Wordless Wednesday

15 Sweet Valentines

For some Valentine's Day is just another Hallmark occasion...a time to buy the clichéd cards and chocolates and express the stereotypical sayings about love.

For me, it's another occasion to praise God for the precious Valentine He gave me in 2001.

Happiest 15th Birthday

to our fantastically funny and gorgeously handsome son,

Edward Stuart!!

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Birthday Boy!

Every birthday brings with it a chance to reflect. ...on the speed of time, the size of our children, and how important it is to love these kids -- each and every day -- with our entire beings.

This is our little Valentine boy...

This is him today.

 

 

14!

Wow!

And, best of all, he is 14 on the 14th, his star birthday. And he is definitely our star today!!

Happiest Birthday, Budboy! We love you more and more everyday!!

Sweet "Valentine's Birthday Boy" Sunday

Happy Birthday, Edward!

Our Valentine's Day present from God!

Born on this day at 5:38 in the morning (always the early bird, right?)...a whopping 9 lbs. and 22 inches long...NINE years ago today!!!

Wordless (mostly) Wednesday

One of my favorite birthday photos of Edward:
The 5-year-old Valentine boy

Monday Musings Done A-musingly

Happy Monday to you! Happy Presidents' Day to you!

We're past the midway point in the month and cruising crazily towards March already. Amazing, huh?

We enjoyed a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend, complete with a birthday celebration and lots of hearts and chocolates.

Edward truly enjoyed turning 8, I think. I find it hard to believe he's that age. Sigh. Only two more years and he'll be a decade old. In the double digits.

We went to Old Country Buffet for his birthday dinner. Not the sort of place you'd think would be crowded on a holiday focused on love and romance...right? Wrong. We got there close to 4 p.m., and it was already packing out. Hmm.... On our way home afterwards, we got caught in the throngs of traffic. It reminded me of Christmastime, the crowds were so thick.

Ethan seemed to enjoy his first Valentine's Day. He was indeed a heartbreaker in his "irresistible" t-shirt. He'll probably enjoy it more when he can partake of the chocolate treats for which this holiday is infamous. He turned 5 months old on Valentine's Day. Another fact that's hard to imagine. He'll celebrate his first "half-birthday" next month. Still no interest in trying to roll over again. He did it once, and I guess he's satisfied. But he's desperate to sit up. He does "crunches" all the time. Stuart said it won't be long before he has abs of steel.

Well, I'm off to enjoy a school holiday. You have to love our prezzies for creating a nice break in routine in the middle of the winter.

Ciao for now!

On Love and Valentines

It's hard to believe our Edward is "8" today. I was thinking about it last night when we were decorating the house for his birthday. The time buzzes by so quickly.

What is special about this little Valentine of ours?

He's especially tall and wispy for his age, but he looks very small next to his big sister and cousin.

He wants his hair to be "dark ash blonde" when he grows up.

He's got a great sense of humor and loves reading joke books.

He loves to reach out and hold my hand at the table.

He is awesome in mathematics, but just recently he told me in excitement that he was "full of literature" and couldn't stop writing sentences -- complete ones even, he said.

He still wants to go out on "dates" with me.

He loves wearing matching shirts with his baby brother Ethan.

He has the cutest wink.

He loves that he was born on Valentine's Day.

Happy Happy Happy 8th Birthday, Edward!
You will always be our favorite Valentine!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is the song I have playing in the sidebar video player at the moment. It's perfect on so many levels for my family. It says exactly what I feel for them.

Happy Valentine's Day to my three Valentines!!

Valentine

If there were no words
No way to speak
I would still hear you
If there were no tears
No way to feel inside
I'd still feel for you

And even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine

All of my life
I have been waiting for
All you give to me
You've opened my eyes
And showed me how to love unselfishly

I've dreamed of this a thousand times before
But in my dreams I couldn't love you more
I will give you my heart
Until the end of time...
You're all I need, my love, my Valentine

And even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time
'Cause all I need is you, my Valentine

You're all I need, my love, my Valentine

~Jim Brickman

Tea Time

A photo from my annual Valentine's Tea Party.

I started hosting it in 1995 when I moved back to Reading.

I've never been a "fan" of the official "Day of Love," (little did I know I'd give birth to a child on that day), so I decided to concentrate more on friendship than romance.

Thus, the tea party idea was born.

The guest list has evolved over the years, and now includes Emily, who co-hosts with me and invites a friend her own age to join in. It's always fun to share tea, goodies, and loving friendship.

I think that's a part of Valentine's Day, too.

My Funny Valentine

Happy Happy Happy

6th

Birthday

to our "Funny Valentine,"

Edward Stuart!

My funny Valentine

Sweet comic Valentine

You make me smile with my heart

Your looks are laughable

Unphotographable

Yet you're my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek

Is your mouth a little weak

When you open it to speak

Are you smart?

But don't change a hair for me

Not if you care for me

Stay little Valentine stay

Each day is Valentine's day...

I thought you were another daughter...and am so glad you weren't! I could never imagine being "Mommy" to a son...now, I can never imagine not being "Mommy" to a son.

Thanks for showing me all about "da guys." Thanks for keeping me laughing...and smiling...and teaching me lots of new things. Thanks for your unexpected hugs and kisses just to let me know you still love me. Thanks for saying, "I love you more" even when I yell at you. You're such a clever, sweet little boy!

If I could keep you small forever, I would, except then I would miss all the new adventures you'll take me on.

God was SO good to give you to our family!

Heart and Soul

Valentine's Day 2003

Loving each other: heart and soul!

Much More Monday Musings

Well, I've been a bit lax in my postings on here lately....kind of hit a "blog bog," so to speak.

Still, it's Monday, and I've been musing, so I'll share a few tidbits here.

* * *

I changed my video to honor our Valentine, Edward Stuart -- plus, I love Jim Brickman's music!!

Edward will be 6 on the holiday this year. 6. Hard to believe. He said he'll take the presents but keep the number 5...I think 6 is growing on him.

* * *

From my online daily calendar:

5 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

• Abraham Lincoln’s speeches

• folding origami

• a great pianist’s hands

• smiling train conductors

• a creative breakthrough

* * *

Wisdom from a soon-to-be-6-year-old:

Flies do not smell good. And they don't eat brownies.

* * *

Been there; done this: