I love you like fat kids love cake {14 Days of Valentines}

I am kind of a lazy mom.  I like to do fun things for my small humans, but I sometimes mostly lack the follow-through to get it done.  I managed to pull off 24 days of Elf on the Shelf this past Christmas, thanks in part to the calendar I made when I was feeling really "Super-Mom-This-Is-Going-To-Be-SO-AWESOME-How-My-Kids-Will-Adore-Me" about it.  I lost steam half-way through but totally pulled it off for the big win at the end.  I'm classy like that.  And also, Uriah helped.

Last year I wanted to do 14 Days of Valentines, something small each morning when the kids woke up to let them know they are special and we love them.  They are special and we love them 365 days a year, but those days they get things like, dinner and, you know, electricity as tokens of our undying love for them.  Finn didn't get it last year (much like the our elf, Reginald VanWinkle this past Christmas) but it was fun for me and I've come to the realization lately that as long as whatever scheme I've cooked up for them is fun for me, I don't really care if they get the full meaning behind what I'm doing.  They will someday.  And then they will shout from the rooftops how great a childhood they had (now they're just annoyed that I make them shovel snow and pee in the potty, so I think that revelation of my awesomeness is a long way off.  I can wait.).

This year our 14 Days of Valentines theme (yes, there is a theme.  Martha Stweart is my Godmother.) is We Go Together like [fill in the blank here 14 times]...  and I must say, I think it's a genius move on my part.

Finn and I are headed to Duluth tomorrow because let's face it, it's already noon, so today is shot as far as heading into the big city goes, and I'm pretty sure most of what I want can't be procured at the ShopKo-Formerly-Pamida.  While I had this great idea a few weeks ago, I failed on the follow-through (big surprise) and now we are going to have scramble tomorrow to get our Valentine's printed and buy some stuff (like socks and underwear).

So even if our Valentine tomorrow shows up at dinner instead of breakfast, I'm happy and that's all that matters.  And 351 days of showing them love with running water will resume sooner than they think, anyway!

**EDIT:  My Dad emailed me earlier; I think he thought all those college dollars he spent were wasted money.  There are only 13 Valentines here because on Valentine's Day we go all Hallmark on our small humans and get them real, fancy cards.  I also get them a new shirt to wear on Valentine's Day - cheesy pink with hearts and sparkles and kitties and unicorns.  Finn's usually says "I love my Mommy," for obvious reasons.

I am kind of a lazy mom.  I like to do fun things for my small humans, but I sometimes mostly lack the follow-through to get it done.  I managed to pull off 24 days of Elf on the Shelf this past Christmas, thanks in part to the calendar I made when I was feeling really "Super-Mom-This-Is-Going-To-Be-SO-AWESOME-How-My-Kids-Will-Adore-Me" about it.  I lost steam half-way through but totally pulled it off for the big win at the end.  I'm classy like that.  And also, Uriah helped.

Last year I wanted to do 14 Days of Valentines, something small each morning when the kids woke up to let them know they are special and we love them.  They are special and we love them 365 days a year, but those days they get things like, dinner and, you know, electricity as tokens of our undying love for them.  Finn didn't get it last year (much like the our elf, Reginald VanWinkle this past Christmas) but it was fun for me and I've come to the realization lately that as long as whatever scheme I've cooked up for them is fun for me, I don't really care if they get the full meaning behind what I'm doing.  They will someday.  And then they will shout from the rooftops how great a childhood they had (now they're just annoyed that I make them shovel snow and pee in the potty, so I think that revelation of my awesomeness is a long way off.  I can wait.).

This year our 14 Days of Valentines theme (yes, there is a theme.  Martha Stweart is my Godmother.) is We Go Together like [fill in the blank here 14 times]...  and I must say, I think it's a genius move on my part.

Finn and I are headed to Duluth tomorrow because let's face it, it's already noon, so today is shot as far as heading into the big city goes, and I'm pretty sure most of what I want can't be procured at the ShopKo-Formerly-Pamida.  While I had this great idea a few weeks ago, I failed on the follow-through (big surprise) and now we are going to have scramble tomorrow to get our Valentine's printed and buy some stuff (like socks and underwear).

So even if our Valentine tomorrow shows up at dinner instead of breakfast, I'm happy and that's all that matters.  And 351 days of showing them love with running water will resume sooner than they think, anyway!

**EDIT:  My Dad emailed me earlier; I think he thought all those college dollars he spent were wasted money.  There are only 13 Valentines here because on Valentine's Day we go all Hallmark on our small humans and get them real, fancy cards.  I also get them a new shirt to wear on Valentine's Day - cheesy pink with hearts and sparkles and kitties and unicorns.  Finn's usually says "I love my Mommy," for obvious reasons.

Why isn't every day a special occasion?

{ source }

I got up this morning with my regular sloth-like energy (I really am not a morning person).  Finn managed to sleep in his own bed until 6:30 (praise the Lord) and then he snuggled into "our" bed and proceeded to sleep for another 45 minutes or so.  By 7:15 he  was wiggly, by 7:30 he was all: "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Let's go downstairs and have some breakfast together!"  

I need to change the delay time on my coffee maker.  To earlier.  I tried to convince Finn that we couldn't go downstairs until we smelled the coffee (it's set for 7:50).  He insisted he could smell the coffee (it was 7:32).  The day had begun.

We ate breakfast, two bowls of cereal for him, an egg supplemented mostly by coffee for me, and then we headed back upstairs to get dressed and face the day.  I've started to let Finn pick out his own outfit in the morning (pants and shirt, socks and underwear) in an effort to make getting dressed go a little quicker and smoother. The boy would lounge around in just his undies all day long if I let him (some days I do). But it's cold here, so I try to get him dressed quickly. Today I let him lounge a bit. He read stories and played cars and by the time his feet felt like little toe-sickles, I decided it was time to get dressed. Which meant me, too.

As I was standing in my closet, debating between another day of leggings and a sweatshirt, or yoga pants and a sweatshirt, it occurred to me that I really haven't dressed in anything but the above two options for weeks. Maybe (probably) longer.  When I do leave the house it either to a) pick up Abby from school- no one sees me. b) run to the grocery store - hat, mittens, big puffy jacket. c) walk to the library - hat, mittens, big puffy jacket.  If my hair is in a pony 12 days in a row, I'm not really bothered because, well - nobody sees it.

But this morning, as I debated my wardrobe options, it dawned on me that people do see me - important people. Those 3 people see me every single day and I wondered, aren't they worth getting dressed up for? Isn't it just as important to look put together and alive, ready to tackle whatever the day may throw at us, even if the only thing the day is going to throw at us is trains and playdough? Besides that, I'm pretty sure my husband would like to see me in something other than black yogas or black leggings or sweatshirts. Loungey and lazy is ok once in awhile, but I do have hair that doesn't require a 24/7 pony, I do own mascara and I have clothes that are not completely made of stretchy cotton.

So this morning I showered, I shaved my legs, I put on a dress and I curled my hair. I am wearing make-up. I put on my fancy perfume and some jewelry. It is Tuesday and we are going nowhere. My husband is working late and my dinner dates are 13 and 2. We are going to eat off of the wedding china tonight and I will warm up a plate for Uriah when he gets home. Today is special, it doesn't need a grand occasion to give it reason, purpose, or substance. Today. Is. Special.

This year I plan to make more of our ordinary days a special occasion.

{ source }

I got up this morning with my regular sloth-like energy (I really am not a morning person).  Finn managed to sleep in his own bed until 6:30 (praise the Lord) and then he snuggled into "our" bed and proceeded to sleep for another 45 minutes or so.  By 7:15 he  was wiggly, by 7:30 he was all: "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Let's go downstairs and have some breakfast together!"  

I need to change the delay time on my coffee maker.  To earlier.  I tried to convince Finn that we couldn't go downstairs until we smelled the coffee (it's set for 7:50).  He insisted he could smell the coffee (it was 7:32).  The day had begun.

We ate breakfast, two bowls of cereal for him, an egg supplemented mostly by coffee for me, and then we headed back upstairs to get dressed and face the day.  I've started to let Finn pick out his own outfit in the morning (pants and shirt, socks and underwear) in an effort to make getting dressed go a little quicker and smoother. The boy would lounge around in just his undies all day long if I let him (some days I do). But it's cold here, so I try to get him dressed quickly. Today I let him lounge a bit. He read stories and played cars and by the time his feet felt like little toe-sickles, I decided it was time to get dressed. Which meant me, too.

As I was standing in my closet, debating between another day of leggings and a sweatshirt, or yoga pants and a sweatshirt, it occurred to me that I really haven't dressed in anything but the above two options for weeks. Maybe (probably) longer.  When I do leave the house it either to a) pick up Abby from school- no one sees me. b) run to the grocery store - hat, mittens, big puffy jacket. c) walk to the library - hat, mittens, big puffy jacket.  If my hair is in a pony 12 days in a row, I'm not really bothered because, well - nobody sees it.

But this morning, as I debated my wardrobe options, it dawned on me that people do see me - important people. Those 3 people see me every single day and I wondered, aren't they worth getting dressed up for? Isn't it just as important to look put together and alive, ready to tackle whatever the day may throw at us, even if the only thing the day is going to throw at us is trains and playdough? Besides that, I'm pretty sure my husband would like to see me in something other than black yogas or black leggings or sweatshirts. Loungey and lazy is ok once in awhile, but I do have hair that doesn't require a 24/7 pony, I do own mascara and I have clothes that are not completely made of stretchy cotton.

So this morning I showered, I shaved my legs, I put on a dress and I curled my hair. I am wearing make-up. I put on my fancy perfume and some jewelry. It is Tuesday and we are going nowhere. My husband is working late and my dinner dates are 13 and 2. We are going to eat off of the wedding china tonight and I will warm up a plate for Uriah when he gets home. Today is special, it doesn't need a grand occasion to give it reason, purpose, or substance. Today. Is. Special.

This year I plan to make more of our ordinary days a special occasion.