This year, Valentine's came one day early for me.
I was home, fighting the flu. My temperature reached 105 the day before. I also had pink eye on both of my eyes, earache on both of my ears, and a very sore throat which would later be diagnosed as tonsillitis.
Yes, I clearly needed some emergency lovin', and my family was only too happy to step in.
Lance and Daddy were the ringleaders, by virtue of being the only ones who were well. Reanna, who kicked off our big family flu love-in, was still checking in at the 100s, and Troy, who was home from school for almost a week, still ran 104 the day before. Unbeknownst to us sick folk, the two conspirators had already cased nearby supermarkets the day before for chocolate-covered strawberries, Mommy's favorite Valentine treat. Since none were being offered this year, they found the next best thing:
Just to let you know, I didn't mind sharing top-billing, as long as it was clear those strawberries on top were mine.
I guess I'd better explain. See, now that Reanna's big enough to understand, the boys decided that Valentines would be all about the girls in our family, not just Mommy. So aside from us sharing the cake, both of us got balloons too. Mine had a personal message from Daddy, while Reanna's displayed her new title, "Valentine Princess". I also got a handmade Valentine, especially designed by all of my boys, which was my most treasured present of all.
Finally, the tea was ready. We sang "Happy Valentine's Day" and blew the candles. Yes, candles. By now, you should know that no cake would ever be complete without candles in our home.
And then we attacked that picture-perfect cake. Yum.
We spent the rest of the evening making homemade Valentines to be given to Lance and Troy's classmates, but the biggest and best Valentines got to stay home with me.
Indeed, what could be sweeter?
