Surreal Valentine’s Day?
So, Ian and I have a date to go to a new restaurant owned by Mason Song, called Maritime Seafood and Grill, in Carmichael on Saturday (http://www.sacbee.com/117/story/423116.html), so today, Valentine’s Day, isn’t the romantic, knock-your-cock-ring-off kind of day the diamond stores would have us think it is. (But don’t get me wrong—I got nothin’ against cock rings or diamonds!)
We have celebrated—but we did it with our kids. Late last night, I made a path of red, pink, and light pink paper hearts from Lucas’s bedroom to the kitchen table, and from our bedroom to the kitchen. I set out red placemats, a red candle, a Valentine’s balloon, and homemade Valentines at each place setting. I set out the heart-shaped egg molds, but forgot that we were out of eggs. No worries! Yogurt, chicken nuggets, and cereal for Lucas and quesadillas for us are a perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
When Lucas woke this morning, he came into our bedroom as usual and whispered, “Dad, there’s something special in the living room. Come see!” It wasn’t until the lights were on that he realized the paper hearts on the floor lead all the way to the kitchen. “Theres even a heart on my chair!” he said. We had a nice breakfast together, with only a moderate amount of “Get your clothes on!” and “No! My foot hurts!” drama. Five-year-olds are weird.
Today at school, Lucas enjoyed a Valentine’s Day party, complete with a story, a cookie, and a special dance. “Everyone fell down!” he said. “Even Miss Johnson! And Ripley, but I caught her. I saw that she was going to fall down so I went over and caught her.” (Lucas has a crush on Ripley, I think.)
He brought home Valentines that he made at school and a Valentine crown. He also brought out the Valentine that he made last week with grandma VoVo, which he’s kept hidden in his room, and gave it to us. They are all very cute and he was very proud of them. We talked about how on Valentine’s Day, we make sure that the people we love know we love them.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that Ian went grocery shopping to buy a special (last-minute) dinner, too. Good thing he called home before he checked out! He brought home a beautiful bouquet of flowers to grace our dinner table.
I took the kids grocery shopping late this afternoon to buy supplies for a special (last-minute) dinner. I cooked London Broil with mushrooms and onions and salad. I bought big, fat (heart-like) strawberries and whipped up some cream for dipping. Ian made me two cosmos and then poured a lovely red wine with dinner. So, halfway through the meal I realized that I was totally tipsy and thoroughly enjoying myself. “Watch out, mom! If you have too many cosmos, you might get drunk and then you can’t drive a car!” Lucas informed me. I told him I wasn’t going anywhere. The strawberries and whipped cream after dinner were a big hit. We all laughed a lot and even Asher ate two strawberries.
So, in the midst of our “normal” weeknight routine of dinner prep, cleanup, shower, stories, and bed, I ended up being drunk and goofy. Ian and I got romantic while Lucas showered and Asher (unbeknownst to us) splashed in the toilet.
Oh. Shit! Not supposed to get frisky while the baby splashes in the toilet! That’s on the special Only Bad Parents Do These Things list. Ooops. Dammit, Ian, weren’t you supposed to buy those toilet locks?!
We moved on to stories (Days wth Frog and Toad) and cuddles for Lucas and drunk mama. We sang and snuggled and professed our undying, immeasurable love for one another. Asher crawled into Lucas’s room looking for me while we were cuddling—not something that usually happens.
So, now we get to try to coax Asher to sleep before Ian and I can make love. Hopefully, the baby will fall asleep before I do, but after several worrisome, sick-baby, wakeful nights, I’d say it’s now about even odds.
I promised I’d get permission before I posted this one, so we’ll see if Ian lets it pass.
Sometimes being a parent and a woman madly in love with her husband results in crossed wires and surreal nights. Oh. I think I hear Ian behind the bar shakin’ up another cosmo.
February 15, 2008 at 11:57 am
You are so sweet and funny and awesome. Happy Valentines Day!
February 15, 2008 at 11:59 am
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19055507
February 15, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I love you guys! Your so funny and real and well….horny:) hee hee
February 15, 2008 at 1:14 pm
1) Never let your wife forget that before she was a Mother/Wife/Professional Working Woman, she was the star of your fantasies, the center of your attention, the distraction and obsession of your every waking moment, and the cream in your coffee.
2) Use any means necessary in the service of number one (above). It may be illegal, immoral and fattening, you may need to spend all your cash, you may need to go shopping at one of those downtown stores where everyone is wearing overcoats, you may need to ignore your children (for a little while, don’t worry, they are hardier than you think), you may need to enlist the aid of friends, family, zookeepers, drug dealers and the local college basketball team, but never let her forget that she is beautiful and desirable, that she is a total person and not whatever role she is playing in the service of somebody else’s needs, and that she is totally deserving of being treated like a queen, in every moment that such treatment can possibly be managed.
3) Buy toilet locks.
February 15, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Thanks! Life can be really mixed-up and wacky. I honestly don’t know how those Mormon families get all those kids–what with the lack of doin’-it time!
February 15, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Hear! Hear! My suburban-dad husband has it goin’ on. And let’s give a big round of applause to diet cosmos, too!
February 15, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Thanks, Sweetness!
February 15, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Ian, I love you completely and without fail. You totally just made me cry. Come home! The baby is asleep.
February 15, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Buahaha! Awesome!
I have a theory that there’s actually a vortex of surreal in your shower, and the closer you get to it, the more fabulous things get. I was in there once and that’s what happened to me. Didn’t come out for days.
It’s true. Just ask Asher. 😉
February 15, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Best. Husband. EVAR. *snif*
February 15, 2008 at 11:32 pm
There is something to that theory… uh not that I’ve ever been in that shower or anything… 😉
February 16, 2008 at 9:54 am
yeah, it’s a super weird shower… 😉
February 18, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Open up a vortex to another dimension a couple of times and the next thing you know, every one is passing judgment… 😉