Back when we were first married we ( o.k. I’ll admit it was probably me…) thought we/I had to spend a lot of money on Valentines Day to make it fun. But raising a family will teach you many things including, how to be frugal, what is most important, and changes what your “idea” of fun is.

Many years ago my husband started what has become my childrens favorite holiday tradition. I had just had a baby, and was not really in the mood to fight the crowds with a new baby and eat out for Valentines Day. My husband offered to make us dinner at home. He made chicken marsala. It was awesome! He also used a tablecloth (something we don’t do at our house!) had sparkling cider, candles, and table decorations. We invited the kids to eat with us. We turned all the lights down low and a new tradition was born. Every year we repeat the same thing and every year it is the nicest evening of the year. I can’t even begin to tell you how much the kids love it. We let them drink out of wine glasses and use the nice “china”. It really doesn’t cost anything more than a normal dinner but the excitement on the kids faces always brings me to tears.

It is so simple to start new traditions like this, that make memories for the entire family for our lifetimes, I would so much rather spend it with my husband and kids than figting the crowds. Don’t get me wrong, I like to eat out at  a nice restruant as much as anyone else, but I love this day 1,000 times more!

Assembly Instructions

• 2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
• 4 toothbrushes (packaged)
• 1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)
• 2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)
• 2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15″ by 25″. Please do not use dish towels or washcloths. To sew towels, serge or zigzag the edges of terry cloth to make a 15″ by 25″ towel.)

Who remembers the name game? You know the little song you learn in school goes something llike this;

Shirley!

Shirley, Shirley
Bo, Birley
Banana, Fanna, Foe, Firley
Fee, Fie, Moe, Mirley
Shirle!

Then you take turns calling out all the kids in the class. Apparently, my 7 year old learned this fun little song right before the Christmas break. We were the lucky recipiants of hearing this little number everyday all day long. But wait, it gets better…

A week ago I had all the kids with me plus an extra little friend. I had to run errands and drove through the drive-thru at the bank. Being a nice day I had all 4 windows down on the suburban. When I pulled up the teller at the bank, an older woman about 60, saw all 7 kids in the car and commented on never having seen that many car seats in one vehicle. I smiled and nodded, dropped my check in the canister, and sent it off. All the while my 7 year old is belting out the banana fanna song. She is going through each child in the car….

Now, my oldest son’s name is Tucker. I am sure with some imagination you can figure out what 4 letter word his name rhymes with…. got it? O.K. Now, my 7 year old gets to Tuckers name and starts singing at the top of her lungs. Tucker, Tucker bobucker, banana fanna fo *ucker… we all GASP! My older 2 know that is a bad word, the 7 year old does not. I quickly tell her to stop, she is confused, and starts all over again, only LOUDER. My older 2 are freaking out, I am trying to reach out the window and grab my cash telling her to stop at the same time. This time she gets to the offensive part and not only do all 7 of us in the car hear her loud and clear, but the nice teller lady and the man in the car next to us also hear her innocent foul song!

I looked at the teller and smiled, she looked at me and motioned to the 8 suckers she had put in the canister for me. “I put in 8 suckers, one for each of the children, and one for you. You look like you need it.” The teller says.

And with that, I headed home to ruin my 7 year olds life by telling her she was saying a bad word and that her Father and I failed to consider the “Name Game” when we were naming our children.

The other day we left to see a movie and left the kids babysitting during the day. We gave them specific instructions to NOT let ANYONE in the house for any reason, including their aunt Katie (my husband was trying to be funny!) and to not answer the phone unless it was us.

Well, my Mom stopped by to hang out with the grandkids…

This is the note they held up to the window as she was banging on the door for them to let her in!

You can stop by her blog HERE to read her account. She has a very cool picture of police dogs learning obedience and likened it unto her grandchildren.

This is what my Mom had to say, ( still stop over to her blog it is a cool picture!)

“Another example of self discipline and obedience. The other day the parents of all my grandchildren decided to see a matinee. Leaving the oldest three in charge of their younger siblings with strict instructions they headed to the movies. I was invited to go to the movies with them but at the last moment I decided it would be better to stay with the grandchildren. When I arrived, the doors were locked. I knocked. I knocked again. I heard them saying, “It’s Grandma!”

A call to the Parents and I was granted entrance. Sure, I was annoyed standing outside in the cold, but having obedient grandchildren is a wonderful thing. They were trusted with an important job and they showed they had the self discipline to do the job right. The little ones were all for opening the door, the older ones who had been entrusted and given instructions did not give in to the “temptation” even though they knew me best.”