Valentine's Weekend/Day

( These are the flowers Kyle sent to me at work. They became more beautiful and full as the buds contined to open up and blossom even more the days following Valentine's.)

As we all know, generally a one-day holiday usually turns into a multiple-day holiday event. Of course, Valentine's isn't any different. We began by having a party with some friends on Friday afternoon (Feb. 11). Frosting and decorating cupcakes along with making cards is always fun for kids (and even adults, too). Then during the weekend we made more cards and treats. Above are the now traditional holiday sugar cookies I love to make, naturally heart-shaped. In the box are protein peanut butter balls. They are pretty healthy except for the fact that I added M&Ms to them. I went to Eden Saturday night with Kyle and met a bunch of his friends while Hayden got to play with his grandma and grandpa (he ended up going to the dinosaur museum with grandpa). Sunday was spent with Hayden--I love my little crazy kiddo.

On Valentine's morning Hayden got a fun Valentine basket filled mainly with art supplies. There were also a few activities/games and just a little bit of candy (I knew he would get more later on).

Here is Hayden at school making Valentine cards. They also got to pass out Valentine's, frost cookies, and play games.
After school I had an early dinner date with Kyle. He took me to one of the nicest places...a place so nice that I had never even been. So here we are in the foyer of...waiting for the drumroll...LA CAILLE!

Btw, I really didn't have a huge spot on my dress. I guess something just happened when the pic was being taken. The whole property that houses La Caille was stunning and we even got to see some swans, ducks, and peacocks while we were there. Kyle requested we sit by a fireplace, and that is where we ended up (not the one above, a different one).

This is our vegetable appetizer.

This is Kyle's dinner.

And here's mine.

We also got these chocolate tuxedo strawberries at the end because it was Valentine's day. Hmmm, looks like someone ate theirs.

After dinner, my parents brought Hayden back home so he could join us for dessert.

Hayden just wanted icecream, but I made this for Kyle and me. It's inspired by the Applebee's blonde brownie dessert. The bottom is more cookie than brownie-like with white chocolate chips and nuts. Then there's the icecream, and then I made the maple butter sauce that we drizzled over the top. Oh my, it was delicious!! I still don't know how we had room for it after all the food we had for dinner.