Valentine's Day Family Scavenger Hunt

 I have always loved Valentine's Day.  I know it's a forced holiday but I thoroughly enjoy it every year!  This year the kids were very opinionated about what Valentine's they wanted {and no I do not make handmade Valentine's cards...awesome for those of you that do, I wish I did but alas the Target section works well for us!}.  Mark was out of town so we got these babies done early for once.

Brady boy loved eating the paper....it's the little things :).

 hard at work

Valentines parties at school...so FUN!

 And this is where I cry.  Ryan always has a hard time expressing emotion, feelings, or deep thoughts (minus anger) so reading this from him is EXTRA special.  Especially since I wanted to punch him in the head that morning before school.  I restrained myself from physically hurting him for being a punk and I'm so glad I did because this was a pleasant treat.

And sweet Ally! Love is when Ryan says I love you.  STOP IT! It rarely happens and we're working on it but oh the sweetness of that girl gets me every time.

 Brady's first Valentines day...so 'taken' with that boy.

 he's on the goooooo all the time now

Mark and I gave up a date night on Valentines Day years ago, it's just not worth the stress so we usually have a family fun night.  This year I completely copied my sister Caryn's scavenger hunt idea from last year.  Why invent the wheel?? :)) Thanks C-rock!

Each destination on the hunt was a place in Waco where there has been some LOVE.  It was really fun and very easy.  I'd highly recommend it.

 #1

 #2

 #3

 #4

 #5

 #6

 Before we left Ally and I got some beautiful flowers from our boys.  So sweet!

 And we're OFF!!!! (and Ryan was very hungry so although he loved it, there were no smiles due to starvation....in hind sight I should have fed that boy first.  Still learning. )

 I first saw Mark at Midway High School playing baseball so that was the first stop on the Love hunt.

 It was really windy on Valentine's Day so I didn't get to hide the clues earlier in the day like I planned, but these guys never caught on.  Mark distracted them and I ran and hid the clue...teamwork

 #2--FBC Woodway where we were married

 #3 The Arboretum where we had our wedding reception

 opps...the wrong clue was laid out.  Oh well we made it work :)) they still had no "clue" he-he

 onto the mall for some Cookie cake!

 photo by Ryan

 we opted to eat at the mall food court because nothing says I love you more than a huge slice of pizza or Chick-fil-A nuggets.  And we all know the food court is super romantic :).

After food it was onto the house for the last stop.  This house we love.  We designed it, dad built it and all three of our children have come home from the hospital to this house.  We have outgrown it but the thought of moving is really hard on me.  I love driving up to our home, I feel safe here, the Lord has done a mighty work inside me and Mark in this home, we've grieved here, fought and made up here, survived illnesses here, celebrated here and hosted many a party, play-date, supper club, and playgroup here.  We have made minor changes here but the basic home is the exact way it was the day we moved in.  We love our home and are so blessed to own it.  I'm really not very sentimental but I get emotional over this place.  I feel grace every day here.

We had a great night and this pic makes me smile.  He likes the gift bag way more than the gift. 

 See!?

Thank you Lord for your perfect love.  I am forever grateful.

XO