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Ted and I aren’t big celebrators of Valentine’s Day.

I don’t expect flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals, an expensive dinner, or a card.

He doesn’t expect me to cook him a fancy meal or gift him a thoughtful present.

These are the kind of things we strive to do year-round for each other.

True, in our 3.5 years together he has never bought me a single bunch of flowers. But he has come home with a new pack of hairbands for me when he noticed I’d lost all mine. He has searched all of Michigan in late November for a new pumpkin for me to carve after a raccoon ate mine. He has surprised me the unexpected “just because” gift of something he knew I needed but wouldn’t buy for myself. He has unloaded the dishwasher, taken the trash out, folded the laundry, and threw in a pizza for dinner for us on nights when I’ve been swamped with work. And he does make me laugh every single morning with his weird voices and made-up songs while we get ready for work. I do all the same kinds of things for him – little surprises here and there, a dinner of all his favorite foods just because, running an errand for him when he’s busy, or making his lunch.

And it’s these little things that I love more than flowers and cards and all the Valentine’s treats in world.

But last night I got the best Valentine’s gift in the world – a night with my Valentine!

Ted was scheduled to work load-in until midnight, but he unexpectedly finagled his schedule to be home by 6:30 and surprise me with an evening together!

Of course, I ruined this surprise by taking advantage of his late work schedule to run some errands and not arriving home until 7…but the sentiment and our surprise evening together was the best gift I could have asked for.

We ordered in an extra large pizza to split. We drank wine and ate cupcakes. We watched TV and cuddled on the couch in our pajamas and played a board game.

It was perfect.

And isn’t that really what Valentine’s Day is all about? Spending time with the people you love and letting them know how much you cherish them? And you don’t need flowers or a fancy dress to do that.

Did you do anything special to celebrate with someone you love?