Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope that you have great plans to celebrate this special day. This is a wonderful holiday to help break up the winter months. My late husband, Jim, and I loved Valentine’s Day. We gave each other heart-shaped Valentines and crazy and useless romantic gifts. It was fun!

This year, my daughter, Carissa, and I will be joining my sister, Pam, and her daughter, Kristina, in the Wine Country in Napa. This is the first time that just the four of us have taken a mother/daughter trip…and we just happen to be going over Valentine’s Day.

My son-in-law, Ken, will stay home with the girls. Savannah will be 7 on January 27, and McKenna will be almost 6 months old by that time. Ken is a great dad, and he will be kept quite busy taking care of the two of them.

Carissa and I took a trip together when Savannah was about McKenna’s age. We took a short “girl cruise.” I remember the first night on the ship, Carissa slept so hard…and long…that I found myself checking to make sure that she was still breathing! (We will always be mothers.) Carissa was exhausted from the pregnancy, getting up several times a night with Savannah, and working full-time. A lot of what she did on the cruise was sleep.

Savannah was over 18 months old before she slept through the night. McKennna has been a better baby. She is already sleeping through the night and has been doing so for several months. I’m convinced that part of the difference in the two girls is that Carissa has done this before. She is not nearly as nervous as she was with her first, and I know that babies pick up on this.

My sister’s husband, Ken, will get his wife and daughter back late on February 14th since they are heading back a couple of days before we do. It should be a fun trip for the four of us. Napa is not particularly warm during this time of year. The average temps typically hit 60 degrees, or “sweater weather,” as Jim used to call it. We might get lucky though, as it’s gotten as high as 80 degrees some years. (Years ago Jim and I were there in February and experienced absolutely beautiful weather.)

The vineyards are quite brown, but I love how laid-back this part of California is. My best guess is that Carissa will catch up on her sleep, we’ll visit a few wineries, we’ll eat some great food, and maybe we’ll treat ourselves to a massage. Sounds like fun to me!

Hope your month of February is great. Next month we get to look forward to the coming of spring, which is my favorite season. We’ll talk next month.

Special Notes

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and our advertisers have some great gift ideas including jewelry, spa treatments, and exquisite travel opportunities.

Still looking for a romantic Valentine’s Day gift? Massage Heights has a great offer on a couple’s massage—see their ad on page 7.

The Ultra Chic Prom Boutique is scheduled for February 25th at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. There is still time to contribute your new or used formal dresses to help make this event even larger than last year’s. All proceeds benefit the Omaha Lydia House—see Max I. Walker’s ad on page 1.

Bark Avenue Grooming & Daycare is moving! Also, don’t forget that their second location is open for dog day care and boarding—see their ad on page 16.

Need a boost in your fitness routine? Check out Kosama. They are offering a special two-week trial—see their ad on page 7.

If football isn’t top on your list for Superbowl Sunday, February 5th, go by Esther’s for their 17th annual Superbowl Sunday Sale—see their ad on page 26 for details.

If you are looking for a fun out-of-the-ordinary place to host a bridal or baby shower, check out Art Chicks. This is a great place where girls go to just have fun! See their ad on page 21 for more information.

Positive Thought of the Month

“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.”
—Robert Orben