Currently

Loving: Valentine season. Celebrating my favorite holiday with Harper and her little preschool pals was really fun. They exchanged Valentine treats on Thursday, and then on Friday, Harper hosted a "fancy" tea party with her friends. We gave her a new tea set the night before (her other one broke a while back and she was devastated... believe me, it was REALLY hard to wait over a month to give her the new one) and read some new tea party books. She was really excited for her party and had the hardest time falling asleep. She loves playing hostess.

Colt and I don't do the traditional Valentine's Day chocolates (I do love chocolate but am on 100 days without sugar right now) or flowers. We exchange gifts that are a bit more practical. Actually, we don't really even exchange gifts. He buys something for himself and I treat myself to something that I've been wanting or needing and then we have fun celebrating with, and spoiling, Harper. I "gave" him some hunting boots and he "gave" me some new things for the house (the rug that you see in the photo above and a lovely new chair for my office). I'm just not the romantic sort, I guess. A pretty teal blue chair makes me so much happier, and satisfies my practical side at the same time, than flowers. 

This chair, which was a TJ Maxx find, didn't cost much more than a bouquet of flowers from the florist that Colt usually uses. I figure the few extra bucks were worth it since it will last much longer than a dozen roses. I'm in love with it and the fact that it works as an office chair but can also be moved out to the living room for extra seating when we have people over. 

Reading: 

I thought it would be fun to read my favorite love story for Valentine's Day. I was right.

Listening to: lots of Brahms and Schumann. I wanted to study one composer each month this year. Last month, it was Brahms and this month, it's Schumann (studying the two of them consecutively seemed appropriate since they were friends during their lifetimes). 

Thinking about: summer! I can't wait for warmer weather. Neither can Harper. She got a new swimming suit last week and has worn it almost daily ever since. We need to get her signed up for some swimming lessons!

Working on: ice skating. Harper has LOVED her lessons. She has really taken to ice skating and is already attempting various twirls and tricks. We've been going twice a week to practice. This week is her last lesson for a few weeks and I must say that after six weeks of skating several hours a week, I'm getting pretty steady on the ice myself. I love taking her. We have a lot of fun skating together.

Looking forward to: school. Crazy? Not to me. I love school and could probably be a perpetual student for the rest of my life. I'm starting this summer and can't wait.