Our Almost-Free Valentine's Day

I don't remember a Valentine's Day when we were so short on cash, except perhaps when we were in college. But now there are 7 of us--6 little women to please on Valentine's Day. Not an easy feat at any time, but especially in this economy. But what I learned is that sharing love, giving gifts, and having a really great time don't have to cost money.

The night before Valentine's Day I went to the grocery store for just a few items I needed in addition to what I already had to make the day perfect (and, for me, the perfect day is all about great food!): Eggs, cream, buttermilk, Koolaid, margarine, and 15 chocolate filled gold coins (3 per nina). In all I spent $6.68. I was thrilled to have bought so much for so little!

Our Valentine's Day began with Granny's sourdough pancakes, which, of course, I cooked in heart shapes. We washed them down with pink milk!
It was snowing and blizzardy outside, so after breakfast, we all just stayed in. Maho read me online stories about love and attraction that were really interesting. We also checked out some of the interviews with the top 36 American Idol contestants.

For some of the ninas, their favorite part of the day was lunch. We went to Costco and filled up on samples! Saturday afternoons are crowded, but they are the best sample days! It was so funny. We'd walk past a sample counter and wipe 'em out with our tribe (twice at some counters)!

After the Costco sample buffet we headed to Cabela's. It's a HUGE sporting goods/hunting store just 10 minutes from where we live. The ninas and I went for the first time a couple weeks ago with Granny, and had so much fun, we decided to take Papa. We didn't spend as much time as when we went with Granny, but it still probably took an hour to look at all the taxidermy displays, aquarium, swing in the porch swings, and play with the little stuffed birdies that tweet (Tessy's favorite part), while Maho hunted jaguars on a video game.

When we got home, I put the meatloaf in the oven, and worked on the rest of dinner. I loved that Maho and the ninas stayed in the kitchen with me and listened to music, sang songs, goofed around, etc. It was just nice to have them there with me as I worked. They set the table and helped when asked. Besides meatloaf, I made heart-shaped biscuits, pink mashed potatoes (which Maho shaped into a heart in the bowl!) with gravy, steamed broccoli, and red Koolaid, as well as some Martinelli's sparkling cran-apple juice. We even used our long-stem goblets. I had planned to put out candles, butdidn't remember that part until we were already eating. Hunger won over romantic ambiance at that point. It all tasted so good! We went around the table and talked about our favorite part of the day. Costco samples was up there, as was this dinner.For dessert I had borrowed some heart-shaped ramekins from a friend (I didn't know what a ramekin was either until I got this recipe. It's those little single-size souffle dishes). I made some really gourmet looking (but really easy) chocolate lava cakes. Oh, they were so divine. Maho said he was too full for dessert, but I told him he had to have at least a bite while they were warm. And you know what? He discovered his dessert tummy and ate the whole thing!

We washed that down with the rest of the pink milk (from our goblets, of course). After dinner, Maho and Laurel helped clean up. That was a gift in and of itself.

Maho and I didn't exchange gifts. But we have never felt more in tune with each other. Writing it all down, I just can't capture the feelings we all felt--especially without sounding really cheesy. We just all thoroughly enjoyed each other, and felt so grateful to our Heavenly Father for blessings of peace, plenty and love.