New here? Then you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

While I’m away in Tulsa at the Usborne Books convention, Paul’s taking the kids to a co-worker’s party. Here’s the invite:

My wife and I host a yearly crock pot cook off and I would like to invite all of you to attend. Basically we ask people to bring something to eat or drink in a crock pot. Past entries have ranged from “crock-a-ritas,” to a seven-layer ice-cream crocks, to my personal favorite – a crock pot full of ice with about 15 1 oz. Grand Marnier (orange liqueur) shooters in it. The only rule for entering the contest is that the “vittles/drinks” must be in a crock pot.

Anyway, we start at 2 p.m. and have a lot of activities for kids. We’ll have an egg toss, water balloon fight, shoe kick, and other contests. All of the kiddies walk away with a prize. We’re also going to have a pretend “fishing hole,” and if all goes well one of those collapsible pools (3 feet deep).

Eating/judging starts promptly (and I mean that) at 4 p.m. Everyone gets to vote on their favorite dish. The winner gets to sign the “golden crock pot.”

This year we are going to have some activities for the adults. For the people who want to bring their riding lawn mower to the party, we are going to have some tractor races at 6 p.m. I’m also trying to talk the wife into playing that oldie but goody: Hit the other guy in the head with lawn darts. Maybe even a surprise Elvis appearance. . . .

Remind me why I’m going to Tulsa again? (Oh yeah, to learn about books and educational activities…ho hum, nah, it’s going to be GREAT!) I’ll prepare our family’s crock pot entry before I leave.

Continue Reading »

I’m off at the Usborne Books convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma and hope to share some new books and great ideas when I get back.

But while I’m away, how about entering Sun and Candle’s Field Day, a showcase of posts about and pictures of nature? (Thanks to Melissa at The Lilting House for the info.)

Dawn’s purpose behind her “blog carnival of nature study” is to get families to enjoy the outdoors together. With so many kids shut inside with video games and computers, it’s a great idea! Let’s all get out of the house (don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray, though).

There’s an interesting book on this subject - Last Child in the Woods : Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. From the Scientific American review:

What Louv adds is a focus on the restorative qualities of nature for children. He recommends that we reacquaint our children and ourselves with nature through hiking, fishing, bird-watching and disorganized, creative play. By doing so, he argues, we may lessen the frequency and severity of emotional and mental ailments and come to recognize the importance of preserving nature.

It’s an interesting idea, so I’ve requested the book from my library for a more in depth look. Here are some other books that may interest you on the “nature-child reunion”:

• Sharing Nature With Children and Sharing Nature With Children II by Joseph Bharat Cornell - nature activities (also called environmental education) for parents, teachers, scout leaders, and any one else who works with children. These activities and stories will engage children in the study and appreciation of the natural world.
• Hands-On Nature: Information and Activities for Exploring the Environment With Children by Jenepher Lingelbach (recommended by the American Camping Association for anyone involved in teaching environmental education in a camp setting)
• The Kids’ Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities and Experiences by Susan Milord - the books presents a daily project or activity and a weekly theme. Some activities take place at  home like reading a story or poem that goes along with the week’s activities. Other projects  require visits to the outdoor, from your backyard to parks and beaches.
• Usborne has some terrific nature books, too:
  • Pocket Nature - For ages 5 and up, this pocket-sized guide explores the amazing natural world, from the tiny parts of a flower to mysterious deep-sea creatures. The clear, concise text and detailed illustrations reveal the fascinating lives of animals and plants in a simple, attractive way. This book also contains descriptions of Usborne-recommended Web sites that you can visit to find out more.
  • Living World Encyclopedia - For ages 8-12 - To emphasize how living things interact with each other and their ever-changing natural world, this informative first reference book is arranged by environments and habitats. Every page is packed with wonderful full-color illustrations and fascinating information about plants and animals and the way they live. In addition, useful charts, a glossary of scientific terms and an extensive index make this a valuable resource for school projects and homework.
  • Mysteries and Marvels of Nature - For ages 8-12 - What sixth sense turns a shark into a deadly hunter? Why doe snow sometimes turn red? Where does a penguin keep it’s egg? And how does a lizard keep it’s cool in the desert? Unlock these secrets, and many more, inside this book. From the miniature to the massive, and from the mysterious to the ridiculous – find out how living things from the plant and animal kingdoms cope with every day life. Stunning photographs and illustrations reveal a hidden world, in which the plants and creatures with the most ingenious design feature succeed. Throughout this book, there are recommended websites where you can find out more about the mysteries and marvels of nature.

The Baby Shower Guide is having another baby shower cake contest. You can read the contest rules here. Entry is FREE and the grand prize is a $50 Visa gift card.

I entered last year’s contest (Baby Shower Cupcakes and Hey Baby). I didn’t win but it was as fun to write about the circumstances behind the cakes as making them.

If you have an older son or daughter who loves to bake, or is thinking about becoming a chef, take a Wilton cake decorating course with them. (Yes, boys take these classes, too. In one of my classes a teenage boy was the best decorator in the class. Nothing like having good hand strength to squeeze those piping bags!) I also met a teenage girl whose mother enrolled her to see if she was really serious about enrolling in chef school. (She was and did well in the course.)

I took my Wilton class through a local recreation district. However, Wilton courses are available through Michaels and Hobby Lobby craft stores. Some 4-H programs offer them, too. You can also take Master classes directly at Wilton in Darien, Illinois.

Cake decorating classes - or any cooking classes - are a delicious way to bond with your children.

Continue Reading »

What do Tiger Woods, James Earl Jones, Winston Churchill, and Marilyn Monroe have in common? They’re all famous people who stutter.

Over 3 million Americans stutter including my son, Nathan. (My dad stuttered, too.) He had an episode of stuttering back in preschool. Then it reoccurred last fall and Nathan’s been struggling with his speech ever since. Luckily he hasn’t suffered academically or emotionally. He’s a pretty popular guy at school and none of his classmates have teased him about it either. But who knows what’ll happen next year in first grade?

So after a spring semester of group therapy at school - and no improvement - we’ve decided to tackle it head on and get Nathan individual therapy with a speech pathologist who specializes in stuttering. Mary Wallace is very well known and respected, and I’m thrilled that Nathan’s seeing her this summer. Nathan’s enjoying working with her, too, mostly because he’s learning “Easy Talk” while playing lots and lots of games. (Nathan’s a sucker for board and card games.)

So what can you do if your child stutters? First check out the Stuttering Foundation’s website. There’s everything from facts on stuttering to how to bill your health insurance. There’s also advice for parents on everything from requesting speech therapy through school to tips on how to help your child.

(Please feel free to email me at readablefeast@gmail.com if you need info on Early Invention or Special Ed services. I’m no expert, just a mom whose two preemies received services. I hope I can at least point you in the right direction so you can start getting your child the help he or she needs.)

While you’re waiting for evaluations and services, the best thing you can do for any child who’s “different” is to show that you love them the way they are. One way to do this is through books. The Stuttering Foundation has a terrific online store with everything from videos and DVDs to fridge magnets and motivational stickers. They sell Sometimes I Just Stutter, a book written for children who stutter. The book addresses about what makes someone stutter, what other people should know about stuttering, and how to cope with teasing.

Another book is Ben Has Something to Say: A Story About Stuttering by Laurie Lears for ages 4-8. It’s a beautifully illustrated story of a boy who doesn’t talk because he stutters, and how he gains enough courage to speak out loud. Since stuttering mainly affects boys, they’ll surely relate to Ben.

For girls, though boys will enjoy it too, there’s Mary Marony and the Snake by Suzy Kline. Also for ages 4-8, the author shows how helpful parents, teachers, and therapists can be. The book also addresses fears about starting at a new school and dealing with classmates who tease.

Continue Reading »

Yesterday we went to the Denver Zoo. (Hooray for family memberships!) In preparation we read two gorgeous books from Sylvan Dell Publishing:

• The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights - a tale of a giraffe who’s scared of heights and two of his animal friends who have their own fears to overcome
• Tudley Didn’t Know - the story of a painted turtle who adopts other animals behaviors

(By the way, there are some terrific zoo book suggestions at The Library Lady Rants.)

When we arrived, we planned our visit so we could see the animals we read about in The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights. I had hoped to write about my children’s excitement at seeing some of the animals we had read about like, the hippos, giraffes, and moneys (no Vervet Monkeys at the Denver Zoo though).

Nathan and Lucie enjoyed seeing the animals, but I had to force the connection between the book and the visit. Then there was the meltdown about not riding the train and carousel. And the preoccupation with bathroom anatomy and production - “Elephants don’t poop in the potty, they poop on the ground,” observed Lucie.

It could have been worse. Thank goodness they didn’t pick up on the sexual antics going on in the black crested macaque exhibit. (My husband thought the X-rated story I told him was hilarious. Now he keeps hinting that we should “go upstairs and pretend we’re macaques.” Great.)

I was disappointed that things didn’t work out as planned and my kids weren’t as fired up as I had wished. Yet, it was a wonderful visit and I did get this amazing Narnia-like picture of Lucie and the lion.

(It’s her reflection in the plexiglass, but the lion was only a foot away.)

Then the real adventure began…

Continue Reading »