Happy Valentines Day

I am not a fan of Valentines Day... all that pressure to put out some forced sign of affection, it's not my thing. I don't want to get flowers at the office and have people gush or be jealous... I don't want to go out to dinner to some place to share a big heartshaped bowl of spaghetti a la Lady & The Tramp for $156... I'd rather spend some time at home, watching a movie or something. Although, now that these kiddos have come into my life... Valentines Day takes on a whole new meaning. I'm trying to teach these guys to be grateful, to give service, to be kind and totally abusing Valentine's Day as an excuse to have them serve. We've been prepping for a big Valentine's Day dinner for the family + Grandma.

We made decorations all throughout the week, shopped for the ingredients together, and today we prepped some stuff for the meal. The kids love it, and they are totally excited for the fancy dinner.

This whole project has reminded me that Valentines Day is not about the flowers, the chocolates, the romance or the commercial aspect, it's about appreciating the ones you love. The kids have embraced this more than anyone and it's a bit contagious.

And because we all love a good flashback:

Valentines Day 1995 - Provo, UT (aka the frigid vortex of hyper-happy people)

Current Beau: Hugh Grant (named changed to protect his identity)

I met Hugh at a punk concert of a local band. I had recently had one of those epiphanies that I was destined for greatness, SOLO greatness. Being social (and young and dumb, but that should be implied), decided best path for greatness was to find some guy who was looking for a casual relationship.

Enter Hugh Grant... he was 10 years older than I, British, Rock Star Wannabe-working at a nightclub as a maintenance man to pay the bills, British, Lovely, British, Fun, Never wanted to leave Provo, and British. He was not my type except for the British part... I could listen to him talk all day and night. However, I love ambitious people, not people who think there best path to Rock Star Greatness was playing a small club in Provo, Utah. However, he was fun and so lovely and perfect for something super casual. After having been burned on Valentines past (oh hello broken heart, you're still hanging on to wounds from 7th grade? get over it already!) I was cautious about even going out with an actual real boy on a Valentines date.

However, Hugh was shockingly charming, must have been his British Genes. He asked me to go to a Punk Show at the Nightclub he worked at. He arrived with a rose in his teeth and we then danced the tango in the living room of my apartment. He dipped me low to the ground, and slid a flower in my hair. He was that smooth people, loved that about him. We went to the club, where we got VIP treatment. He took me up to the DJ booth, where the DJ let me "spin some tunes" before the show. (Ok, it was really just one.. but it was still awesome. I "spun" Connected by Stereo MC) He took me to the VIP lounge and even told me in a lovely sexy whisper... "If the loo is out of toilet paper, let me know I have the keys to get more." It made me chuckle, still does to this day, because he took a lot of pride in his work and he was just so caring.

After watching this not-so-famous band, who later became semi-famous, play, Hugh had arranged for dessert in a private lounge for us. We hung out and talked for hours, and then one of the band members from the not-so-famous band came up to say hello. He sang for us, and then invited us to join him, the band, and Hugh's bandmates for Breakfast at the local greasy spoon.

At breakfast, one of the bandmates told me that Hugh was "head over heels" for me... And that is where I saw my plans for SOLO greatness coming to a crashing halt. Hugh was supposed to be for "good times only" and my plan was not working out. Little did I know...I was NOT destined for SOLO greatness anyway.

Remember how I was young and dumb... The evening/ morning ended with me sufficiently spooked, and running from Hugh's car to my apartment, yelling, "Thank you, it was lovely!" over my shoulder. I might as well have given him a high five or a handshake to end the evening. Not the best way to end a carefully planned out romantic date. I didn't even write a thank you note, which I'm sure would mortify my mother. I've ALWAYS felt bad about my hasty exit, so Hugh Grant.. if you are out there... I'm so sorry. It was such a fantastic & FABULOUS evening, and such good memories!! Thank You.

Here's a link to Fork Lift Guy from last years Valentine's Flashback, for those that love awkward stories.