Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope that you have great plans to celebrate this special day. 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

Kirkwood Community College is taking registrations for the Beyond Rubies Women’s Conference, March 15-16th. Learn keys to succeeding through increasing and various demands in life. See their ad on page 3.

Are you living with the pain of varicose veins? There are new treatments available that are non-surgical! Call Surgical Services, PC to arrange your consultation. See their ad on page 3.

Visit Biaggi’s Italian Restaurant if you are craving a delicious meal full of pasta, pizza, salads, soups, and more. Their hearty dishes provide the perfect excuse to get out of the house and enjoy yourself. See their ad on page 17 for more information.

Veterinary Specialty Center promises to provide advanced medical care for their patients as if they are their own pets. See their ad on page 27 to learn more about their 24-hour emergency care and other services.

Are you looking for an uncommon experience this Valentine’s Day? Relax at The Brick Arch Winery and enjoy a reservation-only dinner, or arrive later for dessert and a live jazz trio. See their ad on page 27 for more information.

At Actually Clean, they specialize in cleaning carpet, upholstery, tile, and offer 24-hour emergency water restoration, odor decontamination, spot dyeing, and repairs. For more information see their ad on page 27 and call Actually Clean today to schedule a FREE estimate.

Positive Thought of the Month

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