valentine's day, playgroup style

On Tuesday our ward playgroup celebrated Valentine's Day with a pint-sized party. In the living room, kids decorated empty Valentine "mailboxes," while in the kitchen they decorated (and devoured) sugar cookies. Before everyone headed home, we exchanged Valentine cards. It was simultaneously successful and chaotic (but what good party isn't, right?). Lots of people came, and the word on the street is that everyone had a lot of fun.

I learned a few things in the planning and hosting of this little party.

1. If I can let go and let the mess that will inevitably result just happen, I will have more fun.

2. But even letting go has its limits, as I learned when sweet little S walked out into the living room precariously balancing both Ocean's fish bowl and an open container of fish food as she said, "Look! I found a fish! Can I feed him?"

3. It turns out that Caleb also has a genetic predisposition (no doubt inherited from his mother) toward disliking messes. At one point I found him in the kitchen, the floor of which was covered in spilled cookie decorating sprinkles, picking those sprinkles up one at a time (weaving in and out of people to do so) and taking them to the garbage can.

4. I don't think I will ever not be surprised by how many people we can squeeze [relatively comfortably] into our little apartment.

5. Caleb is easily overwhelmed by crowds, and when he is, has a tendency to cling to me and burst unexpectedly into tears.

6. Garrett has a real knack for decorating sugar cookies. I should let him do this more often. (Note to self: It would be a particularly good wintertime diversion to keep us from going crazy inside when it's too cold and snowy to go outside.)

7. Apparently Valentine's Day is not celebrated here in the schools (sad!) which makes me want to propose that this party becomes an annual tradition.

8. I have some truly awesome friends here, and so do my boys. Thanks, everyone, for coming!