A Valentinesy Week

Blah!  I am totally a broken record when I complain that I am once again behind on the blog.  I started a new part-time job a few weeks ago and that has been the main cause of my delay.  Also, Michael's grandfather passed away last week and that has caused some minor upheaval to our day to day lives, mostly just because Michael is going to Vermont for the funeral. 

Anyway.  Going back a couple of weeks to February 13th.  We got all of the Valentine goodies ready for school.

Socks for teachers. 

Applesauce for Elliott's classmates. 

Kool-Aid singles for Spencer's classmates. 

On Valentine's Day we got a surprise and delightful visit from Winston.

He was even dressed IN a Valentine!

He brought Valentine's cards and peanut butter cup hearts for the kids.  The Pokemon stuff was from parents. 

Spencer's place at the table. 

Michael's (Winston brought the parents cards too!)

Elliott's

Mine

I had to work on Valentine's Day.  A first grader asked me if she could lick my necklace.  Um, NO. 

After work I met all the boys at Spencer's last running club meet.  Then we went out for an early dinner.  And by early I mean we got there at about 4:50. 

There was no wait at all at that time and we had a perfectly lovely time. 

Pesto deviled eggs for an appetizer. 

And duck fat fries with cheese sauce, bacon and caramelized onions.  Yes, they were delicious.  Yes, I want some right now. 

Spencer got sauceless wings for dinner. 

Michael got a burger. 

Elliott had pizza. 

I got a chicken sandwich. 

We went out for ice cream after dinner. It also wasn't busy, probably because we got there around 6 which is when everyone else was getting to dinner. 

Michael and I got ice cream sandwiches.  The ice cream was great.  Neither of us loved the cookies. 

The day after Valentine's Day I went to Elliott's parent/teacher conference.  My last ever preschool conference. 

Spencer had early release from school so I took them to lunch, 

And then to see the Lego Batman movie. It was hilarious, but I still almost fell asleep a few times.....comfy reclining seats, dark theatre, full tummy. 

On Thursday morning (the 16th), Ginger made it clear she was not getting out of bed. 

I worked all day and then went to Spencer's parent/teacher conference.  I had to sit in the little chair and wait. 

It was about 2 minutes before bedtime when we realized we hadn't taken Elliott's 5 year- 2 month picture. 

Official.  

See his puffy left eye?  It's like this kid can create eye issues on demand whenever he knows a photo session is coming. 

Galentine's Day

Maryellen hosted our February sisterhood get-together.  She hosted a Galentine's Day brunch.  Not familiar with Galentine's Day?  Let me explain by cutting and pasting part of an article from bustle.com. 

Galentine's Day is a holiday Amy Poehler's Parks and Rec character Leslie Knope created that occurs every year on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine's Day. As Leslie herself explains on the show: "Oh, it's only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It's like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas."  

Basically, it's like Valentine's Day, only instead of celebrating the love you have for your significant other, you spend it with your best girlfriends, who are, after all, your soul mates, and therefore deserve a holiday all to themselves, too. Leslie chooses to observe the day of lady love with brunch (her other true love), but you can kick it back lady-style however you want. Since the episode aired in 2010, it's become just as big a deal as its Valentine's Day counterpart. Ovaries before brovaries, you know?

Maryellen went all out with our first Galentine celebration.

The table

Pictures of the sisterhood all over the house. 

Gifts for everyone, include handwritten cards with absolutely lovely messages to all of us. 

Brenda brought gifts for everyone as well. 

We played games.  

Game #1 was we all had the name of a movie about female friendship on our back.  We had to ask questions about it and guess.

Joni had Steel Magnolias 

Shireen had Beaches.

Lauren had Friend Green Tomatoes.

Good lord why is the back of my head so hideous?

I had Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.

Maryellen had Miss You Already. 

I didn't get a picture of Brenda and Cynthia, and now I can't remember what they had either.  Blog Fail. 

Maryellen had quite the spread. 

Including baggie omelettes.

All of my lovely friends.  Maryellen instructed us to wear something that made us feel pretty.

Mostly champagne.  OJ just for color. 

We played a Mad Libs type game after we ate. 

Maryellen had bought this huge stuffed heart to give to the winner.  Ha, ha ha- she was the winner!

Then we took group shots. 

And Maryellen and I took pictures together because we were twins. 

Cynthia held up this pillow and thought it was a cute photo prop.

Then Joni made a joke about all of us taking a picture with it and turning it into something like the Brady Bunch. 

So this happened!

And same pictures, but white frame.

Then things got goofy with Val, who was quickly renamed Miguel. 

It was a great Galentine's Day and we're already planning and scheming for 2018.