Name a Roach for Your Valentine

I had some disappointing news today. Nothing at all serious or, in the long run, even important. Just a small frustration that left me feeling a little deflated.

Until I discovered that you can name a cockroach for your valentine at Micke Grove Zoo.

Now I am beside myself.

The zoo explains:

"Do you have a love that can't be squashed? ... Nothing says 'forever' like a cockroach. Not only are they strong and resilient, they've also been around for about 300 million years. What better way to tell someone that you hope your love will last forever than to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach in their honor?"

Right?

I love it.

Madagascar hissing cockroaches are among the more than 50 species at Micke Grove. Naming a roach costs $10, a tax-deductible donation that supports zoo operations and educational programming. Your (thrilled!) recipient will receive a personalized digital certificate and recognition at the zoo. It's a limited-time offer, friends. Order here.

Valentine's Day Trail Mix

Alice's class will have a Valentine's Day party at the end of this week.

She can hardly wait.

In the meantime, since both of us were feeling festive, we decided to throw together a fun little Valentine's Day snack - she's enjoyed munching on it after school.

It's super easy and a great measuring activity for preschoolers or even toddlers.

Make as big or small a batch as you'd like using:

• Two parts Quaker Whole Hearts cereal. (I chose it for the shape, but if you can't find it, any kind of 'Os' cereal would work).

and one part each

• Chocolate chips
• Mini marshmallows
• Dried cranberries
• Something salty - we broke apart some pretzels, but I bet popcorn would be tasty too

For a little more color and zip, you could also toss in a handful of cinnamon heart candies

(For our smallish batch, we used 1 cup of cereal and half a cup of everything else).

Pour everything into a bowl and mix.

Alice and I served ours in paper cupcake liners, but I think this treat would be extra special inside some simple paper favor bags.

Find more Valentine's Day DIY ideas here.

Five Ways to Celebrate the Winter Olympics with Kids

Alice was born just before the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.

And late, late at night, when it seemed like everyone else in the whole world was sleeping, she and I watched re-broadcasts of ice dancing and ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating. Foggy as my head was at the time, those are some my clearest (and tenderest) memories of her newborn days.

It's hard to believe that was four years ago. It's hard to believe she's 4!

We've been watching some of this year's competitions together - she's old enough now to take a more active interest. (The athletes in women's snowboarding look like they're flying, she says. I agree).

Has your family been tuning in? Here are a few more ways you can enjoy the games with little ones:

1. Lace up your skates
Stockton's Oak Park Ice Arena has public skate sessions as well as various classes and clinics throughout the week, including beginners programs for ice skating and hockey.

2. Take a picture book tour of Russia
The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library's collection includes quite a few children's books that are set in Russia or based on Russian folktales. I have my eye on "The Blessing Cup" by Patricia Polacco, "The Wind that Wanted to Rest" by Sheldon Oberman, and "Sasha's Matrioshka Dolls" by Jana Dillon.

3. Follow a local Olympian
It's fun to root for a local hero. News10 makes it easy with a handy roundup of Northern California Olympic athletes.

4. Look for snow
A nice place to try to find some is Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

5. Watch a hockey game in person
Stockton Thunder is hosting Star Wars Night on Feb. 15. No kidding.