Happy Valentine's Day

Tonite, we had our third annual family Valentine's date at Ruth's Chris. This year, we were very excited for "Auntcy" to join us. The boys made us very proud with their behavior, and that chopped salad is one of my favorite things in all the world treat.

Speaking of "favorite things," here are some pictures of my very handsome little boys.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day has come and gone; hopefully, Jones and Freddie are well aware of how very much they are loved - not just today, but EVERY day.

Our celebrations actually started on Saturday. Like last year, we did a Valentine's Dinner at Ruth's Chris. Jeremy had told the boys on their way to church Wednesday (I had to be at the Peace Center) that we were having a special dinner and not to tell me, because it was a surprise. They kept the secret - mostly.

I'd try to guess where we were going, and they wouldn't budge - until Jones told me it was like the Blue Rooster. "Ruth's Chris?" I asked. "Yes. That's it. Ruth's Chris."

Freddie is a significantly tougher nut to crack. I am filing this information away to use to my advantage in future "secret" situations.

Dinner was great, as it usually is at Ruth's Chris. Jones discovered that the butter left over on his bread plate was the PERFECT consistency for rubbing, like a lotion, all over his face. Maybe I should try that on my wrinkly forehead?

When we got back from dinner, we gave the boys their presents - mostly because there was no way in the world I could wait any longer to give Freddie the football uniform we'd gotten him. For weeks now, he's asked about a hundred times a day to watch the "Cat movie" on my phone, which is actually a 45 second ad on Amazon for these kid-sized football uniforms. I ordered him the uniform and have to say - he reacted with the exact level of excitement I'd have expected.

Jones got a bucket of dinosaurs and a blow-up T-Rex. In the weeks since Christmas, he's had sudden-onset dinosaur obsession. Since we didn't have any dinosaur toys, Valentine's Day was the perfect opportunity to stock our coffers with some pre-historic creatures. Jones responded is typical, explosively grateful way, which is one of the things I love the most about him.

He named the T-Rex "John" and parked
him right beside the door to his room. 

watching "Paddington," a new favorite, on Netflix

I think their gifts were a hit. Walking in to church on Sunday, I noticed Jones clasping something in the chest of his vest. Turns out, he was sneaking his pterodactyl ("Jack") in. We ended up making a nest for Jack on the church pew between us.

Freddie's had his uniform on pretty much non-stop, too. On Thursday when I went in to get him dressed for school, he was already halfway there - wearing his "Cat pants" and asking if he could wear his helmet. When I said he couldn't, he asked me to bring it with him when I picked him up, and the first thing he said to me when I pulled into the carpool line was, "Did you bring my helmet?"

Of course, Little Man.

Freddie was very excited about his Spider-Man
valentines, but he was NO so sure about GIVING
all of those pencils away. He really
wanted to keep them all for himself.

On Valentine's Day itself, I had the exciting privilege of hosting Freddie's class party (like I hosted Jones's for Thanksgiving). I sure do love his teacher and their little school. When I went in to wave at Jones in his class, he gave me a half-smirk and a tiny little wave and went about his business. Mrs. Janet noticed and said, "THAT'S a big change!" and we both agreed that our little boy is growing up. After school, we met Jeremy for lunch at Bogart's. The boys had a ball going through their bags of school Valentines, and I was very excited to show off the locket they'd given me. While they were in school, I'd gotten pictures printed and put into the locket. For as much as they like to look at and open it, I'll be lucky if this thing lasts until Easter!

Another thing I did on Valentine's Day was to officially apply to Haywood Christian Academy. Hopefully, we'll hear soon whether or not they've been admitted. It was amazing the peace I felt as I dropped off the check to pay their application fees. I'm really excited to join the HCA family for as long as we are there - maybe it'll just be a year, maybe it'll be more. Still, as I dropped the check off at the Upper School campus, the peace with which I did it was not lost on me. I am grateful that God has led us there, and that He's made a way for us to pay for it. 

That nite, we went to church. Jones had his Catechism class; Freddie had his bi-weekly brawl (and I mean that in a good way; they wrestle but have a ball together) with Brice, and I watched Week Two of a four-week video series on marriage presented by Paul David Tripp. I missed Week One, but Jeremy loved it, and after seeing Week Two, I can sure see why. When I picked the boys up, Freddie said he wanted to take a picture with Reagan. He sure does love Miss Reagan. So we took some pictures - Jones didn't want to be in them - and then we headed home with hearts in our eyes after a wonderful, eventful Valentine's Week.

The week ended with Jones saying to me, "Next time, I want you to get me a locket with you and Daddy in it. Den, I will wear it ev'ry day." 

Talk about hearts in our eyes. 

So thankful for these sweet little boys God gave us. 

Family Valentine's Date

Last Saturday morning, the boys and I were all lazing around the den when Jeremy asked if I wanted to take the boys out for a nice dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day. ALWAYS. When I asked where, he said, "Ruth's Chris." Um, YES, PLEASE.

So that's what we did. Because it was Valentine's Day weekend, we couldn't get a reservation ahead of time, so we decided to just show up when they opened, thinking we'd have a shot at a table. Well, we didn't. We did, however, get a spot at the bar - first come, first served! - so we hoisted ourselves up to the high top and held our breath, waiting for the boys to make us regret our decision.

But they never did. They.were.PERFECT. In fact, I couldn't believe how perfectly they behaved. They were polite and played quietly with two of the Hot Wheels Payton gave them for Christmas. They even used their cloth napkins - though Jones's default setting was still to wipe his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket.

In keeping with our Stultz Family Fancy Dinner Tradition, I ordered the boys Shirley Temples, which they LOVED. They also loved their salmon. Well, Freddie did. Jones took a few bites, but it was too peppery for him, so he downed a giant side of mashed potatoes and both his and Freddie's pieces of bread.

And, also, a second Shirley Temple.

Now that they've done so well once, I'm more than ready to make fine-dining a regular part of our routine!