Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Clue to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/129/117319.htm

I am not typically one that watches the evening news, usually far too busy with life to spend those hours in the evening watching tv...but for some reason I caught the news tonight, not all of it but just enough to catch this little tidbit.

SIDS cast a huge shadow over much of my childhood. We lost my brother to SIDS in 1976 and life was never the same. It haunted me as a parent, the paranoia that kept me from ever allowing my babies to sleep in their own rooms, I had to be able to touch them, to hear them breath. After all the years of research, it is comforting to hear that they now have a clue to at least one possible cause. I pray, by the day I am graced with grandchildren that today's discovery may lead to a cure.

Monday, October 30, 2006

5th grade TIGERS wins Second Consecutive CYFL Championship!

From the team blog: The battle hardened Tigers won their second CYFL Championship in an incredible game against Loveland Team #1. Team #2 struggled the entire game on offense and with 2:37 left in the game, Team #1 scored to go up 6-0. Team #2 roared back with an incredible drive that put them on Team #1's three yard line with five seconds left in the game. The Tiger 'O' line held like a stone wall as Dean Meyer dropped back and hit Reid Waddell in the endzone to tie the game at 6-6, with no time left on the clock. The Tigers missed on their PAT and headed in to their first ever overtime game. Team #2 lost the toss and started on offense. On the third play of OT, Brian McElveen, behind great blocking, exploded for 15 yards and put the ball on the two yard line. A QB sneak put the Tigers in the endzone, but a false start call cancelled the TD and put the Tigers back at the six yard line. On the next play, the 'O' line blew everyone off the ball as Brian exploded through the three hole, untouched for a touchdown. The Tigers missed the PAT and the score stood at 12-6.Team #2 put the game in the hands of their defense, which has been the backbone of this team all year long. The defense pushed Team #1 backwards forcing a fourth and 16 from the 26 yard line. Team #1's desperation pass fell incomplete under an awesome defensive rush to end the game. Congratulations Tigers on winning your THIRD straight Division Championship and your SECOND straight CYFL Championship!

2006Undefeated Season
Division Champions
CYFL Champions
11-0
3rd grade TIGERS finish season with a tie!

Jacob's team didn't fair nearly as well as the teams that Grant and Cade played with, but Jacob loves the game and was eager to attend each and every practice and game!

Jacob wore #38. Here are a couple pictures of him deep in battle in the midst of the game!





1st Grade TIGERS CAP A PERFECT SEASON WITH 27-6 ROMP OVER TOMAHAWKS!

From the Team's Blog: An outstanding finish to an outstanding season. Loveland's offense rolled up another 320 yards of offense with twelve different ball carriers, including 138 yards rushing and two touchdowns by Adam Clark on only three carries (46 yards-per-carry average). Trevor also had an outstanding day, rushing 83 yards on 4 carries, including two extra points. Cal Conley added 94 yards and a score. Tyler and Joey also ran the ball well, with Joey picking up our last PAT of the season. Also running the ball were Scheeler, Brannen, Newbanks, Flanagan, Webster, Garafalo, and Fredj, who finished the game on an excellent 20 yard run to the right. All of this was possible behind the outstanding blocking by our offensive line, including Niehaus, Wichmann, Riesenberg, Newbanks, Scheeler, McCluskey, Garafalo, Siekman, Little, Cloud, Flanagan, Smolenski, Glasby, and Sloane.On defense the Tigers were outstanding. Black defense held the Tomahawks to negative yards, and White Defense held off their starters in the second half, which gave our White Offense a chance to get in some plays. Sixteen different players were in on tackles, including Hankins (7), Conley (7), Little (5), Flanagan (5), Wichmann (4), Dombroski, Clark, Scheeler, Brannen, Garafalo, Riesenberg, Nate Webster, Natron Webster, Smolenski, McCluskey, and Sloane.Way to go Tigers!Thanks to all for a wonderful season. These little Tigers out-scored our opponents by a total score of 247-115. Wow!

Here is our record:
Loveland Tigers 1st Grade Team2006 Record
Date Opponent Win/Loss Score
PRESEASON:
Aug. 19 Kings Knights W 14-7
Aug. 26 Lakota Tomahawks Team #7 W 14-7
Sept. 2 Kings Knights W 20-6

REGULAR SEASON:
Sept. 9 Lakota Tomahawks Team #23 W 31-12
Sept. 16 Milford Eagles Team #1 W 20-6
Sept. 23 Anderson Wildcats W 18-7
Sept. 30 Little Miami Panthers W 33-18
Oct. 7 Kings Knights W 25-13
Oct. 14 Fayetteville Rockets W 13-6
Oct. 21 Milford Eagles Team #2 W 32-19
Oct. 28 Lakota Tomahawks Team #22 W 27-6

Sunday, October 29, 2006

4-H Halloween Party
Who: ALIVE 4-Hers and their families
Where: Melodie's place
What to bring: Bag of candy per child (see list below for allergies and suggestions), bucket/bag for trick or treating, snack to share (chips, cookies, etc), drinks for your family
Questions: email Laura

Come join the fun! Children are welcome to wear costumes! We will begin the party by decorating cardboard houses (which we will later use for trick or treating) and then continue with games, crafts and fun!

We will be having hotdogs for dinner. Hotdogs, buns, condiments, plates, silverware and napkins provided. Please bring chips, pretzles or a child friendly sidedish to share (no popcorn or peanuts please!).

Please be aware that we have children attending with the following food allgeries/adversions: nuts, red dye #40 and popcorn. We ask that you not bring any items with nuts or popcorn to the party. Since red dye #40 is hard to avoid, please just be certain before handing anything to Will that you check with me or one of his big sisters!


The following items are nut-free and would make great choices for sharing: individual bags of pretzles (avoid bags of chips as many are fried in peanut oil!), tootsie rolls, tootsie pops, dots, charm suckers, jr mint, charleston chews, andies mints, sugar babies, sugar daddy's,nerds, laffy taffy, airheads, bottle caps, sweettarts, smarties, crunch bars, plain m&m's, fruit snacks, individual bags of animal cookies, individual bags of oreos, individual bags of goldfish, bubble gum, Werther's carmels, regular carmels.

Will is able to eat: blue, vanilla, yellow and green laffy taffy, white, blue and green airheads, tootsie rolls (the chocolate ones), green and yellow suckers (as long as they have no gum in the middle!) and any chocolates (although the m&ms must be seperated to remove the brown, orange and red ones).

The kids had such a great time! Cade only wished that we had played more games than bobbing for apples and pass the pumpkin. Everyone got along so well and really seemed to enjoy themselves! The kids LOVE having their own 4-H group even if they were a little bummed that only kids from Ohio could participate. 4-H is very much a state controlled, even county controlled group which makes it a bit hard for homeschoolers that are so used to mingling with people from all over the place!

Saturday, October 28, 2006

The UC Curriculum Resource Center Opens its Doors to Homeschoolers!

Apparently this happened about a year ago (I vaguely remember hearing something about it) but I stumbled onto the details today! What a great resource to have right at our hands thanks to the University of Cincinnati!

The Curriculum Resources Center, also known as the CRC, is home to the collections and services that support the University of Cincinnati K-12 undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs. The CRC has now opened its doors to meet the educational needs of local in-service teachers and local homeschoolers. The myriad of books, DVD’s, puppets, games, software, kits and other great resources will expand the minds of young and old alike.
Below are answers to many of the commonly asked questions about how local in-service teachers and homeschoolers can utilize CRC resources. (If you have any further questions, please call the CRC at 556 - 1430.)

What kinds of pre K-12 curriculum materials resources can I check out?
Pre K – 12 Audiovisual Media/Instructional MaterialsThe CRC has over 8300 audiovisual media titles covering most curriculum topics, particularly for language arts and reading, mathematics, science and social studies for all grade levels. These materials consist of audiobooks, bulletin board kits, activity card sets, CD-ROMs, charts, audio compact discs, DVDs, games, kits, maps, models, puppets, pictures, posters, transparencies, and videocassettes.
K – 12 Textbooks There are over 12,600 K – 12 textbooks including student books, teacher’s editions and other ancillary materials from major textbook publishers. (These are available to in-service and homeschool teachers for in-house use only.)

Pre K – 12 Teacher Handbooks (teaching activities books)The CRC has over 3700 books filled with teaching/learning activities and lesson plans covering all curriculum areas for preschool through twelfth grade.
Children’s and Young Adult books/videos/audiobooks/kitsYou will find over16,000 children’s and young adult books. These include many nonfiction or information books on all curriculum topics as well as children’s novels, fairy tales, folklore, biographies, poetry, and a large picture/easy reading book section. There are many young adult fiction books also. In addition, you will find many videotapes, DVDs, and audiobooks based on children’s and young adult books. There are also a number of “read-along” children’s books accompanied by a CD or audiocassette packaged in kits as well.

What kinds of Professional Education materials can I check out?
Books The CRC houses a large collection of circulating professional education books that assist in-service teachers and homeschool teachers in the areas of assessment, classroom management, behavioral issues and much more. In addition, the CRC reference collection is available for in-house use.
JournalsYou will find a large selection of education related print journals. Digital copies for some of these titles, along with other educational journals, are available from four CRC public terminals.
Databases For research purposes, the following education related databases are available: ERIC, Education Abstracts, Professional Development Collection, PsycINFO and Dissertation Abstracts. These can be accessed in-house only via the four CRC public workstations.

How do I check out materials?
Go to the CRC circulation desk
Identify yourself as an in-service teacher or homeschooler
Present current public library card (must be in good standing)
Present photo ID
Fill out a “CRC Courtesy Borrowers Form” (up to 3 items can be checked out initially)
A UC borrowers’ card will be sent to you in the mail.
What is the loan period for materials?
Books“Prof Ed” Books (3 week loan; 2 renewals)Children’s & Young Adult Books (2 week loan; 2 renewals)Teacher Handbooks (2 week loan; 2 renewals)Curriculum Guides (2 week loan; 2 renewals)K-12 Textbooks (in-house use only)
Audiovisual Media (1 week loan; 2 renewals)
Note: 10 concurrent item check out limit (this means only 10 items can be checked out at any given time.)

Can I produce instructional materials in the CRC?
Yes, many kinds of instructional materials can be produced in the CRC "do it yourself" Media Production Lab. This facility shares space with the CRC Info Commons and provides equipment for producing the following:
Scanning Images
Producing overhead transparencies (black on clear and color)
Dry mounting and laminating materials
Making cutouts of objects for bulletin boards and learning activities with an assorted collection of Die-Cut Blocks
Spiral Binding
Making two color posters with a poster maker
Dubbing audiocassettes with a high-speed audiocassette recorder
An opaque projector is available in 600C for projecting an enlarged image for tracing for bulletin boards and posters. In addition, clip art books, software and transparency masters are provided in the Production Lab for making handouts and to use in transparency production and enlargement with the opaque projector.

Does the CRC sell supplies?
Supplies can be purchased in the Production Lab for making the above materials as well as other materials. In addition to cash and checks, the Bearcat card can be used to purchase supplies such as:
Dry mount tissue and laminating film
Clear acetate (for write-on transparencies) as well as thermal transparency film (for black on clear transparencies).
Film for producing color transparencies via a color laser printer
Construction paper, poster board and bulletin board paper
Hook n' Loop tape (like Velcro) and magnetic tape for making visual board materials
Spiral binding combs
Blank audio and video cassettes
Floppy disks, zip disks, and CD-RWs

How do I know what is available to be checked out?
To find CRC materials on a given curriculum topic, do the following:
Access UCLID, the UC online catalog via http://www.libraries.uc.edu/
Click on “Library Catalog” (far left, first “QuickLinks” option)
Click on “Keywords”
In the “View Entire Collection” box, click on the black arrow and select “Curriculum Resources Center”
To the left of the “View Entire Collection” box, enter your keyword(s), such as weather.

Does the CRC have any other special resources?
Yes, and many are free for you to take without returning. They may be found inThe NASA Educators Resource Center (ERC), Room 604B. The NASA ERCserves as a preview and distribution center for NASA produced educational materials. It provides elementary, secondary, and university educators easy access to a wide variety of teaching resources for teaching earth science, physical science, life science, space science, mathematics, geography, and the environment. Many of these materials are free of charge and new materials are constantly coming in so it is a good idea to return to the ERC on a regular basis.
Available materials:
Videos (in-house use only but free copying is available)Videos cover careers, earth science, history of flight, life science, living in space, physics, science and technology, mathematics, human space flight, and space science. These videos do not get checked out but if you provide a blank videotape, we will duplicate your requested videos free of charge. Video viewing equipment is available in the ERC.

Teaching Guides (free)You will find teaching guide packets with hands-on teaching activities for some of the topics listed above. All of these guides are graded to early childhood, middle school, or high school and based on national curriculum standards. They are free for you to take.

Posters (free)Posters are available on various topics. These can be viewed in the ERC poster display unit. Once you find a poster you would like to use in your classroom, simply locate it by the referenced letter in the poster supply unit. It is free to take.

Pictures (free)We regularly receive new pictures (lithographs) of various aspects of the space program such as pictures of shuttles, crews, international space station, various planets, earth from space, moon, etc. These are free for the taking.

Publications (free)A variety of additional NASA publications, including fact sheets, are regularly received on a variety of subjects and are free to take.
CD-ROMs (in-house use only)NASA produced CD-ROMs are available for viewing. These, however, are for in-house use only. They may be purchased for a minimal price from NASA.

Reference Materials (in-house use only)Many reference materials are available in the ERC. These too are for in-house use only.

Is there a CRC website?
Yes, at the CRC Web site you will find a number of guides to help you locate various kinds of curriculum materials, such as teaching activities, K – 12 textbooks, children’s and young adult books, and audiovisual media. You will also find bibliographies of CRC instructional materials grouped by curriculum area and grade range. In addition, easy access is provided to teaching activities and lesson plans, curriculum resources, and kids’ sites on the Web.
To access the CRC website:
Go to http://www.libraries.uc.edu/Click on “UC Libraries” (bottom left hand side)Locate CRC on the list and click on “website”Click on “Curriculum Materials Guides” (middle of the page)

What are the CRC hours?
Check the webpage below to find the most current hours of operation. http://www.libraries.uc.edu/information/hours_maps/hours_main.html

Who can I contact for additional information?
For circulation questions, call Al Early at 556-1307.For information about the collection call Dr. Gary Lare at 556-1313.For information about producing instructional materials call Diana Manuel at 556-1308.For help with reference questions, call Cheryl Ghosh, 556-1758.

What are the directions to the CRC?
From the north or south via I-75
From I-75, take the Hopple Street exit (exit 3). (If you are traveling north, Hopple Street exits from the left lane)
Turn left off the exit on to Hopple Street. As you cross the first intersection at Central Parkway, Hopple Street becomes Martin Luther King Drive. Follow Martin Luther King Drive up the hill to Clifton Avenue. (ML King Drive borders the north edge of the West Campus and Clifton Avenue borders the west edge of the West Campus.)
Turn right on Clifton and proceed for 1 mile.
The CRC is inside Blegen Library, which is located at the intersection of Clifton and Straight Street (between the Teacher’s College building and the Law building.)
The Blegen entrance level is the 4th floor, turn right up the grand staircase and CRC is on the next floor.

From the west via I-74
Take I-74 east to I-75 south.
Follow instructions 2 - 5 above.
From the north via I-71
From I-71 south, take the Taft Road exit (exit 3).The exit places you on Taft Road, a one-way street heading west.Taft Road becomes Calhoun Street as you near campus.Stay on Calhoun until it ends at Clifton Avenue.
Follow step 3 - 5 of the first directions.

From the south via I-71
Take I-71 north until it merges with I-75 just south of Florence, Ky.Stay on I-75 after you cross the Ohio River.
From the left lane on I-75, take the Hopple Street exit (Exit 3).
Follow step 2 - 5 from the first directions.
From the east via US 50
From US 50 west, turn right on Taft Road. Taft is a one-way street heading west. Taft becomes Calhoun Street as you near campus. Stay on Calhoun until it ends at Clifton Avenue.
Turn right on Clifton Avenue.
The CRC is inside Blegen Library, which is located at the intersection of Clifton and Straight Street (between the Teacher’s College building and the Law building.)
The Blegen entrance level is the 4th floor, turn right up the grand staircase and CRC is on the next floor.
Or go to http://www.uc.edu/directions/main.html.

Where do I park once I get to the UC campus?
Park along Clifton Avenue (metered parking) or Deaconess Parking Garage on Straight Street across from the Deaconess Hospital.
Rev. 11/22/05

Friday, October 27, 2006

Union Township Fire Station / Water Tower Tour
Friday, October 27; 10AM
860 Clough Pike Cincinnati, OH 45245
Corner of Clough and Glen Este-Withamsville Road
IMPORTANT: Clough Pike is closed at I-275 so most will need to enter from Glen Este-Withamsville
Geared towards ages 6 – 11 but anyone welcome
Free!!
Organizer: Denise K

Take a tour of new facility and hear about fire safety. The innovative building sits beneath the 2 million-gallon capacity water tower and consists of three floors. It is one of only 5 firestations in the entire country that sits under a watertower (ironically, 2 of the 4 other ones are also located in Ohio). The first floor houses the engine and a paramedic unit, firefighters' quarters comprise the second floor, and the third floor is the township fire department's administrative offices, as well as the new Union Township Television (UTTV) facility.

Hannah stayed home, but the rest of the crew headed out to check this place out!

What an absolutely awesome tour. Of all the fire station tours we have ever attended, this was by far the most informative and interactive. Our tourguide, Travis Brown, did an amazing job of showing us both the ambulance and the fire truck and even went step by step through how a fireman dresses to attend a fire! If you ever have a chance to tour this facility, see if Travis might be there to lead your tour!

The great thing about the tour was that it lent itself very well to the "First Aid in Action" 4-H project that the kids were working on. One requirement is to take a field trip related to the topics in the book (and a firestation certainly fits the bill!) and another section requires them to interview anemergencyy first aid worker ( asking 5 to 8 questions) and Travis was more than happy to oblige!

The questions included:

What does an ambulance carry?
Sled, backboard, stretcher, first aid kit, cardiac monitor, c-collars, oxygen, and a 2 person crew

What is in the first aid kit?
clipboard, c-collars, puke sucker (the kids LOVED that one), stethoscope, scissors strong enough to cut through anelectricall cord, blood pressure cuff, flashlight, glucometer, oxygen tubing, intubation kit, IV bags and kit, bandaids

How much does a fireman's outfit weigh?
70 lbs

How long will a tank of air last?
30 minutes under normal use (depending on lung capacity) but can be used for almost 2 hours of rescue breathing if a firefighter gets trapped.

How many calls does Union Township handle each year?
200,000 calls per year, so roughly 548 calls per day!

How many stations are their in Union Township?
4. One on Glen-Este Withiamsville (that we toured), two on Old St. Rt. 74, and one on St. Rt. 125 (the busiest)

How many of the people that work at that station are paramedics?
All but 2 who were grandfathered in when they added that requirement

Strangest animal you have ever rescued?
An alligator someone flushed down the toilet

Animal you get called the most about?
Bats. Yes, we will go and get them out of houses.

How heavy of a person can the 2 man crew carry?
500 lbs

How heavy of a person can the stretcher hold?
650 lbs

Heaviest person you have ever transported?
1300 lbs, the city had to makeaccommodationss to the man's house so they could pull right up to the front door because they were called their so many times. Took 10 to 11 guys to transport him.

How long are your shifts?
24 hours, every 3 days

How many guys are on a shift?
4 guys, giving us 2-2 person crews

Do you like your job?
Yes!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Leading Antibiotics are now FREE at your Meijer Pharmacy - No Strings Attached! http://www.meijer.com/pharmacy/antibiotics.asp

"Rising health care costs are having a dramatic impact on families across the country, especially here in the Midwest. Our free antibiotic program is the next step Meijer is taking to lead the industry toward improving the health of our customers. It is all about delivering higher standards."
-Mark Murray, Meijer president

The program covers leading, oral generic antibiotics with a special focus on the prescriptions most often filled for children.

The following are FREE with your doctor's prescription, regardless of insurance or co-pay:
Amoxicillin
Cephalexin
SMZ-TMP
Ciprofloxacin
Ampicillin
Penicillin
VK Erythromycin

Prescription must be picked up at store in person. Maximum 14 day supply at normal dosage. List may be subject to change. Not valid with any other offer.

OK, I am not a huge believer in all the antibiotics some doctors like to prescribe, but I believe that there is a time and a place for them. And if you are one of the many families with precription coverage, this might come in quite handy this winter. I posted this info here so that I could find it if I need it! Knock wood, we will stay healthy this winter!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

More Halloween Crafts:

Some cheapy crafts that could be loads of fun!

cool oragami bat http://www.origami-club.com/en/halloween/bat/bat/index.htm
these are so cute, not sure if they are too hard for the kids though....you could make a host of them and hang them everywhere

Bat mobile http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11020

Cute printable decorations http://kidssoup.com/Halloween/Halloween.html. I lvoe the coloring pages at this site and can't wait to make the Frankenstein using the paper plates. Sophie is going to love this one!

Very very cute ghost:
Gauze Ghost
Mix white glue with water. Dip gauze sheets into glue/water mixture and hang over soda bottle (turned upside down) and let dry. Shape gauze into a ghostly figure. When dry, remove bottle and add black eyes and mouth cut from felt or craft paper. Hang from a string or display for a spooky decoration.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

FEARFEST at Kings Island

Open at 7:00PM until 12:00 Midnight. Some FearFest attractions will open at dark.

FearFest Friday Night: Buy this discount ticket in advance now and get in for just $19.99 on any of the following FearFest Friday Nights: 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, and 10/27. Hurry, limited-time offer will be dead and gone soon!
http://www1.paramountparks.com/kingsisland/special/fearfest/index.html

FearFest...
all the fear you can handle and all in one place! Why drive all over town when you can get your fear fix in one place? FearFest at Kings Island is the most intense Halloween event around and the only place you'll find maddening haunted houses, chain link mazes, crazed clowns in 3D and frightening wooded trails!
13 total haunted attractions the most terrifying rides on the planet and now more monsters than ever before. FearFest...Don't say we didn't warn you! Fearfest included with park admission.


Hannah, Brett and 3 of their friends decided to head up to Fearfest! Another friend was supposed to be joining them, but her dad said it would be too scary so she had to stay home. The group had a blast and absolutely LOVED riding the rollercoasters in the dark (you would NEVER catch me doing that!). I ended up picking the kids up at 11 PM and we went and ate dinner at Skyline. I loved listening to them relive the evening, especially the story of Sarah getting asked to homecoming by the boy with the green spiked hair! I dropped the other kids off and finally ended up back home at about 1 AM. I am so grateful that my kids have wonderful friends to hang out with!

Friday, October 06, 2006

Toyota Driving Expectations:

Brett and Jay (rather reluctantly) attended this program sponsored by Toyota at Kings Island (in the parking lot). The program was 4 hours long and Brett really felt that it was worth his time and said he learned how to handle some behind the wheel situations that he hadn't encountered yet. He was really excited because he got to drive 3 brand new Toyotas, much smoother and quicker to respond than a 10 year old minivan!

http://www.toyotadrivingexpectations.com/
When: Friday, October 6; 10am
What:Maize at Turpin Farms 3295 Turpin Lane; Cincinnati, Ohio; 45244
Who:Everyone's invited.....toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents!!
Cost: see && below
Organizer: Laura Riesenberg theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com
Bring a picnic lunch and dress for the weather! Don't forget your camera!

Field Trip includes: Maze, hayride, petting zoo, cow train, hay dive, corn dive, a "hands on activity or craft" and a small "pie" pumpkin

Address for Turpin Farms is 3295 Turpin Lane; Cincinnati, Ohio; 45244
http://www.turpinfarms.com/

Admission: Adults: $6, Children 2-18 $4.50, Children under 2 Free, Parking Free

Driving Directions -
-From the North, take I-275 east to Route 32 west (exit 63A) towards Newtown.Follow Route 32 west for about 5.5 miles.Go through the Village of Newtown and turn left on Turpin Lane.
-From downtown Cincinnati (and KY), take Columbia Parkway (OH 50) east to the Beechmont Levee (OH 125) east. Go across the levee to the Route 32 exit. Follow Route 32 east for about 1.5 miles and turn right on Turpin Lane


I was a bit apprehensive as we headed to the farm. We have been going for the past 5 years and it seemed my RSVP list was much shorter than usual! But I fretted for nothing, turns out most people didn't realize they were supposed to RSVP and just showed up. We had close to 40 kids and about 15 adults. The kids had a GREAT time foraging through the maze and the little ones loved the haydive and corndive. The weather was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, I couldn't have custom ordered better weather! Cade took a nasty fall of the top of the haydive (with the "help" of two other boys) and it really shook him up. No bruises by his back was really bothering him.

When we left, everyone picked out pumpkins. The one Jacob picked looks like a skull. Can't wait to see what they do with them when they paint them!

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

What: Pioneer Village Tour
When: Wednesday October 4 9:30 AM to 2 PM ARRIVE PROMPTLY!!!!
Where: Quaker Knoll Campground, Wilmington, Ohio
Cost: $5 per student, preschoolers and parents free BRING EXACT CHANGE!!!
RSVP: Laura Riesenberg (theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com)
Other info: bring a picnic lunch, dress for the weather

Every culture in the world requires that young people learn their own history. History provides answers for the future by examining the problems of the past. In essence, it is the study of the problems of human life. Our challenge is to get our youth interested in history at all. When competing with electronic games and television, stories of the past can seem dry, at best.
For several years Frontier Resources has offered a school program designed to capture the interest of the student of Ohio history. The program makes maximum use of Hands-On and interactive learning. We have designed our ‘School Days’ to interest students in early Ohio history to reinforce your classroom efforts.

Frontier Resources is an organization that designs and presents programs to students all over the country. Our specialty is “hands-on history”. Our programs are designed to give your students a taste of the activities, both work and play, of children of early Ohio. These include, but are not limited to:
OXEN- An explanation of the importance of oxen to early America and how children were involved with them is followed by an opportunity for students to try their hand at driving oxen.
SPINNING- An introduction to the problem of cloth supply for the Ohio frontier family involves a chance for students to try to make a piece of yarn.
CHILDREN’S WORK- A view of the importance of children on the frontier while they work to shape a grindstone.
ONE ROOM SCHOOL- An introduction to early nineteenth century learning.
TOWN MEETING- Students experience frontier democracy by taking part in a town meeting and wrestling with a vital issue of the day.
CHILDREN’S GAMES- A look at entertainment on the frontier while students try an outdoor game of the 1800s.
INDENTURED SERVITUDE- Forty percent of the population of Colonial America arrived under terms of indenture. This station examines the lives of the children who found themselves so situated.

This year the program is moving from Caesar’s Creek Pioneer Village, Waynesville, Ohio to Quaker Knoll Campground,Wilmington, Ohio.
The program takes about 4 hours, running from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 P.M. Cost is $5.00 per student, there is no cost for teachers and chaperones.
Here is a link to a blog about the village: http://frontier-resources.blogspot.com/

Best to mapquest this address from your location:
Quaker Knoll Campground is located at 675 Sprague Road, Wilmington, Ohio 45177, a lovely site on the north end of Cowen LakeState Park.

Directions:
Take OH-28 (Milford Exit off I-275)towards BLANCHESTER to LEFT onto OH-133 (according to mapquest this is about 16 or so miles). Go a little over 3 miles and stay STRAIGHT to go onto OH-730. Go a little over 6 miles and turn RIGHT onto SPRAGUE RD. Quaker Knoll is less than 1/2 mile down the road.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Cool Halloween crafts:

I can't wait to make some of these with the kids. Jay is always adament about not decorating for halloween until after his birthday (which was Sunday) so now all I have to do is gather supplies! The one thing all these crafts have in common is that they use gallon milk jugs. All of these crafts plus plenty more can be found at Family Fun's website: http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/halloween_ms_crafts/

Monster Jug Heads:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10744







Skeleton:
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11539












GIANT spooky spider: Can't wait to hang these guys from the trelises on either side of my porch!
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11283
Very cute recycled sweater bag

http://whipup.net/2006/05/24/30-minutes-to-a-recycled-sweater-bag/. These are just so cute. You could probably make it out of an old sweatshirt too. It would be a great basic craft to do with a group of beginning sewers!

Monday, October 02, 2006

Orionid Meteor Shower:

I grabbed that free Cincinnati Family magazine and saw that on Friday Oct 20, 2006 that there is a free orionid meteor shower viewing....ameteur astronomers will be conducting a public star gaze and meteor watch at Stonelick State Park, 2895 Lake Drive, Pleasant Plain. , dusk until dawn. (513) 321-5186

The girls have dance until 7:15 PM, but if the weather is nice and the sky clear, I think I will gather the troops and head out. I googled it to see what time you are supposed to be able to view it the easiest/best.

Here is what I found: In 2006 the Orionids are predicted to reach a peak of about twenty meteors per hour at 11 a.m. EDT on Saturday, October 21. The Orionid Meteor Shower generally lasts for about two days so one should expect to see Orionids also on the mornings of the 20th and the 22nd. As with all meteor showers, the Orionids are best observed between midnight and dawn from a clear, dark location with a good horizon. Fortunately, the Moon will be at new moon on the morning of October 22 so there will be no moonlight to interfere with observations of the fainter meteors. Look to the high in the east to find the meteors appearing to radiate out of the constellation of Orion the hunter. Binoculars or telescopes are not needed to observe meteors.

Now if the weather will just cooperate!

Sunday, October 01, 2006

They clean up just fine!

Below are pictures I took of the kids before we headed out to Jay's mom's funeral (in mid August), I thought to snap a couple of pictures of the kids. Will would not cooperate so is therefor NOT in any of the pictures. This was just days after Brett had brain surgery, so he is looking a bit pale, but I still wanted to share.

From left to right: Brett (15), Grant (10), Cade (6) and Jacob (8)











From left to right: Emily (12), Hannah (14) and Sophie (4)