Our own little Valentine's Day celebration.
Christmas holidays does NOT generate this much hoopla. ...and traffic. February 14, does. I can call a restaurant for dinner reservations for 20, the night before Christmas and still get the best seat in the house. But for February 14? I burn my fingers one whole week BEFORE the actual day for a seat for 4. It's just crazy! Crazy how prices go up that day!
And this year, I said to myself, it just doesn't have to be crazy at all. Traffic is still horrific. Malls are full. Restaurants packed. We asked our daughters where they would want to celebrate Valentine's Day and what they would want to eat. The decision was unanimous. KFC. They just want their chicken, rice and gravy...and juice. How about me, Joel asked. Flowers and chocolates? HAHAHAHA! Hey, no offense to husbands who gave such to their wives but it's just a no go for me. It's romantic, yes of course, who wouldn't want that. I know guys wouldn't mind forking out a fortune on a bouquet of flowers but it's just no biggie for me. Chocolates...hmmm. Maybe. Black please. Hehehe
But I asked Joel, 'can the offer be converted to a tall glass of coffee and slice of cake?'
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
We've been on serious diet the past month so coffee and cake for me are rare treats nowadays. I mean, you know, them overpriced cups of coffee...
I decided it doesn't even matter where my coffee would come from or how expensive. As long as I sip it with my family beside me, that would be the coolest Valentine's Day treat for me.
Apparently, the big BOSS wanted to throw in a bonus.
We got an impromptu invitation for a Japanese dinner (birthday party of Fred's nephew)!
YEEEEPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEYYYYY!!!
Lunch was delicious coz we attended a baby's christening. The kids had a blast eating and playing with other Ygnacio kids. Early afternoon, I dropped off a get-well soon card to a friend's daughter at the hospital. Went home. Had a relaxing nap. Took the girls to a KFC nearby. They enjoyed their dinner! Isn't it just heaven to see your girls very happy with what they have? Contentment with life's simple joys in their eyes?
And of course, what would February 14 be without their red sparkly manicures?
It was a relaxing February 14 for me. No frenzy and pressure. No getting dressed in lightning speed just to beat the reservation deadline in a restaurant. Hey, for my friends reading this, I love you guys!!! Our dinner the past years were super great. Hehehehe...
I was just also thinking you might have other plans for tonight. (excusing myself much?) HAHAHAHAHA! mwah mwah mwah!!! Kisses all around to my Valentines night group!
Even Joel asked, "hmmm...no pre-valentines dinner jitters? No marathon texting everyone?"
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
The Japanese dinner was Louise's birthday. And according to Frederick, out of the 3 cameras present ( 7D, 50D and D90), not one came out of its bag. The camera bags were just sitting side by side on the bench. Hehehe, yes, so unlike me. Maybe I was just overwhelmed with the calmness of it all. How we sailed thru February 14 smoothly and laughing. How we were all in red. (Except Ava, she didn't want red). How delicious the sashimi and sushi were. How the wasabe stung my brain. How it was good to see Joel talk happily with my old childhood friends. How these friends have taken us into their family. How happy my girls were laughing, running and screaming with the other kids their ages. How I only ate half of the slice of the choco cake. How at peace my mind and heart is. How February 14 has evolved for me. How it has grown for me. Fourteen years ago, it was Joel and I eating at one of them most expensive restaurants. Me, basking at the glory of being a girlfriend. Now, I see my glory as a wife and mother. How Valentine's Day love is thrown all around and about in my family. I am basking in the glory of knowing my husband's love for me has grown even more and he still shows it everyday. Of knowing that my daughters love one another, making Valentine's Day their special sister day.
Thank YOU.
The Japanese dinner ended around 11pm (for us anyway hehee, the ride home was still going to be long). Yep, at 11pm, traffic was still there, although not as much anymore. Time for my coffee. We got me a take out from this place. Hey, this one's one of our fave! Affordable and delicious coffee!
Thank YOU Boss.
Thank You for my friends.
Thank You for my family.
Thank You for love and life.
