Raising the next generation of AWESOME
I mentioned before that the Spring Dove Family Festival dates were announced, but the lineup wasn’t out yet. Well, it’s here! The movies are:
Click here for the Dove website and more information.
It has felt a little spring-like this week, no? Have we served our six week sentence yet, Phil? Time off for good behavior perhaps?
One sure sign of spring is the tapping of maple trees for their sap. The sap is then boiled, filtered, and the result is maple syrup. If you have only had the Aunt Jemima version, you are really missing out.
I looked high and low for a syrup craft for the kids and found nothing. Maple Taffy? That involves pouring boiling hot syrup on snow. Our snow is all gross now, and having to yell at my kids to “STAND BACK!!” while I handle hot liquid doesn’t seem like such a good activity.
I briefly considered trying to rig some sort of thing out of a toilet paper roll and a straw, but being that A.P. has a freakishly good understanding of fluid hydraulics would surely call me out on any design flaws.
So on Monday we headed to the ‘big’ library downtown. The kids were still sick, but so was my husband so we needed to get out for a few hours. I wanted to get some ‘sugaring’ books. I figured it wouldn’t be busy, therefore, no one would give me dirty looks for my kids and their hacking coughs and snotty noses. I also was very un-selective with my wardrobe which, frankly is pretty much how I roll, but still. Of course, we arrived just as story time was beginning and happened to be right were it was occurring so of course I couldn’t get the kids away. My kids were coughing and sniffling, and I was the only mom wearing a Bells Beer T shirt. This one
, in fact. Nice.
We came away with the following books to read about 100 times this week:
Sugar Snow, Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is one of the “My First Little House Books”. My kids absolutely love this one.
From Maple Trees to Maple Syrup, Kristin Thoennes Keller. This is a good explanation at a kid level of what is happening with syrup production.
Sugarbush Spring, Marsha Wilson Chall. This is a story book that gives an account of a family who has a sugarbush.
Maple Sugar Festivals: Tapping for Sap, by Lisa Gabbert. Also a good explanation of what is happening; and makes our festival look puny.
Buster’s Sugartime, Marc Brown. Ahh, yes. The book that spawned the infamous “Postcards from Buster” episode that got lots of folks upset. My kids love the story, and love Arthur and Buster, and didn’t notice anything about Buster’s friend’s parents. It’s a good book, but I did want to mention that if it is an issue for you.Blandford Nature Center has a Sugarbush festival every year. You can actually see the taps on the trees with the buckets catching the sap, and there is a demonstration of the old fashioned way of boiling the sap in a huge cast iron pot, but also a sugar shack which is a more modern version of production. On the weekends, there are interpreters to demonstrate how it’s done and this weekend is the Pancake Breakfast. Of course, you can also buy some syrup. Check out the Big Binder calendar for more details. For more seasonal ideas – I promise, you will find some way craftier stuff there – head over to Scribbit’s Winter Bazaar.
The kids and I took a trip to Meijer Gardens to visit the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit. Before I get started, let me just get one thing out of the way:
BUTTERFLIES FREAK ME OUT
As a kid, one of my favorite books was “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. Some of you might think my feelings about butterflies would prevent me from liking this story but it doesn’t. I think this is one of the most mis-interpreted books in children’s literatue. The moral of the story has nothing to do with becoming your beautiful self, nor is it a nature lesson. Quite simply, the point is that you should, if desired, eat like a total pig because you will feel better the next day. Then you should take a long nap. Words to live by.
Anyway, back to the Gardens. It was a big deal that I went, because I am going to have to take some Benadryl just to get rid of the hives after I finish writing this. To me, butterflies are not beautiful. They are flying worms with big, freaky wings that look like giant eyeballs. They evoke in me the same reaction most people have to bats. Think of a bat flying right up to you and people giving you dirty looks for swatting at it, then telling you to stay still so it can land on you. Insane.
My kids loved the butterflies. We actually got to see some hatch (which I thought was disgusting, by the way but that’s just me) and dry off their wings. And my love for my kids allowed me to overcome my fear, as I was able to coach A.P. into getting a butterfly to land on his finger. I wanted to squish that nasty thing off of my beloved firstborn’s hand more than you can even imagine, but he was so excited I couldn’t do it. The kids had an absolute blast, and for that reason I am so glad we went.
From there we went over to the Kent ISD complex. It’s pretty much across the street. Here are directions. That is the home of the Kent Career Technical Center, which is a pretty neat place. They teach high school kids some very useful trades such as health, banking, food service, cosmetolegy, and several more. Naturally, practice makes perfect so they have a Culinary Cafe that is open for lunch, as well as a Bakery.
The bakery has very tasty, and very inexpensive items. They are all fresh and delicious; a loaf of fresh bakery bread for $0.50?? Get out of here! A bag of cloverleaf rolls for $0.75? Seriously. Good stuff. What is available on a daily basis varies, but they will do special orders.
There is a sit down restaurant in the Culinary Cafe but it was not open when we were there. There is also a cafeteria that serves food al a carte. This is crazy cheap and really good. We got two servings of home made mac & cheese, a huge piece of pizza – like a quarter of a pizza, and the biggest, fanciest twice-baked potato I have ever seen for $6.50. Total. We were stuffed and had leftovers. Call ahead of time about the Cafe hours to make sure they will be open when you get there.
KCTC has some other public services available too, here is a link with that information. Enjoy!
MONDAY
Cuban Black Beans and Rice from What’s for Dinner? I also have some cooked pork, and I’m going to put that in there along with some corn.
TUESDAY
Crock Pot Veggie Soup from Stretching A Buck. This is my favorite type of veggie soup; the kind with meat in it 
WEDNESDAY
Honey Pecan Chicken from Creative Triplet Mom.
THURSDAY
Slow Cooked Turkey Sandwiches from Fried PorkChop. This is despite her being somewhat underwhelmed when she made it herself. Oh well; at least I can set my expectations nice and low.
Hummus from (where else?) The Hummus Blog and an attempt at making my own pita bread from my breadmaker. I do not have high hopes.
FRIDAY
Zesty Baked Salmon from Stephanie’s Mommy Brain. This is not just any salmon. This is Alaskan salmon from my fishing guide brother via my dad who always manages to provide us the fixin’s for some tasty meals.
Green Beans (the frozen this summer variety that I think are multiplying in my freezer. Will they ever go away?)
Parmesean Rice from The At-Home Life
SATURDAY
Crock Pot Enchiladas from Half is More Than Enough.
Check out Laura’s blog for more menu plans.
That’s right. Yesterday afternoon A.P. had the nerve to start throwing up after I declared our home illness-free. It went into the evening but we haven’t seen anything today. Adding insult to injury (or infirmary), my husband woke up with the crud my kids have been dealing with all week so two steps forward, two steps back.
Prior to the Upchuck Festival, we did manage to make something fun. It is edible play-dough. Rest assured; I am certain there is no causal effect between eating the play dough and the intestinal distress for two reasons:
In fact, it would appear that this concoction actually prevents vomiting. OK enough with that; on to the dough.
I got the recipe from Nature Moms. Here is a link; there are also several other play dough recipes although not all of them are as tasty. We used the Peanut Butter Play Dough recipe. I know kids under a certain age aren’t supposed to have peanut butter or honey but I don’t know what age that is. My kids ate both right from the start as infants and as you can see, are the picture of health.
I modified the recipe to:
I mixed it all up and let the kids have at it. I put down some more dried milk on the table so it didn’t stick (like you would with flour if you are rolling out or kneading dough). I let them use my extremely random collection of cookie cutters: a moose, a lizard, a flower, and one in the shape of the Great State of Michigan excluding the U.P. (Sorry my Yooper friend, Good Idea Momma. Find me an anatomically correct Michigan Cookie Cutter and I will dispose of this one immediately.)
We really had fun with this. I wish we could say the same for the rest of the day but I’m not going to complain. I’ll leave that to my grouchy, sick husband.
I literally had the car running when my husband got home from work yesterday. I declared the Great Flu Week of 2008 Officially over yesterday afternoon. I disinfected, washed, scrubbed, and sprayed all of the germs who dared remain in my presence. I was ready to GO!
This brings me to the first thing I want to talk about from the Women’s Expo. Well, actually the second. OK, the third. The first is a printable coupon for $1.50 off the admission price. Most other coupons are $1.00 off so here you go; Money Mailer will hook you up.
The second is the Dash Bus. Take it! It’s so much easier and less expensive than parking by the DeVos Place. The drivers are very friendly and they have special Women’s Expo busses. They are very understanding that most of us are not regular bus riders. Also, riding back to the parking lot through town after dark on a bus made me feel very ‘big city’.
And on to the show. As you know I am totally dedicated to disinfecting my home with horrible caustic chemicals, a.k.a bleach. Friends have given me bottles of stuff that are much healthier for my children and the environment. Despite their puppy dog eyes, I perservere. Yesterday, I met the woman who started Green Goodness, a local company that produces environmentally sensitive cleaning products. I must say, I was impressed. I had no choice. Her brother, also at the Expo, could sell ice to eskimos as the saying goes. Although I could not commit to buying some, I have to admit I am interested. I know many of you will be. The produts are coming onto the market this week at a few stores around town, one being Creative Learning which I am sure you are familiar with. Here is an email address if you need more info: brook.greengoodness@yahoo.com.
The next thing I found to be really interesting was learning about SowHope. This is fascinating. It is an organization that is focused on helping women who live on less than $2.00 per day. They told me that when ‘outside’ organizations come in and give children toys, they have fun but then feel deflated after the outsiders leave. When they give resources to men, they tend to hoarde them. When they give them to women… now we’re talking. Women tend to make great use of outside resources and this is where positive change occurs. Please take some time to look around the website and learn more.
I also attended several seminars about cooking (thank you Meijer! Good stuff!) and at more chocolate than I do on Easter… which is a lot. This may have contributed to my body fat analysis provided by the good folks at Curves. I like being above average in most things; but not this. We’re friends, right? So I can tell you. I am 28.2 percent fat. YUCK! Time to hit the YMCA (sorry Curves) a little harder…
We’re off to the Teddy Bear Picnic. French Mama wants to let everyone know to bring your teddy bears or a favorite stuffed animal. Between that and that kazoos, I think it is going to be a madhouse. I’ll be back later with a fun little something to make. Here’s hoping for a very quiet afternoon.
Highlights this weekend are of course is the Lollipops Concert. Instead of the usual Sunshine Church, the location is at Christian High School on Plymouth. The performace will be “Teddy Bear Picnic”. According to my friend Good Idea Momma, they will be handing out kazoos to all the kids. Wonderful. I’d hate it if that got lost on the way home…
If you need more to do or more info, cruise over to Big Binder’s Calendar (at the top of this page). March is shaping up!
I am in a sleep deprived state. My kids are still sick; thank you all for your kind wishes and words. However, I feel compelled to share this information with you as it might change your life.
OK probably not. But it’s interesting in a weird way. Did you know that if your name is Bob, or any derivative (Robert, Roberta, Bobby and so on) you can join the “B.O.B.” club?
Those of you in Grand Rapids will of course recognize the The B.O.B. as the “Big Old Building” full of bars and restaurants downtown on Monroe by the Van Andel Arena. According to the website the benefits are “incredible” and include:
I am thinking about dragging a copy of my family tree down there. While I am not named Bob or anything Bob-related, I do have an uncle named Bob and should therefore be entitled to a full scholarship for Wine School.
Interested? Click on the website under “clubs” for more details.
Yup. It’s here. Both of my kids are sick. I’m not sure if it’s better to get it over with in one long, miserable episode or have each kid have an independent period of illness.
We are right in the midst of it and I am thankful that I happened to buy about a gallon of children’s Tylenol this fall. I got the generic stuff at (Spectrum)Butterworth’s pharmacy, it’s very inexpensive there. That’s the best I can do for today… the cheapest way to medicate your kids should this hex come upon your house too.
I have been even more dedicated to searching for new recipes on other blogs and recipe websites than usual lately. I’ve been everywhere, man. So I bring to you a very (I think) interesting collection of recipes that will bring to us a very (I think) interesting menu for the week. I am not totally certain of the sides yet; they are typically a salad though.
SUNDAY
Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas, from the blog “from mommy’s kitchen“.
MONDAY
Lentil Salad from the blog “Mother’s Kitchen“. The post is entitled, “Lentils that my husband will eat…”
TUESDAY
Dirty Risotto; again from the blog “from mommy’s kitchen“. I will be substituting Chorizo for the Italian Sausage and bacon for the pancetta.
WEDNESDAY
Oven Baked Chicken with Baking Miracle (this is kind of like Shake-n-Bake; the recipe is on the box)
Green Beans (frozen)
Slow Cooker Chocolate Pudding Upside-Down Cake from the blog “Ramblings of a Crazy Woman” for desert.
THURSDAY
Two-Mustard Chicken from the blog, “Don’t Eat Baby“. (More chicken. Think they’ll notice? Probably…)
FRIDAY
Pizza night (take out), as I am going to the Women’s Expo and my family will be on their own.
SATURDAY
Indian Tacos. I love the sound of this, and the blog “The Full-Handed Housewife” provides a tutorial for making them, complete with pictures. I will be making my own ranch beans, so I’ll use this Food Network recipe.
For more Menu Plans, head over to I’m an Organizing Junkie!
