In this house, we use duct tape to label valentines.

In this house, we're not too good to use Ziplocs instead of Pinterest-inspired, bow-adorned, heart-embellished gift bags.

In this house, we eat too many Cheez-its and fruit rollups, and as a result, your kid will be coming home with some.

In this house, we throw "I love you" around like confetti, and chances are we're doing it at school too.

In this house, we show our love with oodles of affection and are probably delivering a bit (perhaps too much) to yours.

But in addition to loving each other and our time together, we love our after school activities too, leaving little time for us to produce fancy, awe-inspiring valentines to hand out.

So, when your child returns home tomorrow with a duct tape embellished, two-snack-stuffed Ziploc, and tells you that my kid hugged them and told them he/she loves him/her, I hope it makes you smile and not cringe.

I hope that in your house, even if you don't use duct tape to label valentines, you don't judge those who do.

Happy almost V-Day, from my very unrefined, pressed for time, love-loving family to yours!