Today’s #LoveBlog prompt is Valentine’s Day. Ah Valentine’s Day. I think most people either love or hate this holiday. I, for one, have a healthy love/hate relationship with it.
Growing up it was kind of just like whatever, you know? I mean we would have a party at school and everybody would give everybody else little Valentine’s cards. Nobody was left out and nobody ever really got special attention that I can remember. And we’d come home from school to gifts and a special dinner from my mom.
Then, in the teenage years it was annoying when I didn’t have a boyfriend. It still wasn’t a huge deal, but it was just another reminder of my singleness.
 |
| Senior Homecoming in high school |
Later, when I had a boyfriend (Pearson) toward the end of high school and all through college, I hated Valentine’s Day even more. I hated the pressure. I hated the expectations behind the holiday: having to dress up and go out. Getting your significant other a special gift or doing something special and over the top just wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing something special for Pearson, but I like doing them spontaneously and unexpectedly. Not on a holiday when I’m told to do so.
 |
| At a formal in college |
Now, I think I like Valentine’s day again. I don’t really know what the difference is. Maybe it’s because I’m more comfortable with Pearson now that we’ve lived together for more than three years. Maybe it’s because we can stay home and spend Valentine’s Day in a relaxed environment instead of trying to beat the crowds and go out (In high school, we went out to get away from our families. In college, we weren’t allowed in each other’s dorm rooms). Or maybe it’s because, to be honest, we don’t do special and romantic things that often anymore because of schedules and it’s nice to have an excuse.
 |
| When Pearson proposed to me |
Whatever the reason, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Valentine’s day every since we got married. And I wanted to share some of the ways we’ve celebrated on this Throwback Thursday.
In high school we didn’t get to actually spend Valentine’s Day together much because, well, we went to different schools. I think we usually celebrated on the closest weekend. I remember one year, Valentine’s day was on a Wednesday because we saw each other at church that night. I had baked him a heart shaped cake and he thought it was the coolest thing ever!
 |
| From our engagement shoot |
We always gave each other gifts but they were always something little like a cake or flowers or a fun stuffed animal. But one other year in high school, Pearson gave me hard back copies of New Moon and Eclipse which, at the time, I thought were the greatest gifts ever!
 |
| From our honeymoon |
In college, we usually just chilled together on Valentines Day and didn’t do anything too special. In fact, Valentine’s Day fell within the two week period of freshman year that we were broken up. So we completely skipped that year. One year we made breakfast for dinner together in a dorm lobby. Mostly we just sat on a swing and spent time together. I think one year we even did laundry together on Valentine’s Day. We had the whole laundromat to ourselves.
The first year we were married, I made Pearson’s favorite food for dinner: Feta Cheese Chicken. I don’t really remember much else about that year.
The next year, Valentine’s Day was a Friday and Pearson made steak for dinner. On Saturday morning, we drove to Dutch Valley, Ohio to spend the weekend in Amish country! Pearson’s birthday is February 17th so we did this to celebrate Valentine’s Day and his birthday.
 |
| Building that looks like a basket in Amish country |
Last year, Valentine’s Day was a Saturday so we made sure to spend the whole day together. We had brunch at La Chatelaine, watched Friends, made dinner together, and watched Sleepless in Seattle.
 |
| At our romantic Valentine’s brunch last year. |
This year, I’m really not sure what we’ll do. But I’m excited for it. We’ll make it special but we’ll probably not go out. It’s on a Sunday so we will definitely go to church, but that’s about all I know right now.
Are you a fan of Valentine’s Day? What do you usually do to celebrate? What are you planning to do this year? Be sure to link up with Brita!
Thanks for reading!
