Lola

In memoriam of our non-trip to Cancun (we spent all our money on the dining room remodel),

we're proud to introduce you to Lola.

Do you find your mind wandering to warmer weather too? Aww, the doldrums of winter. Wishing warmer weather upon you too!

Valentine's Day Pet Peeve

Question: Is Valentine's Day an all-inclusive holiday for your mother, father, siblings, children, their classmates, and their teachers?

Wikipedia: "Saint Valentine's Day (commonly shortened to Valentine's Day) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished" (italicized added).

Answer: No. Valentine's Day celebrates love between "intimate companions."

When my mother-in-law's first question (Love you, Lori - even though you didn't get a valentine...) last week during our Weekly Sunday Evening Webcam Session was, "What did Collin get?" I was shocked. I didn't think that's what Valentine's Day was about. I asked, "Was I supposed to get him something?"

This question prompted some research on my part. Maybe I was the one who was wrong. Fortunately for me, if Valentine's Day is celebrated between "intimate companions," Collin doesn't fit the bill. Don't get me wrong; I love Collin dearly. But he did not receive a card on Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is meant from my husband and I, not for our one-year old son. He has his birthday and Christmas, and he'll have Valentine's Day in 25 years or so.

In truth, Valentine's Day is really about commercialism. We've been told by the media that if we care about someone we have to spend money (cards, flowers, candies, dinner, etc.) on them on February 14th. I think it is sad that if we're told something over and over again, we start to buy into it (pun intended).

Am I a big fan of Valentine's Day? Heck no. Never have been. As a child, Valentine's Day presented a multitude of problems. You remember the angst of choosing which card seemed the most innocent in the packaged box to give to that stupid boy who'd been bothering you all year. You wanted to be nice, but not too nice. Then there was the equal anguish of picking the card to give to the boy you did like, but that you didn't want to know that you liked him. Of course, there was also the stress surrounding the "readings." Did he mean that? Why do I only have 21 cards in my little heart- and aluminum foil-covered shoebox? Did Casey skip me?!

Wikipedia: "The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When you include the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines."

Aww, yes, and then there's Valentine's Day as a teacher. Ten- and twelve-year olds are awkward anyways, but on Valentine's Day it was worse. Girls were crying in the bathroom about what he said at recess, and boys were freaking out at recess about the "card" (also known as a small piece of cardstock with a pre-printed, impersonal To and From) she gave him in his bag. Sigh. The first school that I taught at had it right: they banned valentine exchanges because of all the heartache and hassle it caused. Looks like St. Valentine would agree. He's probably rolling over in his grave about how far this has all gone. But, as our society has proven, the advertisers have successfully gotten us all to spend excessive amounts of money on greeting cards and the like for people like our children, their classmates and their teachers.

Was it nice to get a babysitter and an excuse to go on a date with my husband? Absolutely. Do I care that you did something for everyone you love on Valentine's Day? No. Go for it. It's your money. But please don't expect me to do something for my kid on a holiday meant for my spouse.

The End (to my rant).

Crafting

Crafter (noun): 1. one who makes crafts frequently 2. one who makes crafts well 3. one who teaches others to make crafts 4. one who exhibits confidence with making crafts

I am not a crafter. But I've had some fun this month, and I wanted to share.

1 - Collin's High Chair

2 - Love Letters Mailbox

3 - Rosette Wreath
And there you have it: A few crafts from the non-crafter who wishes she could craft.

Destructor (aka A Day in the Life)

When Mommy makes breakfast, Collin climbs up on the couch and turns on the tv.

When Mommy cleans up breakfast,

Collin decides he wants that yogurt he turned his nose up at 30 seconds earlier.

When Mommy wants to take Collin's picture,

Collin points to what he wants (the camera, of course).

When Mommy watches the evening news,

Collin makes dinner - with his toothbrush. (Pardon the sideways video and the whining.)

When Mommy makes heart-shaped sugar cookies,
Collin destroys - I mean, discovers - the dishwasher.

When Mommy uses the restroom,

Collin gets in the bath (he fell in - head first. Nice).

When Mommy makes Daddy's Valentine's Day present,

Collin empties his Church pictures book.

When Mommy skips a feeding,

Collin climbs in the rocker and tries to grab the boppy.

Oh, who knows...

When Mommy does ANYTHING without 110% attention on Collin,

Collin empties every cupboard and pushes all the chairs around for obstacles.