Valentine's Day

This year for Valentine's Day we invited some friends over to decorate sugar cookies.  It was fun, and we had a big turnout, which is great, except Logan gets a little overwhelmed when people come over and play with his stuff.  He got over it though, especially since everyone eventually left.  I don't think he's much of a people person, at least with large crowds of people.  

The day before the party, Evan and Logan helped me cut out sugar cookies.  The first batch took forever with their help.  After they "helped", I put on a movie to distract them a little bit more, so I could finish cutting the hearts out faster.  

''helping''

Logan has been very enthusiastic about helping me cook and bake

They also got a Valentine's Day package from nana and papa.  Logan was super excited about the Rocket valentine's day card from my parents.

Evan also got a Valentine's Day card and candy (along with Sadie, who was still napping).  This face though.  I swear this kid has the greatest smile when he doesn't make strange faces.

Some of the kids decorating cookies.

Some more kids.

Sadie just really wanted to eat her cookie.

Logan concentrating on something.  Next to him are Sarah and Miriam.

Sadie enjoying her cookie by completely stuffing it in her face.

I love Sarah's face here.  

Logan concentrating on decorating his cookie.

I had a lot of fun.  I do love hosting people over, and especially for little preschool parties like this.  Poor Evan missed all the fun because he was at school, where he had his very own party and a valentine exchange with his class.  He was even lucky because Rick doesn't have class on Fridays this quarter, so he had Daddy come in and help with his party.  I gathered that he was very happy to see Rick once he realized that he was there.  (Nobody ever said that Evan wasn't oblivious on occasion).  

On Friday night, we went out to eat at Applebee's.  Rick's sister Leslie sent us a gift card, and since we didn't know when the next time we would be able to get out as just the two of us, we decided to take the kids.  I've been craving fish and chips for about 2 months now, and I ordered that.  The only problem was that as soon as I had one bite of it, I was completely satisfied and remembered how greasy fish and chips are. I couldn't finish the rest, it was too much.  

We spent Saturday grocery shopping, including getting all the stuff for our Valentine's Day dinner on Sunday night.  And then Saturday night, we just hung out with the kids and went to bed pretty early.  

On Sunday, we went to church and I was released as the primary president in our ward.  It's definitely been a great experience, and it's been bittersweet dealing with it.  But, I know that it will be okay.  Honestly, I just really love the primary and I love to serve, so being without a calling after putting so much time and effort into one is a little hard to grasp.  I have been planning on relaxing a bit and trying to catch up on some stuff around the house (and this blog) that have been neglected.  

On Sunday evening, it started snowing again.  Rick and I decided that for Valentine's Day this year, we would make sushi!  We have always wanted to try and we decided that both of us were smart enough, and there were several tutorials online, and youtube videos that we could figure it out.  We also made gyoza which is our favorite appetizer to order when we get sushi.  I also made "candy sushi" for dessert for us and the kids.  The kids ended up eating lunchables because we didn't get around to rolling the sushi until after their bedtime.  It was a bit of a process, with a lot of little things to do.  We did a shrimp tempura roll, because I won't eat raw sushi while I'm pregnant.  So that added another element of cooking.  

Rick rolling the sushi.

With all the stuffing for the rolls.

candy sushi, shrimp tempura rolls, pork gyoza

They didn't turn out pristine or anything, but they sure tasted good and they looked enough like sushi to me.

The sushi candy that the kids weren't quite sure about. 

Pork gyoza.  It was so much fun to make these.  And they tasted so very good.

Me and Rick selfie.  

I'm so grateful for Rick and everything that he does for our family.  We had such a great Valentine's Day.  I'm glad that he always likes to try to learn new things and is willing to do dates from home as it's so hard to get out with our kids a lot of the time.