The Day after Valentines Day

Yesterday was Valentines Day. I remember a time when Valentines day was a big event, this year it seemed to kind of just sneak up on us. With the economy being what it is Kathy and I didn't make any plans. We are obviously not alone though, according to many of the news articles this year, people all over are taking a different approach to Valentines, and many other Holidays. In this article from the San Francisco Gate, the author writes..

Valentine's Day spending is expected to drop this year to $28.6 billion, or 4.8 percent below last year, according to IBISWorld Inc.
Considered more of a discretionary holiday than Christmas or birthdays, the day will be especially vulnerable to the tough economic climate. Retailers already have struggled through one of the worst holiday seasons in decades.
"Tightening household budgets will make it difficult to justify splurging on loved ones this year, especially for couples with children who have just had to budget for the Christmas holiday," said George Van Horn, senior analyst for IBISWorld.
The group predicts cards, home-cooked meals and boxes of chocolate will replace jewelry, lingerie and other more expensive gifts.
Couples are expected to spend an average of $102.50 per person on Valentine's Day gifts, down about $20 from last year, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation.

Thank goodness the kids did not let this Holiday come and go without getting into the spirit. Jake and his friend Cade talked me into taking them over to Vila Pizza for a slice of Cheese pizza and a murder drink (he means to say suicide, but it probably sounds to gruesome). While we were there eating, the girl taking the order asked the cook, "This lady on the phone wants a large pie with the pepperonis spelling I LUV U." The cook said "I can't spell that out on a pizza, are you nuts? Tell her I can make a big heart." I thought this was funny, because the girl ordering probably thought it was such a romantic idea, the guy getting the pizza probably found it annoying, because he would have to arrange the pepperonis to get an even peperoni to cheese ratio.

Jeff and his friends all made arrangements for a group date. They talked Kathy into serving a valentines dinner at home, followed by desert at the Olson house.

Kathy spent the day making Lasagna, Salad, and breadsticks, Olive Garden style. We served the kids on the china and the real silverware, (although it was tempting to break out the Styrofoam plates and plastic forks.) She made lemonade and strawberry lemonade. I made strawberry daiquiris. It was funny when Kathy went in and asked "Who wants virgin Strawberry daiquiris." Like there would be any other option. The group of friends that Jeff hangs out with are such a good group. They are funny, and it was nice to hear them in the dining room laughing and discussing interesting facts. (Thanks to Cameron I now know that if a glass of water is filled with ice, the level will not change when the ice melts if... the ice is floating. If the ice touches the bottom of the glass, then it will cause the glass to overflow when it melts). The group is funny to watch, because they seem to rotate dates. For instance, Jeff asked Ema T to dinner, but at the same table was Aubrie H, and Callie D.. They were dates from previous dances. When I was younger it seemed like once you had dated a girl, she was off limits to friends dating. I'm not saying this is right or wrong, it is just the way it was.

While the kids were finishing up dinner, Kathy and I sat down and ate. It was nice to sit and eat with just the two of us. After everyone left, we did the dishes. I don't know that doing dishes is necessarily one of my favorite hobbies, but some of my best memories revolve around doing dishes. When I was a kid I remember doing dishes with Grandma Mecham at her house in Escalante. She kept the water so hot that you had to use tongs to get things out of the rinse sink. As a kid I can remember a few dish washing sessions at home that turned into towel snap fights, complete with laughing and real fights (depending on who got snapped). When there are 11 kids in a family you have to do something to make it interesting. Last night, was nice because as we did the dishes and talked, I realized that this was better than a movie or dinner at a restaurant, just being there together. (I need to check with Kathy to see if she feels the same.)

Here is the picture that we took , after the dishes were done. (Kathy is not a hostage, I promise)

Mandy went to a party for two of her friends. While she was gone there was a loud knock at the door. When we went to answer it, there was nobody there. On the doorstep was a valentines card, a stuffed bear, and a box of chocolates for Mandy. I was not too thrilled about this, because 12 is way too young to have boys leaving these type of things for your daughter. I will probably feel the same when she is 16, 18, and 21. When she got home and opened the card I was relieved. Here is what the card said.

I have removed the boy's name from view, only because I remember what it was like to have a crush as a kid, and don't want to embarrass him. I am relieved however, that Mandy has big brothers that can instill enough fear to keep the boys away, for at least a while.

Speaking of Tim, he went to a party with some friends. I probably ruined it, because we picked him up at 10:00. I don't feel too bad though, Tim and co. seem to have a party at least once a week. I have never seen a group of kids that have so many birthday, holiday or whatever parties. If only I could have been that popular in school.

All in all I think everyone had a good Valentines day. I like to see that no matter what the circumstances are, kids have an ability to make the best of things and can have fun no matter what.