We’ve been to this several years in a row; check out our video from last year to get an idea of what you’ll see.   We usually have to dig ourselves out of 2 feet of snow to attend, so be thankful that we don’t this year!

There is a LOT of fun to be had this weekend for free! Since it’s so nice out maybe check out the programs at Blandford or Calvin this too.  I have a full listing of February fun!

Several years ago we visited Senator Bill Hardiman during the Star Power Rally.  He told us that when his children were young, he always thanked their teachers for helping him to educate his child.

The looked at him funny, and he explained further that it was his job; his responsibility to educate his children.  School was a means to an end but not the end.

I often {respectfully} disagreed with Senator Hardiman politically, but parentally we are in complete agreement.  “Good” schools have high levels of parental involvement. Improving schools try and engage parents because that is what “good” schools do.

My kids go to one of those good schools. The academics are outstanding.  The parental involvement is so high it is ridiculous {and I gladly contribute to the ridiculousness}.

The dynamic changed for me this fall, when A.P. needed some additional services and accommodations.  I brought in the forms, talked to the right people, and was delighted at how easy it was to get what he needed. Until he didn’t get what he needed.  I needed a different form, and to talk to a different person.   And then another.

Meanwhile, A.P. was having a rough time.  Kids who have special needs {There.  I said it.} get swallowed up by what seems to be a deliberate bureaucracy.  I worked as quickly as I could, but he was going downhill fast.

I spent more and more time at school, sent more and more emails, made phone calls constantly.  I was a pain in the butt. I was annoying.  Very annoying.  My husband was worried.  My Dad was worried.  I was pushing people who weren’t used to being pushed and they didn’t like it.

Last year I won the “Fierce Heart” advocacy award, but this year I focused ferocity on the child that is my heart. It was intense.  And emotional, and exhausting. I was disappointed and frustrated.  And yeah, I was scared that I was asking for too much because of how everyone around me was reacting.

I’m always five seconds away from homeschooling, but this fall it really, truly almost happened.  Knowing that I wasn’t bluffing anymore fueled me.  Either this would work out in a way that allowed A.P. a fighting chance at school, or I would provide that for him at home.

Educating my child is my responsibility.  I was acting from that vantage point; it was my responsibility to make the school provide the accommodations my son needs and is entitled to.   It was a weird fight to fight.  I was surprised to find myself in the middle of it. I am relieved to be on the other side of it.  Now, he has what he needs.

I am sharing this to encourage you.  Sometimes I get a feeling that ‘someone out there’ needs to hear this:

Don’t be afraid to push when you need to.  You know what your child needs, and you can make it happen.  Don’t give up.

“School is an invaluable adjunct to the home, but it is a wretched substitute for it.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Chess Anyone?

Drop in and play chess at the library! All skill levels welcome. An adult will be available to help you with your game or match you up with a worthy opponent. For all ages.

Mondays at 4:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch
Wednesdays at 4:00 PM – Alto branch
Thursdays at 4:00 PM – Kentwood branch

Alphabet Safari

Take a trip on the wild side and hunt for your favorite letters — safari style! This virtual journey to the savannah and jungle will let you experience the alphabet in a new and exciting way through interactive and creative activities. For ages 6 and under.

Tuesday, January 31, 10:30 AM – Alpine branch

Project Sleuth — An Art History Mystery

An international art scandal, a haunted architectural masterpiece, and a world-renowned sculpture that suddenly disappears! Popular author Blue Balliett’s “Chasing Vermeer” series of artful mysteries are the basis for this program filled with games, crafts and activities. Can you solve the mystery? For ages 6 and up.

Monday, January 30, 6:30 PM – Krause Memorial branch

Reel Fun: A Family Movie Event

Come enjoy a family movie. Call or stop by the library for details on what’s showing. For all ages.

Wednesday, February 1, 6:00 PM- Alpine Township branch

Saturday, February 4 at 10:30 AM – Alpine Township branch

International Storytime: Spanish

Enjoy stories, crafts, and tons of fun in a language you speak or would like to speak. Run by bilingual volunteers, these programs are entertaining and educational for families with children of all ages.

Thursday, February 2, 5:30 PM – Cascade branch

Lego Family Block Party

The library is the place for Lego fun! Drop in and make your own special Lego or Duplo creations. All materials are provided by the library, so come design and create! For all ages.

Saturday, February 4, 2:00 PM – Comstock Park branch

Snow Party

Celebrate the snow indoors with crafts, games and activities! For all ages.
Saturday, February 4, 1:00 PM – Grandville branch

Project Sleuth — An Art History Mystery

An international art scandal, a haunted architectural masterpiece and a world-renowned sculpture that suddenly disappears! Popular author Blue Balliett’s “Chasing Vermeer” series of artful mysteries are the basis for this program filled with games, crafts and activities. Can you solve the mystery? For ages 6 and older.

Saturday, February 4, 2012, 1:30 PM – Sand Lake branch

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In fact I couldn’t actually remember if his name was Punxsutawney  Phil or Punxsutawney Pete, and innocently asked my husband who is still laughing so hard he can’t catch his breath.  He just keeps rambling nonsense like, “Pete! Like a pirate! Or no, a little holster and a tiny groundhog gun and a tiny sheriff badge! PETE!”

Because clearly, Phil is a name much more befitting a rodent who we pretend is able to predict the weather.

Anyway. I am always up for an excuse to make snacks, so after becoming inspired by this post, I promptly made a pan of Madelines.  Then I made a cake, and it was boxed but I used a $4.00 organic kind so that makes it healthy.

Guess who doesn't know how to use their new camera yet?

I cut the cake in half, and put half in the freezer for another day and cut the remaining half in half again.  I put each quarter in a Ziploc bag and let the kids smash them to bits.  This was to make ‘dirt’.

Then we dumped the dirt into plastic containers.  They are the ones that Hot and Sour Soup comes in; I have no other way of describing them.

These represent the burrows that groundhogs burrow in.  See? We’re learning. And snacking.  All at once.  It’s sort of beautiful.

I handed each kid a Madeline, and let them decorate them with chocolate chips and almonds. I used one tiny dot of frosting to stick the ears and eyes on.

I don’t know why they don’t have mouths or noses.

It took me several hours to make the madelines and the cake, so while this was a fun activity; the preparation was somewhat disproportionate to the actual event.  You could buy both premade and have just as much fun.  Probably even more.

So now, who cares if Phil is really named Pete and whether he sees his shadow or not? We’ll just eat him either way

And this weekend {January 27-29} at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago -one of our favorite day trips -is a

LEGO^® Friends Weekend!

Friday, January 27 through Sunday January 29 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m hit the town with LEGO Friends Olivia, Emma, Andrea, Stephanie and Mia and explore Heartlake City, the hippest hangout for these five mini-doll pals.

You can also:

• Help design and build a large scale model of Heartlake City;
• Join in on a scavenger hunt adventure;
• Belt out a tune in our karaoke sing-off;
• Enjoy free ice cream in the Café (while supplies last); and
• Take home LEGO Friends prizes and giveaways (while supplies last).

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is located at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd. in Schaumburg. General admission is $19 for adults and $15 for children, with most activities being free. It’s just over 3 hours from Grand Rapids, and remember that they are in Central Time Zone so you gain an hour driving down.

Laundry.  OH, I love it.  I do.  And like all long-lived loves, our relationship has changed over time.  I line dried for two years, but developed an irrational fear of bed bugs and have gone back to the dryer.  I know it’s terrible for the environment.  Or maybe it’s just a minor infraction, I’m not actually sure.

I was asked to try Tide Coldwater.  I hesitated at first, because in my house, whites are bleached, washed in hot water, and then dried on hot.  After thinking it through, I realized that this might just be the thing to absolve me of my sins.

First, and possibly most important is the smell.  It smells SO good.  Tide has a particular smell.  It smells like expensive.  In a good way, but still.  There is something deliciously high-falootin’ about how Tide smells.

I didn’t have any terrible stains, so I can’t say how Tide Coldwater did with getting set in stains out but it should be noted that I have an 8 year old boy who is covered in dirt and grass 30 seconds after he goes out for recess, and a 6 year old daughter who describes herself as “just the kind of person that always has paint on her hands” {and her shirt, and her pants…} so my family’s laundry is no small feat.

I am happy to report that even though I did not wash my whites in hot water (but I did use bleach; let’s not get ourselves all crazy here) and used Tide Coldwater instead my clothes still got clean! Everything seemed fine and I told the voices in my head to shut it; that my towels are TOO clean.  And they are.  And the environment is better for it.

So is my gas bill, since I don’t have to pay to heat water for laundry.  I’m still a little psycho about the hot water idea, but the amazing smell, clean clothes, and saving money are definitely winning me over.

Have you tried Tide Coldwater? What did you think?

Tide and SheSpeaks provided me with the opportunity to try Tide Coldwater and freely express my opinion.

Thursday January 26 and Friday 27 Circle Theatre presents SkippyJon Jones! Performances are at 10:00 and 12:30 so you’d have to had a kid not yet in school or who just has a half day, but the good news is that tickets are only $5.00!

Saturday 28 10:00 – 3:00 Winterfest at Izaak Walton League Center, 5641 Myers Lake Ave, Belmont. It’s free, but donations are welcome. For more information call 616-773-2850

• Archery
• Snow-shoeing
• Ice-fishing
• Cross-country skiing
• Snow Castles
• Bird Crafts
• Nature Trails
• Sledding
• Snow games
• FREE lunch!

Saturday, January 27 10:00 AM Lowes Build and Grow Workshop. Build a Saurus.  Free, and cute!

Saturday, January 26 6-7:30 PM Owl Prowl at Blandford Nature Center.  Walk the trails with a naturalist and play recoded owl calls in hopes that a wild owl will hoot back.  Program includes a live owl presentation and an up close look at their resident owls.  Ages 7 and up. RSVP 616-735-6240, the cost is $5 members, $6 for non-members.

Looks like a great combination of indoor and outdoor family fun this weekend in Grand Rapids!

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You can determine your proximity to Canada by the number of times any of these things occur in your day to day life.  Actually if you can answer yes to any of them, you are near the Great White North for sure, eh?

1. You attend events designed to raise money for underprivileged kids. Not those without homes.  Not those who cannot eat.  Those who cannot afford to play hockey.  It’s a big deal here, OK?

2. At these events, you will see every Alaskan stereotype possible.  Including Sled Dogs. As it turns out, real-life sled dogs are surprisingly yappy.  Nothing like Snow Buddies would have you believe.Photo credit:

3. People believe that ice is a perfectly acceptable medium for sculpture.

4. Your city owns its own Zamboni.

5. You actually know what a Zamboni is.

6. Tim Horton’s sponsors your community events.

7. You actually know who Timmy Horton is {er, was.  God rest his soul.}

8. Little girls are as inclined to take figure skating classes as they are ballet.

9. Little boys are as inclined to have snow boards as they are skateboards.

10. Hot chocolate is a food group for every person under 20.

All of these pictures were taken at the Great Skate Winterfest, which in all truthfulness was really fun and happened right smack dab in the middle of the second biggest city in Michigan.  Yup, it’s how we roll in Grand Rapids, aka ‘South Canada’.

This post is linked up to Things I Love Tuesday at Oh! Amanda.

When I was young, my parents traveled to Asia several times.  They always brought us really cool looking candies and treats… and they were absolutely terrible tasting to our American Kid tastebuds. I remember one that had something like a hot dog right in the middle it.

I decided to keep that tradition alive, except I only went as far as a store called Asian Delight, where I found some fine items to share with my family.

Although I did know enough to get red envelopes to put some money in, the cashier giggled at me because I didn’t know what Joss Paper was.  I thought it was a pretty paper tablecloth, but it turns out that it was fake money they burn for their ancestors to use in the afterlife.  Or something like that, she was trying very hard to explain and I was trying very hard to understand but we were both laughing.  At me.

I also got some incense, which my husband couldn’t stand, the kids thought was cool, and I was instantly transported back in time to the a house party at University of Georgia circa 1993.

The least favorite item was the seaweed cracker.

The clear winner was Pocky, because they have chocolate on them and also can be used as swords, or to make walrus tusks.

If you want to find out more about the Chinese (and actually, most of Asia’s) New Year, here is a good kid-friendly resource.  We had fun figuring out that our family consisted of a dog, rat, rooster and sheep.

It’s the year of the dragon; so check out this “Dragons On Parade” craft.

Do you celebrate Chinese New Year?

Don’t let the cold keep you inside all weekend! Head downtown where you’ll find our friends the Grand Rapids Griffins at the Great Skate/Winterfest! It runs from noon on Saturday until 10:00 PM Sunday and there is a TON of family friendly fun to be had! I just wonder why it always has to fall on the coldest weekends!!?? Check out the entire schedule and see what you and your kids will enjoy!

If you’re there on Sunday, make sure you pop into one of the museums offering FREE admission for the first weekend of Museums Free 4 All.  I found some fantastic activities to teach your kids about a couple of the artists whose work they will see at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.  Because there is nothing I love more than Pretending I’m A Homeschooler!

No snowshoes required for the Grand Rapids Symphony Lollipops Concerts Saturday, which will be a performance of Little Red Riding Hood.  I am adding some learning activities for my kids because they have both seen Little Red before.

There is also Snowpalloza, Pokemon Madness, a Teddy Bear Clinic, Project Sleuth, Alphabet Safari and Experience China {we’ll talk more about Chinese New Year next week!} events throughout the weekend at the Kent District Library, and don’t forget about the Martin Luther King Jr. events at the Grand Rapids Public Library!

Don’t get your tongue stuck to any poles.  I wish I had given A.P. this advice earlier, because when I picked him up from school Tuesday… yup.  He did it.

Photo credit: