Aren’t holiday traditions grand?
Like leaving Christmas cookies out for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve. Santa always stops at the Coyle house because we also leave him a shot of Jack to warm his cockles, whatever those are.
Or dying two dozen Easter Eggs, staging an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard, and recovering only 23 eggs.
Then there is always the bewitching evening of carving Halloween pumpkins at the kitchen table and my annual fear of having to make a trip to the emergency room to reattach a severed finger or two.
Around Chez Coyle, Valentine’s Day is also rich in tradition. Ever since our three girls could say “Balentime’s Day,” my husband would get up before anyone was stirring and put together a breakfast extravaganza. The family party included heart-shaped pancakes, flowers and balloons at every place at the table, the candles lit, See’s candy, and a book. The books were always a classic. I love that man for good reason.
When our oldest daughter went off to college, she said in a wistful voice with a far-off look in her eye, “You know what I’m going to miss most about home?”
My mind raced through a myriad of possibilities.
- My warm embrace.
- Sleeping in her own bed in her room that looks more like a war zone than an inhabitable space.
- My home cooked meals.
- Gas money.
- Being grounded for two weeks after going to a beer bash.
Nope . . . none of the above. She said (cue far-off look), “Dad’s Valentine’s Day breakfasts.”
Now that the girls are scattered in three different states and because heart-shaped pancakes don’t ship well, my husband sends them a mini-celebration that always includes See’s chocolate hearts and cash.
Last year he started a new Coyle Valentine’s tradition. In addition to candy and money, he issued a challenge.
“Cool beer in cool places . . . take some of this money, buy an interesting beer, and take a photo of yourself drinking the beer in a cool place. Submit your photographs and I will judge the competition.”
My husband is the only guy I know who can take the day to celebrate love and romance and turn it into a cutthroat competition.
What do the girls make of this? They are all over it. The deadline to enter the contest is next weekend and I’ll post the photos once the battle is over.
I thought you might like to see last year’s entries.
Daughter One: On stage at a comedy club in Los Angeles. No, she isn’t a stand-up comedian but was dating one at the time.
Daughter Two: Snowboarding in Vail. Yes, she is a snowboarder.
Daughter Three: Fishing the Snake River in Boise. Yes, she is an angler. And beer brewer.
Husband: Striking a goofy pose in the backyard of Chez Coyle.
Happy Valentine’s Day folks!
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I love this contest idea. Mainly because I love beer, not V-Day, so I would be totally all over this. Our tradition is to have a picnic on the living room floor. NH in February is a little chilly to be outside, so we do it inside, picnic basket, blankets, the whole shebang. It’s fun and inexpensive and I still get to drink my beer picnic-style, out of a plastic cup. 🙂
Indoor picnic! Love it. How romantic. And no champagne for you. Beer in a red solo cup is more classy.
Outstanding. Wow, what a guy: good-looking (must be, you married him), imaginative and a great cook. What else can you ask for? Lucky lady and daughters too.
He is a handsome fellow and I am a lucky lady. He treats us like royalty but not all mushy and sappy. He makes it fun and creative. Keeps me hopping!
I got a very special delivery through they post yesterday not quite a valentines delivery but I LOVE IT!!!!!!!
Oh good! You got my note this time! As soon as I saw that article, I thought of you. Happy belated Valentine’s Day.
What beautiful traditions you have. I love it. I still pause when I read holiday. To us a holiday is a vacation and my befuddled mind though you were going on a holiday ( vacation) and I was all excited for you. But happy valentine, where ever you may be sweet Robin.
I love that you across the pond call vacations a “holiday.” It sounds so sophisticated. I bet our family is the only family on the planet where beer is part of the Valentine’s Day tradition.
Beer should be part of every tradition.
No contest!
But who is the winner?
Your husband, of course!
He will be thrilled to hear it!
In the UK Valentines is more about couples / romantic partners, not the “child sends card to everyone in class” type thing that gors on here. It still seems weird to me when a relative e.g. an aunt, sends a card to my son.
Everyone plays along here in the US, but in reality, you are right. It is about romance, right?
Well hopefully. Being male I have to complain about the effort a little bit, even if I put it in anyway.
Oh, you men.
You were right! I would not want to have missed this post. Phone gets you just fine! Did I tell you for Christmas my daughter enrolled me in a micro- brewery beer club! I get four kinds of beer every month! Coolest gift I ever got! HF
Weird that you can get it on your phone. Have you tried that age old trick of restarting your computer?
That is a great gift. My husband and daughter brew beer, but I bet they would enjoy getting that. What company did she go through?
I’ll get back to you on that! Last month I had beer with skull and crossbones on the cap! Completely awesome and the beer was good, too!
My husband and daughter want to start a microbrewery. I suggested they name it “Oh Hoppy Day.” I thought I was being so clever, but it is taken already!
Harper! I’ve tried to read your last few posts and it says “Page not found.” Do you know what is going on?
Yes, I took them down. Wasn’t happy with them. My bad once again. HF
Are you editing and then going to repost?
Loving those Valentine’s Day traditions Robin ~ can’t wait for this year’s pics 😀
I’ll be sure to post them week after next . . .
This is fabulous, Robin. Any men the girls ever meet will never be able to live up to their dad! What a wonderful man he must be – you are all very lucky indeed 😀
I like to think HE is the lucky one. Just kidding. I hit it out of the ballpark when I found him.
Beautiful work, Robin – as a writer, blogger and mom!
Yes, promoting drinking to my children is sure to bring parenting awards my way.
These days it might!
Nothing strengthens the bond between parent and child more than drinking. That’s what I tell my six-year-old!
Kidding! Just kidding!
Well, you and your six-year-old can drink cherry-cola together!
Okay, I understand and I applaud vigorously. If you’re going to celebrate, go BIG! Brilliant idea in a house with four girls. Smart man. BTW I love your back yard!!!
Thanks! We re-did the yard last year. Took out all the grass, put in a meandering flagstone path, and a greenhouse. We love it!
I’ve always felt of Kentucky bluegrass as a weed that should be replaced with gardens and walkways. This can be problematic when I’m working at the U of M Extension Plant Clinic and someone asks how they can improve their lawn. 😉
Ha! Our poor lawn didn’t get enough sun and the drainage was poor so it was more like a swamp than a lawn. We are experimenting with the greenhouse and waiting for the plants in the garden to fill in more. However, the birds love it here more than they ever did when we had a traditional backyard.
Fun idea. I’m not much for traditions, but that is one that I could get behind… perhaps for all holidays? Hmmm.
Excellent idea! Beer for all seasons!
you two are way too cool – love your traditions! I may swipe this idea for my boys
Swipe away! Your boys will love it.
I’ll be at your place next Valentine’s Day. Save me a place at the table!
Excellent. The more the merrier when it comes to Valentine’s cool place, cool beer competitions!
RObin, I love all of your traditions — I wish I had grown up in such a family!
Our family is rather crazy. But we do love a good beer and a friendly competition!
Your husband is awesome. I don’t drink beer, but that’s a fun way to celebrate the day. You and your daughters are certainly lucky!
Yes we are! He is a great guy and instills fun in everything we do.
Fantastic… not even a sniff of a Hallmark moment. Your husband is a gem. As the saying goes “his blood’s worth bottling”! 🙂
It will come as no surprise to you that he does NOT include a Hallmark card in the packages too the girls. The competition rules were scribbled on a scrap of paper!
I’m a the oldest daughter, and I can say this much. I do miss hanging out with my rents everyday, and my room (which I like to think is no much more liveable now especially since making the bed is a priority in the Coyle house) and my moms cooking (whenever I make a trip home she always asks what I want even thought I’m sure she knows it will always be my favorites.). But, Valentines day has always been something special in my family. Maybe this was his plan all along, but my dad has virtually ruined any boyfriends chance of having my heart on this day. A quick date to TGIFs or the local bar, or even a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates will never meet the bar my dad has set. And frankly, I find no disappointment in this. I love having my dad as my forever Valentine. Last years twist to this day simply summarizes my family. The family has matured to the point that we are all on different places, moving constantly, experiencing our own seperate and exciting lives. But even when miles apart, nothing like a little competition brings us closer together. And to that I say, “Game On!”
You’re going down.
Aw, honey. That is so sweet. And yes, your bed is made. You girls have a special place in Dad’s heart. I think his competition brings us together even though we can’t physically be together. And maybe a way to keep men from stealing your hearts!
Can’t wait to see what you come up with cool-beer, cool-place wise.
This is awesome, Miss Robin. Love the fun of it for your family. I’m going to share what we did tomorrow (Friday), but now it’s time for nighty-night. Goodnight.
I’ll watch for your post. Did it involve beer in cool places by chance?
Yep, we copied off of you … not … lots of food though. Just getting ready to click publish.
And I just hopped over for a visit! Great tradition.
Wow! I don’t drink beer and that still looks like fun.
I believe any beverage of choice can be used in the competition!
What a fun family!!
Fun, and a little crazy!
Haha, your husband sure knows how to keep the Valentine’s Day tradition alive and fresh!
Yes he does. He also does what the girls refer to as “Dad’s Adventures” . . . be it a hike, mountain bike ride, river rafting, or whatever. They go out and take on physical challenges and I stay home to make a meal to feed the hungry adventurers! I’m not crazy like they are.
Haha, I’m on your side!
Great idea and great family!
Thanks jm!
I like it. Can I come over?
If you bring a cool beer!
http://assclownbrewery.com/Official_Ass_Clown_Brewery_Site.html ?
You are soooooooo in!
We have no Valentine’s Day traditions. Probably because we let the day slip by unnoticed. But that is really cool of your hubby!
He embraces his role of setting the bar high when teaching the girls how they deserve to be treated by a man.
And that is a hugely important task. Kudos to him.
Guess what! I am reading Seneca again! I have time in between book group books again. Yeah!
Sent from my iPhone
Nice to hear!
awesome indeed. (And you are lucky )
He treats us all like princesses. Smart man.
Lucky man and he knows it.
How great to do something different and fun like that. Cool beer in cool places could really take off big you know! Like planking. And talking dogs.
What is planking? (I’m so out of the loop.)
My husband is creative and the girls share his love of beer!
Just realised I didn’t reply to this – planking is lying face down flat with your arms by your side in unusual places and photographing it. The fad had died out a bit now, but two or three years ago it was all the thing! Type planking into Google Images for some examples! In fact, I put a photo of me planking on Twitter ages ago, hang on…right, don’t know if this link will work – https://twitter.com/VanessaJ2011/status/121138631908929536/photo/1
The link worked great. What a crazy fad! I wan’t around on social media then so I missed out on all the fun. I wonder how it got started. I think Cool Beer in Cool Places should start trending any moment now.
Oh, and I forgot to say that your daughters are very lucky to have such a positive male role model in their lives. It makes for very strong women.
You are sweet to say that. He has set the bar high for the girls when it comes to men.
I hope you still get the Valentine’s breakfast even though the chicks have left the nest. Either that, or some cool beer in a cool place!
I get eggs benedict! My favorite!
It all sounds like fun!
It is a crack up. Can’t wait to see this year’s entries.
Loved this, Robin! The cool beer in cool places contest sounds awesome. Do you get a special breakfast on Valentine’s day now that the girls are scattered in three states?
They always got heart-shaped pancakes, I got eggs benedict. Still do! My favorite!
Awesome! You deserve your favorite on Valentine’s. Like your hubby, breakfast is Peter’s specialty. We’ve been skiing in Steamboat this week and he has made me a great breakfast sandwich every day.
Then he is a very good man as well!
How are the ski conditions? Do you have much snow?
Tons! It has snowed 24 inches in the past week. Powder galore!
Awesome!
My folks never did anything like that! And I think the new tradition is a fun one and just as good as those heart-shaped pancakes!
My folks didn’t do anything like this either. I don’t remember even getting a card. My husband is creative this way and the girls dig it!
What an awesome dad!
He is a good guy. And loves his girls!
How cool!
The girls love it. My husband loves it. They love beer!
Then that’s a contest made in heaven! 🙂
Ha! Beer heaven!