The Trains at NorthPark

The Trains at NorthPark were becoming a holiday tradition for us when we could get down to NorthPark Mall. It is surely worth the drive and proceeds benefits the Ronald McDonald House for children.  If you've never been, it's a great place to take out of town guests.  Better yet, do your holiday shopping while you're at the mall! 

As parents we are already educating our kids everyday and don't even realize it. We teach at every step of the way consciously or not. Our goal by providing you with this information, is to give you extra pointers to the teaching you are already doing with your children, to teach with intent.  

Before you go, give this list a quick read or print it out and take it with you. Kids of all ages can enjoy The Trains at NorthPark. If you have an infant or one year old, bring him or her along because they can get something out of it too!



One Year Olds

• While holding your child up so she can see, point out things like lights, colors, encourage following the moving train with their eyes, 
• While pointing to objects introduce new vocabulary to your little one. Even just your running narrative is making their brain work in the background!

Twos and Threes

• At the Washington DC in winter display identify the White House and Capitol Building.
•  Introduce new vocabulary: conductor, box car, freight train and caboose.

Six & Beyond:

• At the Mount Rushmore display ask: Can you name the presidents?
• At the Golden Gate Bridge display discuss where this bridge is located in our country.

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 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at:info@aroundtownkids.com 

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How did Frisco get its name?

Do you know how Frisco got its name? Frisco is often the shortened name for San Francisco. Frisco, TX isn't located in California, so how did we get associated with that name?

In 1902, a line of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway was being built through the area, and periodic watering holes were needed along the rails for the steam engines. The current settlement of Lebanon was on the Preston Ridge and was too high in elevation, so the watering hole was placed about four miles to the west on lower ground. A community grew around this train stop. Residents of Lebanon actually moved their houses to the new community on logs. 

The new town was originally named Emerson, but that name was rejected by the U.S. Postal Service as being too similar to another town in Texas. In 1904, the residents chose Frisco City in honor of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway on which the town was founded, later shortened to its present name.

Preston Rd is the old Shawnee Trail

When we think of Fort Worth we think of "cow town" complete with rodeos, cattle drives and wagon trails. A trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards is a perfect example. But did you know Dallas also has old cattle trails? 

When the pioneers were settling Dallas they traveled by wagon train along the Shawnee Trail. Eventually the trail became known as Preston Trail and later on, Preston Road. Did you know that Preston Road is one of the oldest north-south roads in all of Texas?  Or that it used to be a cattle trail? 

Next time you drive down Preston Road, take the opportunity to teach your kids about cattle trails and why they were important to the local economy. 

Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

 

Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings

This is a recipe I used to make. Earlier in the fall I discussed apples and wanted to share this delicious recipe. 

Ingredients:

3 packages pie crust mix (each one enough for 8 or 9” pie)

3 tbsp butter or margarine, softened

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp raisins

2 tbsp chopped walnuts

3/4 tsp cinnamon

6 large apples

2 tbsp lemon juice

6 whole cloves

1 egg yolk

Glaze:

½ c butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1 ¼ c. confectioners sugar

Make pie crust pastry as directed on package. Form pastry into 8” round, wrap in wax paper & refrigerate.

In small bowl combine butter, sugar, raisins, cinnamon & walnuts. Blend with a fork.

Core apples.

Peel apples & brush & brush with lemon juice to keep from browning. Using spoon, fill the centers of the apples with walnut mixture.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a shallow baking dish, 15 ½ x 10 ½ x 1”

On lightly floured pastry cloth or surface divide pastry evenly into 6ths. Form each piece into a round ball. Flatten each piece, then roll out from center into an 8 ½” square.  Trim edges using a pastry wheel for decorative look. Save the trimmings.

Place an apple in center of each square, trim w strips, brush edges with water.

Bring each corner of the square to top of the apple, pinch edges of pastry together firmly to cover apple completely.

Roll trimmings ½” thick. With knife cut out 24 leaves, 1 ¾” long & ¾” wide. Brush one end of each leaf lightly with water.

Press leaves o top of dumplings, press clove in center.  Arrange in the pan.

Brush with egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp water.

Bake, brushing once with juices in pan, uncovered 40 mins or until pastry is lightly browned and apples are tender. 

Add water to pain once or twice during baking so apples don’t burn.

With broad spatula remove dumplings to serving dishes. Serve warm topped with the glaze.

Glaze Directions:

In medium size bowl, using electric mixer, cream butter until light. Add vanilla, sugar & beat until smooth.

Heard Museum Dinosaurs Live!

Have you been to the Heard Museum to see Dinosaurs Live?  They come every year from October - February.  Even if you or your kids are not dinosaur lovers, they are an incredible sight to see!  It is well worth the visit.

Even if you have small children, this is a fun outing to take kids too. While you're there you can teach them without them ever realizing they are being taught! Even if this comes to you instinctively, mom, it never hurts to have a few pointers.


Even 2s & 3s can enjoy an outing to see the dinosaurs.  While there:

• ·        Discover which dinosaur has feathers and those with horns.
• ··        Ask: what are the dinosaurs doing?
• ·        Introduce new vocabulary: stripes, horns, forearms
• ·        Emulate dinosaur sounds as heard on the monitors.

 And if you have an older child (11 yrs +) like mine who acts like he doesn't want to be there (but secretly enjoyed it), here's some pointers to engage them:

• ·        Discuss the differences of the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous periods.
• ·        Calculate how many years prior to human existence each period ruled.
• ·        Ask: what is paleontology?
• ·        Create a Venn diagram to include 3 different dinosaurs in this exhibit.

How to Feed a Growing Brain

Ever look at a baby and wonder what she's thinking? Well there's a lot more going on in there than previously thought. According to the newest brain research, babies' brains begin crackling with activity before they're even born!

At birth, an infant's brain houses 100 billion nerve cells, or neurons. Immediately, connections -- or synapses -- between the cells form as the baby experiences her surroundings and makes attachments to caregivers. This network of neurons and synapses controls various functions, such as seeing, hearing, and moving.  By the age of three, a child's brain has about 1,000 trillion synapses -- twice as many as an adult.  But if a child's brain is not stimulated from birth, these synapses don't develop, impairing her ability to learn and grow.

[This, by the way, is the premise for my new book, Kidding Around Town. As a parent you are probably already doing these things recommended below and we commend you for that. We are encouraging you to take things one step further - take your kids out places and expose them to new things so their brain can grow more connections.  It's best to start when your children are babies, but any age is good.]

What does this mean for parents?

"Basically, the latest research confirms the importance of what many parents do instinctively, such as reading, cuddling, and talking to their children," says Angie Dorell, director of curriculum at La Petite Academy, the nation's second-largest preschool. She says these five parenting practices will help ensure a child's healthy brain development.

1. Be warm, loving, and responsive: Studies show that children who receive responsive care-giving, such as touching, rocking, talking, and smiling, cope with difficult times more easily when they are older. They are more curious, get along better with other children, and perform better in school than kids who are less securely attached.

2. Talk, read, and sing to your child: Communicating with your child gives him a solid basis for learning later. Talk and sing about daily events. Read stories in a way that encourages older babies and toddlers to participate by answering questions, pointing to what they see in a picture book, or by repeating rhymes and refrains.

3. Encourage safe exploration and play: While many of us think of learning as simply acquiring facts, children learn through playing. Blocks, art, and pretending all help children develop curiosity, confidence, language, and problem-solving skills. Let your child choose many of her own activities. If she turns away or seems uninterested, put it aside. Let her pick it up again later when she's interested.

4. Use discipline as an opportunity to teach: It is normal for children to test rules and to act impulsively at times. Parents need to set limits that help teach children, rather than punish them. For example, tell your child what behavior is acceptable and communicate positively: say, "Feet belong on the floor, please," instead of "Get off the chair!"

5. Choose quality childcare and stay involved: Research shows that high-quality childcare and early education can boost children's learning and social skills when they enter school. 

For free tips on how to choose quality care, call Child Care Aware at 800-424-2246. After choosing your provider, stay involved. Drop in unannounced, and insist on progress reports.

Courtesy of www.life.familyeducation.com

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 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at:info@aroundtownkids.com 

Art Museums for All Learning Types

Art Museums are obviously well suited for visual learners. But don't let that stop you from bringing your child, especially younger children since they learn using all learning types.

Visual kids will love seeing all the artworks. Many museums have docent lead tours or audio tours to stimulate your auditory learner.  Or be your own tour guide and read the placards or brochure to your child.

Most Art Museums won't let you touch the artworks, but if they have a kids area, generally there will be some type of touching involved whether it's various types of media kids can touch or make their own artwork.  If the Art Museum you're visiting doesn't have a kids area, bring your own materials to make your own artwork. Some museums will allow you to bring paper and colored pencils such as The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth (not crayons, markers or pens as they can be messy). If that is the case, take the opportunity to allow your child to draw what they are seeing or feeling. If the museum won't allow that or your child doesn't relate to that, bring some modeling clay. You can always use the clay outside. 

Modeling clay (Play Doh or other brands) is a multi-purpose medium.  Not only can kids use it to squish into shapes, it can also be used to make impressions. For example, if the museum has large textured potted plants outside, use the clay to make an impression of the ridges on the pot. 

The Dallas Museum of Art has a Young Learners Gallery that we love. This area has so many textures to stimulate tactile kids. Visual and kinesthetic kids will enjoy making their own artworks in this area. 

If you decide to visit a museum such as the Crow Museum, touching is not allowed, but you're in for a surprise outside. To get in that tactile experience, be sure to take your kids to the visit the gardens surrounding the Trammel Crow building where kids can touch the outdoor sculptures. 

For more learning experiences at Art Museums, stay tuned to Kidding Around Town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at: info@aroundtownkids.com

Story Time for All Learning Types

As mentioned in the last blog post, Historic Locations are great for Auditory and Visual Learners. Nature Walks are well suited to Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners. But don't let that stop you from taking your child anywhere. There's always a way to stimulate their learning type no matter where you go.

For example, take your child to story time. Auditory children will love story time since they can sit and listen. For kinesthetic children it might be more of a challenge to get them to sit still for the entire story. If they've reached their limit, let them get up and move around keeping in mind you may have to exit the area so you don't disrupt the others. Perhaps it is an interactive story time that allows the children to get up and act out certain parts of the story.

For those tactile kids, they're going to want to get their hands on something - literally. Bring your own "touch and feel" books (the kind with different textures) or other tactile items for your child to touch during story time. If you forgot to bring something, find a book with texture while you're at the library or book store.

Visual kids will respond best if the story teller holds up the book for children to see the pictures or perhaps they use some other visual display such as puppets, to keep the kids engaged.

Most libraries have story times. For a convenient list of story times in Collin County, you'll be pleased to know AroundTownKids.com provides an ongoing list: Allen Library Story Times, Frisco Library Story Times, McKinney Library Story Times, Plano Library Story Times.

One of our favorite story time locations? The Interurban Railway Museum in Plano. Professional storyteller Genie Hammel and her sidekick Rags, a cute and lovable puppet, takes children a magical train ride with her interactive story time.  Story time is every Friday at 10:30am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at: info@aroundtownkids.com

Learning Types and Outings

In my last blog post the characteristics of different learning types were outlined. It's nice to know the information, but how do you apply it to your everyday life - i.e. when the kids aren't in school?

As mentioned in the last blog post, children will exhibit all 4 learning types up until about age 10 when their true learning style becomes more obvious. Up until that time you may not be able to identify how they learn best. Solution? Expose your child to a variety of learning experiences to stimulate all learning types.

Which kinds of places stimulate which learning types?

As a general rule.....

VISUAL & AUDITORY LEARNERS - these types of learners learn by seeing and hearing. Best places to take them?

Take these types of learners to Historic Locations as these places typically involve listening to a tour guide or docent (great for Auditory Learners), reading placards or viewing historical artifacts (ideal for Visual Learners).

KINESTHETIC & TACTILE LEARNERS - these types of learners learn by touching and doing. Best places to take them?

Take these types of learners on Nature Walks so they can move and touch while you explain the outdoor world. Let these kids skip, hop, run and touch plants and nature during your outing.

Learning is certainly not limited to these types of locations. As awareness of learning styles has increased, many museums for example are geared towards all types of learning styles and have incorporated many interactive exhibits.

While you're on these outings you might make a mental note of which learning style your child exhibits most. Keep in mind the younger they are, they may not favor one type.

More on learning styles and activities in the next blog post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town" will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at: info@aroundtownkids.com

What Learning Type are You?

Ever wonder why you can tell someone something and they completely understand it? And with others you can tell them 10 times and they still don't really get it even though they are intelligent? Because it's not about intelligence.  It's about HOW you learn and process information.

It's been proven there are 4 basic learning types which you may have heard of: Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile and Visual.  Below are some general characteristics for the 4 learning types:

Auditory

• Can repeat verbal instructions
• Will not look at speaker to comprehend
• Do not do well reading instructions; rather be told
• Asks questions

Kinesthetic      

• Like to use their bodies in the learning process 
• Enjoys tasks that involve manipulating materials and objects 
• Learns through moving, doing, and touching
• May find it hard to sit still for long periods 

Tactile

• Like hands-on opportunities
• Manipulate and gestures when speaks
• May be a poor listener 
• Would rather touch than look

Visual

•  Needs eye contact to communicate
• Usually takes detailed notes to absorb the information
• Scans everything; wants to see things, enjoys visual stimulation
• Often closes their eyes to visualize or remember something

Now that you've read the list, do you know what kind of learner you are? What kind of learner are your children?  Keep in mind, parents, that children will exhibit all 4 learning types up until about age 10. By that age their propensity towards one learning style will be obvious. 

In our next blog post we'll discuss learning types and outings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town"  will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Have Ms.Cates come speak to your group about brain development and the importance of outings. Contact her at: info@aroundtownkids.com

Taking the Fear out of Cemeteries

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With Halloween coming up I thought this is a good time to discuss cemeteries and taking the fear out of them. Find the cemetery nearest you and use this as a learning opportunity. Maybe you'd like to stop by and pay your respects to a loved one.

As a kid you may have participated in the "old  wives' tale" to hold your breath around a cemetery for fear that inhaling would bring on an early death. Cemetery lore is still in use in our language today such as the expression of having the "graveyard shift" at work or claiming to be "dead tired."  Still in use today, these activities and sayings highlight interesting cultural values that can best be explored by visits to their origins: the cemetery.

While death is a "heady" subject, children are generally more comfortable with it since they do not fully understand it as we adults do.  Taking a trip to the cemetery can dispel some of a cemetery's mysteries, erase misconceptions about this human cultural activity and teach religious and secular values associated with burial practices.

Be prepared for some interesting questions about the physical process of a body's decomposition, factual discussions about some of the better documented cultural burial practices from around the world and introducing the cemetery as an outdoor art museum with its stone etchings, poetic epithets and stone marker designs.

There are many cemeteries in the area including ones associated with local churches. You might consider Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in North Texas and is rich in history. Heroes from several wars such as the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War, the war for Southern Independence and every war after are buried here.  This outing could include a history lesson as well.

Here's a few things young children can learn at a cemetery.

2 & 3 Year Olds:
*Identify numbers and letters etched in the stone markers.
*Introduce cemetery etiquette - speak softly, no running, do not sit on markers etc.

4 & 5 Year Olds:
*Talk about why the stone markers are there and what is their purpose.
*Make a rubbing of several stone markers using paper and peeled crayons.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!  Also included are featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town"  will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Making the Pumpkin Patch Educational

Now that my NEW BOOK, Kidding Around Town,  is about to launch let's get started on some fun yet educational content!

You've probably already guessed that Fall is my favorite season. I could tell you endless things I love about Fall, with one thing being Pumpkin Patches.

Most of us take our kids to the pumpkin patch because it's fun, festive and we get great photo opps. But did you know you can also take your kids to the pumpkin patch to learn?  Even your one year old can learn something at the patch. You were probably teaching your child all along and just didn't know it!

What can they learn at the pumpkin patch?

Here's what your ONE YEAR OLD can learn at the pumpkin patch:
* Children of this age are still learning about their environment. Stimulate their sensory input with a tactile exploration of the pumpkin, its stems, vines and leaves.

Here's something your 6-10 YEAR OLD can learn at the pumpkin patch:
* Use a measuring tape and record several different pumpkin sizes. When you get home plot them on graph paper and then compare your findings.

If you like what you read, this is just a sampling of the type of information you'll be able to read in my new book, Kidding Around Town. Stay tuned for launch date!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 "Kidding Around Town" is the ultimate outing guide for you and your kids to explore the DFW Metroplex. 

With a comprehensive listing of destinations, Catherine Cates provides detailed outlines on how to create educational and fun experiences for kids of every age AND their parents!.  You will also find featured destinations in each category that go into specifics related to that particular destination. 

"Kidding Around Town"  will help you create wonderfully well-rounded memories for your kids, and develop a springboard for noticing the lifetime learning that surrounds them if they have been taught to look for it!

Apples Galore!

When you grow up back east you quickly learn all the different types of apples. There’s your typical McIntosh, Delicious (red or golden variety) and Granny Smith. Then there’s some you may not have heard of:  Winesap, Fuji, Pink Lady, Gala, Rainier and more.  Some are juicier than others, some have tougher skin, some are sweeter and some are more tart.  You quickly learn your favorites. And which ones are better for baking.

Once we picked the apples and brought them home to clean them, we’d move on to eating or cooking with them. My mom had this old-fashioned looking gadget for squishing apples. It was round and had a paddle like blade that you turned round and round to squish them up. That was oftentimes my job and it could be fun to watch them get all squishy.

Once I was done squishing we’d make the applesauce.  I’d provide you a recipe but there really isn’t one. Just add water, sugar (or not) and cinnamon (or not) to taste. My sister loves cinnamon so her dose of apple sauce always looked browner than the rest of us because she sprinkled extra cinnamon on hers. I preferred my applesauce chunkier so it had some texture. Most kids tend to like theirs smooth.

I don’t recall my mom making apple cake, but maybe she did. Years later I got an apple cake recipe. Then recently my mother-in-law made an apple cake that my husband loved.  I decided to make him apple cake for his birthday. When I compared the recipes – one from a long time ago and my mother-in-law’s – they were the same!

I’ll share my tasty apple cake recipe on the next post.

Apple Picking Fun

I truly miss the seasons we had back east. It seems in Texas we have “hot and hotter.”  Not that I miss really cold temps and snow, but spring and fall are quite lovely back east.

To me there’s nothing quite like feeling that crisp chill of autumn in the air and getting to wear your sweaters for the first time of the season.   When I lived back east I had quite the collection of sweaters, mostly wool. When I moved to Texas the moths ate the wool so consequently my sweater collection became comprised of cotton.

Apples are a sign of Fall back east.  When that cool crisp air rolls in a nice hot mug of apple cider warms you up!  Since moving to Texas it seems we don’t have near as many occasions to bother with a hot mug of anything (except your morning coffee or tea).

Apples were so prevalent we’d often go to apple orchards to pick our own. I can still smell those wooden baskets emanating that earthy apple smell. While us kids were busy seeing how many apples we could stuff in a bushel my dad was busy eating apples!  It’s a known fact in our family that he loves fruit so he would eagerly volunteer to take us kids apple picking.   That freed up mom to get things done around the house without a bunch of kids around. We’d come home busting with pride as we showed our mom how many apples we picked. (And dad came home with a stomach ache!)

Then we were on to the next apple adventure – squishing them! That didn’t involve bare feet and large wooden vats like grapes.

More on apple squishing next. 

Fall is in the Air!

Fall is my favorite time of year.  Growing up on the east coast fall was a sight to behold. If you have never had the chance to take a trip back east during the fall, I highly recommend putting it on your list.

When I was younger we used to describe the smattering of leaf color as looking at a “bowl of Trix” with Trix being the kids’ fruit flavored colorful cereal. The trees light up with color in so many gorgeous shades of red, orange and yellow.  We didn’t have to go far to see the leaf color – it was everywhere as deciduous trees are so prevalent.  The same trees we climbed on and gave us shade during spring and summer were transformed during autumn into glittering gems of rubies, amber and citrine.

Our family loved nature so we’d often drive around marveling at all the beautiful leaf colors. We’d “ooh and aah” at the spectacular leaves at every twist and turn eager to point out our favorites.  My favorite was the red leaves.  I used to love to collect them all and form a “bouquet” of leaves to bring to my mom.  She’d always react with a big smile and thank me for my efforts.   Oftentimes we’d pick the best specimens and press them between wax paper as you do with wild flowers.

My brother still lives up north and is treated to a spectacular autumnal display every year. Attached is a photo he took one year that I now share with you to enjoy.

Stay tuned for more on Fall.

Did I cry?

On my son’s the first day of school I did really well hardly shedding a tear. I was more worried about him than me because I knew if he started, I’d follow.

As mentioned earlier, his preschool days helped prepare him for leaving me at kindergarten. The other thing that I’m sure helped was his teacher. She was brand spanking new, right out of college. At first I dreaded that because of her lack of experience. But once I met her I had no more concerns. 

In my opinion kindergarten is all about the teacher and how well she handles the kids. There’s always going to be some kids who have a harder time being separated from their parents, that’s just the way it goes. When you have a teacher with a sweet nature, that goes a long way towards comforting the kids. And sweet she was! I can’t say enough good things about her. She was super sweet, patient and nice.  No worries on my end at all.

2^nd day dropped him off, no tears, a nice teacher.

So what did I do that day? Did I break down in a sobbing bawling mess? I thought for sure I would but having an outing planned with my other mom friends whose little ones also started kindergarten helped!

We decided to meet at one of those “paint your own pottery” places. Some of my girlfriends I have to say are champion painters, others just really enjoy it but are still good. Me? Not so much!  I don’t think I even painted that day instead choosing to chat. I did make the lunch run when it was time to eat.

Thank goodness for girlfriends! Being around them that day really helped keep my eyes dry. They were all doing good too, especially those who had been through it before with an older child.

We’ve moved on from painting but now it’s become a tradition to meet for breakfast on the first day of school.  We secretly celebrate having our freedom back while still missing our kids.

Our First Day of School Adventure

Yippee! School is out already! That was just the first day. The district went easy on us with only a half day.  We had time to kill so why not have fun?

A friend of mine and I decided to pack up the kids and head on down to the Dallas Zoo. Living way up north in Frisco we don’t venture down to the zoo very often.  What child doesn’t like looking at the animals?

Luckily for us the weather was really nice that day, not a scorching August day like we often get. But the best part? It was virtually empty! I don’t know what all the other parents who had half days were doing, but we went to the zoo and were glad they didn’t! No offense to everyone else, it was pretty neat having the zoo pretty much to ourselves.  One disadvantage – the TRAM wasn’t running. Oh well, not a big deal. The kids got over it.

We had a great time watching the flamingos and their funny poses. Of course the kids had to mimic them bending one leg out to the side. Then off to see the penguins. They are just so cute swimming around in their tuxedos! The kids pressed their faces against the glass because that’s how you get the best view you know.

I won’t bore you with the rest of the details, but it was an awesome day! We finished it off with a carousel ride on the way out.

Next day…mom’s first full day alone. Did I cry then? Find out next time!

My son’s first day of school

I honestly can’t say I recall my first day of school so I’ll tell you about my son’s first day.

When my son started kindergarten Frisco had a unique rule of only half day of school.  Parents stayed for orientation while the little ones went off to their classroom.  Then the parents went home, only to return a few hours later for pick up.

I thought for sure I’d be “boo-hooing” all the way home. I did it! I actually did it! I left pretty intact, not much tears on my end or my son’s. Having been in preschool for several years he was used to being separated from me and enjoyed playing with the other children. What a relief! If he started bawling I would have lost it!

Knowing that he only had a half day for his first day I planned a special adventure with a friend. Can you guess where we went? Stay tuned to find out!

It's Back to School Time!

I always liked school like a lot of girls do.  Summer is the ultimate fun when you’re a kid, but it ends. So what are you gonna do? You can’t stay home and your mom wouldn’t let you even if you could. “School is good for you,” is what the grownups always say. Lucky for them I liked it, right?

The best part of going back to school is to see your friends and make new ones. Parents always say routine and structure is good for you.  Yeah, I didn’t get that as a kid but now having my own, I totally get it! I mean, what’s fun about giving up your days of sleeping late and or staying up late with nothing much to do but have fun? But, like I said, summer ends so we don’t have much of a choice. School it is.

Back when I was a kid teacher gifts weren’t what they are today. I’m not even sure if it was much of a tradition back then. Other than my very first day of school I don’t remember giving the teacher a gift. I only remember it because I’ve seen the photos. I’m sure we gave teachers gifts in other years, but I don’t recall.

On my very first day of school mom picked some fresh flowers out of her garden for me to give to my teacher. Mom had the best garden ever! She totally had a “green thumb.” It helped my dad liked to garden too so they always made sure we had a garden stocked with rich soil. Mom grew the most beautiful flowers.  Still today when I see certain flowers I think of mom’s garden. She was “the bomb” when it came to gardening!

I digress. Stay tuned for more “back to school” memories. 

What’s All the Screaming About?

Did I mention it was a “let down?”  Well, it was in some respects. I really thought they were cutting off body parts (kids’ imaginations DO run wild you know!) or pulling each other’s toenails out like my dad always threatened to do when we really got on his nerves. (Discipline was a little different back then I might add.) Heck, maybe my dad came out there and personally pulled out their toenails! There was one neighbor kid in particular I know my dad always wanted to pull out his toenails! I think one year he finally dumped him in a snow bank (and his mom knew he deserved it!), but that’s another story.

Turns out they were playing a kid’s favorite game, but in the dark. Regular tag had evolved into flashlight tag.  And there was also hide-n-seek in the dark. Ok, so it didn’t involve toenails being pulled out or body parts being cut off or some weird satanic ritual (as if kids really know about satanic rituals anyway!), but the more we played, the more fun it got.

So fun I found myself shrieking and letting out high pitched squeals, especially when someone grabbed my foot in the dark to tag me out. That was a bit spooky I have to confess. I never saw him coming! He was the sneaky one in the group (there’s always one, isn’t there?). He didn’t turn on his flashlight to tag me out. Instead he grabbed my ankle. If I didn’t have such a strong bladder (my mom always said I had the strongest bladder of all the girls) I know I would have peed my pants! Instead I think I just jumped out of my skin. I probably looked like I saw a ghost!

After I got over that initial creep out, the game got more and more fun. And the more I screamed. And then, yes, the “secrets of the universe” were revealed. Now I knew what all the screaming was about. The random lights were just their flashlights lighting up the evening sky. The big kids did a lot of what we all did during the day, but in the dark.

Being a “big kid” was pretty fun!

The Night of All Nights Has Come At Last

After a week of “technical difficulties” or rather “scheduling conflicts,” sickness and weather the gang was finally able to assemble. The night of all nights was finally here!  What would I learn? I was a “big kid” now so bring it on! Give me the goods! Tell me the secrets!

It was a “let down” of sorts.  With all the blood curdling screams (well, they sounded that way to me!) I thought maybe they were doing more than just sticking a pin in their finger to bring blood to seal a friendship. Maybe they cut off somebody’s hand or something? Or maybe an ear! Never mind that my imagination ran wild and I never noticed anybody with a missing hand or ear in the daylight! Everyone had all their limbs intact, all their 20 fingers and toes. So what was with all the screams?

It took longer than usual that night to divide up the teams because now us “newbies” had to be claimed. No one wanted the newbies. In the end we had to resort to “rock/paper/scissors” to see who got who. Apparently it was a big deal to the big kids. To us younger kids it was the excitement of a lifetime!

Now the teams were divy-ed up.  Let the fun begin! We still didn’t hear the whispers I think because they were about us this time.

And then the screams began….

“Big Kid-dom” Revealed….Almost!

Finally, I made it to the “big time!”  I graduated from “little kid-dom” to “big kid-dom!” This was going to be the BEST summer ever!  Now the mysteries of the universe would be revealed! Just what did they really do after I went to bed? What did they talk about? What secrets would I learn?  What was all the screaming about?

Just when it was the night of all nights, the night I would learn it all, it wasn’t to be. One of the “star players” was out sick. Another was called home for a family emergency and another was out for whatever reason. They started to drop like flies. In a panic I wondered, “Why can’t we go on?” Do we really need “so and so” to be here? Or the other few “so and so’s?”  This has to be! This is MY night!

Even my best friend from next door was getting excited. She didn’t get excited very easily unless it was a new doll or hair bow or something!  Don’t get me wrong, I was no tomboy and I loved dolls, but big kid-dom? Well, that was the ultimate! Maybe because she was the oldest of two, big kid-dom just didn’t quite hold the same cachet for her as it did for me.  She was usually asleep a lot earlier than me anyway. Her mom made her go to bed earlier. When I got older I realized it was because her mom was ready for her “me time,” but more on that another time. With our large brood my mom rarely got “me time” so that wasn’t a motivator for my mom.

Now we’re on hold and I have to wait a few more nights until the “mysteries of the big kid-dom universe” will be revealed!

Stay tuned....

The Summer of “Big Kid-dom”

Being the youngest in the family I couldn’t wait to grow up and do what the older kids did. I always had to go to bed earlier, just when the fun seemed to be starting! What did they do after I went to bed?

Sometimes my older sister would be nice enough to tell me. (Oftentimes she wouldn’t tell me because SHE was the older sister and she wanted to make sure I remembered that!) Sometimes if she was in a good mood and I was still awake when she came to bed she’d tell me. Sometimes I’d sneak out of bed and peer out the window. I quickly learned if you kept the lights off in your room you could see out but they couldn’t see you! Our bedroom was on the corner in the front of the house so I only had a partial view of the side yard, not really good enough to get the full scoop. But enough to tell…

I could hear their screams and sometimes be lucky enough to see a random neighbor or one of our own race down the side of our “football field” sized yard. Well, when you’re a kid it seemed like it was the size of a football field. It was long and rectangular with no trees to mess up the center field. It was the perfect field actually.  So perfect that we had the best backyard in all of the neighborhood. That’s one reason the kids always came to our yard to play.

As darkness fell the big kids all congregated in our backyard. It seemed like there were swarms of them. If I was still taking a bath I could hear them from the bathroom window. I would do my best to listen. No splashing in the tub now! This was time to eavesdrop and find out their secrets. They were forming teams. Sometimes it was “us” vs “them” (we had enough kids in our family for an entire team) or sometimes it was “boys” vs “girls” or other times, just random teams.

Once the teams were settled there was some whispering (darn it, I couldn’t hear!), then they’d all split up. What came next? I couldn’t see! I was stuck in the tub and the window was too high to see out. I had to rely on their sounds. When you’re deprived of your view, sounds become more important I quickly discovered. I got really good at listening.

Never fail it seemed like the knock would come on the door for me to move on out of the tub and on to bed just when it was getting good! The screams started and haphazard lights emerged in the sky. What were they doing??? I’d race to my room and peak out the corner window. Oops, forgot to turn the light off!  If they spotted me they’d clam up. Gotta take cover! Turn off the lights! In a few stolen moments before I had to climb into bed I’d crane my neck to figure it out.

Then finally the day came, I was old enough! I had graduated into “big kid-dom!” I could stay up late  and play with the big kids! Now the mysteries of the universe would be revealed! This would be the BEST summer ever!

The Dance of the Lightning Bugs

The lazy days of my childhood summers may be long gone, but the memories are not. In the blink of an eye, it can seem like only yesterday.

Yesterday when we got to sleep late, stay up late and wile away our days without a care in the world. Such fun memories of catching lightning bugs (or some people call them “fireflies”) in a Skippy peanut butter jar with holes poked in the lid so they could breathe. Our careless laughter echoed in the warm summer nights as we pursued lightning bugs. We frolicked and we chased, seeing who could catch the most. These tiny luminescent beings guided us through the dark summer night, a miniature beacon of light flapping their wings. 

Once we were satisfied with our catch the hunt was over. Now it was time to decide the winner. Who caught the most bugs? With the winner determined, we could lie back in the soft grass and enjoy their show. Watching them dance and light up our jars was sheer delight.  We would imagine them talking to each other as they danced for us. “What kind of dance are they doing?” we wondered.

To sustain them through the night we added grass in their jars. When it was finally time to turn in we gently placed our prized possession by our bed as our very own night light. With a few more stolen glances, their dances were our last memories before sleep overtook us and our eyes got heavy.

Upon waking our first order of business was to check on our tiny dancers. Sadly, they weren’t usually lighting up anymore come morning. But that didn’t stop us from trying again another night.

Oh, those lazy summer nights….

Stay tuned for more summer memories.

Is Your UPS Man a Hottie?

OK, ladies - don't get too excited. This isn't a "50 Shades of Gray" post! LOL

When coming home today we passed the UPS man who was busy delivering packages in our neighborhood. Seeing the truck reminded me of a UPS man I had a long time ago.

Years back, yes, in my single days, I had a very hot UPS man. I worked from home and received alot of packages at home so I saw my UPS man frequently.  He was totally a hottie & looked great in his uniform, especially the shorts! We're not talking Kevin James who worked for "IPS" in that sitcom "King of Queens." We're talking totally hot - lean, dark and handsome.

All the ladies in the neighborhood talked about him. He didn't wear a wedding ring and since I was single, that was a green light to flirt! Later I found out he was married & had several kids! He got injured on the job and had to take a desk job. Wow, two blows in one day! I'd no longer see my hot UPS man AND he was married!

Well, it was all for fun anyway and sure broke up my boring day!

Is your UPS man hot? :)

How Often do you Stare into the Refrigerator?

I wonder how many times a day people open their refrigerator. If you have kids, that number definitely goes up. Upon googling, a stat was given saying on average people open their refrigerator 22 times a day. I've never counted, but I wonder about that number. Typically when cooking it seems like it gets opened a lot. That doesn't include when you're not cooking. Think about all the times you might stare into it hoping dinner will pop out already made (wouldn't that be nice?!) or hunting for a snack or just getting some cream for your coffee. 

So then I started pondering silly refrigerator questions. (Ok, I'm a geek at heart!)  Did you know that in most homes, no appliance uses more electricity than the refrigerator, and developing the simple habit of opening the door less frequently can save you 7% on operating costs? 

Here's another fridge question. Why does the refrigerator have a light in it and the freezer doesn't? Ever think about that one?  Well, I did! The obvious answer is most people open and search in their fridge more than their freezer.  Apparently the cost of adding a light to the freezer drives up the cost of the unit so most freezers don't have a light. I stumbled on to a whole bunch more theories if you really want to read them all. 

And here's something to think about. If you leave a refrigerator open in a closed room, will it make the room cooler?  This wasn't meant to be a trick question, but turns out, it is! The answer: NO! Why?

A fridge can be though of as a "heat pump". It takes air inside the fridge and cools it by removing heat from it. This heat has to go somewhere, and is usually blown out the back of the fridge by a little fan. (If you feel the back of a fridge on the outside it will usually be warm if the unit is running). For this reason, when a fridge is running it is really warming up the room a little bit. Read the rest of the explanation. 

So next time you're browsing in your fridge, don't stand with the door open.  Not only will it waste your electricity, it won't cool down your room!  Now we both learned something.

P.S. I challenge you to count how many times a day just you open your fridge! Then add in the rest of your family.