Another holiday?

Okay so it is a good thing that I have not posted about my resolutions yet, cause I have already broken one.  After how grumpy I got about Christmas this year, I decided that I would try and make more of an effort this year.  You know, for the kids sake.  Now here we are at the first holiday of the year, and I have done almost nothing.  I could blame it on the never ending roof drama, (post coming soon,) but to be honest, I am not sure I would have done more had I not have a team of guys banging on my roof for the last week.  I cannot say that I forgot about valentines day, I totally knew it was coming; it was more like I was in denial that it was actually gonna happen and I would have to do something about it.  There has been quite a debate going on in my head about whether or not I even needed to do anything.  My parents never went all out for any holiday let alone Valentine's Day. Don't get me wrong, I had a great, normal childhood.  In fact, that's the point.  When did Valentine's Day and all the other minor holidays become such a big deal?  I remember handing out the cards in school, but now I HAVE to make my family heart shaped red colored food for three meals?  I have to cut out felt hearts and string them around the room!?  Presents for my kids preschool teachers?  (Not that I don't appreciate them, I do.)  And when did the valentines get all jacked up?  When I was a kid only one or two kids had candy attached to their valentines, now that is the least amount  required. 

Now I know that you are all shaking your heads and saying, "You don't have to do those things.  If someone else does that then that is what they want to do."  CRAP!  TOTAL CRAP!  When everyone else goes crazy it slowly builds and adds to society expectations of what is required.  It then comes down to my own guilt and my kids expectations.  I adore my kids and I am gonna be seriously ticked if at the end of it all they can't realize that cause they didn't get heart shaped food. 

But I do love my family and I want them to have fond childhood memories.  So maybe if the roofers are done by St. Patrick's Day,  I'll be ready with green colored food.  One a positive note to end this angry drivel of a post, We did get some lovely cards in the mail from the grandparents.  I love how Jeff's mom mails each of us a crisp one dollar bill.  I wonder what Spike will do with his?  My parents mailed each of the kids one of those big music cards.  Before I had kids I thought those were the biggest waste of money, but you should see a toddler with a music card.  Totally worth the five bucks.  The kids save their cards for months and play them until they break or I go crazy and toss them.  Mae has recently fished my birthday card out from under some piece of furniture and we hear Cinderella's  "Bibbity Bobbity Boo" hourly.