My Pink Heart-Shaped Flag

Something happened when Raphael came along.  I became acutely aware that I was suddenly the only female in the house.  Now, I'm a farm kid, and have failed in most efforts at feminine charm, lack desired petite physique and soft-spoke attributes not withstanding, and was less of a princess as a child and more of a tomboy book worm.  And pink and lace and flowers and fashion, among other girly trappings, always seemed alluring, yet sadly unattainable, uncomfortable.  I was, and remain for the most part, big, loud, and brown.  But when Raph was born, something like a little blush rose budded within me.  As I looked at my husband and my sons, I was overcome with a fierce love and pride for my clan of men, and that little rose burst open.  For about ten days of the year, I embrace that rose, and let my pink, heart-shaped flag fly!

And I enjoy treating my little ones when I can, and for our family, creating little celebrations in the void of celebrations, making something special that isn't necessarily so by itself, gives me an opportunity to create special memories for them.  I do hope that when they are grown they have harbored and treasured these days as I have.  And maybe, even as they roll their eyes at my silly antics, they'll feel warmed by my love for them anyway.

Disclaimer:  Obscene use of hearts and pink and candy below.  Reader is warned, and I am hereby not responsible for any sugar comas, cavities, pink ODs, and/or {heart} attacks.  

So it started out with an evite to Aaron's sister Cris, aka Tia Kissie as the boys call her.  The evite was from Andres and Raphael, requesting the pleasure of her company on Saturday night, the 9th of February to a Love Party.  To which she promptly replied "yes!"  Then we had a lot of work to do, and not much money to do it with.  Enter stage right:  Pinterest and Dollar Store.

I've made chocolate heart-shaped sugar cookies with light pink frosting for three years and it wouldn't be Valentine's Day without them.  The boys and I mixed up the dough, and wrapped it to chill in the fridge overnight, and the next day when Andres was at school, Raph and I worked the frosting.

He's getting so good in the kitchen, such a wonderful helper, my Raph.  Notice his new hairdo?  He initiated that at the end of January while I was sick with the Rota Virus, begging Aaron to euthanize me, little Mr. Man helped himself to the hair sheers in our bathroom and butchered his bangs and sides.  He looked like a burn victim, and although I was so thankful that he didn't lose an eye or snip his ear, we all lamented his Little Lord Fauntleroy curls.  We'd ask him "Raph, were did your hair go?"  He'd shrug and say "all gone," then we'd pretend to cry about it.  He'd rush to us, throw his arms around us in a comforting way, smiling and laughing because clearly we were the only ones grieving his beautiful, trademark fro.  Such a bummer.  I digress.

We are a playdough house, and by that I mean we love us some playdough around these parts.  The Gingerbread Playdough we made at Christmas, completed with the gingerbread cookie cutters from the dollar store, not only smelled so fresh and wonderful it made your mouth water, but had an amazing texture that enchanted the boys for literally hours at the table.  So we set about making Valentine's Day playdough, a creamy chocolate playdough and sweet strawberry playdough duet, which smelled absolutely like a dessert, and made some more good use of the heart cookie cutters.  Thankfully they know not to eat the stuff, no matter how yummy it smells.  Seriously, how many more years of this playdough thing do I have before (God help me) babes and cars and social media take over their free time?  Not many.  The years are flying by, so I try to keep it fresh and creative, and perhaps cultivate a couple of future Michaelangelos in the process.

Yes, even I love playdough.  Honestly, it's soothing and stress-relieving, and it's something I love doing with the boys.

Raph loved making little choco marshmallows that he called "hot cocoa," since that's where they go, and Andres made Cupid arrows.

With those little hands occupied, I was able to create some more decorations to our meager Valentine's Day collection.  Being VERY aware of our financial constraints, I limited the decorations to using whatever I had laying around, and allowed a couple bucks splurge at the Dollar Store for fake roses and a ball to glue them onto for my topiary in my Gramma's milk-glass vase.  I made a garland when I was pregnant with Raph and this year wanted to add some Cupid's arrows.  They were free since I had all the materials, and I think they turned out pretty cute, spinning over the table, pointing at random victims of love.

After the decorations were in place, I set about getting the menu right, and if it couldn't be pink, red, heart-shaped or strawberries, then it wasn't on the list.  Last year I had an amazing Borsch, one of our family favorites, so perfectly fuscha and absolutely delicious, but tragically staining (beet roots are healthy for you and used as a clothing dye, little did I know at the time) and found out when Andres sprayed his bowl over the table on accident.  That was NOT going to be on the menu this year!  The year before last I made a heart shaped meat loaf (my first Love Day Party when Raphael was tiny) and now that we're pretty meat free in this house, and Tia Kissie is a complete vegetarian, I needed to find something without meat, but still met all my Mandatory Love Day Menu Requirements.  I found the heart shaped ravioli idea on Pinterest that fit the bill, and filled them with my own cheesy spinach and artichoke mixture.

The day of the party, Andres helped me create a welcoming Love Party sidewalk art display for Tia when she came a'knocking.  He asked me to draw the heart shapes so he could color them in.  He did a good job and was quite proud and eager for Tia to come.  I insisted his hearts were very good, but he felt more comfortable just coloring rather than drawing them out.  Actually, his hand-drawn hearts are quite dear.

My sweet guy.  

After lunch we did a family craft to display on the patio doors, and then when Raph went down for a nap, Aaron and Andres helped set the dessert and dining tables.  Aaron was finally able to light the candles, and we waited for Tia to show up.

Getting ready...

I thought it would be sweet (no pun intended) to use edible paint made of powdered sugar, water, and food coloring to mark a place setting at the table right onto the plates.   

The boys loved the Cupid Arrows from jelly candies and pretzels. 

Once it was all set out, and we were all twitching to dig into those cupcakes and strawberries covered in white choco, Tia showed up, and the party could start!

First thing first, as soon as she walked in the door, Andres had to get Tia up to date on the latest developments in his "epic."  

For the wee ones, sparkling cider.  For the big kids, spumante bubbles with strawberry nectar.  It made such a pretty blush pink color and was misleadingly sweet.    

Time to wash up for dinner!  I adore this shot, two handsome guys.

Love Party 2013 Dinner Menu: 

(Heart-Shaped) Spinach and Artichoke Ravioli in a Vodka sauce

Strawberry Almond Spinach Salad

(Heart-Shaped) Sour Cream Biscuits
Cherry Almond Cupcakes
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Strawberries
Various Heart Candy Galore

After dinner there was a lot of playing around in the mirror with the mustache straws and "Love Goggles." 

The straws never lasted to the milkshakes I had planned, but they proved to be more exciting than just drinking straws!

Then the night slowly wrapped up, each of us quite full from dinner, which turned out delicious, and the cupcakes and cookies and candy all very much nibbled.  We sent Tia home with a lot of treats and feel so glad we were able to shower her with love, as she deserves, and to able to give my men a special night showing them my (glittering, heart-shaped, pink and red) love for them all.

When Valentine's Day rolled around, we had Red Velvet Milkshakes that were to die for, topped with Redi-Whip, of course.  I can't remember the last time I bought that and think it was the first time they've ever had it, because it was a like food item they had just discovered.

Andres LOVED the Redi-Whip.

Wild Kratts on PBS after rest time and Red Velvet "shake-shakes" as Raphael calls them. 

Andres had loot from his VDay in school to share with Raph, and I got them tiny chocolate boxes with Super Hero juice drinks.   Andres was so generous to share with Raph.

I had to work in the nursery at church on Valentines night, but before I ran out the door with an apple for dinner, I had to do one more special thing for my special guys on Valentine's Day.

Yes.  I did.   And I think they loved it.