Valentine's Day

Here are some of Gianna's Valentine's we made this year.

Her little mailbox purse, BEFORE...

....and AFTER... 

Instead of sending more sugary sweets to Gianna's classmates, I made this little sun-catchers out of.....*drumroll, please*.....TOILET PAPER ROLLS and tissue paper.

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I went to Gianna's school help the kids pass out their Valentine's.  I get so tickled because our family friend's little boy is in the Kindergarten class and comes to G's class every morning to greet her.

He is SO adorable and absolutely hilarious - as are both his brothers.

Watching their little exchanges in the mornings is like watching a coming of age movie with tiny little actors. Brady saunters toward her classroom, leans against the door frame, calls Gianna's name and then says, "Hey, where's my hug."  It's like watching a little miniature Fonzie from Happy Days.

I think I've said before that Valentine's Day is NOT my favorite holiday. It never has been. Being single for 30+ years pretty much set the stage - and even after I met Iain, that holiday seemed to always be tainted. I think we had our 1st argument on Valentine's Day and somehow each year following we were experiencing some sort of disappointment or irritation. And now, well, I guess you can imagine how rotten these last two have been without Iain. For some reason, I cried all day yesterday. I would have done anything to have even a crappy day with my greatest love. Ugh.
The worst part is that I don't even get to ignore the holiday. I have a precious four year old that is thrilled with each holiday and who had her 1st school experience with sending and receiving Valentine's.  I have to pretend that it is the most wonderful day of the year...for her. Don't get me wrong, she's worth the effort and sacrifice, but...ouch.

This little conversation hard says it most kindly...