Happy Valentine's Day!

I know it's kind of a Hallmark holiday, but I still really like Valentine's Day - it's just fun to see all of the nice things people do for each other and to hear all the words of love. It is just a nice time of the year. This year was just a little bit different for me though.

We had kind of a rough day on Monday when I found out that my dad had had a minor heart attack. Wow. Talk about scary stuff. I was not expecting that phone call and it was really tough for me to deal with and comprehend at first. Luckily your Grandpa E. was taken care of very quickly by some great doctors and he is now doing just fine. Hopefully he continues to recover quickly and will be back to normal in no time. I'm so thankful that this situation didn't have a different ending, I just really can't imagine not having my dad here with me - and I don't even want to think about the possibility that you wouldn't have gotten the chance to meet him. I just pray that he doesn't have any other complications and he gets to go home soon - that would be the best Valentine's day gift ever!

Once I saw him in the hospital on Monday and talked to him yesterday, I was able to calm down a lot and it actually made me appreciate the holiday yesterday just a little bit more. And of course, it helped to have some wonderful gifts from your dad to make my day a little easier! He first gave me a new rose charm for my bracelet that your Aunt Amanda gave me for Christmas - it's really beautiful:

It was kind of funny because he said he had a different charm already purchased when a couple of weeks ago, I got that same charm as a gift in the mail from Aunt Amanda :) So he returned that one and bought the rose charm instead! I guess great minds think alike! Here is the charm Amanda sent me ... in your honor!

Your dad also gave me a really sweet card and some delicious chocolates that he picked out for me from the local candy shop - he picked out all the kinds I like - yum!

For my gift to your dad, I gave him something that we can both enjoy all year long - I planned out one date for each month for the next year and placed the information for each date in an envelope. Now, at the beginning of every month your dad will open that month's envelope and we will go on our date! I'm so excited for him to see all the fun stuff I have planned :) Here are some pictures of all the dates, waiting to be opened!

We are going on our first date this weekend - a trip to Traverse City, a day at the casino for your dad and a day at the spa for me, then dinner and a night at a hotel there :) I'm really looking forward to the spa - hopefully you enjoy it too!!

Happy Valentine's Day my dear little squirms!!

All my love, Mom