This year marks our 11th Valentine’s Day together. Our first one was on separate continents, and John sent me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Today we celebrated together with our three kids by going out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

We sat by the fireplace, which was cozy and could almost be considered romantic if we weren’t taking turns coloring on the kids menus with Wes and Carissa and cutting the kids’ food. Still, we enjoyed breakfast. The kids and I had chocolate milk.

Elizabeth slept the whole time, almost.

We got three and four of us in a photo by the fireplace to remember the morning.

I love Wes and Carissa in this photo.

Cracker Barrel has a country store in front that brought out a whole new side of Carissa: the shopaholic within.

She enjoyed playing with the little Easter rabbits that moved and danced, and touching virtually everything the store. In the end I had to pick her up and carry her out whilst mid-tantrum. In the parking lot I suggested she pick out a rock for her and Wes to take home. That calmed her down right quick and she was happy.

Later in the day I took Wes and Carissa to a chocolate store to get the one thing I really wanted: a slice of frozen cheesecake dipped in chocolate. It’s pretty much heaven.

When we got home I discovered the other thing I really like about Valentine’s Day: my flowers. And this after our conversation in the car about how overpriced flowers are on V-day! Nonetheless, I won’t turn down fresh flowers with baby’s breath.

In September Wesley turned five.

His day started with a cupcake for breakfast. Or, more specifically, with cupcake frosting for breakfast.

Then he went to preschool with a special homemade “Today I’m 5” badge.

He came home from school with a cool crown.

His Grammy was in town and bought him a nice Thomas the Tank Engine cake. So glad I didn’t have to make one.

The frosting was ultra-blue.

Wes enjoyed the frosting best of all.

Presents! His Aunt Tara made him a cool book with pictures of his family. He loves books like that.

His Grammy gave him a water table for outside. All the kids enjoyed playing in it.

And before the night was through a box came from Grandma and Grandpa in Iowa with a train set. A kid’s dream-come-true.

Today was somebody’s birfday.

He had a helper to open presents. (The helper is the little guy.)

The loot.

We had a party. Wes discovered all the root beer bottles in the fridge while I was upstairs and when I came down again, I found the refrigerator door wide open and the bottles lined up neatly in a row. Wes is very organized like this.

We had a cake. Don’t count the candles.

And we had ice cream. YUM.