Valentine's Festivities

Ever attended her first Valentine's party on Thursday, Feb. 13. When I read "valentine exchange" in the evite, my first thought was, "Do I have to craft?" The girl throwing it, Kristi Rondo, is super-crafty, so I figured it would be all about homemade valentines. Melanie told me she was just going to buy cheap valentines at Target, so I felt better about that. Then I learned at the party that it's less about homemade valentines and more about the candy that is supposed to be attached to the valentines. Ever's valentines did not involve candy, so we were probably pretty unpopular.

We were late to the party because of Ever's nap, so we missed the face painting and the scavenger hunt. We participated-ish (it was a little chaotic) in the valentine exchange and then had to leave quickly for Luc Oddou's birthday dinner. This is a picture somebody else took of the valentine exchange. Ever's on the left:

Luc's birthday dinner was nice. It was just us and the Oddous/Karners, so I felt honored we were invited. I like having friends. When we got there, Ever gave the birthday boy a (leftover) valentine. He didn't want it at first, but Ever kept holding it out until he finally took it. Apparently it was his first valentine.

On Valentine's Day, we went on a triple date with Jeremy and Trisha Wilson and another couple, Brian and Kaci Bronson.  The Bronsons and we left our kids at the Wilsons', and Cali and her friend Mia babysat. Ever was in heaven. At first Jim and I, awkward people we are, were a little dismayed at the prospect of a Valentine's date with a couple we'd never met. (Originally it was supposed to be just a double date with the Wilsons.) It ended up being really fun. We were supposed to go mini golfing but didn't have time before our dinner reservation. Instead, each couple got $5 worth of tokens and spent them as quickly as we could on skee ball and a little basketball. Jim and I pretty much trounced the competition, so that was fun. Then we all made some random kids very happy by giving them the tickets we earned. Skee ball:

Jim, Me, Kaci, Brian, and Jeremy

Jim and Jeremy playing the basketball-throwing game (whatever it's called)

We went to dinner at Tommy V's in Carlsbad. We ate outside. I was the only one wearing a coat, and apparently I was the only one who was cold. It wasn't too bad with the heat lamps, though. I got salmon that I loved (lemon and white wine sauce or something). The desserts were not good. Jeremy and Trish ordered an amazing-looking chocolate cake for dessert, and everybody was raving about it - including Brian, who is supposedly a big foodie. I thought it was nast and had that weird artificial flavor thing. Jim asked the waiter for me if it was made "in-house" (thanks to Bags for teaching me how to ask that question politely), and the answer was negative. I felt vindicated. I'm such a dessert snob.

Us:

The Wilsons with the cake:

Conversation was good, and we shut down the restaurant. Seriously - last people there, and we arrived at 7:45 P.M. After we got home and got Ever back to bed, Jim and I consumed eight gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries (a box of a dozen, minus the four I gave to the missionaries). Jim ordered us two dozen strawberries, and they're supposed to be eaten within 48 hours. So we had to eat one box on Valentine's Day and one box the next night. We are big people. He also had tulips delivered, and they were lovely. I just threw them away tonight, and now the room looks empty. I did nothing for him, but I think he's OK with that.