My Funny Valentine

I'm not really sure where February has gone. It has definitely been a busy and fast month for us. Somehow, the loss of 2 days seems to make the month seem a lot shorter.

At the beginning of this month, Mark and I decided it was time to spend some money and have me get a hair cut. To most people, my hair wasn't all that long to start with. But for me, the 7 months since the last cut had been way too long. When my ponytails (usually a daily staple) get unmanageable despite mousse, I get nightmarish flashbacks to my high school days looks. I prefer it short, this time was probably the shortest I've ever had it...and it wasn't completely unmanageable either. Professionally straightened, it was much cuter, but I feel like I can pull the style off fairly well. Thankfully winter is (hopefully) ending soon and my neck won't be as cold anymore!

Valentine's Day came rather quickly. I didn't even know what to get Mark until about 48 hours beforehand. I bought him just about everything he could want at Christmas: socks, headphones, videocard, new watch battery,candy. I ended up getting him the trendy shirt you see him modeling below, as well as a few gift certificates to a laser tag place in the area. As I was out that morning buying last minute supplies for him and my co-workers, I bought some construction paper and decided to heart-attack his desk. I had really wanted to heart attack his car, but since he can practically look out his window at work, and he parks his car right outside our apartment, there was no way to hide it. So his desk it was! And don't worry, I put the tape on the BACK of the monitor not right on the screen. Mark bought me flowers (tulips as he always does for sentimental reasons), and an awesome huge candle. In our more free state compared to dorms, we love lighting candles and making the house smell good. It's a triple wick so it burns even stronger too! He also bought me Vanilla Sugar Bubble Bath. I guess I know how to indulge myself once I'm graduating school and he's off studying!

I work in the afternoons and despite the "holiday" I still had to go to school right after work until 6:15. So after I got home we made dinner at home (Chicken Alfredo) with some surprise Martinelli's and then went to Gloria's for dessert. We were disappointed at first that they only had gelato or cake that the head cook/owner made. But when we tasted it, we were definitely not sad anymore. It was a drier, layered strawberry cake with italian cream, icing and two quartered strawberries on top. I even brought some home and it was just as heavenly two days later. We highly recommend Gloria's to anyone in the area. We had reservations at 8 and there was no wait to be seated if you had a reservation. That's hard to come by on a holiday such as Valentine's Day!

Since I basically was a bum at Christmas time and didn't make anything for my co-workers, I decided to do something special for them on Valentines Day. I forgot to include the picture here, but I used a recipe I got from my sister Krystal. It's like that "cookie in a jar" idea. You provide the person with marshmallows, crushed graham crackers and chocolate chips. Add a little bit of vanilla and melted butter, bake in the oven for about 10 minutes and Viola! Smores minus campfire smell...and MUCH more tasty in my opinion.

The day after Valentine's Day, I went to work "full time" (aka the entire 6 hour school day). A co-worker of mine was getting married and would be gone for a week. Which gave me an extra 15 hours instead of the usual 11 that I work. Surprisingly, by Friday, I could still tell people that I liked my job. There was one afternoon I was pretty much out of patience with a few kids, but it was great to spend more time with the kids and play a greater part in their school days. The only thing I missed was my 4-hour homework/workout block. I was left with only evenings to do homework which left Mark alone to his computer games for an hour or two some nights. Thankfully he was as always a great sport and very supportive about it.

Overall, it was a fabulous Valentines Day. Of course, let's see what other year's Mark has to compete with: 2005- He gave me a stuffed animal flower and a solid hershey kiss (which I still have) after seminary. 2006-Rose (yes a little more serious then) and we went to jamba and Lemon Park after school that day. 2007- He sent me flowers when I was in Idaho 2008/2009- He sent wonderful packages while he was on his mission...but lets be honest..I was still alone those years. 2010- Spent in Vernal with my family for a baby blessing. A fun trip but aside from beautiful tulips, we didn't do anything because of time and money. I was certainly spoiled this year. He's been my valentine for seven years now and it gets better every year!