It's that time of year.  There's a chill in the air, the Superbowl is over and the big day is almost here. 

Valentine's Day that is.  I know this solely because my kids have been coming home with dozens of different heart-shaped projects and class lists. 

Valentine's Day has changed a lot for me over the years. For many years I spent sad and single, wishing for a love to send me roses or show up  romantically at the door with a box of chocolates.Then I met my wonderful husband.

Our first Valentine's Day was certainly a day to remember.  Mike and I had been dating for about six months, the perfect amount of time to know each other well enough to celebrate without the awkwardness of a brand new relationship.  There was one big problem, though. 

I got food poisoning.
And so did Mike.

We were both too polite and worried about disappointing the other to tell each other, so we each waited until it was nearly time for our "date" and finally he called me and said he was so sorry that he must have the stomach flu.  I told him I had the same thing and we laughed about the fact that we'd both suffered alone with food poisoning the entire day without telling each other.  We rescheduled our "Valentines Day" for a few days later and have been together ever since.

For many years we celebrated on Valentine's Day, waiting in long lines at fancy restaurants to spend a romantic evening together.  We got each other well-thought-out gifts and make sure to make an extra effort to make the evening romantic.

Then we had kids.

I could probably stop there, eh?  :) 

My husband and I have been married for nearly 10 years. This year Valentine's Day is also known as...Tuesday (at least I think it's Tuesday, that's how little I've thought about it).

We're perfectly happy to just stay home and have a little "party" with the kids with some heart-shaped foods.  We may get each other a card, but honestly I'm not expecting anything and have asked that we don't do gifts. It's not that I don't want to be romantic with my husband, it's just that I'm really in the mood that it's just another day on the calendar (and a weekday/school knight at that) and I'd rather have a date night another time. 

So what are you doing for Valentine's Day this year?  Will it be a romantic evening with your love or a family affair?