Happy Valentine's Day!!

My kids came home from school today beaming with smiles.  Their Valentine's boxes were stuffed to the rim with treats and hearts.

Christian's Domo Valentine's Box

Sophie's Valentine Monster Box

Let's be honest, Valentine's Day is kind of a hokey tradition.  The older I get, I realize that this day is not about romance.  It does however, provide an excuse to tell people I adore how much they mean to me.  I feel blessed.

***

Three years ago today, my family held the funeral for my dear Grandma Helen.  She was such a light to all who knew her.  It was Valentine's Day.  It was the perfect day to honor her valiant life.

It is amazing how much I still miss her.

At the gravesite, my mom and her three sisters provided a bright pink / red balloon for each grand child.  We let them go as we said our final goodbye to a woman who changed each of us.

Valentine's Day is not just about romance...but it is about love.  It is a perfect reminder of my 2012 focus which is l.o.v.e = t.i.m.e.

Happy Valentine's Day!!
xoxoxox

One pet, two pets, three pets, four...

A few months ago, Lauren's class was studying Anoles.  Lauren asked me if she could put her name in the "Lottery" to adopt one.  I casually said, "Maybe" thinking there was no way I would firmly agree to it and I also figured that with three 5th grade classes, there was no way that her name would be selected.

I was wrong. Lauren's name was chosen and she came home with not one, but two anoles.  As soon as my boys saw them, they went ballistic.  They insisted on "equality" and "fairness," so, long story short, we now have four anoles.

Wow...what just happened?

***

As I have mentioned in the past, I HATE PETS!!  My kids have been begging for a dog, a snake, and it should be also be mentioned, a panda bear.  I have stood my ground and adamantly said "NO!" every time.  So, it goes without saying, that I laugh to think that there are now 4 green lizards in my house.

But my kids are beyond thrilled.  They absolutely love their little creatures.  They hold them all the time.  They pull them out and let them watch movies with us, they sit on their arms during homework, Lauren has played Bingo with one and all four lizards made the road trip to Utah in a small plastic box.  

The best part?  The kids got their pet and I don't have to do one bloody thing.  No hair, no chewing on furniture, no vet appointments, no house training, no licking and fortunately, no smell.  All that I have to do is go to Petco once a month to buy a container of worms.

Not a bad deal if you asked me.