Spring 2013 Kids' Quips & Pics

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." ~Angela Schwindt

Twice a year, Kanawha Valley Parent has the privilege of offering our readers an incredible opportunity: a chance to win a photography session and portrait package from Heather Smith Photography. Readers submit their children's funniest, most adorable quotes and pictures. Favorites are chosen on our Facebook page and the winner and top nine runners-up are featured here. These are the picks from our Spring 2013 contest. Enjoy, and stay tuned for Fall 2013!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

"Great idea, Super Daddy!" 

 ~ Luke, age 2 1/2

She Who Giveth

Mom: "Bayla, we have got to do a major toy purge. I'm giving what you don't play with to poor kids."

Bayla, age 3: "Well, I am going to give your clothes to their moms!"

 

Know-it-ALL

"Ut hum, MOM! I already know ALL that, DUH!!!!" ~ Logan, age 4

Kiss and Smell

Daddy: "Hey, Lila, did you kiss any boys at school today?"

Lila, age 4: "No, but Orville tried to make me smell his armpit and I didn't."

The In Crowd 

"Since mustaches are in, Daddy is cool now." ~ Kara, age 8

Role Play

“Daddy’s job is to clean the car; Mommy's job is to cook everything; and my job is to fight the bad guys." 
~ Lily, age 4

Hawaii Four-1-1

Caleb, age 6, shows me a picture of a tropical paradise. He looks at me and says "Mommy, doesn't this look like a picture of Hawaii?" Caleb has never seen a picture of Hawaii, so I was wondering where the sudden interest came from. He then says, "Mommy, do you know the real name for Hawaii?" I could tell he was 100% serious about this, so I humored him and said, "I am clueless, enlighten me." Straight faced, he looked at me and said, "Florida!"

She's a Keeper!

After 11 months of being a big brother, Sam, age 4, said: "Mom, I decided I finally really like sister so I want to adopt her, that way we can keep her forever!"

Strong Supporter

"Mmmmmmm, I didn't know there were hot dogs after the March of Dimes walk!! Go ahead and sign me up for next year." 
~ Kellan, 11 months 
(captioned by Mom)

On a Roll

Eli, age 6, while roller skating: "You paid a lot of money to watch me fall!!"

For more adorable kids and hilarious quotes, see the top ten from our fall Kids' Quips & Pics contest here!

Time to Vote!

The quips are in! Here are the adorable kids who entered our Spring 2013 Kids' Quips & Pics Contest. Visit Kanawha Valley Parent on Facebook to see the funny things these kids had to say, and to vote for your favorites!

Kids' Quips & Pics, Spring 2013 - slideshow

Summer Camp Guide Additions

We've updated our Summer Camp Guide! The new listings include camps and classes in ice skating, hockey, science, soccer, gymnastics and more. Give it another look and get planning!

Spring 2013 Kids' Quips & Pics Contest

It's that time again! Kanawha Valley Parent is teaming back up with Heather Smith Photography to give away a free professional photography session and portrait package (a $375 value!) to one very lucky reader! Here's how to enter: Send your child's funniest, sweetest, most adorable quote, along with a picture and the child's first name, to kvalleyparent@gmail.com. Is your tot too tiny to be tossing out one-liners? Send us a snapshot with your best caption. Pictures will be posted in an album on our Facebook page and the entry with the most likes and/or comments will win the photography package, plus a featured space on our "Kids' Quips & Pics" page!

We will be accepting submissions until May 1, 2012 at noon. All photos and quotes will be published to Facebook in an album at that same time. Voting will begin on May 1 and continue until May 8, 2012 at noon. The lucky winner will be notified and announced here and on Facebook.

Our Spring 2012 winner, Brooklyn, and family
Photo by Heather Smith Photography

Runners-up will also be included on the KVP "Kids' Quips & Pics" page. Please submit only by e-mail and do not post photos directly onto the Facebook page. Comments and likes on entries posted directly to the page will not be counted. Only entries included in the album will be eligible to win. By submitting your quote and photo, you authorize Kanawha Valley Parent to publish these materials on our Facebook page and web site. You may enter one quote/photo for each child in your family. The free portrait package offer must be redeemed by November 8, 2013.

To recap:

1. Go to Heather Smith Photography to see how much you will treasure having Heather capture your family memories.

2. E-mail your kid's best hilarious quote, first name, and a picture to kvalleyparent@gmail.com by noon on May 1, 2012.

3. Visit Kanawha Valley Parent on Facebook from May 1-8 to like and comment on your favorite quips & pics. Tell your friends to like Kanawha Valley Parent and vote for your child!

Good luck!



See the winner and runners-up from our fall Kids' Quips & Pics contest here.

Summer Camp Guide

Whether you're looking for an activity to keep the kids busy, an opportunity for growth and education, or a little bit of both, our summer camps and activities listing has options for everyone! We hope to add new camps as local businesses and organizations finalize their summer program plans. Have fun out there!


Lil' Bears Music Studio (Karen Morris)
kmorrismusic@earthlink.net
(304) 610-7699
Who: Ages newborn-7 years.
What: Summer music programs, including a mommy and me class for ages newborn to 18 months, Creatures at the Ocean, Music for Little Mozarts, Appalachian Arts, and Jumping Beans.
When: June 2-August 4, June 10-July 16, June 11-July 9, June 17-21, July 8-12, and July 15-26, 2013.
How Much: $75-$200 (discounts for multiple children).

A happy camper at Alpine Bible Camp.

Alpine Bible Camp, 161 College Drive, Mt. Hope
(800) 806-2180
Who: Ages 5-18; Family camp for all ages.
What: Week-long sleep-away and day camps with a focus on outdoor adventure.
When: Available June 3-August 3, 2013.
How Much: $40-$340/week, plus registration fees.


Appalachian Children's Chorus, Oakwood Baptist Church, 855 Oakwood Rd., Charleston
(304) 343-1111
Who: Grades 3-9.
What: Choral day camp.
When: June 3-7, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-noon.
How Much: $50.


Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier St., Charleston
(304) 342-0192
Who: Ages 2-4, Grade K-5.
What: Preschool and elementary day camps with after-care available at an additional cost.
When: Available June 3-August 3, 2013.
How Much: $75-$125/week.


The First Tee of WV, Coonskin Park, Charleston (also available in Mt. Clare, Morgantown, Huntington, Chapmanville, Parkersburg, and Lewisburg).
(304) 391-5000
Who: Ages 5 and up.
What: Six-week sessions, 60-90 minutes of introduction to the game of golf and its inherent values.
When: June 3-July 19, 2013.
How Much: $50-$75/session.


Mad Science of West Virginia, Oakwood Centre, Charleston
(304) 205-5479
What: Week-long enhanced science camps at Mad Science; basic camps are also available to be hosted at your location (school, community center, etc.).
When: Enhanced camps: June 3-7, 10-13, 17-21, and 24-28, 2013, 9:00 a.m.-noon; July 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, and 29-August 1, 2013, 9:00 a.m.-noon and 1:00-4:00 p.m.
How Much: Enhanced: $200/session; Basic: $120/session (per child).


Maverick Gymnastics, 3406 Chesterfield Ave., Charleston
(304) 925-3004
Who: Ages 2 and up.
What: Recreational gymnastics classes; eight-week session.
When: June 3-July 26, 2013
How Much: $100 for eight-week session.


Quantum Sports Center, 3548 Teays Valley Rd., Hurricane & 58th St., Charleston (Kanawha City)

Kickin' it at Quantum Sports Center.

(304) 562-1020
Who: Ages 4-17.
What: Sports day camps for various age groups and levels of expertise. Multi-sport for younger kids or more challenging and technical/specific soccer camps for older children. Quantum will also bring their Team Camp to your practice facility.
When: June 3-August 2, 2013 (one week per camp).
How Much: Non-member: $200/full day, $100/half-day per week; Member: $160/full day, $80/half day per week.


WVU Extension Service, Kanawha County 4-H, Camp Virgil Tate, Charleston
(304) 720-9573
Who: Ages 9 and up.
What: Week-long overnight camps featuring fun evening campfires and opportunities to learn skills including archery, cooking, arts, sports, and science.
When: June 3-7, 2013, ages 13+; June 10-14, ages 9-12.
How Much: $190, scholarships and reductions available.


YMCA of Kanawha Valley, 100 YMCA Dr., Charleston & 5113 Rocky Fork Rd., Cross Lanes
Charleston: (304) 340-3527, Cross Lanes: (304) 776-3323
Who: Kindergarten - age 15.
What: Day camps; dance, football, baseball, soccer, and tennis are among the themes offered.
When: June 3-August 9, 2013.
How Much: $75-$155/week.


St. Andrew Nursery School, 246 South Pinch Rd., Elkview
(304) 965-KIDS
Who: Ages 2-4, Grades K-5.
What: Week-long day camps. A different theme each week throughout the summer, with topics including music, animals, science, and more.
When: June 4 - August 8, 2013. Morning only: 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Afternoon only: 1:00-5:30 p.m.; Full day: 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
How Much: Half day: $80/week; Full day: $145/week.

Learn from the coaches at UC.

University of Charleston, 2300 MacCorkle Ave., SE, Charleston
Who: Ages 4-18.
What: Sports day camps: football, basketball, women's volleyball, softball, and soccer.
When: June 6-August 10, 2013 (various camps throughout the summer).
How Much: $50-$175.


The Wilderness Christian Camp, Gay, WV
(304) 512-1162
Who: Grades 3-6, 7-12.
What: Three to 20-day overnight camps with a thematic focus on outdoor adventure, survival, character-building, and Christianity.
When: Various camps offered from June 6-July 6, 2013.
How Much: $79-$525.


Charleston Baptist Temple/New Beginnings, 209 Morris St., Charleston
(304) 395-4311
Who: Ages 3-9.
What: Day camps with varied themes: Pirate Treasure, Arts & Crafts, Hawaiian Luau, Animal Adventure, and Music Makers.
When: June 10-13, 24-27, July 8-11, 22-25, and 29-August 1, 2013; 9:00 a.m.-noon.
How Much: $90/session.


Revolution Gymnastics, Tyler Plaza, Cross Lanes
(304) 941-FLIP
Who: Ages 18 months and up.
What: Gymnastics classes, nine-week session.
When: June 10-August 9, 2013.
How Much: $72-$169 for nine-week session.


River City Youth Ballet, 4110 MacCorkle Ave., SE, Charleston
(304) 925-DANC
Who: Ages 3 and up.
What: Ballet programs and camps for all skill levels.
When: June 10-14 and 24-28, July 9-18, 27-28, and 29-August 1, 2013.
How Much: $53-$150.


River Ridge Church,  2090 Greenbrier St., Charleston & West Teays Elementary, 3676 Teays

Valley Rd., Hurricane
(304) 347-8585
Who: Ages 4 (by June 30, 2013) - rising 6th graders.
What: Big Kick Soccer Camp presents the Gospel to kids in a fun and inviting way within the context of a great soccer camp. Great leaders, good soccer instruction, some zany characters and the truth of the Bible make for a great summer experience that participants in the past look forward to all year.
When: June 10-14, 2013 in Charleston, June 17-21, 2013 in Teays Valley.
How Much: $45/child, $15/additional sibling.


South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena, Shops of Trace Fork, South Charleston
(304) 744 4ICE
What: Fun Camp (Day), Hockey Day Camps, and Figure Skating Camp.
When: Fun Camps: June 10-14, July 1-5, and 15-19, 2013, 9:00 a.m.-noon; Hockey: June 17-21, July 22-26, and 29-August 2, 2013; Figure Skating: July 8-12, 2013.
How Much: $115/one Fun Camp, $190/two, $270/three; Figure skating and hockey camp costs will vary.


West Virginia Chaos, Shoenbaum Soccer Stadium, Coonskin Park, Charleston
(585) 329-2092
Who: Ages 2-12, middle school, high school and college.
What: Balconi Top Training soccer day camps, with a focus on enhancing skill level.
When: June 10-14, 2013
How Much: $125-$275


Putnam County Parks and Recreation, 1 Valley Park Drive, Hurricane
(304) 562-0518
Who: Ages 3-16.
What: British Soccer Day Camps from Challenger Sports provide players of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to receive high-level soccer coaching from a team of international experts.
When: June 17-21, 2013.
How Much: $90-$180.


Beyond the Backyard, camp held at Coonskin Park, Charleston
(866) WV-WOODS
What: Outdoor Adventure Day Camp.
When: June 22, 2013
How Much: TBD.

Get artsy with Charleston Stage Company.

Charleston Stage Company, held at West Virginia State University, Institute
(866) 390-ARTS
Who: Preschool-Grade 12
What: Day camps offer quality hands-on experience in the performing & visual arts through structured classes taught by professional artists. Projects prepared in each class are presented in a final showcase at the end of each camp.
When: Preschool-Grade 2: June 24-28, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Grades 3-6: July 1-12, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Grades 7-12: July 15-26, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
How Much: $150-$300, plus fees. Scholarships available.


The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, One Clay Square, Charleston
(304) 561-3570
Who: Grades Pre-K-12; family camps for all ages.
What: Summer Discovery Camps. Nature day camp at Kanawha State Forest; day camps at the Clay Center with various themes: building, film making, acting, animals, and art. Family day camp for all ages (one adult must be included.)
When: June 24-28, 2013, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; July 1-5, 10 a.m.-noon; July 9-12, 10 a.m.-noon; July 15-19, 9 a.m.-noon; July 22-26, 1-4 p.m.; July 23-26, 10 a.m.-noon; July 25-26, 6-9 p.m.; July 30-August 2, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.; August 6-9, 9:30-11 a.m.
How Much: $20-$135/session.


St. Albans Studio of Dance, 808 B St., St. Albans
(304) 727-7150
What: Summer session of children's dance classes, including tap, ballet, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, jazz, twirling, tumbling and more. 
When: June 25-July 30, 2013
How Much: $65.



Did this listing help you find the perfect summer camp or activity? If so, please let the businesses and organizations know that you found them on Kanawha Valley Parent!


Do you offer a summer camp or activity for children in the Charleston, WV area. Contact us at kvalleyparent@gmail.com. We would love to add your camp to our list!

What Happens When You Read to Children?

Article and photos courtesy of Read Aloud West Virginia

It hardly seems possible that something so low-tech, so enjoyable, could actually boost children's grades, test scores and lifetime achievement. But it does. When you simply enjoy books with the children in your life, a lot of things happen:

1. Children learn new words and ideas.

Without even realizing it, children of any age absorb great new words and more understanding of the world around them. Then, when they read on their own, whether for school or for fun, children recognize words they encounter, and the text has meaning.That's why we say it is important to start reading to children from birth.



Pam Miller of Jefferson County, W.Va., reads to her 12-day-old grandson Alex, May, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Pam Miller)


TIP: Prolong conversations with children, even small ones. Engage them in describing what they see or what they have done in a day. Books are great for this.

LINK: Make yours a read aloud home -- 10 things parents should know.

2. Children increase their own reading comprehension.

Reading is more than sounding out words and pronouncing them quickly, like items on a shopping list. The words in each sentence relate to all the others to produce meaning and sensation. Some children – even those who can look at tough new words and pronounce them correctly – do not readily draw meaning from the text. You see this when children know all the words in a story, and they're paying attention, but they don't get the joke, or they don't sense when the end of a story is near. Children who regularly listen to stories they enjoy tend to develop good reading comprehension.

3. You share your passion with children.

We talk about reading stories, and that often means fiction – novels, chapter books, many picture books. But any kind of reading that you can enjoy with a child will work. If you love basketball or history or travel, non-fiction (true) books may be your best friend. Magazine or newspaper articles and biographies that you enjoyed are all good choices to share. Read what interests you and the child. Children's author Jon Scieszka (rhymes with fresca) has observed that boys in particular respond to funny books, disgusting imagery and stories about real people.

4. Children become readers themselves.

Parents find that if they make time for just 20 minutes of read aloud most days of the week, children grow to like it so much they ask for more. Then they ask to read the book on their own, or they want to look for other books. Children who read for fun do better in school and have higher test scores than children who do not read for pleasure. They also write better, have better vocabularies, know grammar, spell better, read faster, know more about literature, know more about science and social studies, have more cultural literacy, have more practical knowledge, get better grades in writing classes and have less anxiety about writing. Students who read regularly also do better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

TIP: Make a regular trip to your public library to check out and return books. It can be every two weeks or more frequently, but it will pay off.

RESEARCH: The National Assessment for Educational Progress surveyed students and found higher test scores were associated with children who reported reading for pleasure more frequently. "The Power of Reading" by Stephen D. Krashen documents other benefits of reading aloud with children.

Jamie Gaucher, deputy director of the West Virginia Small Business Development Center, reads to his 3-year-old daughter, Clarin, after returning from a business trip to Texas. He brought her a cowgirl hat and the book Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett.
(Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gaucher)


5. You strengthen your relationship with children.

While sharing stories, even funny or silly stories, sometimes children raise questions. These questions can lead to discussions of right and wrong, sportsmanship, courtesy, friendship, discrimination or other weighty subjects. Children – even older children – naturally look to parents and then to other adults around them for their opinions and judgment. It may not be obvious in the moment, but reading aloud regularly creates opportunities for parents to stay informed and be influential in a child's life.

6. You nurture children's health and well-being into adulthood.

Children who read for fun generally read better on their own and do better in school and on tests than children who do not read for pleasure. Children who thrive in school tend to go further, not only to finish high school, but to college or other post-secondary education and beyond. More education is associated with better employment opportunities and higher earnings throughout life. People of higher income tend to enjoy healthier lives. People who read well are able to look after their health needs and those of their families.

7. You give yourself a welcome interlude in the day.

Reading has been shown to cause relaxation and may help you fall asleep. Older people who continue to read show less memory loss and suffer fewer effects of dementia. When adults make time to read to children for the children's benefit, adults often discover that they themselves feel richer and stimulated by the experience, and they miss it when their reading time is interrupted.

Read Aloud West Virginia's mission is to help raise a state full of readers. They recruit and train volunteers who visit classrooms, day-care centers and after-school programs to share their love of literature and knowledge by reading to children. They also help put books into the hands and homes of children who might otherwise never have a book of their own. 

Read-a-Palooza, Read Aloud's annual fund and awareness raiser, will be held on March 18, 2013 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Paterno's at the Park in Charleston. The evening of fun, light appetizers, silent auction items, beer and wine will benefit Read Aloud programs throughout West Virginia. Please support this program as they strive to help children discover the joy of reading!

Rose's Recipes: Thrown in Together

Some of the life’s most wonderful gifts begin in chaos.

Dump Cake

1 – 22 oz. cherry pie filling

1 – 15 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 – 18 oz. package yellow cake mix

1 ½ sticks butter, melted

1 C. shaved coconut

1 C. chopped pecans

Dump cherries in bottom of a 13x9 pan. Pour pineapple over top. Sprinkle dry cake mix on top. Add butter. Do not mix. Sprinkle with coconut and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour or until browned.

Do Not Mix 

From my grandmother's memoirs

Late Sunday night, Caroline returned to say she was going to Detroit to make her home with her husband. Ida and I were right back where we started. We had been in college three months and lived in two houses off campus. Now we were going to be again without a home. School work was getting harder with semester tests in the very near future.

Monday morning, I walked quickly by Joe’s store without looking in. When I returned after classes, however, Joe was standing in the store’s doorway.

“Come in. I want to talk to you,” he said.

My grandmother, Rose Marino, 1940

I confronted him about his wife and child and told him Rose had given me many of the details. He said it was a long, sad story and we’d discuss it later, but that now we girls had a problem and he had a solution. He and Annie needed a bigger place to live. They would take his sister’s house and we could continue to stay there.

“You and your family?” I asked sarcastically.

“Yes, me and my family,” he sighed. “You just don’t understand what it’s been like, but you don’t have much choice now. I’ll take you girls to see Annie and see how she reacts to it.”

We waited for Ida and Mary without talking. When they arrived and were told the plan, they both looked at me. I shrugged.

When we arrived at the crowded apartment, Annie was ironing and Frankie was playing on the kitchen floor. We exchanged friendly hellos and Joe proceeded to explain the situation. He told Annie she could use some of the rent money for things she would like to have and that we girls would be company for her in a town where she knew no one, with the exception of a couple of cousins.

“I’d do anything to get out of here,” Annie said. “I can’t stand to be in a crowded space.”

Plans were made and after Joe left the other girls off at the house. He insisted that I accompany him to the Realtor's office.

“He will be sure to give us the house even if he has a list if he sees you and you explain the situation,” he told me. I found it unnecessary to say anything as Joe did all of the talking and was presented with the house.

In the car outside the Realtor’s office, he turned to me.

“This is no marriage,” he said. “We've been married four years and she’s gone home to her mother six times. She’s as dumb as they come and so set in her beliefs you can’t talk to her. I was young and ambitious. Her family made promises and mine exerted pressure.”

“But you’re still married,” I interrupted. “You never told me. You led me to believe we had something going between us and you were deceiving me.”

"We do, honey. We do. Honest. Something good will come of this,” he told me. “Just be patient and trust me. I can’t lose you now.”

“Take me home,” I said. “I’ve got to help Caroline and I’ve got to study. I can’t think right now.” I knew, again, as so many times in the past, I was giving in because I was too timid to fight. I doubted that I even wanted to fight. I knew how I hurried from the house to the store to be with him and then listened at night to hear his car pull into the garage in front of the house.

The night Caroline and her family packed to leave, all three brothers came to help carry furniture and boxes to the truck. We three girls helped out whenever possible. I started down the inside steps carrying a box. Joe rounded a corner at the bottom of the steps and started up toward me. He took the box, set it down, and drew me close. He hugged me tight and whispered, “I love you.”

He quickly took the box and went back down the stairs. I returned to the bedroom full of furniture Caroline was leaving for our use. I closed the door and sat on the bed. My heart raced. An inner voice told me I was getting in deeper all the time, but the wheels kept turning and I was being carried along in the spin. I waited for his kisses, yearned to see him and be near him, and now, for the first time, he had said he loved me.

For more of the story and great family recipes:

Rose's Recipes Archive

Old-Fashioned Christmas

Italian-American
Turning It Upside Down
Beautiful Basics
Birds in a Nest
Cabbage Rolls and the Role of a Woman
The Sauce

Do you have a beloved family recipe and/or story?  Submit it to us at kvalleyparent@gmail.com.

Dinner and Flowers Not Included

I don't even heart-shape my Valentine's meat loaf.

Let me be honest; Valentine's Day is not my favorite. My husband and I generally prefer not to be told what to do, even if what we're being told to do is love each other. And especially if what we're being told to do is show our love for each other by spending our money on things that will, in due time, be dead or eaten. Yet, as Valentine's Day approaches, we feel the pressure. So usually he comes home with a bundle of Kroger flowers (we stick it to the man by not springing for the florist's arrangements). And I, sometimes, throw together a dinner that contains something he likes to eat. Oh, and occasionally I'll recruit the kids to make cards for him. Can you feel the love?

Yeah, pretty underwhelming. So for my fellow Valentine-resistant, yet still-very-much-in-lovers, or just those who figure a date couldn't hurt, here are some semi-non-traditional Valentine's Day celebration alternatives.

• Have a party at home. Valentine's parties are not just for kids' classrooms. This one really appeals to me, maybe because the possibilities are endless. Make it a potluck. Include the kids. Send the kids to Grandma's and spend the night alone after your guests leave. You can really make this one your own. Run with it, people.
• Take a hike. Seriously. Bundle up if it's a little chilly. Find a local park or forest where you can walk a trail and get away from the noise of life. Turn off your phones. Pack a picnic, if you're feeling ambitious. If you have/want to take the kids, find a place with a playground so you can sit down together and maybe even get to finish a sentence.
• See a show. This is probably not entirely non-traditional for some, but note the dinner and flowers description of our usual routine. Find some live music at a local coffee shop or check out a local acting troupe. Visit our calendar for several options in the Charleston area over Valentine's weekend.
• Create something together. The Pottery Place and Uncork & Create are two local businesses that provide you with everything you need to make your own masterpieces, or total disasters. Either way, you keep what you make and the memories too.   
• Go on a Valentine's gift hunt together. Tamarack would be a perfect place to do this. Or make your own ArtWalk in the Capitol Street area of downtown Charleston. Even the mall would do. Browse together. Or split up and find something you think your love would love. Meet back up for a gift exchange over coffee, ice cream, dessert, whatever.
• Take the kids on a date. Sometimes child care is just not available, especially on the one day of the year it is mandated that couples go on a date. How happy would your kids be if you told them you were taking them on a Valentine's Day date? Think Chuck E. Cheese, bowling, ice skating. There's plenty of love to go around, right? 

Need more inspiration? I've gathered some local Valentine's Day specials to help you spend your money (you know you're going to, anyway).

ACE Adventure Resort offers winter rate specials through March 31, 2013.  In February, you can add chocolate, roses, wine, and massage services to your visit for a sweet touch.

Bliss Spa & Boutique in Kanawha City is offering free Champagne, strawberries and chocolate when you book a couples massage. They'll also be creating customized gift bags or boxes filled with your selections from the jewelry, perfumes, hand creams, bath oils, candles and more available in their boutique. More about what Bliss Spa & Boutique has to offer here.

The Comedy Zone in South Charleston is hosting a Laughter and Love Valentine's Dinner and Show over Valentine's weekend. For $50, you enjoy a two-entree dinner buffet and comedy show. Overnight stay is available for an additional cost.

Comfort Inn of Charleston, located next to Mardi Gras Resort & Casino, is offering a Romantic Couples Getaway Package. For $199, you get a one-night stay, rose petals, Holl's chocolates, dinner and breakfast, and an in-room bottle of Champagne, wine, or sparkling cider.

The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs offers a Valentine's Day package that includes luxury accommodations, Champagne and chocolate, a $100 Resort credit, breakfast, and a professional portrait, plus discounts on spa services and carriage rides.

Qdoba Mexican Grill: BOGO for a kiss. On February 14, buy one entree and share a kiss with someone to get a second entree free. If you haven't tried Qdoba for yourself yet, check out our review.

Tamarack: Chef Jamie will be preparing Prime Rib Au Jus and Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes. Have your choice with two sides and a special dessert for $9.95+.

West Virginia Power: if your Valentine is a baseball fan, the Power has three packages of ticket vouchers, first pitch opportunities, and other goodies. Prices range from $60-$500. Choose the one that works for you and have it delivered to your Valentine by Chuck, the Power mascot, along with a card and rose.



What do you plan to do for Valentine's Day? Do you like to go all out or ignore it altogether?