Happy Valentine's Day...

Today was a BUSY day! We were up and going early...I'm usually up early, but the "going" part is where I struggle...by 8:30 am, all kids were out the door to school and our social worker was pulling up in the driveway for our one-year post adoption home study visit. WOOHOO! We're done with that! Then the girls came back home from school...early release day for middle and high school. Abby and her buddy Kennedi wanted to go to the elementary to visit with some of their teachers and help out. I was heading over there later in the day for Mickey's Valentine's Day party, so it was an extra trip, but I decided that there were worse things our teenagers could be doing on an afternoon off than hanging out at their alma mater. I left Mindy home with Caroline, ran them to school, ran a couple of errands and ran home. After lunch, Mindy, Caroline and I headed back to school for the party...yeah, pre-nap...luckily, Caroline is like royalty at school...her arrival is heralded, without exception, and she gets the choice seats and the best treats. Before I knew it, she was face first in a red velvet cupcake (mighty tasty, I might add)! Then she made the rounds with the big girls, visiting all their old teachers. By the time we got out of there, I was beat, and so was she!

Caroline was very interested in Mickey's "Fun Dip"...

like she needed any more sugar!

The big girls scooped her up to visit their old teachers...

Meanwhile, Mickey delivered his valentines...

On a side note, I'm fairly confident that I could leave Caroline in Mickey's classroom all afternoon and find her nose still buried in books upon my return. Mrs. Mc. has an awesome collection of books, and Caroline makes a bee-line for the books every time we visit.

Luckily, I had a relaxing evening in store. Jon recruited the girls for babysitting and took me out to dinner. We had a nice time actually talking without interruption...a far cry from last Valentine's Day. Last year, we celebrated by taking a dinner cruise down the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China. The food was forgettable...or maybe UNforgettable, but the view was amazing. It was a beautiful night...warm for February...and after dinner we spent the rest of the cruise outside on the top deck, taking in the sights...and taking tons of pictures! It happened to be the 20th anniversary of our first real date, so we had the kids take a picture of us...my, how things change in a couple of decades. I never imagined we'd be where we were 20 years later. I'll have to search my old photos for a picture of us back from the good old days, as long as you promise not to make fun of our huge 80s glasses...WHY didn't anyone notice how UGLY those things were? Seriously...

On the Pearl River...Guangzhou, China...February 14, 2007



Twenty years after our first date...and I thought dinner

at Chi-Chi's and a movie was pretty spectacular...

When we got home, I gave each of the kids their Valentine's Day treats...chocolate in various favorite forms...Mickey asked for "one of those big red hearts full of chocolate just for ME"...knowing he wouldn't eat one of those variety deals, I thankfully found a "big red heart" full of Hershey's kisses, and he was thrilled! Of course, he absconded with his chocolates before I could get a photo, as did the girls with their choice chocolates, but I did manage to get a picture of Caroline with her "Cooh-tee" monster. He runs a close second to Elmo, Pooh and Little People, and every time she sees his picture, she does the cutest deep voice imitation and says, "COOH-TEE, PEASE!" Too funny...

I don't think she can read yet, although she does know two letters...

A and O!

Why, you ask, does her heart belong to Daddy?

Well, one reason might be his homemade chocolate shakes...

When he asks, "Who wants a milkshake?",

she comes running with her hand in the air, shouting, "ME! ME! ME!"

I am not kidding when I say this kid makes me laugh EVERY SINGLE DAY! She is a riot! Oh, my first three kids were funny, too...many of their antics seemed funnier in retrospect...a feather pillow exploding all over my bedroom and bathroom coming to mind...but this time around, I'm a little better at living in the moment and appreciating the humor in a situation...I said a little better...I still have my days where it's tough to muster a chuckle until after the fact. For instance, last week Caroline filled her diaper after I put her down for a nap...and decided to take off her diaper...yeah...I had to run an errand, so Abby found her, cleaned her up and left the crib mess for me...I was none to happy about cleaning up that one, but at least her struggle with regularity made for an easier clean-up. The worst part was that Abby said our dog...our PICKY dog...made off with a little tidbit before she could stop him. BLEH! Needless to say, we avoided his kisses for a few days! I'll stop there, but I've got more...I'm telling you, every day she makes me laugh, and hopefully that story brought a smile to your face, as well!