not me! monday

welcome to not me! monday! this blog carnival was created by mckmama. you can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. but as for us...

i did NOT let ryan wear big boy underwear for a couple days just to make myself remember to take him potty. we did NOT have two successfull days with no accidents. and ry does NOT look super duper cute in his undies!

unfortunately, ry got sick last week so we've been taking a few days off. he did NOT have a fever last tuesday and wednesday, and then on saturday night i did NOT notice that he had a rash on his legs and arms. it did NOT turn out that the poor boy has hand foot and mouth disease. he does NOT have blister like sores all over his hands and feet, and inside his mouth. and i do NOT want to pop them so badly. (but don't worry—i won't do that!!!)

so remember last year when i realized that my mom had sent me the same birthday card three years in a row? well this year she didn't send me a duplicate, although she did tell me that was the first card she picked up in the store... anyway. every year mom sends samantha and ryan valentines. so i did NOT crack up laughing when samantha opened hers and exclaimed "MOM! THIS IS THE SAME ONE GRAMMA SENT ME LAST YEAR!!"

we don't usually do anything for valentine's day or get each other anything, so when ben had to work yesterday it was no big deal. but even though we don't do anything to celebrate doesn't mean i don't appreciate it when we do! so i was NOT super excited when he told me he'd go get dinner so i wouldn't have to cook! and then after dinner? ben and samantha were being quiet in the kitchen when suddenly he did NOT bring me the canola oil and ask "is this our vegetable oil?" when i told him yes and asked why, he told me he was just making sure it was okay. and then samantha, the queen of elusiveness, did NOT bring in the same oil and ask "mom? is this good brownie oil?" and then later, she did NOT bring me the rubber scraper and ask "do you want a lick of batter? it's not any special kind of batter, it's just brown batter."

well, it turns out that it was special batter. because can i tell you that those perfect ghirardelli brownies were NOT the best valentine's day present (and the best brownies!)?! Mmmmmm! i did NOT enjoy one for breakfast this morning. or two...!

here's to a good week—happy monday!!

6/52 photo challenge

we're already on week six of the photo challenge. and believe me, this week was a challenge. botanical february was the category. i had no idea what to do. there is nothing botanical about february, except for a couple years ago we had really nice weather for a while and i actually had flowers coming up in late january/early february! so after our week of 50-70 degree weather i was searching my flower garden for any sign of green, but no luck there.

but then i remembered that february is a very botanical month -- hello!? --valentine's day flowers! so during my trip to the grocery store i pulled out my camera and snapped a picture of a rose. that would work just fine...

until ben got home.

he was working most of the day finishing up the job he's been doing for his friend. he got home right before supper and surprised samantha and me with flowers. but not the $50 roses that will die in a week. i found it quite funny that he brought me flowers after my post earlier about us not doing anything for valentines day!

anyway, he brought us some plants. pink, purple, and light pink cyclamens and a pink calla lily. they're beautiful! now i just have to keep them alive. so.... here's my botanical february photo of the week.

happy valentine's day!

i used to not like valentine's day. even when i had someone to spend it with, i don't know why we single out one day to show our love. ONE day?!

we don't celebrate valentine's day around here. well at least ben and i don't. we get the kids a little present, but we try to show each other love every day in the big and little things we do for each other. and i surely don't want ben to go out and spend $50 on roses for me--i'd rather take the money and go shopping! :-)

but i'm beginning to like valentine's day a little more, because now i try to take this day and really reflect on what true love is. it's a perfect love. a sacrificial love. a love non-existent in our culture today. a love only God could give.

God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

I John 4:9-10 NLT

so whatever your circumstances are today -- if you're going out on a date with your boyfriend/girlfriend, if you're spending the night at home with your spouse and kids, or if you'd rather not think about valentine's day at all -- please remember that God has shown us the greatest love of all!