Creative Valentine's Day Ideas...

It happens, no babysitter, all your friends and family have plans, or worse, you are snowed in. If you find yourself stuck home on Valentine's Day; a few creative ideas to get the children involved will make for a more meaningful family affair.

Nobody likes a special day more than the kids. Here are five areas to get them involved in the celebration.

1. The Menu. From selecting food from a restaurant, to picking food out of the pantry, they may come up with ideas to keep the evening simple. It could be the equivalent of having a well paid caterer but cost you just a hug.
2. The Card. Many parents don't recognize that they are equipped with in-house graphic artists. You can't buy the kind of talent available from a three to ten year old; older kids will cost more hugs though.
3. Dessert & Beverage. Kids like special drinks and desserts. Favorites are drinks that sparkle or are fruity. Peruse the kitchen for possible drink combinations. Freeze fruity ice-cubes to use with ice-tea. No juice? Just color with food coloring. Serve in fancy glasses. Dessert can be as simple as crumbled cookies or baking sprinkles over ice-cream. To recognize the season, slightly melt and color vanilla ice-cream red with food coloring ahead of time; then serve on a warm cookie or brownie.
4. Table Setting. Put the kids in charge of the table setting. They can decorate paper placements, cut out paper hearts or find a craft online to display the napkins. Remember presentation is everything so no matter what you are stuck serving your night in, it will taste all the better served on fancy plates and in fancy cups.
5. Music. A fancy dinner needs some fancy music. Have them scan the radio to find the right dinner music to make the evening special. More than one kid? Split the evening up to accommodate pre-dinner, dinner, and dessert music.

When all is done and the table is cleared you can plan the after-dinner party when they've turned in for the evening.