Day twenty-eight

I'm sad to see this month end. I plan to keep the spirit of Love Month going on in our home for the rest of the year. I gave Trevor a nice scalp massage for his last day. He has been so grateful this month it's made all the effort and work worth it. I love Love Month.

Day Twenty-seven

I surprised Trevor with a small getaway to Olympia this weekend. My parents watched the kids for the evening so I could take him out to a delicious restaurant Anthony's Seafood. I made reservations for a cozy booth overlooking the water at the beginning of the month. I needed a romantic place without any distractions to give Trevor his last Love Month gift. After we ordered I presented my I Love you Because... book to Trevor. My sister gave me the idea to make an I love you Because... book on my winkflash account. What started out as a 20 page book of fun pictures of Trevor and I, turned into a 70 page book of wonderful memories and reasons I love my husband. He had tears in his eyes as we looked through the book together. I'm thankful I took the time to make a book about why I love him. The weekend turned out to be a wonderful way to end the Love Month.

Day Twenty-six

I gave Trevor Sports Monopoly pieces and a coupon that said I would play Monopoly once this year with him (I hate playing Monopoly).

Day Twenty-five

Today was actually my birthday. I wanted to do something we could both enjoy so I turned our bedroom into a romantic suite. My boys brought up the hearts from downstairs and put them on the wall above our bed. I covered an old bookcase and our tredclimer with sheets. I brought up many of the fake plants from downstairs to place around our bedroom. I had the boys sprinkle fake rose petals all over (they actually played with the petals for the following two hours). I brought up a bottle of Sparkling cider and a few nice pillows throw pillows from downstairs. My ugly room was transformed. This is a less expensive alternative to staying in a hotel. Needless to say Trevor loved the room.

Day Twenty-four

I made a huge heart shaped sugar cookie with pink frosting and pink sprinkles for Trevor. This is actually his all time favorite cookie so I saved it for the last week. His mom has a special recipe that includes cinnamon and nutmeg. I rarely make cookies because I just eat them if they are around the house so cookies are a real treat for Trevor. The cookie ended up being pretty thick because it was molded into my heart shaped pan, but Trevor loved the taste.

Day twenty-three

I put a pack of gum on a heart and wrote I'm so glad you "chews"ed me. I hid the note in Trevor's computer bag so he would get it sometime at work. When I talked to him at work he said my note was the highlight of his day.

Day Twenty-two

Trevor has had some long hours at work this week. He was really feeling kind of down Monday night. I wanted him to wake up to something positive so, I made sure he was all ready for bed and wouldn't go into the bathroom again that night. I took a few extra minutes getting ready for bed and wrote "thank you for a beautiful life. I love you Trevor" on our bathroom mirror. I had picked up a soft heart shaped rug at Khols on clearance a few days ago and used it on the floor under his sink. When I saw him in the morning he had a big smile on his face and thanked me for the sweet messege. My mother-in-law was actually the one who gave me the lipstick on the mirror idea.

Day Twenty-one

We were still a part for most of this day because Trevor was coming home from UT and I was coming home from Olympia. Before we left on our trips, I put Trevor's favorite root beer in the fridge so it would be a nice cold treat when he came home from his work trip. This is an easy love month idea because every man has a favorite drink.

Day Twenty

I bought myself a cute scarf to wear on a future date. Acutally I didn't really do anything for him today because he was out of town and I didn't plan ahead. There now you can feel better about missing a day in the month. The key is not to stop once you've missed a day, but to keep going.

Love Month Pictures

Here are a few pictures from this month (I had uploading problems earlier).

Valentines Dinner and Dance

House Decorations (we leave them up all month)

Love Gram

 

Treats

 

  

Treat bags in his lunches

 Hawaiian Restaurant Date

 Heart Shaped Pizza

Gifts

Day Nineteen

I sent Trevor a nice email with a link to a love sand art video.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/980013/love_2008_mesmerizing_sand_art/

There's only so much I can do when he's out of town.

Day Eighteen

Trevor got a tie today. I usually don't give two gifts in a row, but when Trevor came home from work TJ told him we bought him a tie when we went shopping. I was saving it for next Sunday. Oh,well. It was red for Love Month.

Day Seventeen

Trevor needed a new hooded sweatshirt to stay warm and comfy around the house. He mentioned needing a new sweatshirt after Christmas, so I've been hunting for one for love month. I found a red and black sweatshirt on sale a few nights ago. When Trevor came home from work he opened his gift and loved it. The boys wanted to put on their hooded sweatshirts to match dad.

Day Sixteen

Sweet and simple today, I put Hot Tamales on a heart and said, "you are one HOT lover." I also put a fuzzy red pair of handcuffs with it and left the surprise in the car. He had a good laugh.

Valentines Day

This should be the best day of the month, but with love month going it didn't feel much different from the rest of the month. I didn't really like that Valentine's Day landed on a Sunday. We really celebrated Friday night and Saturday night. I usually turn our bedroom into a hotel suite, but didn't have a chance to do that on a Sunday. I'll save that for later on this month.

Sometimes there is a day or two in the month that just don't go as planned. The girl scout cookies I ordered last month from the neighborhood girl scout were delivered today, so that's what Trevor's love month gift ended up being. We were both tired and worn out from the week that nothing else would really work for love month.

Day Thirteen

Late Thursday night I escaped to Kholes for a fast and furious search for the perfect Valentine's date night outfit. I came up with a flirty, purple, long top with sequins stones around the neckline. I bought a pair of black leggings to wear under the top (I must admit I have not worn leggings since seventh grade). Since I was getting my hair cut Friday, I bought a pair of long black earrings to match my outfit. Unfortunately Trevor had to work all day Saturday, but this gave me a chance to get all ready for our date without him around. It feels more like a date when I can see him after I'm all dolled up. I made reservations earlier on in the week for twenty-two people at Who Song and Larry's. Trevor came home from working all day Saturday with a huge bouquet of flowers and a delicious box of specialty chocolates.I picked up our sitter and we were off to dinner. The Mexican restaurant put us in our own room upstairs which was really nice. There were about four couples at each table. After yummy food and good conversation we headed to the Valentine's Dance at the church.

This dance is a Valentine's tradition. We've been going to it with friends for the past three years. Trevor and I both look forward to it because it reminds us of dating at BYU and helps us feel a little younger. Our group danced for almost two hours before heading home. I must admit my body did not make me feel very young after dancing. I was so tired and sore, but it was well worth it.

Day fiftenn

I finally surprised Trevor. He always guesses his Christmas and Birthday gifts. He always knows if I'm planning something. I told him to be home from work by 7:30 and I left it at that. He tried to guess what I was up to, but he had no idea. When he came home I had a quick sandwich for him and a card that told him where his massage appointment would be. He's been so stressed out with work he needed more of a massage then I could give him. I wanted him to get the real thing. I also got a fantastic deal from a Valentine's Day promotion I got in the mail. He is getting his massage right now as I type this update up. Hope he likes it.

Day Twelve

I picked up a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner. I set out a white table cloth, valentine paper plates, red heart doilies for the fancy glasses, and candles. When Trevor came home we shared a candle light pizza dinner with our kids. The little boys just loved having the lights out and candles on. They each blew out a candle after dinner. For dessert we had strawberry ice cream because it's pink and Trevor loves strawberries. Oh yes, I almost forgot, I made a toast to Trevor. The boys loved the toast and TJ decided to make up his own toast for Dad later on in the meal. This dinner around Valentine's Day is a tradition. I make sure to do it every year.

Day Eleven

Today I made a candy gram, you know the ones you used to make to ask a guy out to a dance in high school. My friend Marrisa actually came up with the clever saying. I'll capitalize the words that can be used as candy bars. "Hey BIG HUNK! I would pay a 100 GRAND for your KISSES and travel to New YORK and the MILKY WAY to SKOR with you. Trevor has not seen it yet, but I'm sure he'll love it.

Day Ten

My youngest son and I made Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies for Trevor today. This love month thing is not good for the waist line, but Trevor is loving the extra goodies. I try to do some sort of baked good every week. Last week the cupcakes, this week the cookies, next week I'll probably make his favorite pie, and then the last week I'll make valentine sugar cookies.

Day Nine

When Trevor came home from work there was a long red package on the table for him. He opened a golf pole for backyard golf practice. He says he's going to keep it up in the yard year round. In years past I've given some sort of present he can open once a week.

Day Eight

I planned a Family Home Evening Lesson on our courtship. It was actually very simple. I got out my old scrapbook from when we were dating engaged and then married. We sat together on the couch as a family looking at the album while I told stories about the pictures. I must admit my sons were interested for maybe 10 minutes and then they could only think about the treat. Trevor and I enjoyed looking at the old pictures and remembering the early stages of our relationship. I enjoyed telling our children about how our relationship came about. They liked the kissing pictures.

Day Seven

For dinner I made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. I took a cookie cutter and cut the bread and cheese out in the shape of a heart. I grilled the sandwiches and served them on our “you are special today” plate. I cut hearts out of the cheese for the boys as well. They are catching on to the whole love month idea.

Day Six

We traveled up to my parents for the weekend so I wanted to do something for the two hour drive. After we were all packed I placed his favorite marshmallow treat Peeps on the passenger seat. He was surprised when he opened the door to get in.

Day Five

I planned a double date to go out to our favorite Hawaiian Restaurant. I booked a babysitter and took care of all the details early on in the week. I made sure to take some time to look my best for our date. We had a great time with our friends. Both of us were able to relax and enjoy one another (with the exception of having to bring baby along).

Day Four

I picked up a box of Pillsbury Valentine Cupcake mix last week at Albertsons. The kids and I baked cupcakes for Trevor. We used red and pink frosting and sprinkles to decorate. I added a heart flag on each cupcake I picked up last year on clearance. I displayed the cupcakes on a heart shaped platter on the kitchen island. We all enjoyed Trevor’s love month gift after dinner.

Day Three

Love Month has a fun way of turning your thoughts to your husband throughout the day. I ended up calling Trevor at work just to say I love you and I’m thinking about you. Around dinner time it was pouring and I knew my husband would be coming home on a smelly bus and have to dash across the park and ride to get to the van in the rain. I started to think about what I could do to warm and cheer him when he walked through the doors. I found the “Phenomenon” sound track he bought me when we were engaged and started listening to it while cooking dinner. Of course this brought back all sorts of memories from earlier years. When I heard the garage door open I quickly turned the CD to one of our favorite slow song and turned up the volume. He walked in with his big winter coat, carrying h is heavy work bag with this look of “I’m tired, wet and hungry.” I took his coat off, set his bag down, took him in my arms and started slow dancing around the kitchen with him. Our boys looked at us like, what are you doing, we need dinner. As we turned around in the kitchen, his face softened. The stress of the day seemed to melt away for both of us. The dancing wasn’t actually my love month gift for the day, it was just a side affect. His planned Love Month gift was a 15 minute back massage right before bed. This isn’t a “rub your shoulders while you watch TV rub.” This was a towel on the bed, lotion or oil if you have it, shirt off, deep rub.

Day two

I snuck downstairs after my husband fell asleep and set out his favorite cereal, a $5 box of Quaker Oats 100% Natural. I usually don’t buy this cereal because it is too expensive, but since it’s Love Month I splurge. Plus it’s something out of the ordinary that says “I love you.” I like giving him cereal early on in the month because then every time he eats it he thinks, “my wife loves me today.” I usually attach a small note to the love month gift that says Day one or Day two and then a small message about the gift.

Day one

While my husband is at work, the kids and I decorate the downstairs. It helps to set the mood for the entire month. It also lets your spouse know you’re up to something. I cut hearts out of construction paper, put painters blue tape on the back, and let the kids stick them all over the walls. Over the past two years I’ve collected a few extra decorations, like heart wreaths and Valentine window clings. All the Valentine products go on sale after Valentines so you can us the decorations for the following year. I like to keep everything in a big pink storage bin labeled Love Month. I even use the same construction hearts year after year.