Love Day.

Sometimes, I feel bad for Valentine's Day.  It has a whole lot of haters!  Don't worry, I'm not one of them. Despite that I never had a Valentine to celebrate with until after I was married.

Valentine's has always been kind to me.  I can't remember one where I was pouting, thinking to myself "This day SUCKS!!" (Which apparently a lot of people on facebook were...) Valentine's is being even more awesome as time goes on.  It helps that I now have TWO Valentines to make up for all those year I had none.

I spent my morning making these little guys for a Valentine's Party London's little friend Avonlea was having.

Recipe found here:
Thick, Soft, Sugar Cookies 
1 cup butter 
2 cups sugar 
2 eggs 
3 tsp. vanilla 
1 cup sour cream 
1 tsp. salt 
2 tsp. baking soda 
5 1/2 cups flour

In mixer, cream butter and sugar, and then add eggs and vanilla. Add sour cream. Combine salt, soda, and flour, and add to mixture.

Roll out on floured surface to about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.

Use a spatula to carefully slide under each cookie and place onto greased (with Pam) parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes.

THEY WILL NOT LOOK DONE!

If you have a golden brown color along the edges then you have baked them too long.

Wait about 5 minutes and then transfer carefully to a cooling rack. If you wait longer they will get soggy on the bottom and sometimes get stuck to the parchment paper.

Once they are cooled they are ready for frosting. 

Butter-cream Frosting 

 1/2 cup butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4-1/3 cup milk

In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla until crumbly. Gradually add milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Add desired food coloring.

 We went up to the party after London woke up from her nap. (Avonlea lives a floor above us.)  It was a lot of fun to play with our friends!  And the food was, of course, awesome.

 

Avonlea had Valentine gifts for everyone!

Miss Avonlea with her mommy.

Aiden checking out the scene.

Landon ready for some trouble.

 My camera's battery died at this point.  Oops.  But I managed to catch a few more pictures on my phone.

These two sneaked off to the kitchen...London was crawling after him giggling.  I think she's a little obsessed, Melissa...

 After the party, we came home and London had her second nap...during which I was Super-Mom/Wife and got everything ready for tonight.

Made a couple pizzas...

Cleaned the house and set the scene for dinner.

Once Dan made it home, the party began!  London got to enjoy her gifts from her many admirers (mostly her Grandmas.) And, not trying to brag about my pizza-making skills, but Dan told me it was the best home-made pizza he had ever had. 

Romantic Dinner for two...er...three.

I hope Valentine's showed a little love to you too, or at the very least, some chocolate.