Annual Pink & Red Dinner

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I love Valentine's Day... I know that it is a manufactured Hallmark holiday, but I can't help myself. I just think it is so fun!

Since Valentine's fell on Monday this year, we decided to celebrate our annual Pink & Red family dinner a day early. So, yesterday was deemed Valentine's Day at the Carpenters. :)

I managed to talk my entire family into wearing red to church yesterday morning! There may have been a bit of grumbling, but eventually they all got on board. I've learned that you can get away with that type of cheesy request when you are the only girl in the house. Ha!

Wade tried to hide his red sweater vest and claim that he didn't own anything red. Not so fast, Buddy - I do your laundry! I know everything in your wardrobe inventory. ;)

Oh that Drew... He has my heart like no one else!

His older brother is quite charming too, of course. :)

As I was putting the camera away, Drew said, "Picture Daddy! Picture Daddy!"
Wade was happy to oblige in his Mini-Me's request.

We have been talking for the last couple of weeks about our Pink & Red dinner. We started this tradition last year on Valentine's Day and it was a big hit! Clayton was very emphatic that he wanted to be surprised with the menu this year. :) He offered to "watch Drew upstairs" while Wade & I got dinner ready, so that he wouldn't see anything until it was all ready. I loved his excitement!

I saw some ideas online about cutting a carrot into a heart shape and slicing baby tomatoes at an angle to make a heart. So, we fudged a little on the red & pink rule and had salad as our side. I did offer pink ranch dressing or Catalina dressing to put on top, though.

We recently got a Costco membership and I LOVE that place! Our master closet has now been deemed the storage closet for all of deals that are too good to pass up. We have enough toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and razors to last at least 2 years. Ha! I also found heart shaped ravioli there this month. So cute!

Our tablescape...

Clayton's dinner & gifts -
When Clayton was 2, we gave him this obnoxious singing monkey for Valentine's Day. He LOVED that thing - and still does! So, we have bought the same type of singing stuffed animals every year since. They drive me insane, but the kids adore them. It truly is a gift of self-sacrificing love! ;)

Drew's dinner & gifts

Clayton came downstairs, totally unprompted, with his eyes covered. Ha ha!

What a fun night we had!

I hope that your day is especially full of L-O-V-E!!! :)