Jill Biden plays Cupid, again, decorating White House for Valentine's Day

The decor features the family's first pets and "heartwork" from local students.

February 14, 2022, 12:53 PM

First Lady Jill Biden is spreading love -- and offering a teaching moment to elementary school students -- at the White House on Monday to mark Valentine's Day.

For the second year in a row, the first lady delivered a valentine to the nation with a colorful heart-filled display on the White House North Lawn.

The decor, this year, features hand-painted wooden artwork in the shapes of the family's first pets -- new cat, Willow, and German Shepherd puppy, Commander.

PHOTO: A Valentine's heart and depictions of President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden's new dog Commander, left, and cat Willow, stand on the North Lawn of the White House in celebration of Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2022, in Washington.
A Valentine's heart and depictions of President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden's new dog Commander, left, and cat Willow, stand on the North Lawn of the White House in celebration of Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2022, in Washington.
Patrick Semansky/AP

A massive, wooden heart between the two pets is inscribed with Corinthians 13:13: "Three things will last forever -- faith, hope, and love -- and the greatest of these is love."

The heart-shaped decorations also extend inside the White House to the East Wing, where the first lady has featured the "heart-work" of second-grade students in Washington whose teacher, Alejandro Diasgranados, was awarded teacher of the year for 2021.

PHOTO: For Valentines Day, first lady Jill Biden featured the "heart-work" of the second-grade students of Washington DC's teacher of the year for 2021, Mr. Alejandro Diasgranado, inside the White House in Washington, Feb. 2022.
For Valentines Day, first lady Jill Biden featured the "heart-work" of the second-grade students of Washington DC's teacher of the year for 2021, Mr. Alejandro Diasgranado, inside the White House in Washington, Feb. 2022.
Erin Scott/White House

According to the first lady's office, the students were asked to incorporate words reflecting her values including "family," "kindness," and "peace" to guide their Valentine's Day heart designs. Diasgranados and some of the 21 students that created the 42 paper hearts on display in the East Landing visited the White House on Monday to see their work.

Three large, red hearts reading "hope," "healing" and "love" were also on display in the East Wing.

PHOTO: For Valentines Day, first lady Jill Biden featured the "heart-work" of the second-grade students of Washington DC's teacher of the year for 2021, Mr. Alejandro Diasgranado, inside the White House in Washington, Feb. 2022.
For Valentines Day, first lady Jill Biden featured the "heart-work" of the second-grade students of Washington DC's teacher of the year for 2021, Mr. Alejandro Diasgranado, inside the White House in Washington, Feb. 2022.
Erin Scott/White House
PHOTO: First lady Jill Biden walks with second graders from a DC elementary school to celebrate Valentines Day on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14, 2022.
First lady Jill Biden walks with second graders from a DC elementary school to celebrate Valentines Day on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14, 2022.
Yuri Gripas/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock

After spending the weekend at Camp David, President Joe Biden and the first lady returned to the White House earlier Monday morning holding hands as they walked into the residence. Biden did not answer questions but lowered his mask to tell reporters, "Happy Valentine's Day."

The first lady shared later on, while hosting elementary school students on the North Lawn, that a flower corsage on her wrist "was a gift from Joe."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk across the South Lawn together after arriving on Marine One from a weekend at Camp David to the White House in Washington, Feb. 14, 2022.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk across the South Lawn together after arriving on Marine One from a weekend at Camp David to the White House in Washington, Feb. 14, 2022.
Leah Millis/Reuters

Biden also tweeted a photo valentine to the first lady and called her "the love of my life and the life of my love."

For the Biden's first Valentine's Day in the White House, the first lady decorated the North Lawn with three giant, hand-painted hearts that read "hope," "unity" and "love."

ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.