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April by the Numbers

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  • 15 – Date in  1889 when KC artist Thomas Hart Benton was born. You may tour his home at 3616 Belleview.

  • 3.7 – Average inches of rain produced by April showers in Kansas City annually.

  • 13 – Date for Scrabble Day, a day set aside to play the game enjoyed by families since 1938. 

  • 22 – A full moon should be 100 percent visible in this date’s night sky.

  • 4 – On this date in 1887, Susanna Medora Salter was the first woman to be elected mayor in the United States, governing the Kansas town of Argonia. 

  • 6 – On this date In 1930, the Twinkie entered production and quickly became one of America’s favorite treats.

  • 1,500 – The average number of PB&J sandwiches eaten by an American child before he graduates high school. April 2 is National PB&J Day.

  • 18th & Vine – Location of the American Jazz Museum, where you can celebrate Jazz Month with interactive exhibits and music in the Blue Room.

  • 100,000 – How many gallons of salt water provide a home for the penguins at Kansas City Zoo’s Helzberg Penguin Plaza. April 25 is World Penguin Day.

 

Celebrate the Sweet Things in Life

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Day-to-day life is filled with one activity after another, from work meetings and school functions to play dates and sporting events. Schedules are busy, to-do lists are long and life starts flying by all too quickly.

There are moments when it’s time to block out all the distractions, slow things down and enjoy the sweet, simple occurrences of everyday life. Even for just a little while.

“There are countless moments in life worth celebrating—from big events like birthdays to small successes, such as an A-plus report card,” says Courtney Erickson, associate marketing manager for shopper marketing at Rich Products Corporation. “Enjoying those ‘everyday’ moments is what makes life extra sweet.”

Try these celebration tips to help create lasting memories:

Keep it simple. A celebration of a certain occasion doesn’t have to be an elaborate party. Something special, but ordinary—like a movie night or extra hour of playtime outside—can make for some of the best memories.

Serve up sweet treats. Nothing says “congratulations,” “good job” or “happy birthday” like a delicious dessert. A tasty (and adorable) option is the Peanuts Everyday Ice Cream Cake. The cake is a fun ode to the iconic comic strip that ignites nostalgia among adults and excites young children. The rich chocolate ice cream is layered with vanilla crunchies and topped with creamy icing—a triple threat of ingredients that will serve up sweetness in every bite. Plus, young and old alike can’t help but smile at the familiar scene depicted on top: Snoopy as the famous World War I Flying Ace wearing his iconic red scarf and aviator’s hat and perched atop his doghouse, with his pal Woodstock at his side.

Together is better. It’s whom you’re with, not what you do, that makes celebrating extra special. Everyday moments are made sweeter thanks to those you enjoy them with.

The Peanuts Everyday Ice Cream Cake can be found in freezer aisles and in-store bakery freezer cases across the country. To find a store near you, visit ILoveIceCreamCakes.com.

For the Love of the Game

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Spring titles show us how to find the joy in everything we do.  

    The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton

By Audrey Vernick

Illustrated by Steven Salerno

Best for: Ages 4-7 

    Can you imagine a 10-year-old playing professional baseball? What if that kid were a girl? Edith Houghton did just that in the 1920s. At 10 years old, Edith not only made the roster for the Philadelphia Bobbies, she was the starting shortstop. This all-girls team comprised mostly older teens and 20-something women. At 13 years old, Edith traveled with the Bobbies to Japan where they played against male teams, “winning more than they lost.” 

While most of the story is told from a third person perspective, quotes from Edith sprinkle the text. This touch gives the book a truly authentic voice that expresses Edith’s love and excitement of the game better than any biographer could.

What’s good: Historical information and photos included after the story make the accomplishment much more real for young readers. 

What’s bad: Would like to have seen some game scenarios included in the story.

    Mouse Scouts

By Sarah Dillard

Best for: Ages 7-10    

    In this new series from Dillard, Violet and Tigerlilly begin their journey as Acorn Scouts. In the first book they join other Scouts in learning the Acorn salute, Acorn pledge and begin their first badge for gardening. Whether they are gathering seeds or fighting off pests, they learn that determination and hard work are essential to creating a thriving garden and fulfilling the Scout’s mission. Pencil illustrations draw you into the emotion of the scene, while excerpts from the Scout handbook offer humor and keep the story moving along. Fans of Junie B. Jones will enjoy this new series and look forward to reading about each badge. 

What’s good: Good strong characters and humor are well suited for new readers.

What’s bad: The vocabulary sometimes gets a little advanced for new readers.

    Duck & Goose: Let’s Dance

By Tad Hills

Song by Lauren Savage and Ron Gruet

Best for: Ages 3-7 

    Duck and Goose are back in this wonderfully fun board book. Get your young ones up and dancing along with Duck and Goose as they jump, waggle their tail feathers and shake their bodies. It’s easy to let go of your inhibitions as you help your children learn to sing and dance. Tad Hills uses simple, bright colors and an economy of lines to create a wealth of emotions. Small children will fall in love with Duck and Goose. In this special book you also can learn the lyrics of the Duck and Goose song and download a free copy at DuckAndGooseSong.com. It’s a great addition for any nursery or toddler’s collection.

What’s good: Highly engaging text encourages children to interact with Duck and Goose.

What’s bad: Although Duck and Goose are exhausted at the end, your children will likely be. 

Dyed Pasta Mobile

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Dyeing pasta is such a fun and virtually mess-free activity. Experiment with mixing different colors of food coloring and shapes of pasta. There are endless ways to play and create with dyed pasta, but making a hanging mobile is a fun and unique way to display these dyed creations! Hang the finished works of art in a child’s room or outside to enjoy!

Materials Needed:

  • Pasta

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • Food coloring

  • Embroidery hoop

  • Yarn

  • Waxed paper

Step One: Put the pasta in a plastic baggie and add about a tablespoon of alcohol. Shake the bag until all of the pasta is coated.

Step Two: Add in a few drops of food coloring and shake again until the pasta is dyed. Lay the dyed pasta out on a piece of waxed paper to dry.

Step Three: Once the pasta is fully dry, string it onto yarn and tie the pasta strings onto an embroidery hoop. Tie yarn to the top of the hoop to hang. 

Megan Kapple is a blogger from Kansas City, MO, where she lives with her husband and three young daughters. She loves anything DIY and crafty and blogs about her adventures at HomemadeGinger.com.

Surviving a Mom Sick Day

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We do what we can to avoid it, but at some point, the inevitable will happen. Mom will get sick. Enjoying a quiet, restful day in bed is not an option for most mothers. What’s a mom to do? Here are some tips to help you survive a “mom sick day”:

Call in the reinforcements

In some cases, the working parent may be able to stay home and help with the kids, but often this is not a feasible option. “Don’t be too proud to call in reinforcements if necessary!” says Olathe mom Becky Baldridge. Ask friends and family to take the kids to school or help cook dinner. Most friends are willing to help, especially if you offer to return the favor in the future.

Simplify meals

For a sick mommy, feeding her family can be a huge challenge. Keep it simple by ordering take out, raiding the freezer or letting the kids eat cereal for dinner. “I’ve had my husband order, pay for and have pizza delivered from work, because when I’m sick, preparing meals is impossible,” says Rodganna Avery, mom of three. 

Let go of “normal”

Many families limit the amount of screen time their children are allowed each day, but when Mom is sick, it’s okay to relax the rules. “I let them watch TV all day and I lie on the couch and sleep. I feel better the next day because I get rest,” says Olathe mom LouAnn Cunningham. Allowing extra TV or video game time helps to entertain the kids so Mom can rest. Mother of six Chrissy Roussel says, “When you are sick, just focus on making sure they’re fed and changed. Let go of the ‘normal’ parenting rules for a few days.” It won’t hurt the kids to have one or two days of extra screen time, and they will probably enjoy it as well.

Utilize more entertainment

What do you do when TV time gets old? Build a fort, get out craft supplies or play with blocks. “I have a secret stash of toys that I only bring out when I’m sick,” says Jessi Cole, mom of three. “Since they are rarely out, my kids think it’s a huge treat.” Try having the kids read a book aloud or put on a puppet show for you while you rest. When Mom is sick, anything goes. The goal is to keep the kids entertained but as quiet as possible throughout the day.

Plan ahead

The last tip is one you can do in advance. Before you get the first hint of a runny nose or sore throat, prepare for when you do. Set some special toys and movies aside for your sick day, keep easy-to-prepare snacks and freezer meals on hand and teach your kids to prepare simple meals like sandwiches or cereal so they can help themselves when needed.

As moms, we do so much for our families, and when we aren’t feeling well, a smoothly run household can spiral out of control fast. It’s okay to let the house go and rely on others for a few days. If Mom has time to rest, she should be back to her old self in no time.

Sarah Lyons lives in Olathe with her family. 

Lessons Learned at Camp

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With summer just around the corner, many families in the metro are in the process of choosing a summer camp. Camp can be an exciting and rewarding part of childhood that builds lifelong skills and memories. “I still have great memories of my time at dance camp,” Rachel Hawks, Olathe mom, says. “I am excited for my daughter to start that same journey.”

If you or your child has never had a camp experience, there are a lot of reasons to give it a try. Metro parents weigh in on what they think is the best part of summer camp:

Kids are active. When they spend time at camp, children are on the go. While many camps provide both structured activities and free-play time, children are engaged and moving for the majority of the day. “At camp, I know my kids are getting some great exercise, spending their days engaged with friends and activities. I don’t worry about them spending hours and hours in front of the TV or on the iPad,” says Susan Hein, Kansas City, KS, mom.

Learning helps children develop confidence. No matter what type of camp children attend, there are new things to learn every day. Children are exposed to new people and ideas and take on responsibilities they don’t necessarily own at home. “At home, I make sure my kids do their nightly routines of teeth brushing and face washing. At camp, my son had to do it himself and he was so proud,” Terri Haugh, Liberty mom, says. “It seemed like he grew up a bit while he was there, and it was only a week!” 

Building friendships is a bonus. Children who camp together spend a lot of time together. “I remember my days at camp. You wake up with the same people, spend the day together, go to bed at the same time. You really get to know people,” says Bethany Michaels, Kansas City, KS, mom. At camp, kids have the opportunity to meet people outside of their school and neighborhood friends and get to know children their age who have common interests. “I love cheer camp! My friends at school aren’t as into cheer, so it is great in the summer to get to spend time with other girls who like to cheer,” says 11-year-old Allie Davis, Olathe camper. 

Kids gain social skills and independence. Camp can be a great way to encourage children to come out of their shells. It gives them some independence in a safe and nurturing environment and allows them to grow and meet new people. “I think spending time with kids who have common interests made my daughter feel safe, and that allowed her to be more outgoing than she is at school. She has a bunch of camp friends she looks forward to seeing each summer,” says Jessica Scott, Overland Park mom.

Camp breaks their routine. Summer days can be long for the entire family when each day looks the same as the last. Camp is one way to break up the routine and give kids a chance to explore a new environment. “My kids look forward to their week at camp all summer. It is great to have a break from school, but the days do get long without as many activities,” Macy Williams, Shawnee mom, says. “It is nice for them to have free playtime and then also break it up a bit with the fun and education they get at camp.” 

Camp Resources

Is your family interested in exploring camp options for your children?

  • The American Camp Association serves more than 5 million campers nationwide. To learn more about this organization, their resources and their registered camps, visit ACACamps.org.

  • Another place to find resources and options for camp is KidsCamp.com. 

  • When you start exploring camp options for your child, first understand your child’s interests. There are camps that focus on academics, such as engineering and mathematics, athletic camps and skill-building camps. Talk to your child about what the best options are for your family.

  • Is your child not yet ready for sleep-away camp? Not a problem! Kansas City has a wealth of day camps and camps that offer a few hours of recreation. 

    Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer and mother of two living in Overland Park.

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