The Nerds saw this and although they did not want to remove technology from Google Earth, decided to gift the cheerful citizens with interactive face-to-face play once again. Going back to their roots of hero feats, battle strategy and role playing, they created a realm of board games sure to bring eye contact and non-abbreviated conversations back to the dinner table. This created a faction within the Nerd classes. New Wave Nerds prefer technology where they can instantly +1 their friends or do status updates in all they do each day; but the Geeks remembered Friday nights with pizza and board games and cherished the laughter and original human interfacing….with no technology whatsoever.

If you are a Geek (or perhaps a closet Geek, don’t worry we won’t reveal your secret to your savvy Nerd friends), be sure to check out this website for Board Game Geeks. Many games featured come with familiar hardware like dice, cards you hold in your hand or flip over (also called card drafting in Geek Speak); and boards with pieces that move as the game progresses…and moved by your own gross motor movement, too! You can join blogs, create an account posting the Geekiest games you own sharing your own reviews and even search for a new and exciting game sure to please the whole family.

Stay tuned for the next episode where the Geeks go the battle and declare victory over many new board games that have emerged from the Austrian Board Game Academy.

-posted by Miss Jesikah, who is an old school fantasy Nerd and has always stayed true to her inner-Geek. She still does not have a phone that has apps! Imagine that

Image: Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

On such moment was the neighborhood kids club my daughter decided to host. She was around 8 years old at the time.  We often had families with younger children visit, and she had an interest in these little ones.  Her girlfriend who lived next-door was also, and one day they hatched the neighborhood kids club idea.

They created elaborate plans which they excitedly showed me. A permission slip was designed. Lists of games prepared. A detailed schedule constructed, including when the children would take a potty break and have a nap. The 5 children invited ranged from 2 to 4 years old.

We chose a date, and the girls called each of the parents.  The children were thrilled to have been invited to “Katie’s house.”  The mothers’ reaction was much the same. And so the plans were set.

The girls worked hard to get everything ready. They refined their lists. Got out the age-appropriate toys.  They enthusiastically shopped for snacks and juice boxes at the store. They could hardly wait.

The moms and kids arrived and signed in their children.  Smiles were on all faces as these young girls took charge of these delighted little ones. Much to my surprise, most of the moms actually left, which tells you how desperate mothers can be for time away!

For the next hour and a half, the budding teachers cared for their little charges.  They played Ring around the Rosie, and toss the balloon.  They had a snack and played outside. They read a story. They also chased around little boys who wouldn’t sit in a circle, or play a game, or do anything they were told to do. They learned that sometimes the schedule doesn’t work and that kids do what they want to do and you can’t make them do what YOU want them to.

At the end of the club, the mom’s picked up their children, who got hugs and kisses before they reluctantly left. The teachers were not so reluctant to see them go. They were exhausted!

“Mom, that wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be,” said my tired daughter.

“Well, let’s talk about that,” I responded.  “What did you learn?”

A lot, we concluded. Little kids don’t sit in circles very well.  They like to play outside the best.  Some kids don’t like to color.  Snack time was a success.

“I think stations for coloring and snack would be a good idea for next time,” she concluded. “And we’ll play more games outside too.”

And they did. The next club was better than the first.  But she was still pretty tired at the end. Reality.

I’d recommend encouraging your interested kids to host a neighborhood kids club.  It was a great experience for my daughter and didn’t take much planning or extra work for me.  We had all the resources at home. The kids made the entire plan.  I played a supporting role and enjoyed it.

I’m not sure if my daughter is destined to be a teacher or not, but I know that she learned  a lot, not only about kids, but about having an idea and seeing it come to life, imperfections and all. And isn’t that what life is about.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who sees how having older children interact with younger children is a win for everyone.

Today, party mix can no longer be called “Nuts and Bolts.”  It has evolved way beyond that nickname.  I counted 75 versions of party mix on the Chex website!  From sickly sweet to super savory, there is something for every set of taste buds.  In the sweet category, these sparked my curiosity:   Bananas Foster Crunch, Ginger Honey, Hot-Buttered Yum, and Chai Crunch.  Interesting savory selections included: Cajun Kick, Moroccan Crunch, Chili & Lime, and Backyard BBQ.

As a child, when we made party mix in the oven it was an hour long process.  I always hung around and “helped” so I could snack. With the microwave, 15 minutes is all you need to concoct a batch. Little hands can help with measuring, pouring and stirring.  This makes a good activity for a wintery day or night with a delicious result. 

This week, each of my children chose a Chex mix recipe for me to share with you. Katie, 10, picked the good ol’ traditional.  David, 13, chose one called “Deviled.”  For these recipes, go to www.Chex.com.  For nostalgia sake, I called my mother and got her recipe for the original “Nuts and Bolts” from her dog-eared Betty Crocker Cookbook.  Enjoy!

Nuts and Bolts—Betty Crocker Cookbook, 1971

4 c. cheerios
1 ½ c. mixed nuts
1 ½ c. seasoned croutons
1 c. pretzels
½ c. salad oil
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. garlic salt
1 t. seasoning salt

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.  Measure cereal into a large roasting pan. Mix spices with salad oil and pour over cereal, mix well.  Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who has a tradition of taking party mix on airplanes for snacking with the complementary drinks.  Yum.

Children’s artwork is often refreshing in its simplicity and innocence.  It doesn’t have to follow any rules to be special. From the modern art look of toddlers, to the stick figures of 4 year olds, so the lollipop trees of kindergarteners, the pieces created by children is treasured because of the relationship, not because of the look, although many of us love it whether we know the particular child or not.

I chose to decorate my kitchen with my children’s art.  I bought inexpensive Lucite box frames, which allowed me to easily slip a picture in the front of the cardboard, and then change the pictures at will. The kids glowed with pride seeing their framed pictures.  I hung 6 frames in my white-walled kitchen. The bright colors stood out and created an eye-catching whimsical look that gave me energy whenever I was in there.

These frames plus one or more selections of a child’s artwork make a perfect gift for grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles etc.   The frames come in many sizes and cost less than $10 and can be found at most drug and grocery stores than have a frame section. The artwork, of course, is free!

Other repositories for children’s art are easy to make–online calendars, mugs, mouse pads etc. You can buy thermal coffee cups which allow you to slip any artwork in a decoration around the cup. Another popular holiday option is the homemade garden stone or hand print.  Children design their own stone with their name or a theme. Most craft stores carry many inexpensive varieties of these keepsakes.

I enjoyed using my children’s art for gift wrap. At Christmas time, I would cover the table with the end roll of newsprint I’d gotten from the newspaper office. I gave the kids red and green markers, crayons and Christmas stickers and let them scribble and draw. After we finished the background, we’d put Christmas stickers all over it. For another year, I did another variation on the gift wrap theme: old-fashioned potato prints.  I cut simple designs in the potatoes, like a tree or a star, and let them dip them in red and green paint.  I used special ribbon to complement the children’s unique wrapping paper and to achieve a finished look.  Rustic twine worked well when I used brown paper one year. Real cloth ribbon makes any package look spectacular.

Win-win is how I describe using children’s art at Christmas time. We need meaningful gifts to give.  Children need to have fun and feel special.  All this is accomplished with little cost and great memory-making when we recognize the lasting value of what is right under our noses at home. Children’s art—which is available up to the last minute too, with no shipping charge!

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who is confident that gifts of children’s artwork makes just about anybody’s Christmas day more special.

Those fun bilibos that we like to spin in during gathering time!

Melissa and Doug make wonderful wooden puzzles, toys and more.  We have some at the studio, but here is a link to the pattern blocks that some of you were asking about:

These Interstar builders are so fun and the kiddos use their imagination to come up with some amazing things!

And here are some terrific recipes to make at home with your child!

Puffy Paint
1 part white glue
1 part shaving cream
glitter or food coloring
squeeze bottles

Directions: Mix equal parts of the shaving cream and glue in a bowl.  Now you can add food coloring or glitter.  The surprising texture after it has dried is fun, too.

Bubble Bath Finger Paints
2 cups flour
water
1 teaspoon salt
food coloring
bubble bath (not the foamy type)

Directions: Mix water with the flour until you get a paste. Add food coloring and bubble bath until you get the thickness you like. This works well in the bath tub. They can paint themselves or the walls and it washes right off. It may turn the water the color of the food coloring but it won’t stain the child.  If you want to make different colors, try putting them in a muffin tin!

Bubbles
1 cup water
1/3 cup dish soap (Joy, Sunlight, etc.)
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup

Combine ingredients and enjoy. Try using different objects from your utensil drawer as a bubble wand.

Different Bubble Blowing Tools
Use a plastic straw, or make lots of little bubbles by wrapping colored masking tape around five or six plastic straws.
Berry baskets
fly-swatters
Plastic rings from soda six-packs
Wands made from pipe cleaners

Flubber!
In a large container combine:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 cups white glue
Food coloring

In second, smaller container, combine:
1 1/3 cups warm water
3 tsp. Borax

* Mix ingredients in each container thoroughly.
* Pour contents of smaller container in to large container.
* Gently lift and turn mixture until only about a tablespoon of liquid is left. FLUBBER will be sticky for a moment or two. Let excess liquid drip off then FLUBBER will be ready!
STRETCH IT! BOUNCE IT! ROLL IT!

Store in an airtight container for about three weeks of use!

Silly Putty
Need:
1 part Sta Flo Liquid Starch
1 part Elmer’s White Glue*
Food coloring (optional)

Mix glue and starch together until it feels like a putty. If desired, add food coloring and mix thoroughly. When not in use, Silly Putty may be stored in an airtight container.

*Important Note: Be sure to use Elmer’s White Glue, NOT Elmer’s “Washable” or “School Glue.”

Edible Peanut Butter Playdough
Need: 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup honey, 1 cup powdered milk
Knead until smooth.

Slime
Need: Corn starch, Water, Food coloring (optional)
Put cornstarch in bowl. Add enough water to make a paste. If desired, you may also add food coloring. This makes a messy slime that goes from liquid to solid.

-posted by Miss Beth, who would like more sparkles for Christmas. (Though those of us who know and love her can’t imagine she could get even more sparkly than she already is!)

The celebration of Advent dates back to the 4^th century.  Converts to Christianity observed Advent as a season of preparation for baptism. In the Middle Ages, Advent was a time to look forward to the 2^nd coming of Christ.  The traditional observance of Advent still celebrated today involves the anticipation of the nativity.  By lighting a candle on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas day, Christians prepare to celebrate his birth on Christmas day. While many people still celebrate the religious aspects of Advent, the use of Advent calendars has become part of the secular observance of Christmas too.

The earliest Advent calendars probably originated in Germany. German Lutherans in the 19^th century would draw chalk lines on their doors to help children count down the days until Christmas. Lighting 24 candles was another common practice.

The first handmade Advent calendars began in Hamburg, Germany. Soon, a printer in Munich named Gerhard Lang created the standard Advent calendar still recognizable today.  He glued 24 little colored pictures to cardboard and then attached another piece of cardboard with 24 matching doors on top. His company, Reichheld Lang Printing Co. marketed 30 designs. In 1930, they were forced to close when cardboard was rationed during WWII.

After the war, Richard Sellmer Verlag of Stuttgart, Germany, began to print the calendars again.  Today, this enduring company continues to carry a stock of 1,000 calendars.

Advent calendars come in a variety of styles ranging from inexpensive traditional designs, to more expensive 3D Lego versions and everything in between!  Handmade Advent calendars are a popular craft this time of year. Just google “Homemade Advent Calendars” and you’ll find many easy –to-make ideas.

A 1946 newspaper article showed President Eisenhower’s grandchildren gleefully opening up doors on a “Little Town Advent Calendar.”  Subsequently, the popularity of these calendars soared in the US. Of course. Advent calendars capture children’s anticipatory nature the world over.

Click on this link for more information on the history of Advent and the Advent calendar.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who remembers how excited she was each morning to discover what tiny picture of a toy was behind the numbered door on her Advent calendar!

Not all flavors are created equal

Along with marshmallows a’ la carte, roasted marshmallows are a favorite at fall campfires.  The classic S’More can’t be beat, but lots of new marshmallow flavors exist.  Chocolate, caramel swirl, strawberry and tutti-fruity have hit supermarket shelves, although not all flavors seem to be available all the time. And not all flavors taste good over a fire.  When was the last time you enjoyed a hot strawberry? A toasted lemon? Or burnt-around-the-edges lime?  To each his own, but caramel or chocolate seems to rest better between two graham crackers and a wedge of chocolate.

Crispy treat heaven

But melt strawberry marshmallows with some butter and crispy rice cereal and let it cool; well, that’s a different story. Strawberry aficionados will have a tough time leaving them alone.  Chocoholics have the same trouble with chocolate marshmallow crispy squares, or with white marshmallows squares to which a handful of chocolate chips has been stirred in.  Death by Crispy Square would be treats made with both chocolate marshmallows and chocolate chips. What a great way to go!

Fast, flavorful and fun

Since the invention of flavored marshmallows, rice crispy squares are practically gourmet and still fast to make; ten minutes tops If using the microwave. With different flavors and toppings, they can be adapted to any festivity. Orange, red and brown sprinkles for fall. Team colors for a sports party. Red and green sugar for Christmas. Multi-colored sprinkles or M & M’s pressed into the top for birthdays or any occasion.

Easy and popular

Crispy squares have become my number one choice when taking dessert to a potluck or providing a family with dinner.  I often put three flavors side-by-side on a cookie sheet: 1/3 chocolate, 1/3 strawberry and 1/3 white with sprinkles. Inexpensive, easy to transport, fun to look at and taste, they always makes a good impression. (Of course all the other parts of the meal I provide are incredibly healthy and nutritious….)

Here’s the recipe:

Generously butter a cookie baking sheet

In a 3 qt. casserole dish or other microwave-safe bowl, melt ¼ cup of butter. Add one package of marshmallows of your choice (regular or minis work fine) and stir so that marshmallows are coated in butter. Return to the oven and microwave until marshmallows are puffy and melted together—2-4 minutes depending on your microwave oven.

Carefully fold in 6 cups of crispy rice cereal.  Mixture will be gooey.  Stir until cereal and marshmallows are evenly combined.  If desired, fold in ½ c. chocolate chips (or more to taste.)  Transfer mixture to cookie sheet.  Dampen your hands so mixture won’t stick and pat evenly onto cookie sheet.  One recipe will fill 1/3 to ½ of a pan depending on how tall you want them. Sprinkle immediately with desired topping.  Press topping gently into squares while still warm.  Repeat process with next flavor. Press 2^nd flavor onto cookie sheet next to 1^st flavor.  Repeat with 3^rd flavor, creating 3 stripes of flavored squares. Cool. Cut into squares.

Mooshy, squooshy, sickeningly-sweet marshmallows bring out the kid in us. So next time you’re at the store, buy a package of your favorite marshmallows, and join your child in old-fashioned marshmallow fun, however you like ‘em best.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who while blogging today munched a sprinkled crispy square with her coffee. Yum.

We found a gourmet marshmallow review here. They look YUMMY! Think Maple Pecan, and Kona Coffee Crunch. Or even Key Lime Sublime.

It’s the traditions that make Christmas and any holiday or special event stand out in our memories.  Would it be Easter without dyed eggs and chocolate bunnies, or the Fourth of July without hotdogs, apple pie and fireworks, or a wedding without rings?  The answer: of course it would, but it might feel kinda funny, especially at first.

But every one of today’s traditions, once upon a time, were new additions to a time honored event.  “Joy to the World and “Silent Night” had premiers and were the new kids on the block.  They had to worm their way into the hearts of the people and become a tried and true Christmas tradition.  So over time the traditions of all our beloved holidays have changed.

I’ve added a new tradition to my Christmas – the family concert at the Symphony.  So a part of my Christmas preparations now is writing a script (and it’s all new this year) creating props, (all those are new, too) picking the music, (all new- well, all new old music, I guess is the better way to say that) and writing new music that none of you have ever heard before.

I’ve been deciding what kind of wacky things the Story Fairy will say and do, and wear on her head, it’ll be all new wackiness, but she’ll still be bossy (that’s traditional, after all) figuring out what Stacey and Michael will argue about and who gets to cry (Stacey is so funny when she cries…) crafting a story- yes, it’s all new and working with the arranger (he’s new!)  and the illustrator.  She stays the same, thankfully! I’ve grown accustomed to her style, and love her work, which will be –don’t be shocked – all new.  And we are adding a new twist. We have invited a choir to join us for the story… there will be lots of voices singing out with Christmas and Hanukkah spirit.

Things are starting to move quickly now in our quest toward an all new Holiday Symphony Serenade Show. The illustrations have already been sent to the photographer.  The arranger is working on the lullaby this weekend, our first read through was on Sunday, and Michael and I will begin building a very large Menorah in our garage sometime this week.   The Story fairy will be welding the Shamash – you just can’t miss that!

If you’re reading this and you feel kinda mystified, then you need to add our concert series to your Holiday Traditions.  Your children will love it and you will love it.  It’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning.  There will be group singing, of course, and a bounce, and some giggles, great harmony, a steady beat and a story and a snuggle.  If you now exactly what I’m talking about, get your tickets right here…. ‘cause it’s ALL NEW…..

-posted by Miss Allison, who will see you in the lobby after the show!

Anyway, he asked his momma to send us this poem he’s been reciting (and teaching to his younger brother, Patrick).

“Autumn”, by Thelma Ireland

Cornflake leaves
Beneath the trees,
Are they a breakfast
For the breeze?

I was inspired to find a cornflake craft, and lo and behold – here you go.

Project list
1 piece brown construction paper
1 piece light blue construction paper
pencil
marker
scissors
liquid glue (not a glue stick)
1 small hand and arm (firmly attached to a small child)

1. On the brown paper, trace around the child’s hand (fingers spread out) and lower arm. Cut out the tracing.
2. Crumple up the paper to add tree trunk texture, and then smooth the paper out. Your child might be completely horrified that you are doing this to their beautiful hand and arm cutout, so if that becomes a problem, just skip it.
3. Glue the “tree” to the light blue paper, leaving room to write the poem.
4. Write the poem on the paper.
5. Glue cornflake leaves onto the branches and ground.
6. Now, hang display your child’s creation, and learn the poem together.

Owen also, (and rightly so) asked his momma to include this second cute little ditty.

“Mr. Owl”, by Edna Hamilton

I saw an owl up in a tree,
I looked at him, he looked at me.
I couldn’t tell you of his size,
For all I saw were two big eyes.
As soon as I could make a dash,
Straight home I ran, quick as a flash.

Of course this poem needs a cute craft as well.

Project list
a pinecone (Go take a walk in the park or woods to find one.)
cotton balls
googly eyes
felt
scissors
glue

1. Stretch or unroll the cotton balls.
2. Pull the cotton all over the pinecone. (It shouldn’t need any glue.)
3. From the felt, cut out a triangle for a beak, and round circles for the eyes.
4. Glue googly eyes on top of the felt circles.
5. Glue the eyes and beak to your Snowy Owl.
6. Make an owl family. (Because he’ll be lonely if you don’t.)
7. Learn the poem together.

Now, have a gallery showing and recitation to adoring fans. Don’t forget to serve dessert!

Thanks, Adrian Owen K.!

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who made her wonderful husband Karl go to the store at 9:30 at night to get cornflakes (which nobody eats around here), so she could make this craft and take pictures for you! Anyone want the rest of the box?

My husband and I couldn’t resist turning our son’s knowledge into first hand experiences. We loaded up the van and headed out onto highway 2 toward Gold Bar to visit the Wallace Falls Salmon Hatchery. There are other famous hatcheries, too, such as the one in Issaquah, which even sports Salmon Days during the fall. But as we live in Monroe, we decided to visit one more in our backyard.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by fishermen who were loading up their truck with glistening Silvers (a nickname for Coho Salmon). My three children, Myles (age 8), Colin (age 7) and Violette (age 3), all stared in awe at the large fish. Then my oldest declared that those fish would make a great lunch! The fishermen laughed and heartily agreed. Inside the hatchery, a man busy at work separating salmon eggs greeted us. He let the boys hold tiny salmon eggs with little black dots, which are the “eyes” of the developing baby salmons. My boys were in awe and Violette declared they were cute babies.

We finished our time at the hatchery watching the adult salmon swimming and jumping around. My oldest thought it was fun, like watching “Air Jaws” on the Discovery Channel….I am sure watching great white sharks leap from the water would be far more exciting (and terrifying), but in his eight year old mind, watching these salmon leap around was just as good.

We packed back up into the van and then traveled to Woodinville to round out the day visiting Gold Creek Trout Ponds. We kept this part of the trip a surprise, and the look on the boys’ faces when they realized they got to go fishing was a moment I will never forget. The owners gave them bamboo poles, bait, and showed them the ponds where they could catch their dinner!

Each boy caught two fish (around 6-10 inches each). It was a proud moment. Myles brought the bucket to the owner, who cleaned the fish right in front of them…four beautiful rainbow trout. Upon leaving, the man cleaning the fish told us to enjoy our dinner to which Myles replied, “They’ll be extra tasty because they are rainbow!”. I’m sure that fact is not found his library book, but Colin and Violette both agreed that rainbows make everything tastier, even fish.

-posted by Miss Jesikah, who was raised by a professional Bass Fisherman belonging to BassMasters, and fondly remembers her youth fishing whenever she could, catching many dinners for her family from the nearby lake where she grew up in Northern California.