Family Valentine's Day

I believe in date nights.  I completely and wholeheartedly do. I have a kid-swap arranged once a month with a friend of mine.  For a while we had two date-nights a month, which I thought was awesome.  I just think it is so so important for a couple to have some time without kids.

However, there is one day of the year that Adel and I have sworn never to go on a date again: Valentine's Day.  Our Valentine's Day phobia started one year before Isaac was born.  It was on a Friday night that year and we finished our long days at work and waded through rush hour traffic to come home and prepare for our special night: change clothes, freshen up, take dog to kennel, check into hotel, drive to Downtown Disney for dinner.  The problem was, by the time we got there, it was 8:30pm and seemingly every other Anaheim local had made the same plans.  The wait time for dinner would be no less than two hours.  So we got back in the car to drive around and try to find an alternative.  Nearly two hours later, we ended up tired and grumpy at a dingy IHOP, vowing to never eat out on Valentine's Day again.

So, this year we will celebrate our love on the 13th of February (7 years of marriage, 10 years of being a couple, 11 years since we first met!).  That leaves our Valentine's Day open for some good family fun.

Last year, I created a game that was fun and easy for the whole family to play (Isaac was three-and-a-half and Abby just eighteen months).  I can't help but do this sort of thing.  It's the teacher in me.  And watch out...it's contagious.  PS, in the instructions below, I include "Simple Steps" that can be done in a matter of a few minutes and "Get Creative" steps that make it look cuter but take longer to do.  You can make this game as simple or elaborate as you want.

Making the Game:
1.  Simple Step: Take a cubed-box or make a cube out of paper (to see how, click here).  On each side of the cube, write one of the following: 1. Give a hug, 2. Give a kiss, 3. Tickle, 4. Give a Valentine, 5. Say "I love you!", 6. Say "You're special because ______."  
     Get Creative: If you can find pictures or clip art to go with it, that would be good to help pre-readers.  (If I was smart enough to know how to upload a link to the pdf of the labels I already made, I would do it! If you want it, let me know and I'll email it to you.)

2.  Simple Step: Make a stack of cards. Each card should say the name of a family member. 
     Get Creative: Or, better for pre-readers, each card can have a picture of a family member.

3.  Simple Step: Get individually wrapped candy or conversation hearts.
     Get Creative:  Or have the kids help make a pile of Valentine hearts.

Playing the Game:
Take turns rolling the dice and picking a card.  The dice will tell you what to do.  The card will tell you who to do it to.  (If you pick your own card, just pick again.)  For example, you may "Give a hug" to Daddy or "Tickle" little sister.  You may even have to "Give a Valentine" (the ones you made or the candies you bought) to Mommy.  Little kids will not think this is at all cheesy.  They will LOVE it.  Super simple family fun.  No one loses and even babies can play.  The game ends when the kids lose interest or you can't stand the love anymore.

From last year:

Isaac giving a Valentine

Rolling the dice

Picking a card

Abby giving a Valentine

Do you have any Valentine's Day family traditions?  Comment below if you've got a good idea to share!