A Valentines {Tradition} re-cap

2.25.11-

 I couldn't let the month of February go by without sharing a wonderful family tradition we do to celebrate Valentine's Day in our home.  This tradition has goes back to 1995 when my husband & I were dating and students at Utah State. Ty invited me over to his apartment for a candlelight dinner

{on a cardboard table w/ a Valentines table cloth}

we dined on Quiznos sandwiches {turkey bacon guacamole} potato chips {my fav-cheddar sour cream} &  raspberry jello salad.

He decided to reenact that dinner several years ago with Macey has his helper & 6 years later we still turn the kitchen into a magical place to have our Quizno sandwiches by candlelight every Valentines night. Tyler always dresses up in his Tux to serve dinner & the girls always dress in their finest too.

{You can imagine in a house of all little girls how much they loved Ty putting on his tux, each year he tries to get out of it but the girls won't let him!}

-Mace & Ty in 2006. Love the way she is looking up at him. Oh, I need to grab some tissues!-

Macey always takes our order & serves our drinks to us.  The last 2 years Audrey & Emily have been the "decorating" committee & they enjoy contributing to the special night. They make little decorations, string crepe paper around the room & cut out paper hearts.

{It was Emily's idea to light up the "dance floor" this year- this was a first}

Each year little things change but some things ALWAYS have to stay the same or else there will be tears-

-the tux has to be worn! {You're a good sport Ty, love you!}

- We {A,E & I } have to wait to be seated by Macey

-Macey has to read us the menu & take our orders

-Quiznos sandwiches & potato chips have to be served {I have to  eat the Turkey Bacon Guac.}

-We HAVE to drink from fancy glasses {of coarse!}

-Ty always gives us girls a gift at dinner

-pictures of the girls with their Dad

- & there must be dancing.

Just like the 1st dinner there is dancing afterwords & the girls love it!  It melts my heart each year to watch each of my girls dance with their Dad & see how much they have grown from year to year. It wasn't too long ago that he held A&E in his arms & Macey would stand on his feet & dance around the room.  I adore watching them &

I don't even mind having to wait my turn to dance with Ty. 

-So if you'll indulge me here are some of the pictures from recent years-



-2006, Sleeping Beauty & Snow White came to the dinner-




-Mace taking the order-





-Mace serving dinner in 2007-





-The Princesses make an appearance again in 2007. Love the days of the dress-ups & that in their minds they were REALLY dressing up in their best for the occasion-




-Sleeping Beauty with her Dad-




-Ty & Snow White-




-Mace & Ty-




- The girls & I in 2008-





-Audrey excited for the addition of Cheetos to the menu-




-Audrey added a spotlight to the dancing in 2008-




-Em in 2009-





-Em & her Dad in 2009-



-Ty & I -



-Everybody Dance in 2009-




- Our Valentines Dinner 2011-




-Our favorite Valentines waitress {I can't believe she can wear my shoes!}-



-Ty & I - 15 years since the 1st Valentines Dinner-



-Love  this picture of Audrey dancing! :) -



-Em with Ty, it was her idea to light up the dance floor this year.  She strung Christmas lights around the area rug.  It made it so fun!-

-Can't believe how much Miss Mace has grown from the 1st time her & her Dad planned our Valentines dinner in 2006. Thanks Mace for always planning this special night with your Dad for our family- love it & you!-

Oh, how I love having this tradition in our family. 

It is always such a special night for us. I love that we look forward to this every single year & it wouldn't be Valentines Day without it.

{I'm so blessed to have 3 wonderful girls & 1 great guy in my life!}

{M}