Valentining

It's been a week full of glitter, hearts, and baked goods around here.  We've gotten in the habit of buying butter every time we go to the store because we've been baking THAT much.

Must be Valentine cookie season!  (it's a thing!  really!)

There's been a lot of love at this house this week.

Also a lot of crafting.

 And a lot of kids.

 And beautiful friends.

Our Valentine Extravaganza/ Soup was as grand as could be. We hosted 40 people, an even split of under-7s and adults.  The cookies were a tremendous success as was the tomato soup.  A few people lingered all the way from 4 until 8.  The sign of a god evening for sure...

The work week was a long one, our first five day week in a while (yes, I know comments like that are exactly why people get grumpy with teachers...), chock full of meetings and teaching and finishing up the rest of the Valentine baking and crafting in the few hours left at home.

On a positive note:  Getting up at the crack of dawn has its advantages. Here's the sunrise that greeted my upon my arrival to work on Thursday...

A cold snap hit Cleveland on Friday, with wind chills below zero that have stayed with us through the weekend.  There is frost on the inside of our windows and all of our blankets are out in full rotation.

And hearts have continued to abound.

Special Day breakfast on the actual Valentine's day.  Can I tell you  how much I love my husband?  He cooks some mean breakfast...

We battled the cold yesterday with a trip to Orchid Mania.  Thank heavens for the Botanical Garden.  Heat!  humidity!  butterflies!  Amazingly bizarre flowers!  It was perfect.

Today, on a quiet and cold President's Day, the kids and I headed to gram's house for movies and games, and a quick visit with Becca and her furbabies.

Have I mentioned that it is COLD???  We are feeling pretty done with winter around here. 

Warm hugs to you all on this cold cold February night...