02.15.02

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend TJ's adorable daughter, Brenna!

(she looks a lot like her Dad...but prettier!)

So how was everyone's Valentine's Day? My friends back home all got together for dinner to celebrate Ivy and Mayu's birthday. I was bummed that I missed it, but I had a really nice evening at home with Aric and Ashlyn.
Aric came home with bags full of groceries and wouldn't let me peek. He was busy in the kitchen for an hour, and made Grilled Portabello Mushroom Steaks and Baked Ziti (from scratch). We opened a bottle of Chardonnay and had dinner by candle light....while Ashlyn played nearby in her Mega Saucer. For dessert, we had frozen chocolate covered bananas (that he allowed me to help make). We spent the rest of the evening together and talked till wee hours of the morning...something we often taken for granted and haven't done in a long time. We also exchanged cards, and he got me something that I've been ooh-ing and ahh-ing over since Christmas - the Hallmark Kiss Kiss Bears. They are soooo cute! These are not the ordinary Kiss Kiss Bears either. When they kiss, the tune to "All You Need Is Love" (by John Lennon & Paul McCartney) plays. =)

my Kiss Kiss Bears

Like I said, Valentine's Day is no different from any other day. Aric often likes to surprise me with gifts and dinner and new recipes, but I really love and appreciate his thoughtfulness....to know that although he's been really busy catching up on school work since returning from China, he got into the spirit of the day just to make it special for me. *sniff*
I didn't MacGyver anything last night....my creative juices have been lagging. =/ I just gave him a card (with my and Ashlyn's kiss prints in it). My lip print came out fine, but Ashlyn's came out like two thin squiggly lines. hehehe It was hard putting lipstick on her. She would either drool or mouth my lipstick. Then when I pressed her lips to the card, she tried to eat it. HAHAHAHA

Well...it's Friday! Another fun filled weekend ahead. Wil and Tony are flying into town for a relative's wedding. I can't wait to see them tomorrow! Have a great weekend everyone!

Ashlyn's pic of the day