WELCOME

February 14th.  To some, it brings flowers.  To others, candy and a beautiful card.  To me, it brings 23 rambunctious, sugar-filled darlings that I’m trying to still teach math to! That’s why I opt for candy-free valentines. 

So, I racked my brain for some out-of-the-box Valentine’s Day date night ideas that don’t require a babysitter and some budget-friendly ideas if you do have a babysitter!

I used to despise Valentine’s Day. That is, until my husband implemented “The Valentine’s Day Dance Party” and turned it from awful to awesome!

Practical. That would be a word to describe my husband and me and our gift-giving to each other.  Neither one of us splurges or goes all out for a Christmas, birthday, or Valentine’s gift.  We get what we need all year, so we sometimes don’t exchange more than a card!  If you are like me, or even if you aren’t, and go big, here is a practical gift that gives all year long!

Sudden-onset upset stomach. A vague headache. Sort of sore throat. Any one of these may be minor (or maybe not?!) symptoms, which leads to the pressing question: Is she too sick to go to school?

I am on day three of snow days this week, and another is coming tomorrow.  I haven’t left my house in three full days.  I am beginning to believe that no one knows any other words than “mama” at varying levels of volume.  Although I may be closer and closer to starting to drink wine at noon, there are some activities that I have been doing with my boys that have helped beat some winter blues.

One of my closest mom friends shared an article that talked about the residents of northern Norway, who, one would assume, would have high rates of seasonal depression. Despite not seeing the sun from late November through January, the residents of these northern communities embrace winter and view it as a celebration, not a drudgery.

‘Tis the season for germs. No matter how much one tries to avoid it, this time of year, there are sick people all around–especially true right now in Wisconsin with flu season in full swing and influenza activity unpredictably high.