Because Texas Children Need Outdoor Time

Can I just say one thing to the weather around here?

FINALLY!

Finally, we have seen the sun.  Mother Nature has taken pity on our Texas-sun-lovin’-souls.

There is a reason that most of us live here…

Yes, I love the DFW amenities, but one of the things I love the best about where I live is the SUN.

I might be a little irritated at it around August, but every relationship has it’s ups and downs.

Give and take.

Peaks and valleys.

On Thursday, we were going to meet friends at the library for story time.  But the sun was peaking through the clouds just a bit and I didn’t have any strength to take three boys anywhere INDOORS.

The forecast was for sunny and 72.  WHOO HOO!

So, I donned my capri pants and loaded up the minivan for the park.

Except…it really was closer to 52.

But in a secret sign of unity in the hope of spring, I wasn’t the only mom at the park in capris.

There was an army of us hanging on a thread of hope and vying for slivers of sunshine to warm our lower calves.

No matter how chilly our lower legs got, it was totally worth it.  The children ran like children who had spent the winter cooped up inside.

FINALLY.

FREE.

Here are my favorite pictures from the day – we were at Unity Park’s Kid Kastle in Highland Village:

Swinging.

Dreaming.

Flying.

So, thanks to Mother Nature three hours of park play resulted in an easy bedtime that evening and a good night’s sleep.

And to my friend who I ditched at the library, I am really sorry, but I suspect you understand…

Reading Friends Preschool/Kindergarten

I had the opportunity to visit Reading Friends Preschool and Kindergarten in the Highland Village a few weeks ago. I was excited because it is a place that I had heard about from one of my friends as having a really structured, yet creative approach to learning.

The Reading Friends program is is an academic Preschool for children ages 2 through Kindergarten which is structured and multi-sensory.  They take abstract/academic subjects and make them age-appropriate, concrete and meaningful to your young child.

And all of this is delivered in a fun, loving and nurturing environment.

Imagine visiting a jungle (aka Reading Friends Pre-Kindergarten Language Class for 4 year olds):     A different book introduces a jungle friend, and each friend represents a different letter of the alphabet.  The explorers sing along with Sis the Snake and her Jungle Band.  Mag the Monkey leads out with song and dance.  Tat the Toucan teaches about tattling.  Pal the Parrot demonstrates the importance of cleaning up after an adventure.  Every character has its own unique personality, and the kids adore them all! Language is exciting when jungle friends lead the way through learning letters and sounds.

There is great joy and learning by DOING.

Reading Friends was started here in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and has been teaching DFW kids for 21 years.  Their unique and innovative learning program has been developed and refined over the years.  The Phonics Advantage curriculum is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach of teaching phonics and language structure.

The bottom line is…it works!

The kids have fun participating in every aspect of learning.

What I loved the most about the school was the incorporation of exercise, movement and sensory activities into every activity. As a (no longer practicing) Physical Therapist, I know how exercise and movement impact brain function. As a mom of three boys, I know that energy expenditure is essential! Reading Friends keeps their students moving while learning.

Parents love the school almost as much as the kids do…

I met with Graham’s teacher today for the first Parent Conference and she had nothing but good things to say. I have to share that Graham had a green (best behavior) EVERY DAY for the 1st 6 weeks! So we’re off to a great start.  Just wanted to reiterate that I know Reading Friends gave us such a great foundation for K and beyond, and we are so grateful for that. –Kim, Parent of former Reading Friends Student

Burb Mom is excited to announce a Reading Friends coupon for our readers:

Special Offer for new families at the Moccassin Trail, Lewisville location –receive $75 off your first month’s tuition (limit one per family).

It really is something you should check out.  The school is located convenient to Flower Mound, Highland Village and Lewisville at 1439 Moccassin Trail.  You can find out more information by calling Marlo Senick, School Director at (972) 317-7772 or by filling out this form.

You will know if this is the right place for your child after exploring what Reading Friends has to offer…

On a Bounty Search

I was recently at the Highland Village Wal-Mart to pick up paper towels.

When I got to the bright and shiny aisle, I looked around.

And around.

I needed white, large rolls of Bounty in a big package for the best price.

Is that too much to ask?

Yep, there is over 20 feet of Bounty bulk paper towel packages. I felt a bit lost in the Bounty department.

Let’s find large white rolls of paper towels for the best price!

Please stop pushing your brother! You boys need to stay with me here.

Let’s find large white rolls of paper towels for the best price!

No one should be hitting any person or thing! Brothers are nice to each other.

Let’s find large white rolls of paper towels for the best price!

Stop wrestling! No one should be touching a brother.

Let’s find large white rolls of paper towels for the best price!

All boys need to behave or we will be skipping the toy aisle!

Let’s find large white rolls of paper towels for the best price!

*screech*
*stop*

OK. I am going to stop right here. I want off this crazy train.

I have two solutions for this overwhelming Bounty paper towel choice problem:

1. Bounty could make large white paper towels in big packages – if they search their line carefully, they might find they already produce such a product.

2. Wal-Mart could move a portion of the toy aisle – I suggest Transformers, Legos and toy guns – to allow frazzled moms a moment in peace to figure out which is the right product. It would give us a chance to solve the Where’s Waldo paper towel search.

Until one of my solutions are adopted, I am boycotting paper and pulling out the old fashioned, cloth…*gasp*…towel.

Chocolate Therapy

Heaven on Aisle 2

Heavenly Burb Mom Moment #1: Starbucks and wide open aisles at Target.

A few minutes after this picture was taken I checked out and headed for the Target parking lot on 2499. I had noticed a lady following me, but didn’t think anything of it until she said this:

What is your baby drinking?

What?

Ma’am, what is your baby drinking?

Oh, I get the kid’s size soy milk at Starbucks for him. Starbucks is one of the few places I can get milk for him that he can drink.

Oh! I thought he was having coffee…

Next time I am answering, “full caf, vanilla latte, soy, with a shot of Red Bull”…

Events this Week – August 9 to 15

Here are some of the really fun things we found on the Family eGuide calendar for families in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex:

When you click on the event links below they will take you to Family eGuide’s information about the event – while you are there be sure to sign up for the weekly e-newsletter and check out the other fun things on the calendar.

Week of August 9 through August 15 – Events and Activities for DFW moms, dads & kids!

Sunday – Wizard of Oz at Studio B in Highland Village – 2:30 pm

Monday – Summer Movies at Studio Movie Grill: Price of Egypt – 11:00 am

Tuesday –Free Ringling Bros. Party – Ft. Worth – 7:00 pm

Wednesday – Callie’s Kids – Feeding Nature (free kids clinics at Calloway’s) – 9:30 am

Thursday – “How to Raise A Money- Smart Child” – 6:30 pm*

*Check out Burb Mom’s take on teaching kids about money

Friday - Highland Village Balloon Festival – 5:00 pm

Saturday – The Knack Free Family Event: Summer Fun Tote Bags – 10:00 am

A Goat Dairy Farm In Flower Mound? No Whey!

We spent the morning at Latte Da Dairy…which is probably the coolest place I’ve seen in a long time!! Anne Jones and her husband were “city folk” who got tired of the rat race & set out to live a country lifestyle. Long story short, they began a goat dairy farm & have in just a few short years, won many awards on their 100% Natural, Artisanal Goat Cheese. Anne’s cheeses are even carried by Central Market…talk about dream come true for a homestead farmer!

First, with our plans to move to the farm in the next few years & have goats (although not dairy goats), this outing was of particular interest to me. Second, it’s always so inspirational to hear someone’s story of really living their dream.

You can really, really see the care that Anne’s “divas” receive. She believes that the best quality food for the Divas, most comfortable living environment, & freshest milk make her cheese so amazingly delicious. After eating about half of the chevre I took home yesterday I have to agree!

Latte Da Dairy has two breeds of dairy goat: La Mancha (genetically born without ear flaps) & Nubian. They are a larger breed of goat capable of producing about a gallon of milk each day!
Anne told us that her goats respond in many ways that dogs do. The girls know their names, they know the milking order so that when Anne calls one Diva, the next Diva knows it will be her turn soon, & she said they love to be pet! Here’s my attempt at petting a goat and taking a picture at the same time. Guess my glove tasted good!

Goats always need a “guardian” and Dozer the Llama was the Latte Da Dairy guardian. What a unique looking fellow! Some goat owners use donkeys & others choose llamas as Goat Guardians. I asked Anne’s husband why they chose a llama & I found out some very useful information for our future goat herd! If a predator entered the goat pen, a donkey would stomp the predator to death if possible & Anne was afraid that if her own dogs ever got into the pen, the donkey would kill the dogs. On the other hand, a llama will gather the goats in a corner of the pen & stand guard against the predator. Llamas are tall, spit far, & are very brave, so they are ideal guardians. That information greatly impacts our decisions in the future!

Wafflepalooza

I don’t cook much.

OK, I really don’t cook at all.

BUT I can make a mean waffle.  Waffles at our house are a major food group.  They take special priority and can occasionally be found at the dinner table.

*gasp!*

It isn’t all bad.  The boys enjoy applesauce or a fruit topping on the first one and then the syrup comes out for all to enjoy.  They really are good.

A few Christmases ago a family member gave us the fancy barnyard waffle maker.  I figure that protein is implied when the kids are eating cows and chickens.  The gift is well used.  It probably is used more than my oven.

The waffle recipe I use is originally from the Oster Belgian Waffle maker I received for my wedding 17 years ago.  I have tried a lot of other recipes, but this is by far my favorite:

LIGHT ‘N CRISP WAFFLES

2 egg yolks

2 cups milk

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup oil

2 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Preheat the waffle maker.  I separate the eggs placing the whites into a small mixing bowl and the yolks into a large mixing bowl.  I add all the other ingredients to the large mixing bowl.  I pull out my hand mixer and first whip up the eggs until fluffy.  Then mix the other ingredients with the hand mixer until they are combined.  I then fold in the egg whites with a spatula.

That is it!  Pour the batter into the waffle maker…

Mmmmmm.

Dinner? is served.*

*also works well for breakfast!

More yummy recipes can be found by visiting Rachel at A Southern Fairy Tale where she hosts Mouthwatering Monday .

When Holly isn’t trying to pass off breakfast food as dinner to her family, she is at June Cleaver Nirvana.

Dallas Zoo

Last Friday we had good intentions.  A friend and I agreed to meet at the Science Museum with our collective 5 boys for a morning of fun.

I was 1/2 the way to Dallas when my husband called and said, “Where is this museum?”

“Fair Park.”

“You CAN’T GO THERE TODAY!  It is the Cotton Bowl!”

About that time my friend called to report her husband had just called her with the same information and she was already in a traffic jam on I-30.

We had 5 anxious boys, 1 grandma and 2 very uninformed mommies!

We made a snap decision to go to the Dallas Zoo instead.  The weather was great and we already had sandwiches packed…

The boys were excited to get out of the car and run around.  The zoo was a perfect place for expending child energy.

There is an area where you can buy either worms or birdseed sticks to feed the birds for $1.  All our boys chose the birdseed sticks.  The birds were still on their “winter schedule” so eating wasn’t a high priority, but we had some fun encounters.  Several of the birds kept trying to climb into my purse or up my mom’s coat sleeves.  They were not shy and the kids loved it.

Next time I will encourage buying the worms.  Some of the birds only eat worms and they seem to be a less popular purchase among the zoo visitors.  You don’t actually touch the worms, the birds will eat them out of a small cup that is provided.

The zoo has a huge play area.  It has equipment for kids of all ages.  This spider web was my 5 y/o’s favorite:

There is also slides and tunnels and large eggs to climb into…just a bunch of fun stuff.  Surrounding the play area are several smaller learning centers and the Nature Exchange Center.

All the boys thought this was great.  You can bring in up to 5 items (you collected at home) and trade them for other nature treasures.  There is a point system assigned so it is like a nature store.  There are many things to see and touch even if you (like us) don’t have anything to trade.

This Nature Exchange Center is one of the main reasons we will be returning to the zoo this year–and next time we will be prepared with treasures to trade.

The underground learning area is really unique.  It is dark (and quiet) and has all sorts of animals that live underground.

There is also a tunnel to crawl through to fully experience underground living.

There are also lots of animals at the zoo…

Overall it was a great experience.  We were glad we had missed the craziness at Fair Park and gone to the Dallas Zoo.  It took us about 45 minutes (without traffic) to get there from Flower Mound.  We spent 4 hours, but could have easily spent another hour or two if everyone had the energy!

If you have written about your experience at the Dallas Zoo, please mention the link in the comments.

When Holly isn’t planning trips in the middle of major events, she can be found at June Cleaver Nirvana where being a mommy and blogging is not in the middle of traffic.

WTD? Flower Mound!

Last week my two older boys were in a daily morning summer camp – robotic camp at Home Educator’s Resource in Lewisville – so it was just Rhett and I on the town.

On Wednesday we were meeting some friends at Kid’s Kastle park in Highland Village so we went a little early with a large bag of old bread to feed the ducks before play commenced.

Quite honestly I was pretty proud of myself for getting us to the park early and not forgetting the bread.

Rhett started tossing the bread to the ducks.

The ducks looked in our direction.

The ducks examined our offering.

The ducks deemed it not good enough.

The ducks walked away.

Great, ducks with an attitude.

Rhett ran around trying to force-feed them for awhile much to their disgust and I ended up taking a nearly full bag of bread back to the car.

The next day after we dropped the older boys off at camp again I looked down on the minivan floor and saw the bread.  I decided we would go to a different park where the ducks might be hungrier…and more appreciative.

On the way to Rheudasil Park I was driving down 1171 – a six lane divided road which came to a complete stop.

What?

Make way for ducklings…a mother duck and two ducklings stopped traffic on both sides of 1171 to cross to the other side.

*insert modified chicken joke here*

Well, to clarify, there was a lady who risked her life to get those ducks across the street.

It was a impromptu duck parade right through the middle of Flower Mound.

So, we get to Rheudasil Park and the ducks RAN TO THE CAR TO GREET US.

Finally, some grateful ducks.

Rhett was delighted.  He tore small pieces off of pieces of bread, hot dog buns and old toast.

He threw them high.

He threw them low.

He giggled when he hit the duck beak target.

And then the duck mood changed…

What?

The ducks turned and started running AWAY from us.

The ducks were running away from us.

The ducks were running toward a lady who had come to the park with corn kernels.

And we were left holding a nearly empty bag of bread.

Ingrates.

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