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Want to celebrate Valentine's Day in a different way? We've collected a bunch of unique ideas - special ways to show how much you care about your spouse, family members and friends you cherish.

Heart-Felt Valentine's Meal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make up a batch of heart-shaped pancakes for a yummy Valentine's breakfast or brunch. Just pour batter in frying pan in a free-form heart shape and serve with strawberries and whipped cream.

Balloon Goodies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Insert candy surprises into balloons before inflating them - add a folded-up Valentine's message then inflate each balloon. Tie with a red ribbon and attach to your loved one's chair for them to find Valentine's morning.

Family Affair ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have children help you prepare red Jello with cinnamon hearts mixed in, mashed potatoes colored with pink food coloring, heart- shaped cookies and any other creative ways to present your Valentine's Day meal.

The Gift of Time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Give a hand-made coupon for some work you can do to free-up some time for your spouse or parent. For example, a coupon good for cleaning Dad's garage or for a full-house vacuuming for your wife. How about a coupon for your best friend - you can walk her dog or baby sit one evening.

Coupon Day ~~~~~~~~~~

Each of you can create individual notes, say 4 or 6 each, to describe a special surprise - a back rub, a bubble bath, kisses from head to toe, a special meal - fold up notes and toss them into a jar. You can take turns having fun plucking a coupon from jar and doing what it says.

Scavenger Hunt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can prepare this one for your spouse or for your children to enjoy. Write up little notes about how you feel and what they mean to you and place them around house along with a candy heart or other treat. Add a riddle at end of each note about where to find next note. At last note, have something special waiting there. For example, you can be waiting for your hubby in a candle-lit bubble bath with two glasses of wine. For your children, then can find a teddy bear or other toy or treat.

Less Fortunate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit a hospital or chronic care home to pass out small Valentine surprises to residents. They will enjoy care and attention from something so unexpected.

Alone? ~~~~~~

PROPER TOOLS

Little hands need right sized tools or they'll be frustrated, and "toys" are not sturdy enough. Child's garden gloves are available here: www.mybackyard.com/acatalog/.mybackyard_Shop_Child_s_Garden_Gloves_110.html. Gardens4Kids ( http://gardens4kids.com ) offers a package: a set of 3 children's hand gardening tools, 1 set of children's gardening gloves, and a child's watering can.

They also offer a gardening kit with tips for planting with children. It contains: seed packages with instructions written for new gardeners and/or children; materials and materials needed checklist; a planting map; a harvest guide activity worksheet and calendar for predicting harvest dates; plant labels; a waterproof pencil; and 20 grid markers. (http://gardens4kids.com )

THEMATIC

Try planting a small plot around a theme - A Pizza Garden with tomatoes and herbs. A Salsa Garden with hot peppers, onions and tomatoes. A Butterfly garden with bright flowers and butterfly 'food' (see below).

MAKE A GRASS SNAKE OR SCARECROW

To make a grass snake, fill a sock with dirt and grass seed, place it in sun and keep it damp. In 7-14 days, 'snake' will have 'hair'!

To make a scarecrow, take a large piece of cardboard and let child lie down and get in a funny pose. Trace around child and then cut scarecrow out. Decorate him or her with yarn, waterproof markers, googily eyes, old pieces of clothing - whatever you have on hand. You can mount it on a stake.

TEE PEE