I usually give candy and a card to my sons and husband, plus we either have crab legs at home or go out as a family somewhere. We’re not over the top with it. I always wanted to show my boys that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about romantic love, just love in general.
I’m surprised at how many don’t like getting flowers. I love flowers, I often buy flowers for myself. My H usually ends up with an orchid plant for Valentine’s Day and my birthday. Red roses are probably my least favorite flower unless they are home grown.
We just exchange cards. We don’t really see it as a holiday to celebrate. This year I did get dh his favorite see’s. I also sent my D’s, who all live out of the area, cards and see’s as well which is not what I’ve done historically. Valentine’s Day is definitely hit or miss with us with no expectations.
@FlyMeToTheMoon, I’m very sorry to hear about your husband and how tomorrow will be different. I second the suggestion to go buy some flowers for yourself or, at least, treat yourself in some way. (((hugs)))
Not a big deal for us as a couple, but we’ll do a little something, like leave a note somewhere. This morning, I put two heart-shaped chocolates by his sink so he’d see them, and when I got back from working out there was a Post-it on the front door. Later I found flowers – my favorite, tulips – and a card. I am feeling sick so maybe I’ll get him to bring takeout for dinner.
I always send the “kids” something, and now I have ds1’s gf, too. I bought everyone in the house super-cool tricolor corgi socks (the gf brought one to the relationship, and they all live together) and filled the rest of the small box with heart-shaped candies (yes, I had saved two back for dh! lol).
DH is a bit of romantic. We almost always have cut flowers in the house, but he always, ALWAYS brings or sends them for VD ( Valentines Day) as well. He was out of town at a leadership conference but cut it short to be home for VD. He was disappointed that they’d extended the meetings into today.
We don’t do gifts, but always exchange cards and will go out to dinner tonight. He also sent a cute photo of him standing in front of a wall of white roses that said “love” at the top, holding a rose and a sign that said “I love you”. It was set up in the lobby of his office building. A little cheezy, but sweet.
^^ That is sweet, @jym626 !
Mine played a practical joke on me. He saw my card for him last night and he swapped it with his without me knowing. This morning i wok up and I handed him the card he got me 
You know what the horrible part about it was? My card was red and his was white, but I didn’t realized 
We are going out to dinner to our favorite Thai restaurant with other couples tonight. Should be fun.
We always get each other cards, normally go out to dinner, and he gets me some form of flowers (and sometimes candy)… There were always good dinner choices in Chicago. One year, at the Hyatt Water Tower restaurant, they were so busy that the waiter finally apologized and said that they would not be able to provide the soufflé we had ordered.
This year we decided the dinners here in San Diego were too overpriced and I wasn’t crazy over the menus. So about 5:00 we’ll go over to the Bali Hai restaurant overlooking the bay and city and watch the sunset reflecting on the skyline while enjoying happy hour.
DH got me a much nicer card than I got him, but I went to the mini Target in Ocean Beach. They had a stellar selection of LGBT cards, but not too many wife to husband cards were available. DH also picked up a couple of small potted flowers at Trader Joe’s - rose and azalea. And I can move them outside anytime I like!
We’ve sort of tapered off doing anything, but started an informal tradition of going to Waffle House for dinner. It started when we had a basketball game to attend for a couple of years on VD- and we like it! Some of the local Waffle Houses have a “fancy” dinner with place mats, but the seatings get sold out, so we just go to the regular one. My husband’s birthday is tomorrow, so we usually make that our occasion. We are going to a wine and chocolate pairing at our local winery, which is a gorgeous setting with nice grounds (we’ll be inside, though). Our daughter and her fiance are going with us.
H and I exchanged cards this morning, so I was surprised to come home from work to find a very large and gorgeous bouquet. I already had flowers from a few days ago, but H said the first bunch was for taking care of him after his recent knee replacement and these were for Valentine’s Day. I’ll take it!
Well, I got a flashlight, but it wasn’t red.
My son sent pics of the meal he cooked for his GF, with the roses visible on the table and him wearing his apron. I think this is the first time he’s tried to cook steak, and he went with filet mignon. Also made br. Sprouts and tried for hollandaise sauce, but he didn’t get the right consistency on that. I’m impressed.
I predicted an orchid from Trader Joe’s but he got me two live bulb containers one of hyacinth and the other tulips. He knows I love bulbs. Like someone else mentioned he hid them in the garage. We had lunch out and I ordered his favorite dessert. We go out to lunch every Friday so not a Valentine lunch but still nice. I had an idea of making margaritas to go with our tacos. My H and our lab just had a nice walk down to the lower half of our property to pick fresh limes.
I think I will text my kids.
We don’t celebrate. When my girls were younger (pre-school/early elementary), we went out to dinner as a family.
Well my H seems to have come down with a horrible head cold so honestly he is fully invested in himself today - not a mention of Valentine’s!
A work friend has one of my favorite Valentine’s traditions ever. She lives in a rural town. There is a McDonald’s there and every Valentines they set each table with candles and flowers, turn the lights down, have free dessert for those dining in (I forget if they have to “reserve” a table. Same old burgers, fish sandwiches and frieds otherwise! My friend’s H always worked a night shift for years so for probably 20 years she has taken some combination of her two kids to McD’s every Valentine’s Day. She just posted a pic tonight - one is in grad school and one is a sophomore in college - but her H got the night off and there they were, at McD’s with candles and flowers on the table and “surf and turf” - a fish sandwich, burger and lots of fries!
We were at happy hour sharing a giant drink when DH heard a voice he thought he recognized. He turned around and it was the couple who lived behind us in our old house in Illinois. Turns out they vacation here every winter. We joined them for dinner and caught up.
DH knew them much better than I did because I avoided the back of the yard - the mosquitoes were terrible. Yet another thing I don’t miss!
This will be one of our “small world” tales.
So I contemplated not posting this. I had to deal with some mean girl, HS type drama from my D and sister yesterday. Yea happy Valentine’s Day to me!
My husband is not a big gift giver, I guess it’s not his love language. But he was on my side on this drama, his support meant so much. He took my side and told me that this behavior is not how we do things. That this is not how we taught others to behave and not how we would have handled things. He handled D when she called and told her that my feelings were hurt and that it would take time for me to get over it. But that I would because she’s our child.
And he called in the middle of the day to see how I was doing. He never calls in the middle of the day unless it’s important
Anyways sometimes it’s not about the gifts or even declarations of love. But what they do for you and how you know they support you.
We usually set a fancy table, cook a fancy dinner, and exchange cards for dessert (no flowers here, either), but we had already bought tix to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show for the 14th, so we’re cooking that dinner tonight instead. DH bought me a stunning garnet ring (my birthstone) at the show so, like @ChaosParent23’s DH, he’s banked some serious love cred with me which may alter what I serve for dessert. 
We did go to Waffle House and the waitress was so fun and sweet. She said they had been really busy! They had some heart decorations up. Only negative is no wine there!
@deb922 that is a V-Day gift beyond anything tangible. That support means so much more than things. +1 to your husband!
Thanks @abasket and those who liked my posts.
Frankly, I’m still reeling and sad. This is going to be hard.
My D went out with her friends for a Valentines Day dinner. She surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers when she got home. That was a nice surprise. (really unexpected) I think I will take her out for a nice dinner this evening.