Tuesdays with Charlie | Valentine's Day.

First Halloween and now Valentine's Day - two holidays made much better* with time (and grandchildren). A few weeks back I noticed that Valentine's Day would fall on a Tuesday and started making plans for heart-shaped pancakes, cookies and (yes) even cucumbers. My plans fell - a little bit - by the wayside when we realized Charlie spending all day with me would mean missing exchanging Valentines at school. Slight change in plans - Charlie went to school in the morning and was there for all the Valentines and Marc and I got to enjoy our favorite morning walk by the lake.

I picked Charlie up from school and we made quick work of baking cookies.

After nap, we decorated. I spread the frosting and Charlie did the sprinkles.

And then we got to eat them. Charlie savored his... and even gave a (chocolate) smile for the camera (I ate mine fast and have to say, Annie's sugar cookies are worth the price).

My next (and last - we ran out of time) holiday activity was a matching game. Construction paper, scissors and glue - Charlie chose the colors and I did the scissors and glue. He had fun with the colors and the "game" and I'm already thinking about more matching games to teach the memory skills. Probably good for both of us!

...and just like that, it was time to go. I felt a little guilty about the cookie so we spent a few minutes at the park in Katie's neighborhood. a little walk. a little swing. a little walk. and I'm pretty sure he was as tired as he ever is on a Tuesday.

I got home and found a Valentine in the mail from Honoré ... and now Marc is cooking something that smells delicious... maybe holidays are simply wasted on the young.

xo, M.

*in all fairness to Marc, he's been a wonderful Valentine for (yikes!) going on 40 years ... it was the younger kid days, and the kid parties and all.that.candy. ...and then all that pressure about the cards, and the roses, and the {everything else} .... that made me a Valentine's Day grinch.