Valentine's Day

Holidays are very important to me. My favorites are, in this order:

1. Christmas

2. Valentine's Day

3. Thanksgiving

4. Easter

My least favorite are:

1. Independence Day (I really don't like the smell of burnt firecrackers, or hearing them go off at 2am.)

2. New Year's Eve/Day (I'm not a night owl. Period.)

3. St. Patrick's Day (I don't really get the point of this one, other than green is seemingly important. I like green, but I'm not big on leprechauns or beer.)

So the fact that Valentine's Day was actually Valentine's Weekend was awesome. 

On Friday, my dad sent me a fish-shaped chocolate that said "You're a Keeper!" because that's what the doctor said when I was born. Yeah, my dad's awesome. Then John came home with my favorite Valentine candy ever - conversation hearts! Why are they my favorite? Um, you did know I was an English major, right? Yeah. So he put them on the counter, in the shape of a heart. 

{{{swoon}}}

Saturday afternoon was our "official" Valentine's Day. We both got dressed up and went to Shake's Frozen Custard for concretes (like a Dairy Queen "Blizzard"). I got cookie dough. John got fudge brownie. We were both really, really happy. Then we went to the Fayetteville Square and wandered around until dinner at Greenhouse Grille. My first Valentine's Day as a Peterson, and I must say I was pleased. 

John picked out this rose-shaped ring at Riff-Raff on the Square. It was their 2-year anniversary so we got it for 50% off! Score!

Me. I made the headband out of felt and fabric hearts.

The required iPhone/mirror picture. I was paying attention to my fingers, which always look weird.

John caught up on some reading at the Bookshop on Dickson.

Happiness!

We ended the weekend by getting up early on Sunday morning and making heart-shaped pancakes before church. John is really good at flipping pancakes, which is awesome because I am horrible at it. I think they turned out pretty well, but John and I both agreed that last week's chocolate chip waffles were better. Does anyone know the secret to fluffy pancakes? I would really like to know.

Then we hung out with friends at Wilson Park. It was the first nice day of the year, and we took a picnic of deli items from Ozark Natural Foods. They make amazing veggie burritos. Amazing. I also tried these snap pea crunchy things that were pureed peas reshaped into peas. It sounds weird, put they were pretty good. I'm really enjoying these new friendships that are developing in my fitness classes, Wednesday Bible study, Discovery group, and community group. I'm so extremely blessed to see God's grace firsthand, and I pray that I can be a good friend to those who extend their friendship to me.

Yay, Valentine's Day 2011!!!