Valentine's Weekend (picture heavy)

Okay, first of all this weekend didn't go according to plan in pretty much any way.

Originally, Andy and I were planning to attend our church's Couples Retreat. Last Sunday we got a call that the retreat had been cancelled because not enough people had signed up. HUGE BUMMER! We've attended every year since we got married and really look forward to it. It's really the only thing we do to get out of town or "get away from our kids". Our favorite babysitters (my parents) have come and stayed with our kids every year and we're SO grateful!

Well, my parents planned to come for the weekend anyway, so that Andy and I could try to do something fun together in place of Couples Retreat. Until...

Wednesday evening my sister called to tell me that my dad had gone to the ER with severe pain and unable to take full breaths. He was diagnosed that night with a Pulmonary Embolism or blood clots on his lungs. The doctors don't know for sure why he got the clots, but are leaning toward genetics.

Thursday morning I packed up the kids and headed down to the cities to stay with my mom and visit my dad in the hospital. We saw him that night and my kids reacted really unexpectedly. When we got to his room they walked up to the doorway, and then upon seeing their grandpa started to back away slowly. It was so weird! He did look "different", as in tired, puffy, and pale, but to them he must have look *very* different. It took them both awhile to warm up, but they eventually did. Here are the pictures to prove it:

I had planned a few little "activities" for my parents to do with the kids while we were gone, so we did a few of those while we were in the cities. Let me just say that I really love Valentine's Day and I always have. And now that I have kids I really enjoy making it a special day for them and expressing to them how much they are loved!

First we made heart shaped brownies. These turned out better than I expected. They were tasty and oh so cute!

Here Lily is mixing the pink frosting that we drizzled over the top of the chocolate frosted brownies.

SPRINKLES!!!

Look! Aren't they cute?!

I had to snap this pic, because I thought it was so cute how he just plunked himself down on the kitchen floor to look at this book.

My big boy with his new haircut

The next morning we made these cookies. They're the peanut butter kiss cookies, except with a chocolate heart in the center instead. So easy and cute!

My dad was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon. He was in the hospital less than 48 hours total which we thought was remarkable and we're so, so thankful! He came home with a bunch of syringes and lots of pills and was sitting at the dining room table trying to figure out a schedule to take all those medications. We would appreciate your prayers as he makes a few lifestyle adjustments, and that he wouldn't need to be on medication permanently!!!

On Saturday Andy drove down to be with us. All 8 of us (or 9 if you count Baby) went out for lunch to Chuck E Cheese. It was my dad's idea! =) He's a kid at heart, you know. He said it was his "celebratory getting out of the hospital lunch". =) AMEN!

Here Lily is enjoying one of the little rides.

Bryan and Mandi looking too comfortable with those weapons! =)

Taylor coming down the slide. It was hard to get a good picture of him because he never quit moving! He had a blast.

Lily assembled these Valentines for her friends at church. I got the owl valentine from Living Locurto. And then bought the fabric SUPER CHEAP from a JoAnne's going out of business in the cities. Lily put some candy and a homemade heart shaped crayon in each Valentine. Cute! I'd love to give credit for the heart shaped crayons, but I can't remember where I found the idea. If you come across it somewhere let me know!

We gave our kids each a new coloring book and some new crayons and they've spent a ton of time coloring the past 24 hours! It's amazing how new crayons seem *SO* fun!

Lily was SO cute in her red and white ensemble complete with heart tights! She loves this outfit.

Coloring together! Isn't this precious?! They like each other and like to be together and it makes my mother's heart so happy.

I attempted these heart shaped pancakes for lunch. I'd never used a mold before and didn't know how full to fill each one. Why didn't I try just one pancake first, you ask!

I HAVE NO IDEA!

Live and learn!

Uh-oh. Starting to get a little poofy.

Oops. Oh well.

They still tasted great!

My second attempt. Much better.

A happy customer.

Heart shaped cupcakes.

So that's a summary of our Valentine's weekend. I hope you had a wonderful day with your loved ones! We were reminded that life is fragile and is a vapor! We are thankful that God saw fit to spare my dad and that we get to have him around awhile longer! Praise the Lord!