Happy Valentine's Day from Moscow

I have never been that into Valentine's Day.  To be honest with you, after four years at Loyola of New Orleans and our many years in Thibodaux, Valentine's Day became exciting to me only because it usually meant that Mardi Gras was right around the corner.  (How I miss Mardi Gras, but that's a blog for another time.)  Of course the kids love any holiday, so it's become a bit more of a fun day now that the four kiddos are in my life.
Yesterday I took Amalie and Kathleen for a snack in the school cafeteria after school.  Amalie was telling us all of the plans for Valentine's Day in her class.  I mentioned to the girls that I did not have a Valentine this year (Jesy is in the States).  Kathleen told me that she would be my Valentine.  She said she would call me "sweetie" all day long and we would give each other kisses.  How I adore that child.  She tests my ability as a mother almost every day, but she also is just a little sweet piece of candy.  Of course this morning she refused to eat breakfast, refused to get her hair done, and sat in the entranceway and cried the entire time I was gone to take Amalie and Colin to school.  But I still do adore my little girl.
I found it quite amusing that Amalie stayed stilent during the whole "I'll be your Valentine, Mommy" episode.  Amalie is already interested in boys and I could tell what was going on in that little head of hers-  if I tell mommy that I will be her Valentine, then I won't be able to pick a boy at school to be Valentines with and that will be a huge bummer.  Poor Jesy- he will really be in for it when Amalie is a teenager.
Colin has been really cracking me up lately.  He is quite enamored by a girl in his class, but he refuses to admit it.  Last night while I was bathing John Colin joined me and went on and on about this little girl for about 20 minutes.  She is so cute, so nice, she behaves so well in class.  If anyone ever does anything to this girl, he will defend her.  I have no idea what they are planning on doing, but Colin is prepared.  "Don't worry, though, Mommy.  I like her, but I am not in love with her".  Colin is truly something else.
For your Tuesday enjoyment, I thought I would ask the kids what they love.  Here are their responses:
Kathleen:  I love to make pictures,pizza, chicken nuggets, Mommy (did not tell her to say that), and Daddy, and everyone in my family.

Colin:  I love toys, legos, books, and everybody in the family.

Amalie:  I love our house, Toby (her good friend here), Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa, Daddy, making letters and stars, drawing books, making pictures with white paper, my baby brother and my whole family, Miss Olesea (our nanny), going swimming, going to the library, and going to music class, and I love Valentine's Day!  Is anyone reading this surprised that my little chatterbox Amalie listed the most items?

John:  John cannot talk, but I KNOW he would say that he loves his mommy and daddy, his brother and two sisters, and that he is going to Turkey next week and will be allowed outside!

And what do I love?  I love that my very sweet husband sent me flowers even though he is in the US.  He gave our driver money before he left and asked him to pick up a bouquet for me today.  I also love that Jesy got Amalie and Kathleen flowers also.  They were so happy, and it's so important to know that your daddy loves you.  I love that I am 36 years old and my own father still sends me a Valentine's Day card every year.  I love my 4 beautiful children and my 3 wonderful siblings.  And their own beautiful children.  I love that I am going to Turkey next week, to Stockholm in March, and to Rome in April.  And that my parents are meeting us in Rome and they get to see John for the very first time!