Happy Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day.

Even though I was always the girl who never had a valentine.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I would spend hours putting together Valentine cards for everyone at school (all 30 of them in grades 1-8).

I took extra time putting together Cody Krenka's.

Because I loved him.

And also because he was one of the three boys at school I wasn't related to.

One year, Brett Weatherly gave me a love-love Valentine.

I think we were both in the 3rd grade.

Man, was I ever embarrassed.

As in, I pretended in front of everyone else that I was humiliated, then went home and tucked that Valentine away, and kept it for like 10 years - far past the time when the Weatherly's moved away two years later.

Valentine's Day was always so magical at Ruby Valley School.

We got to make our own little Valentine receiving receptacles (I always made sure mine was extra-large, because hey, I wanted to make sure I had enough room to receive all that love). 

Then we got to tour the other two classrooms and stuff our usually homemade Valentine's into other's boxes.

Yes, mom was always adamant that we make Valentine's cards for everyone, including the boys we thought were sooooo gross.

Then, we got to go back to our desk, sort through our booty, and eat sugar cookies someone's mother had made.

One of my very favorite things was when you'd get to Mrs. Wright's Valentine - a heart with a brand spakin' new heart-covered pencil in it.

I never sharpened those pencils.

I hoarded them in my pencil box. 

Because they were so special.

Today, I have the very best Valentine in the entire world.

This guy:

And to him, I dedicate this love-love poem:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I root for Texas A&M

Because I love you.

Kissy kissy smoochy smoochy, Best Boyfriend.

Oh, and an extra-special Valentine's Day to one of my very best friends, *Grainne and her new fiancee, Peter, who were engaged just now.  All my love to you two!  I'm headed out to buy my hat!

*This statement has not been approved for release by Grainne, but it's my blog, and I'm excited about it, so I'll blab about it if I want to.  I have, however, refrained from posting a picture.  I would consider this extreme restraint on my part.  Grainne, please let me post it!  PLEASE?!