So we decided to do something different this year. Because it’s the anniversary of our first date, usually Valentines is spent as a mommy daddy only experience…. buuuuttt, for those with kids, you understand how plans can change. Getting a sitter on a Tuesday night for three littles isn’t always the easiest so we opted for making the most of it. Keeping it low key (and low priced), I wanted to spend the evening at home in our new humble abode. I was going to have a picnic outside, but like I said before, plans change and the rain decided to make that change happen (yay). Living room floor picnic it is!

I love surprises and being the one doing the surprising (insert excited emoji)…. So I started to stir up some thoughts. I had a late night trip to Whole Foods and Target last night because I knew I would have a long day at work today and wouldn’t have time to prep that much. As soon as I got home I started dinner.

On the menu:

Heart shaped kale pizza for the kids

&

Stuffed bell peppers for mom and dad.

For dessert:

Chocolate covered strawberries, assorted candy from Whole Foods, and left over heart shaped cupcakes from sissy’s Valentines party at school.

To make the average dinner something special, I wanted to set it up as a whimsical valentines picnic right smack dab in the middle of our tiny house. We’ve really grown to cherish these moments close as a family. It’s not always cupcakes and roses (even though literally tonight it was lol), but we make life what we want and make the most of what we got ; ). When you get acclamated to have less, you realize that it takes less to make happiness.

I wanted the kids to feel special along with daddy. The whole family was on a date! Favorite foods, sweets, and even a craft to work on with the kids. The kids love getting attention and lets face it, busy parenthood and working full time doesn’t make you a pro at that. I made it a point to choose something they could do with us. They loved it.

It doesn’t take much…

Just the effort and the action to follow it up.

Life is exhausting, but you’re kids don’t stay kids for long and before you know it, you’re looking back. My goal is to not look back in regret. There will be fights, there will be tears, there will be tough times to say the least, but soldier through and choose happy.

So cheers to choosing joy through it all.