Valentines

The two of us.  Our kids.  Salad, coleslaw, homemade pizza.  Talking about what we loved about each person sitting around the table.

"I love Righty because we like to do the same things." - Lefty

"I love Lefty because he likes to be crazy." - Mr J

"I love Coo because she is just so, so cute and cuddly." - both Lefty and Righty

"I love Mr J because he shares his cardboard footballers with me." - Righty

"I love Daddy because when I'm mad he helps me to laugh." - Mr J

"I love Mummy because she cooks yummy meals and she has a good heart." - Mr J [seriously not sure where he picked this one up but I think it's something he's overheard and liked]

I love the idea of Valentine's Day celebrated as a family day.  Taking the opportunity to dialogue with four small children about the meaning of love is quite incredible. 

It was not a perfect day by any means.  There were spats over football games, complaints, and episodes of grumpiness [the kids too, not just me!]  During endless tired moments I saw the day stretching before me with an elasticity that felt we'd never make it to the evening meal.

But we ended that day around a table together, talking.  And it doesn't get much better than that!