I have stalled in writing posts for this blog because I wasn't sure what to write. No more excuses. I am just going to write what's going on with us. Hope I don't bore everyone.
Dustin and I didn't have any big plans for Valentine's Day. Our anniversary was 2 weeks ago and my birthday is in 2 weeks, so we've had occasion to celebrate. We also don't like the crowds at restaurants on V-day.
Friday, Dustin called me and said to get ready because he was taking me out for a surprise. We ended up going to look at turquoise jewelry, something to match a pendant Dustin gave me last year. We didn't find anything either of us loved though. It was a wonderful thought. We will look more another time.
Saturday, Dustin went coyote hunting in the morning with Chris and Erik. They had a good time with a few successes. In the afternoon we cleaned out the garage. Then in the evening Wes and Mikelle and their 3 kids came over. We ate on heart-shaped plates and the kids helped me make giant rice crispy "kisses." This is a tradition from when I was little. I'm not sure where my mom got the idea, but each year we would make rice crispy treats and shape them into a giant "kiss" with a funnel. We write a Valentine message on a strip of paper and wrap the treat in shiny foil. We would give them to friends and teachers. This year I had funnels of different sizes and the kids enjoyed deciding which was the appropriate size for our Valentines. We had a good time getting sticky!
Sunday was church and Dove (my favorite) heart-shaped chocolates all around.
Last night, Monday, we met at the big house (Dustin's parents') and celebrated our nephew, Christopher's, seventh birthday. He got to choose his favorite food for the birthday meal. We ate steak, white rice with butter, Olive Garden salad, Martinelli's sparkling apple cider, and Olive Garden's Black Tie Chocolate Mouse Cake for dessert and the birthday cake. It was a fun evening. I especially loved when Christopher was practicing his surprised faces for when he would open his presents. It was hilarious as his mom coached him: "Okay, more excitement. Now, this one do a Pratt-version. Bigger eyes. Let's see a surprise dance..." I hope that Sarah got some good photos.
Sarah is in the final stretch of her pregnancy. Technically, she has 3 weeks until her due date. But she is scheduled for a C-section on March 2nd, if she doesn't have him sooner. She informed me last week that she has given up trying not to waddle. She is now a constant waddler. The baby doesn't have a name yet, and so her 2 boys just refer to him as "the new baby." Last night Matthew blessed the food. It is really cute when Matthew asks in his prayers to "please bless the new baby." His sincerity and love for his brother that hasn't been born is sweet and quite touching.
Our Valentine's Day (weekend) was filled with friends and family, good food, and love.
