Four years (and about one week) ago today, I had just met HawkInWinter in person for the first time.  We met on CatholicMatch.com and had exchanged lengthy emails and telephone conversations, but it was early February of 2006 when I flew to his state to visit friends and cousins, and met him “for reals.”  Before my trip, I had been making St. Valentine’s Day cookies with a friend to send to her military boyfriend. I didn’t officially have a boyfriend but wanted to decorate and send some cookies of my own, so I sent them to “my online guy.”

They arrived after I returned home, around St. Valentine’s Day. While HawkInWinter enjoyed the care package, he was a bit disappointed to realize I had sent them before we met, rather than after.  Our relationship wasn’t quite defined at that point, though he was hoping the SURPRISE cookies were an indication I was interested.

Three years (and one week) ago today, HawkInWinter was no longer “my online guy” in another state, but was my first ever Valentine, and fiance to boot.  He had been accepted to graduate school in my state and lived about 40 minutes from me.  He’d made a big deal out of being too busy with grad school to do much for St. Valentine’s Day, so I  had a St. Valentine’s dinner with friends.  Back at my condo, HawkInWinter had let himself in and lit all sorts of candles, placed three colorful roses in a vase, written a beautiful card and even had music playing to welcome me as I walked in.  It was a wonderful SURPRISE.

Two years (and one week) ago today, HawkInWinter and I had been married for six months and were staring, wide-eyed and scared, at a positive pregnancy test.  Eleven weeks later, once we’d adjusted to the news of our unexpected blessing and shared it with our family and friends, HawkInWinter posted a blog titled “I’m Going to be a Daddy!” to tell the world about our St. Valentine’s Day SURPRISE.  (You can click the bold words to go see his post.)

One year (and one week ago) today, Siena posted a blog titled “What a Difference a Year Makes!” about all the things she could see, hear, smell, taste, and touch that year as opposed to her first St. Valentine’s Day inside my tummy.  She included pictures of herself, her buddy London, and my SURPRISES at the end of a sticky note treasure hunt.

One week ago today, I was back from two overnights at my parents’ house.  HawkInWinter was my date to a Friday evening Sweetheart Cabaret at my parents’ parish where my father and big sister served as “sound engineers” for the event.

On Saturday, Siena squealed at her own cleverness as she repeatedly kissed her reflection in the giant exercise ball while we got the house ready for a family party…

…clapped for herself when she did well at a toddler game on her auntie’s brand new iPhone…

…and handed out Valentines with her fingerpainted hearts on them. (Remember our adventures with fingerpaint?)

I attempted a recipe from Family Fun magazine with layers of red Jell-O and unflavored gelatin mixed with sweetened condensed milk. (If I do it again, I’ll follow the recipe on the box for Jigglers so they’ll work a bit better.)

Back at home  Sunday morning, HawkInWinter SURPRISED me with an envelope but no card inside, just a slip of paper that said, “Because St. Valentine’s Day sucks, I am going to make you work for your card. Who knows? You might find something extra along the way. First clue: HawkInWinter’s favorite movie.”    (Admittedly I looked in three or four DVD cases before finding my second clue!)  Some clues were tricky:  ”A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.” Some were silly, some sentimental, but  all had been carefully hidden so I was unlikely to find them before the hunt began. I even had to stand on a chair and remove a wall hanging to find a hint taped to the back of  it!

I finally found my card, and a couple clues after that, my first ever dozen red roses. We have found ways to SURPRISE each other each of the last four St. Valentine’s Days. So far Siena has been the best (and biggest!) SURPRISE for us both.

I’m thinking next year if HawkInWinter tries to lower my expectations with grumblings about being too busy or simply disliking the commercial holiday, I’ll be on to him. I really should learn he always has a SURPRISE or two up his sleeve!