Valentine's Day

Sorry that it has been so long since I have made an entry to the blog! It seems like the last month and a half have been even more hectic than usual. Anyway, we finally had an occasion to take the time and take pictures and post them for you all to see! What a fun weekend we have had celebrating Valentine's Day! We started the morning with Catherine watching her favorite show on TV: Hi-5 - she LOVES this show - lots of singing and dancing! Here she is enjoying the show:

Then we opened Valentine's cards and treats from grandparents and each other. Here are all of the kids together and then with some cards & treats:

Catherine especially enjoyed her treat that Daddy found for her - a soft, pink bear that rattles - three of her favorite things in one - she loved it!

Doc Sue, the boys and I had planned a special surprise Valentine's treat for Tom. He was gone for the week TDY to DC and while he was away, we planned. Doc Sue generously offered to take all of the kids for the night at her house so that Tom & I could celebrate together. Then I ordered some lobster pot pies and whoopie pies from Maine and supplemented them with scallops, rice, & broccoli that I bought here. The kids were supposed to keep the secret, but you know how it goes...much was given away when in the morning Adam asked in front of Tom "When are we going to Doc Sue's?" Tom got little clues from the boys that something was up and finally concluded that we had a surprise and that we were all going to Doc Sue's for dinner on Valentine's Day. So, that's what we let him think. When Catherine woke up from her nap, I said that the kids and I had to go get one more surprise and we left. I brought them to Doc Sue's where they received MORE Valentine's treats - see the fun they had there:

When I returned a little while later without the kids, Tom was surprised to learn the real present was that Doc Sue took the kids for the night so we could celebrate by ourselves. What a gift! Here is the meal Tom & I enjoyed by candlelight alone in our living room:

It was a wonderful Valentine's Day! Tremendous thanks to Doc Sue for the gift and to the boys for sort of keeping the surprise! We hope that we can be better with keeping you up to date now. We have friends from Ohio visiting tomorrow on the holiday - the boys are very excited!