Other Things Going On Besides Valentine's Day

Besides Valentine adventures, we celebrated or pretended to celebrate some other holidays. 

I'm sure when I finally blog about Valentine's Day(s), it will be anticlimactic.

In the meantime...

February 11 was National Peppermint Patty Day. I ate one. I wished Jr. a happy National Guitar Day that day. He can play the guitar.

February 12 was Charles Darwin's Birthday. I thought of a discussion that happened during our Galentines activity. We were talking about the comedian Tim Hawkins and someone brought up how he has a bit about Darwin. I mentioned that Charles Darwin's birthday was coming up and we joked about celebrating. It turned out I was too busy that day to do anything except think about how it was Charles Darwin's birthday.

February 13 was National Tortellini Day. I realized the tortellini we had was too old so I made something completely different for dinner- red-and-white mostaccioli (with penne). 

I have no pictures to go along with these celebrations. Huh.

Oh well. Blog later. Bye. 

Galentines

Party time!

Nichole and I went to a Galentines celebration with friends. We had a potluck dinner and did some getting to know you activities.

Our friend, Stephanie, shared some things with us to remind us that our best Valentine, the one who loves us most, is the Savior.

After those activities, a few of us stayed to watch a movie. 

It was another great night with friends. 

 

P.S. That morning I got out for probably my last walk at the park before the lights are turned off.

Mostly Valentines and Galentines

Galentines!

Nichole and I took some bonding time together near Valentine's Day. It was actually on February 11 which was Peppermint Patty Day. We went to the Orem Library and picked up a movie to watch. It was Follow the Fleet with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Then we had some fun with shadows in the park. It was one of the last days they had the lights on. 

We stopped by Winco and picked up some peppermint patties (and other treats since Nichole doesn't actually like peppermint patties) then we went home to watch our movie. 

Jr. made us some popcorn. What a sweetie.

Love bonding time with my gal. 

 

February 13 was National Tortellini Day. I made Hamburger Soup and added tortellini to it. 

February 14 was Valentine's Day of course. Here's how I celebrated:

When I sent the kids off to school in the morning, I encouraged them to spread love and kindness.

I went on a walk by the lake and got to see some cool ice stacks. I saw a bald eagle in a tree as I was looking around.

I stopped by the library to pick up a book on hold, the movie, Penguin: Spy in the Huddle, because I completely forgot to get it for Penguin Awareness Day in January, and my own "Blind Date with a Book." The book turned out to be Meet Me at the Museum, which I still haven't read because I've been reading so many other books.

I said "Hi" to Libby the Librantula. I always love it when she's out where I can see her.

At home I cleaned up the aftermath of Valentine box construction. I love to see the creativity in my family.

This is how Lucky's Rockhopper Penguin box turned out. 

Jeremy helped Lucky design Valentine's for the kids in his class. Each design had a different bird with courtship info about that bird.

I baked bread.

I made sack dinners for Jeremy and Nichole to eat at Life, The Universe, and Everything symposium they went to again this year.

Jet and I picked up Nichole to take her to the conference with Jeremy.

We had heart shaped pizza for dinner. The boys made sure I cut it in a zig zag way. Oh no. It's a broken heart.   

I got to listen to Jr. Jr. and Jet laughing together and just being plain cute.

 

February 15 was National Gumdrop Day. I forgot to get the gumdrops out for that holiday so we had gumdrops the day after with cookie candy flowers the boys put together.

 

February 16 was National Almond Day so I had a salad with almonds in it for lunch. 

I had Jr. make a Valentine's dinner for Jeremy and me since Jeremy wasn't available on Valentine's Day. Jr. made Ogre Stew from The Fablehaven Cookbook.

Wow. Plenty busy around Valentine's we were.

Galentines

I heard of a thing this year I hadn't heard of before. Galentines. Basically Girls' Night, getting your family or friend girls together for a party/get together near Valentine's. I thought it would be great for Nichole and me to do it since we're the only girls in our family and we were due for some one on one bonding time.

So we got our treats together and started our movie and paused it quite a few times because of people coming out and interrupting as often happens in our home.

Jr. did make us popcorn (thank you, Jr.) and at one point we had another gal join us.

"So what are we watching? I just love nights like this." Then when I got my phone out, "Oh, girl selfie."

He didn't stay long, just long enough to give us a good laugh. Have I mentioned how much I love my husband and his sense of humor?

P.S. Yesterday, February 11, was Peppermint Patty Day so we had some at the end of the day. I just fell asleep before I got a chance to blog.