Valentine's Day!

Mike and I usually don't make too much of a fuss over Valentine's Day planning ... we've been together now for over 12 years and through those years I think we've been able to really stretch out all the "warm fuzzies" that you feel on Valentine's Day all throughout the year.  Yes it sounds cliche to say "every day is Valentine's Day" ... but I think it's important to do an act of love and kindness with your significant other on a daily basis and not just during the designated holiday.  While we were dating, Mike and I used to take turns planning the special day ... once we got married it became more of a day to reminisce about our love for one another and how it's developed over the years and less about going to a fancy restaurant or getting each other the perfect gifts.  Last year, since Mike was already working in Carpinteria and me and Zoe were still living at Sunbeam (Zoe was only 2 months old!), I don't think we even saw each other due to the circumstances.  This year, Mike wanted to do something special (but still practical) and within the confines of us having a 13 month old.  I think his initial plan was to cook me dinner (i.e. give me the night off from the kitchen).  He also wanted to get me the new Breaking Dawn dvd that we could watch in the comfort of our own home.  However, when we went to Costco this past Sunday, I immediately made a bee line for the Breaking Dawn dvd's so that I could snag my own copy.  I also managed to buy all the food that he was going to prepare for our Valentine's Dinner.  While at Costco he kept teasing me about the fact that I somehow knew exactly what to do to mess up his plans =).  On to plan B ...

I wasn't sure what he was going to do now that I had ruined his initial plans.  All he said was for me and Zoe to be ready to go out at 4:30 pm.  I figured he was going to take us to a family-friendly restaurant and we'd call it a night ... however, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that we were going to go on a double date with his parents by having dinner and watching "The Vow" (something I've been wanting to watch).  He arranged for Isabelle to babysit Zoe so that we could enjoy a nice adult evening.  Even though watching a movie and double dating with his parents may seem pretty ordinary to others, I thought it was the sweetest thing!  I love going to the movies and we haven't been able to go as much with Zoe in our lives ... I also love that I got a "night off" from my job (even if just for a few hours).  So we were off to Woodland Hills ... unfortunately, due to the crazy Valentine's traffic, the usual 30 minute car ride to the valley turned more into an hour and a half!!!  I could sense Mike stressing out a bit and I assured him everything would be ok and that if we didn't have time to have dinner we could always gorge ourselves with popcorn and hot dogs at the theater =).

We made it to the theater (it was the first time I watched a movie on Valentine's Day) and bought a hotdog and popcorn for our Valentine's meal.  The movie was pretty decent ... not really a Channing Tatum fan, but I am a Rachel McAdams fan and I enjoyed the premise of the film. I especially enjoyed the actual vows the two characters exchanged:

Paige: I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness, and to have the patience that love demands. To speak when words are needed, and to share the silence when they’re not. To agree to disagree on red velvet cake, and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.

Leo: I vow to fiercely love you in all your forms, now and forever. I promise to never forget that this is a once in a lifetime love. I vow to love you, and no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way back to each other.

I really enjoyed Leo's vows ... after being with someone for so long, it's very easy to take each other for granted and to forget how blessed you are to have been given this "once in a lifetime kind of love".  I also like how he promised her that no matter what challenges might bring them apart, that he'll always find a way back to each other.  I think that's a very honest and realistic promise.  As you go through life, there will no doubt be numerous things that can cause stress and pain and hurt and with God at the center of your marriage you can always find peace in knowing that you will find a way back to each other ... to never lose faith in your love.  Even though the movie was mostly kind of sad, their vows really made an impact to me and was a great way to "refresh" my love and commitment to my husband.

After we got home and I put Zoe to bed, Mike had one last surprise for me -- he lit a bunch of candles downstairs and played "Spend My Life With You" and asked me to dance with him (just like we did on our first Valentine's day together).  It was such a sweet and romantic way to end the evening!  Seriously -- I have a great husband who is constantly trying to show me how much he loves me -- not just on Valentine's Day but every day... sooooo blessed!!!!

PS - Zoe was in an extra bubbly mood today so I decided to capture her beautiful smiles with my camera.  Looking at her reminds me just how much God loves me and Michael ... and for that, I am eternally grateful!!!!

And here's a pic of Zoe and her Valentine's date, Aunty Isabelle!