Celebrate St. Patty’s Day.
Plan to attend one of many local events, such as the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade or Martin City’s Irishpalooza. Read our guide to St. Patrick's Day in KC for more! Your kiddos can also celebrate at home by creating this cute shamrock stamp:
Materials:
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter
- Potato, cut in half
- Paring knife
- Green acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
How To:
- Press the cookie cutter into the cut face of a potato half.
- Adult: With the cutter still in place, use the knife to cut the potato from around the heart.
- Remove the cutter, then dip the potato heart into the green paint and press it onto paper placemats, a tablecloth or a homemade card to make a shamrock leaf. Repeat to make two more leaves and use a paintbrush to make the stem.
Visit the Titanic exhibit.
Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ill-fated ship, Union Station will host “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” from March 10 through Sept. 9. More than 300 artifacts retrieved from the ship’s debris field will be on display, plus historically accurate room recreations and an “iceberg” that visitors can touch. Go to www.Titanic.UnionStation.org for details and to purchase tickets.
Fly a kite.
What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than to take your family to a local park and fly kites together? If you have never flown a kite, or if you would like suggestions on the best places around Kansas City to fly one, www.KCKiteClub.org has some great tips. Read our feature story to find the Best Kite Flying Parks in town!
Take a road trip.
Plan a spring break getaway with your family to a nearby city that offers plenty of entertainment and won’t break your budget. Branson, St. Louis, Omaha and the Amana Colonies in Iowa are fun vacation destinations within a few hours of Kansas City. For more information, read "5 Trips 5 Hours (or Less) from KC."
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
March 2 is the author’s birthday, and many local libraries, schools and community centers host fun celebrations. However, why not celebrate all month long? Have your children select favorite Seuss books from the library and introduce them to some lesser-known titles that may quickly become new favorites. Kids will have fun creating their own hats like the Cat in the Hat wears. Give them some paper and markers and watch their creativity sprout. Discover many great ways to celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with our collection of ideas!
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax hits theaters on March 2nd!
Stock up on freezer meals.
March is Frozen Food Month and a great time to prepare and freeze a few meals for your family. A quick online search will turn up loads of tasty recipes. Here is one I keep in the freezer for harried mornings:
Breakfast Burritos
- 12 cooked bacon strips or sausage links, diced
- 12 eggs, scrambled with salt and pepper
- 1 ½ c. shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ c. diced veggies (green peppers, onions, tomatoes)
- 10 flour tortillas
How To:
Spoon ¼ c. of eggs down the center of each tortilla; sprinkle with cheese, veggies and bacon or sausage. Wrap each burrito in aluminum foil and place in freezer baggies. Freeze for up to 1 month.
To use frozen burritos: Remove foil. Cover with waxed paper and place on microwave-safe plate. Microwave at 60 percent power for 1 ½ - 2 min.
Dust off the bikes.
We all know how unpredictable March weather can be, but often there are at least a few unseasonably warm days. Take advantage of these days to give the family bikes a once-over, making sure the brakes work and the tires have air. Then take off with your family around the neighborhood or on a favorite trail. After a long winter, your body will thank you for the fresh air and exercise!
Enjoy National Potato Chip Day
Did you know potato chips were invented in 1853? Celebrate on March 14 by grabbing a bag of your favorite chips. If you have a green thumb, March is a great time to plant some spuds and make your own chips when the crop is ready.
Go green
Think of spring as a time to recharge your green routine. Make a commitment to buy local foods when you can, encourage all family members to get on board with recycling efforts, carpool, plant a garden…every little thing helps our environment and our future.
Tisha Foley lives in Belton with her husband and two kids. They are eager to visit the Titanic exhibit at Union Station.