can be to make cookies with a little helper, especially since I like my cookies to look perfect but I just had to let that go! AJ's favorite part is rolling out the dough and moving the cookies onto the baking sheet. Some of the cookies looked more like the anatomical version of a heart than the traditional Valentines day shape after he moved them but it's the thought that counts right!?! ha ha ha. (It was a day at home making cookies so please feel free to not judge my appearance! You don't get good mom marks for make-up and Fancy clothing, he he!)
Please note the helicopter band-aid on AJ's hand. He found them in the bathroom last week and has had one on his hand ever since. They usually last about 3 days and then have to come off, but he makes sure he gets a new one put on the right way ASAP! It must be the right hand and the helicopter has to be facing him, those are the rules and they are unflinchingly ridged!

While he napped we worked on the icing and then got them ready for Saturdays delivery. It was fun to let AJ take the cookies to the door and give them out to all his little friends, he was a little sad when we got home and he realized there where only a few cookies left for him!
We also made a trip down to the Woodburn outlet mall. It is about 45 minutes away but they have a columbia store with the best prices on rain jakets, which we were in major need of, so off we went. Part of our christmas gift from Aaron's parents included "rain coat money" which turned out to be perfect since we are finally seeing a little rain down here in Portland. We found great omnitech jackets that were a steal of a deal, what do ya think!?! So we are new to the 10 second timer but we got it in the end! This first one looked to low so I was squating to be in the picturesThen it all got a little to up close and personal!Finally we got it! Aren't they great, we love then so THANKS AGAIN POYTRESS'S!Later that evening Aaron and I were invited out to Gustavus for dinner with 5 other couples. It was a really cool German restaurant which we had never been to but I defiantly think we will be back. The food was great but a little scary if you aren't familiar with German food so we made sure to check out the on-line menu at home first. We knew everyone there but have never hung out with any of the couples before and it ended up being a lot of fun! We love getting to know new people and we are excited about new friends.We got home, put AJ to bed and curled up on the couch watch ocean's eleven. It was a great night and I have to give a big thanks to Dust & Lyndz for watching our little man while we went out to dinner, it's nice to just be a couple sometimes.