A Life In Review

Unlike last year, we are socially distancing for this years Valentine’s Day. My husband and I have never really been big on Valentines Day, but I know a lot of people that are. It’s on a weekend this year, so it’s worth planning ahead for. I’ve compiled ideas for some Covid style Valentines Day dates (with some help from the internet). The first 5 are for those of you who don’t include (or don’t have) kiddos. The second 5 are ideas to include your kids in the celebration.

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas WITHOUT Kids:

1. Build a Fort: (Yes this is on the kid free list, give it a chance) As kids, my sister and I loved building forts. There was a lot of imagination involved, but I feel like as adults, our imaginations aren’t gone, they’re just deep inside. So take the couch cushions down, use the table and grab a load of sheets and blankets. Just build the dang thing and let yourselves have fun. Oh also make sure to eat your Valentine’s Day dinner under the fort. (Just a note: you don’t have to have a Pinterest worthy fort, this is just for fun).
   
2. Dessert under the stars: This will take a little bit of planning. Since it’s the middle of winter for most of us, it’s cold(er) and it is still getting dark super early. However, if you can pull this off, it would be cute. You’ll need a backyard, or access to an area where you can safely picnic. Put up some twinkly outdoor lights, lay out some blankets (get some ready to use, because it’s chilly) and pick out a great dessert (one that can sit out with you, so guys, not something like ice cream). This one can occur after the kids go to bed too!
   
3. Streaming Service and Chill: Pick a cute romantic (or scary if that’s your thing) movie and enjoy a cuddle on the couch. Life can get pretty hectic and we sometimes forget the simpler things. Order take out or make something easy at home. Our go too is homemade pizza.
   
4. Fancy Dinner (at home): Pull out the old (nice) table cloth and candles. You will be eating dinner by candlelight. Bake a really nice dinner (think nice steak or fish **if you are vegetarian, you do your thing too**). Bring out the good wine (or sparkling beverage) and put on some calming music. Get dressed up really nice and intentionally make time to spend the evening together. No phones, no TV, just the two of you (*gasp*). Remember why you picked this person in the first place (or realize how much they still drive you nuts after all this time).
   
5. “I Love You” Scavenger Hunt: This is something I have done every year since our first married Valentine’s Day. It’s very inexpensive (great for newlyweds just starting out) and sentimental. You may need more than a day to do this. The first year I wrote out 100 things I loved about Bryan (my husband). I wrote them on sticky notes and while he was a work (3rd shift) I put them all around the house with arrows leading him to our bed where I laid out his favorite candy and the final “I love you”. Last year we had a newborn and I was exhausted so I wrote out 50 reasons I loved him, and kept all the notes on the first floor, but again ended with his favorite candy. This is what I will do again. It’s low key and it’s special.

Valentine Date Ideas WITH Kids:

1. Pancake Dinner: (My mom was great at making fun holiday dinners and inspired this one). When you mix the pancake batter, you can add some red food coloring and dye them either pink or red. Using a (metal) cookie cutter, or just a spoon, shape some pancakes into hearts. Set up the pancakes on the table with all different pancake toppings (i.e. whipped cream, sprinkles, Nutella, cherries, strawberries, bananas and Valentine’s Day candy). Let the kid(s) choose their toppings and have a sugar filled evening.
   
2. Family Valentine Making (ages 8+): For this one, you are on your own for dinner, I just like the idea of crafts with kids. Pull out whatever supplies you have (or buy some if you have the means to do so), and let everyone choose what they want to use. Put everyone’s names (Mom, Dad, Sally, Bruce etc.) into a bowl and you each pick one. Whoever you pick is the one that you have to make the card for. Inside the card, you must write 5 things you love about the person who’s name you pulled. You can get together for dinner or dessert and exchange cards. The name pulling can be done that day, or it can be done the day before so that you each have time to make the card extra special.
   
3. Charcuterie Snack Board & Games: You don’t have to have a full dinner, snacks are great too. This one will take a little bit of prep work, but it will turn out really cute. If you don’t have a true charcuterie board (like me), a tray will also do the trick. Be sure to fill the tray with both healthy and fun things. Picture, cheese cut into little hearts, heart shaped pretzels (Walmart has these) and heart shaped marshmallows. Fill in the spaces with a few meat choices and other veggies. If you are conversation heart fans, those would also be cute to add. While everyone snacks, choose some age appropriate games to play with the kids.

4. Movie Night & Picnic: Pick out a great Valentine’s Day worthy movie and set up a picnic on the living room floor. To do this, you can pull out an old table cloth and lay it across the floor (if you don’t have a table cloth, towels work too). Set up plates and order some pizza. Eat together on the floor as a family. It’s super basic, but sometimes we make holidays bigger than they need to be. This idea is great for all of you tired parents who just don’t have the energy to do something spectacular. My parents used to do this with us sometimes and it was one of my favorite family activities.

5. Labor of Love: *If you choose to do this, just know, things are going to get messy and memories are going to be made* Figure out a dinner that has a few steps involved. Make sure there are enough steps to include each of your kids. Guide them from the sidelines in making dinner, but make sure you let them do everything. Cooking can be a labor of love and kids like to help. This lets them be in charge and do something for you (even though it’s making more work for you in the end). I would suggest something like lasagna. That way, they can help clean up while it’s in the oven. When it’s done, you can sit down to dinner as a family and enjoy their creation. **If all else fails, throw in some chicken nuggets, or order a pizza (also, did I mention eating pizza enough?)**

Our world is so crazy and full of uncertainty right now, it’s nice to stop and find reasons to celebrate. 2020 reminded us how important it is to tell those around you how much they are loved, because tomorrow isn’t promised. So if you do nothing else on Valentine’s Day, shoot out a text and let your friends and family know that they are loved.