Valentine's Day celebrations - no sitter required!

Valentine's Day is the most romantic holidays of the year – people get engaged, get married, and just generally go above and beyond to make it romantic and special. Karen and Mike, a couple in Ocala with two special needs kids, want to do something a little different this year. Last year, they had trouble find a sitter, and ended up spending the time at home with the kids and found it was nicer than going out alone.

For many couples, the desire to do something different might be prompted by trouble finding a sitter, or it might just be that they really don't want to go out like everyone else. So, what are some alternatives?

1. Family movie night. A romantic movie often figures into Valentine's Day dates. Instead of romantic movie, pick up a family friendly flick - or dig out some old favorites, such as Lady and the Tramp, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, or maybe Wall-E. Pop some popcorn, order some pizza or whip up something else yummy to eat and settle in for a fun evening with the whole family.

2. Family night out. Take the kids and head to Easy Street in Ocala for fun and games, or go to Ocala Lanes for a couple of games of bowling. Stop at one of three Ocala Dairy Queen's for a frozen treat, and maybe even dinner.

3. Share the love. Kids love making cards to share with classmates. Why confine it to just school friends? Have the entire family sit down and create cards for those you love: family, friends, neighbors, etc. Even if you just limit it to making cards for each other, it can still be a fun project that keeps you all busy and helps you bond and spend quality time together.

4. Do something for others. Valentine's Day is about love. We all associate it with romantic love, but there's nothing that says that's all there is to it. Cook a warm meal for your elderly neighbor. Offer to watch your sister's kids so she and her husband, who haven't gone out in years, can go out. Give two movie tickets to your babysitter so she can take her boyfriend to the movies. Brother's Keeper runs a soup kitchen that is open every day of the year, and this can be a wonderful way to show your children how to open their hearts to those in need.

What if you want some couple time as well as some family time? It's not too difficult. Enjoy one of the above activities, put the kids to bed and then...

1. Whip up dinner and a movie. Pick up a romantic movie before you head home. Once the kids are in bed, whip up a romantic dinner for two, and enjoy the food and a glass of wine while you watch the movie. Snuggle on the couch and enjoy being together.

2. Gaze at the stars. No, not the ones on TV. Go in the backyard, get comfortable on the ground (or in chairs, if your back can't take the ground!) and take in the beauty of the night. According to Weather Underground's 7-day forecast, Valentine's Day in Ocala should be beautiful, with a very small chance of rain, so you should have no problem seeing the night sky. Grab some wine or your favorite drink, and sip away. If you have a stereo with outdoor speakers, turn on some soft music.

3. Massage. Offer to give each other back rubs or full body massages. With soft music, flickering candlelight, and some incense, this can be romantic and relaxing. It's also a whole lot cheaper than a spa day.

4. Conversation. When's the last time you two sat down and had a conversation that had nothing at all to do with the kids, the house, work, or other routine topics? Even if you had one that started out (or led to) other topics, it's likely you somehow got on the topics of the kids, house, etc. Why not take this opportunity to sit down and have a conversation that puts kids, house, work, and all that off limits? Agree to discuss movies, books, music, current events, anything other than things that you discuss everyday. Or you could even agree to limit your topics to things you'd discuss if you were on a date – maybe even a first date! You might think that's silly, because you already discussed those – on your first date. But you might be surprised by the answers now compared to back then.

Be creative, be unique when thinking of what to do for Valentine's Day. You're sure to come up with something that is different and fun.