WNC Parent - May 2008

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contents This month’s features 4

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I have saved every card my daughters have ever given me — all handmade. It’s the personal touch of a card created by a child that makes it so completely special.

Gifts my daughters made by hand are also treasured.

One Mother’s Day, when they were in prekindergarten, they made me a T-shirt with their handprints on it. The T-shirt was so small it could have fit them, but that didn’t matter — it’s not as if I would have ever worn it. It was a special keepsake gift that will forever remind me of the little hands I used to hold.

While this May issue is devoted primarily to traveling with your family, we didn’t forget that the day for celebrating moms is fast approaching. We offer a craft story on Page 18 to help little ones make a special gift for mom, books for mom on Page 20 and chores to help mom on Page 21.

Also, in our standing feature Kids’ Voices on Page 16, some of the children from Rainbow Mountain Children’s School offer their thoughts on their moms.

So, to our readers — happy Mother’s Day and happy travels!

Family-friendly beaches The Carolinas are full of beaches that children will enjoy.

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Traveling together Spend time with your whole family on a multigenerational vacation.

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Surviving Disney World

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So you’re going to Orlando this summer? Planning ahead is key.

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Mothers treasure gifts made by little hands

Learning on the road

Nancy Sluder Editor

Five destinations perfect for combining learning and relaxing.

11 Traveling with little ones A family trip involving younger children requires some planning and activities.

12 Eating on the road Dining while on vacation doesn’t need to be unhealthy or expensive. Just follow our tips.

14 Discovery Place Spend a day discovering Charlotte’s science museum.

18 Make something special Give mom a unique gift this Mother’s Day.

21 Give mom a hand Children are capable of helping out around the house from the earliest of ages.

In every issue Kids’ Voices ......................................................16 Show & Tell ......................................................22 WNCmom.com ..................................................23 Parenting in a Nutshell ....................................26 Divorced Families by Trip Woodard ...................28 Children’s Books by Jennifer Prince ..................30 Kids’ Health by Linden Veillette ........................33 Growing Together by Chris Worthy .....................35 Quick Dinners .........................................34 & 36 Puzzles .............................................................40 Calendar .....................................................42-48

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P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802 828-232-5845 I www.wncmom.com

On the cover Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Randy Hammer WNCPARENTEDITOR Nancy Sluder nsluder@citizen-times.com

ADVERTISING Miranda Weerheim - 232-5980 mweerheim@gannett.com

SPECIALTYPUBLICATIONS EDITOR Polly McDaniel pmcdaniel@citizen-times.com

Gayle Smith - 232-5886 gjsmith@ashevill.gannett.com

STAFF WRITER Barbara Blake bblake@citizen-times.com

Or contact your dedicated Asheville Citizen-Times advertising representative for opportunities to advertise in this publication.

CIRCULATION

Charlie Davis - 232-6018, cpdavis@gannett.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR submit in writing via P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802 CALENDARCONTENT submit in writing via P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802 or e-mail calendar@wncparent.com SUBMISSION DEADLINES advertising deadline for the June 2008 issue is May 20 calendar items are due by May 19

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Hit the beach Carolina coasts offer many choices for families

By Rick McDaniel WNC Parent contributor For a lot of families, summertime means at least one trip to the beach. North and South Carolina have more than 500 miles of coastline, so finding a spot to rest your beach chair shouldn’t be a problem.

But where are the best beaches for families?

Both Carolinas have beaches that stand out for their gentle waves, family oriented restaurants and activities. Here are some of the best beaches in the Carolinas to take kids:

Wrightsville Beach A few minutes drive from Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach offers gentle surf, clean sand and a gentle slope to the water for toddlers. There are closely spaced lifeguard towers and regular beach patrols. Be aware that the parking meters are regularly patrolled, too. This won’t be a problem, however, if you’re staying at Wrightsville, as your parking should be included.

Room rates: PriceLine.com lists room rates at Wrightsville Beach from $59 per night for a hotel in nearby Wilmington to $266 for a beachfront resort.

Attractions and activities: Surf fishing gear can be rented at several piers. Nature trails and shelling at nearby Shell Island are also popular, along with bird watching. Wilmington offers a children’s museum and the World War II battleship USS North Carolina. Also in Wilmington, boat rides are offered on the Cape Fear River. The downtown waterfront is an interesting place for an evening stroll.

Eating out: Dining at Wrightsville Beach is somewhat limited and generally expensive. Wilmington has a variety of restaurants, from independently owned ones to major chains.

Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach These beaches, located on the North CarolinaSouth Carolina line, are family-friendly and have gently sloping beachfronts without sharp drop-offs.

The surf is gentle except at high tide.

Room rates: PriceLine.com lists Ocean Isle-Sunset Beach rates from $49 per night in nearby Shallotte to

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SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT/CAPE FEAR CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

North and South Carolina have hundreds of miles of beaches with gentle waves and gently sloping sands ideal for families with small children. $123 for an oceanfront hotel.

Attractions and activities: Area attractions include nature walks to see sea turtles, a planetarium and the Museum of Coastal Carolina.

Eating out: There are several family-style restaurants just off the island at the Sunset Beach Bridge.

Calabash, home of “Calabash-style seafood,” is about a 10-minute drive from Sunset Beach and offers a number of additional restaurants.

Myrtle Beach, S.C. South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach has been one of the favorite destinations for Western North Carolina beach goers for generations. If you don’t mind the crowds, you’ll hit the jackpot in terms of room rates, restaurants and activities and attractions. The beach itself is family-friendly, and there will be lots of other kids for yours to play with.

Room rates: PriceLine.com lists a range from $59 per night for a hotel in the heart of downtown to $194 per night for an oceanfront condominium.

Oceanfront hotels start at $90 per night.

Attractions and activities: Myrtle Beach probably has more amusement park attractions and activities

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than any other Carolina beach. Offerings also range from miniature golf to museums, and from dinner theater to a large, impressive aquarium. There’s also the Broadway at the Beach mega-shopping spot and a Hard Rock Café. And don’t forget the fishing piers.

Eating out: Myrtle Beach has everything from fastfood chains to fine dining. For a good meal on the cheap, check out Peach’s Corner, 900 N. Ocean Blvd., across from what used to be the Pavilion.

Known as Peachy’s to the locals, this Myrtle Beach landmark has served up burgers, fried catfish and corndogs for decades.

Isle of Palms, S.C. This beach near Charleston, S.C., offers gentle waves on a long, gently sloping beach. Public changing rooms and restrooms are clean and well-maintained. But day visitors need to be vigilant about parking meters or pay to go in a lot.

Room rates: PriceLine.com lists rates from $84 per night for a hotel in the historic district of nearby Charleston to $305 per night for an oceanfront hotel.

Attractions and activities: Nearby Charleston offers everything from museums to historic sites. You can

catch a carriage ride between them.

Between Isle of Palms and downtown Charleston is Mount Pleasant and Patriots Point, a maritime museum built around the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown.

There’s also an aquarium on the waterfront in Charleston. Or stroll along Waterfront Park in Charleston’s historic district to find a large splash fountain designed for tykes to frolic in to cool off. It’s free. Another option for family fun: Boat rides around the harbor.

Eating out: There are several locally owned restaurants and sandwich shops on the beach. Mount Pleasant has several good seafood restaurants in addition to the usual chains. In Charleston itself, you’ll need to shop around for an affordable restaurant, if you’re on a budget.

Getting there North Carolina beaches: If you’re heading to Wrightsville, Ocean Isle or Sunset, you can take U.S. 74 to Wilmington, then get on U.S. 17, which runs along the coast of North and South Carolina. An alternate is to take Interstate 26 to Columbia, S.C., then Interstate 20 to Interstate 95, which

will take you to U.S. 74. This route is a little longer in distance, but saves time by avoiding a lot of small towns along the way. Either route will take about five and a half to six hours.

Myrtle Beach, S.C.: Take I-26 to I-20 in Columbia, S.C. Take I-20 to S.C. 576 to U.S. 501. This takes you to S.C. 15 and finally to U.S. 17 in Myrtle Beach.

Estimated driving time is five hours even.

Isle of Palms, S.C.: Take I-26 until it ends in Charleston, and then take U.S. 17 to Isle of Palms. Or, take I-26 to I526 east to U.S. 17. Then take the Isle of Palms Connector over to the beach.

Estimated driving time is four hours and 15 minutes.

Surf before you drive With gas prices getting higher, some travel sites are offering incentives for summer travelers. Check online booking sites like PriceLine, Travelocity and Hotels.com, as well as beach area visitors bureaus for travel incentives such as special room rates and even gas vouchers.

Rick McDaniel is a freelance writer.

E-mail him at southerncooking @charter.net.

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Vacation for the entire family

By Sally Walker Davies Gannett News Service When Leon Candella travels to Italy this spring, he’ll be seeing the country of his ancestors for the first time — but it’s not his own experience he’s most looking forward to.

For the retired human resources director from Ridgetop, Tenn., this trip of a lifetime — it’s his first overseas — is about experiencing Italy through the eyes of the five grandchildren and great-nephews joining him on the trip.

“I always wanted to make this one trip with all the family,” said Candella, whose grandparents were from Sicily.

Candella and his wife, Nancy, will be joined on the May trip by two of their three adult children and their families, plus a niece and her college-age boys — a total of 11 family members.

“I’m surprised by how excited my grandkids are,” said Candella, who says all the kids, ranging from 8 to early 20s, have been reading up on Italy.

Candella may not be aware of it, but his trip with three generations of his family reflects perhaps the hottest trend in travel now — multigenerational travel.

Whether it’s grandparents taking their grandkids on a cruise or generations of a family meeting for a special occasion, multigenerational travel has many forms, said Linda Raymer, president of the vacation division of Nashville, Tenn.-based Travelink.

“As boomers become grandparents, they want to experience places they love with their grandchildren,” said Raymer, who says her agency has seen a significant increase in multigenerational travel over the past five years. “And many families are now traveling, with three generations in some cases, to celebrate particular milestones in life such as a 50th wedding anniversary.”

Travel industry analyst and public relations firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell’s 2007 National Leisure Travel Monitor, an annual survey of 1,880 adults in the United States, illustrates the growth in multigenerational travel. According to the survey, 30 percent of adults have traveled with their

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GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Multigenerational travel is perhaps the hottest trend in travel right now. Elderhostel offers intergenerational programs like this "Become a Marine Adventurer" program in Galveston, Texas. grandchildren on one or more leisure trips, while the number of leisure travelers taking children on trips grew from 26 percent in 2000 to 36 percent.

Catering to every generation Resorts, tour operators and cruise lines have all responded to the trend. From new teen clubs popping up at hotels and resorts to family adventures to exotic destinations such as the Galapagos Islands and cruise lines offering cabins that expand to accommodate families, leisure travel vendors recognize the importance of serving family groups that include multiple generations.

Club Med, known to anyone older than 40 as a swinging singles scene, has redefined its worldwide offerings with a number of family friendly resorts in addition to its adult-only getaways. The company now has 77 resorts that cater to families, and 51 have children’s clubs.

Cruise lines have boarded on the multigenerational trend by offering more adventure-type activities geared toward kids, also offering camp-style programs with trained counselors. In another nod to family groups, most ships now offer adjoining staterooms or even plush suites with two or more bedrooms.

Planning a getaway Putting together a multifamily, multigenerational trip is a bit trickier than most family vacations, said Barb Randolph, a travel consultant with Brandywine Travel in Old Hickory, Tenn.

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With a variety of families comes a variety of budgets, vacation styles and interests, Randolph noted, so having a single person in charge of selecting the resort, cruise or destination and being a point person for the group is an excellent idea.

“It makes our job a lot easier having one person present the information, then every family can contact us individually for deposits and flight arrangements,” said Randolph, who is helping Candella put together his family’s trip to Italy.

Scheduling the time may be the biggest challenge.

Once a date is secured, booking as early as possible is critical in terms of securing availability and the best rates — not always possible during the peak travel seasons, summer and school holidays — when airfare and accommodations are typically at their highest.

Randolph said finding a resort, tour operator or cruise line that offers something for everyone is a key component when planning a multi-family, generation-spanning experience.

“Cruises, for example, have activities that are low key for the older generations — although they often give their kids a run for their money when it comes to adventure activities,” Randolph said.

Candella has no qualms about whether he’ll be able to keep pace with the kids on their whirlwind tour of Italy.

“As a matter of fact, with my oldest granddaughter, Braden, the two of us won’t stop,” he said. “The others may, but her and Papa will go and go. ... We will run, and we will get back exhausted. And I can’t wait.”

Surviving Walt Disney World Do your homework to ensure a magical summer vacation

By Julie Saunders WNC Parent contributor Many families find themselves restricted to visiting the Walt Disney World Resort during the summer. Since June, July and August are the most crowded months to tour the Orlando, Fla., theme parks, some advance planning and on-site strategies will make for a more enjoyable vacation.

At the risk of sounding like a tactical assault, some organization will ensure a successful storming of the castle. Vacationers who arrive without a plan during the busy summer months will find themselves shut out from dining at the more popular restaurants and waiting longer in lines than necessary.

Ready, set, research!

“Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World”

by Bob Sehlinger with Len Testa is a comprehensive resource to understanding what a trip to Disney World entails and how to make the most of your visit. For the official word, try “Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World”

by Birnbaum Travel Guides.

Following a touring plan can shave hours off time spent waiting in lines. One site, www.touringplans.com, offers a variety of plans to suit your family’s preferences.

Asked for his best advice for visiting Disney World, Touring Plans creator Len Testa said, “Arrive early — before scheduled opening.

You will ride more rides in the first hour of the day than in three hours after 11 a.m.”

Before you go Disney-certified — or “Earmarked” — travel agents can help with everything from resort selection to dining reservations. They also provide free packing list, luggage tags and other goodies. Most AAA offices offer a Disney specialist.

Another Earmarked agency, Kingdom Konsultant, takes the hassle out of the castle by booking resort, recreation and dining.

“With one call or e-mail, our certified agents will make all of your reservations and you won’t have to spend your valuable time Continued on Page 8

SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

A summertime trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., can be more fun if you’ve made a plan before you arrive. You can book your meals months in advance and organize your days using touring plans, for instance.

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Continued from Page 7 on the phone with Disney,” owner Pam VanSyckle said. Kingdom Konsultant is available at Kingdomkonsultants.com or by calling 866-566-7858.

Menus for all Disney restaurants are available at www.allearsnet.com under “dining.” Browse the menus and then call your travel agent or 407WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) to make dining reservations.

Trip tips Buy the refillable mug at your Disney resort. Mugs cost $12.49 and are good for free refills of coffee, soda, etc during your stay.

Bring breakfast foods (pop-tarts, granola bars, cereal) with you to cut food costs.

Check the calendar at Disneyworld.com to verify park hours and operational updates.

After you arrive Be realistic about each family member’s level of interest and stamina.

Children can become overstimulated, and dark rides are sometimes unsettling — even in Fantasyland. And a 5foot mouse is a unique experience.

Midafternoon is a good time to slip back to your resort for a nap or a swim. After a break, your family will be ready to take in the fireworks.

Use Disney’s Fastpass ride reservation and return system judiciously. If the posted wait time is 20 minutes or less, get in line and do not use Fastpass.

Extra Magic Hours are available to guests staying at the 23 Disney World resorts. Each day, a theme park will open one hour before or three hours after the posted hours of operation.

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Consider booking a character meal, where the characters come to you while seated and enjoying a meal.

Call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) up to 180 days in advance to make dining reservations.

SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

The Toy Story Mania ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens May 20.

Dateline Disney Through June 1: Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.

June weekends: “Star Wars” weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

July 4: Fourth of July Celebrations at the Magic Kingdom.

Sept. 5-6: Night of Joy contemporary Christian music event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

For event details, visit www.disneyworld.com online or call 407-WDISNEY (407-934-7639).

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Eat lunch at the fancy sit-down restaurants. The menus are nearly the same as dinner, but the prices are lower.

Free dining returns, Aug. 24-Sept. 20. This is a great deal if you are able to travel during these dates. The Magic Your Way Dining Plan normally costs $37.99 for adults 10 and older) and $9.99 for children (ages 3-9) per night.

Educational excursions Planning helps families make most out of learning vacations

By Michael Burns Gannett News Service Lisa Green envisions annual educational vacations once her son, Ayden, 5, is a little older. She wants him to be more mature so he’ll better appreciate the visits and handle the demands of such trips, but she and her husband, Stephen, aren’t waiting on the hands of time to incorporate education into their family excursions.

They have monthly CEOs to broaden their horizons — CEOs as in Cultural Educational Outings.

“I have a big box of things we can do, and each month we choose one thing out of the box,” said Green, of Taylors, S.C. “It could be a trip to the zoo, a play, a hike in the woods, dinner at a Chinese or Mexican restaurant where we talk about the country’s culture and I show my child where they are on the globe.”

Carol Gifford, public relations manager of AAA of the Carolinas, said bigger trips farther from home offer special opportunities, and she said thoughtful planning helps families make the most out of their trips.

“Make sure that everyone has a voice in the planning so that children are asked what kind of activities they’d like to do on vacation and adults schedule some of that in,” she said.

“It’s important because not everybody will get to do their favorite activity at all times, but you have something to

look forward to and you know that, ‘OK, my mom’s making me go to this museum, but then we’re going horseback riding or we’re headed out to the water park when we’re finished.’”

The Albertson family of Folly Beach, S.C., begins the learning when they plan vacations. Before they visited England, mother Amanda Albertson’s native country, two summers ago, Amanda and oldest daughter Madeleine studied castles. They toured castles once they were there.

The education continues after the return home.

“We keep a log where she’ll keep notes,” Albertson said. “If we’re going around to castles and she says, ‘What’s that?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know. Why don’t we find out when we get home?’ We’ll keep a note of what we’re going to find out, follow up with and research when we get home.”

Cynthia Masters of Linda Long Travel in Greenville, S.C., said attitude makes a difference when mixing education and pleasure. She said children pick up on clues from their parents when they embrace learning as fun.

“Children don’t want to know they’re going for education,” she said.

“They want the fun part. To me you want it to be fun, but you want it to be educational, too. You can do fun stuff.

You can tie it in.”

Here are five suggestions for your next educational vacation.

Orlando, Fla. Even the Mecca of amusement that is Orlando, Fla., can be educational, said Cynthia Masters of Linda Long Travel in Greenville, S.C. Epcot Center, Sea World, the nearby Kennedy Space Center and specialized attractions pick up where Mickey, Minnie and Space Mountain leave off.

“Most people don’t think of Disney World as being educational, but it very much is educational — very much so,” Masters said. “There is so much in the innovations at Epcot, modern technology stuff. Disney’s Animal Kingdom with learning about animals is awesome.”

AAA Carolinas’ Carol Gifford recommends Epcot, too.

“Learn about the different cultures and wonders of the world — all in one place — at Epcot,” Gifford said. “This is a good place for an overview and might spark enough interest to more thoroughly explore other places and cultures.”

Visit www.orlandoinfo.com for information.

The Capitol, center, and Washington Monument, just to its left.

Washington, D.C. Visiting our nation’s capital is important, educational and fun for the whole family, AAA’s Carol Gifford said.

“Tour the Capitol building and see Congress in session,” she said. “Set up a tour of the White House. Contact your Congressperson months in advance for help in getting the tickets and the necessary security clearance. Visit the 19 museums of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Washington Zoo, for free.”

She said many museums and organizations offer advice for visiting with children that can be found online.

The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial may offer priceless experiences, but the International Spy Museum may be more exciting to children.

Spy guides to enhance visits can be downloaded at www.spymuseum.org.

Williamsburg, Va. Another of the nation’s birthplaces is a favorite destination for Cynthia Masters’ family.

She said her boys got a lot more out of visiting Williamsburg than being able to say they’ve been to one of the United States’ earliest settlements.

“It’s like, ‘We’re going to learn about this because you’re going to hear about it in history. Plus it’s a good thing to have.’ Then they make it fun once you go in there,” she said. “In the goverAn iPod plays an audio podcast as a historical nor’s house, they actually act like interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg hitches you’re servants. You’re getting Captain, left, and Ranger, to a post on Duke of fussed at because your shoes Glouchester Street. weren’t clean. My boys thought that was really cool, that they were kind of acting it out. One son got pulled aside and they said, ‘You should get a thrashing because you didn’t clean the knives that were on the wall like you were supposed to.’ He thought that was really cool, too. He said, ‘Did people really live like that?’ I said, ‘Sure they did.’”

Visit www.williamsburg.com for information.

More destinations on Page 10

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Continued from Page 9

Philadelphia Philadelphia holds lots of treasures, AAA Carolinas’ Carol Gifford said.

“See the birthplace of our nation at Independence Hall, followed by the Liberty Bell Center, the National Constitution Center and the Betsy Ross House, the 1740 house where the first flag was made,” she said.

“Follow up by visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see where ‘Rocky’ was filmed and the outside statute of him, relax at Fairmount Park and stop by the Water Works to see how the water in the Schuykill River was harnessed for energy. Find out about the Mummer’s Parade, held every year on New Year’s Day at the Mummer’s Museum, and go to Reading Terminal Farmer’s Market to eat. Visit Valley Forge National Park and take the kids to jail at Eastern State Penitentiary for a change of pace from museums.”

Visit www.gophila.com for information.

Boston History comes to life in Boston, too, Gifford said.

“See where America decided to declare its independence from Great Britain and learn what the famous Boston Tea Party was all about,” she suggested. “Walk the Freedom Trail and see where Paul Revere rode his horse.

Visit Old North Church and the Bunker Hill Monument, and go to the harbor to see the USS Constitution, ‘Old Ironsides,’ the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world.”

Boston Common, America’s oldest park, is a notable attraction, as is the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. “For a side trip, take a park ferry over to one of the Boston Harbor Islands to learn about birding or go for a hike,” Gifford said.

Visit www.bostonusa.com for information.

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Traveling with kids

By Barbara Blake Staff Writer If you ask a room full of parents what their favorite family activity is, odds are that not one of them will answer, “Traveling with the children.”

Families surely enjoy their time together once they arrive at a destination, but getting there can sometimes be challenging at best, especially if the journey involves many hours in the car or on an airplane. But with a little creative planning, road or air trips with the kids can be pleasant, and even fun.

“My favorite is to gift wrap a number of little gifts, like Silly Putty and Mad Libs, and open them every so many hours or as needed,’’ said Kathy Meeks, of West Asheville, mother of 8-year-old Thomson. “Books on tape for the iPod or the car CD player are great,’’ she said, “and Hacky Sacks for airports can get some wiggles out.”

The Meeks family, which includes dad Tom, travels frequently by air to see relatives in the Northeast, along with occasional car trips in the Southeast.

“We still ride the airport transportation just for fun as we wait for a connecting flight, and Tom and Thomson interview the pilots and ask to see the cockpit,’’ Kathy Meeks said.

“Introduce a new game like Sudoko, Hangman, Situation Puzzles or Hink Pinks and see how much mileage you can get from it. Or prepare postcards and have kids write them out as you complete one leg after another.”

Three-year-old Grover PattesonHernandez and his parents, Sonya Hernandez and Joseph Patteson, frequently make a 10-hour drive to Florida to see family, and the toddler handles the trip like a pro.

“We usually drive at night so he’ll be asleep most of the time,” Hernandez said. “We’ll start late in the afternoon, and Grover will usually fall asleep by 8 or 9 p.m. And when he’s awake, we get out at rest stops and really run around so he can burn off some energy.”

Hernandez said she packs a special box of toys that Grover hasn’t seen before, which keep him occupied for several hours. “And we always sing a lot,’’ she said.

Here are some other tips for happy

How do you keep your kids entertained on trips? Visit WNCmom.com to join the discussion. traveling with toddlers and older children, contributed by other moms and some of the many Web sites dedicated to traveling with kids.

For infants and toddlers Pack a favorite stuffed animal or character toy, and some new toys from a dollar store, to be doled out in increments as interest wanes. Stickers and sticker books, blank paper and rubber stamps also work well.

If your child has a security object like a special blanket, have an identical item or an acceptable replacement available in case something happens to the original. If you’re flying, keep the replacement in your carry-on bag.

Pack at least one complete change of clothes and keep it in your carry-on; the younger the child, the greater the possibility a change will be needed.

Pack more baby wipes than you think you’ll need; they’re good for cleaning up messy hands and faces when bathrooms aren’t available, or after an accident.

Always have a half-dozen or so gallon-sized zipper storage bags, preferably freezer bags, so that whatever messes might happen in or on clothing will stay contained in the bag.

Take a few of your child’s favorite books; when naptime approaches, the comfort and familiarity of books from home may get him to sleep more easily.

Take an inflatable beach ball if you’re flying; if you have a layover, you can inflate it inside the terminal, then deflate it when it’s time to board again.

If your child has a cold or congestion before flying, ask your pediatrician about giving her a decongestant to help alleviate pressure buildup in the ears.

For older children Help your child make her own travel diary or journal, which will keep her busy on a long car trip and preserve memories for a lifetime.

Create a scavenger hunt for a road trip. Give each child a list of items to

Flying with children?

Better know the rules Transportation Security Administration rules for flying with young children: The TSA now allows a mother flying without her child to bring breast milk through the security checkpoint if it is declared before screening. Mothers flying with or without their child will be permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than 3 ounces if it is declared for inspection at the checkpoint.

Formula, breast milk and juice will be inspected; security officers may test liquid exemptions (items more than three ounces) for explosives. watch for while driving, and see how many each child can spot. Give the winners a prize from the dollar store.

MomsMinivan.com has a variety of car and travel game ideas, including a downloadable form listing the 50 states for playing a license-plate game.

If traveling with multiple children, take decks of old-fashioned cards for Old Maid, Crazy 8s or Go Fish.

More than 3 ounces of formula, breast milk or juice are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities if they are separated from the other liquids, gels and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag; are declared to security officers; and are presented for additional inspection after reaching the x-ray area.

Gel- or liquid-filled teethers and canned, jarred or processed baby food are allowed in carry-on baggage and in checked luggage.

For information on creams, medicines or other essential items for your child, go to the “traveling with children’’ link at www.tsa.gov.

A cheap roll of aluminum foil can lead to hours of fun making balls, bracelets, rings, sun visors, masks, chains, animal forms, masks or anything else that strikes the child’s imagination.

Age-appropriate books-on-tape can entertain older children for an hour or two.

Join the kids in a game of 20 Questions.

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Smart dining tips for family trips

By Rick McDaniel WNC Parent contributor It’s time for the family vacation, but you’re on a much tighter budget than last year. How can you keep the kids well fed and happy while they’re on the road without spending a fortune?

Here are some tips for eating on the road: Pack two or three bottles of water and refill them at drinking fountains at rest stops. This helps avoid all those sugary drinks at fast food places.

Bring your own snacks. This can save you a lot of money, considering the markup on snacks at convenience stores. The ideal road trip snacks are foods that need little or no refrigeration Fruit is your friend. Mandarin

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oranges, tangerines, dried apricots or banana chips. Individual applesauce and fruit cups are also great for traveling.

Everyone likes crackers. Saltines with peanut butter, cheese crackers with peanut butter, butter crackers with peanut butter — all these variations are popular with adults and children alike. Wheat crackers can also add some variety.

Make your own trail mix from your favorite cereal, nuts, dried fruit and coated-chocolate candy pieces.

Pre-packaged cookies are usually easy to pack and store, as are granola bars and candy bars. Homemade treats can include cookies also, or something like chocolate-coated pretzels. The key to keep in mind is what isn’t messy and what doesn’t need refrigeration.

area, lay a plastic tablecloth under a tree and you have a picnic.

Pita bread is good and good for you. And since it’s already flat, sandwiches can’t get squashed.

Put hot dogs in a Thermos and cover them with boiling water. They’ll be perfectly cooked and warm when you’re ready to eat.

For easier packing and fewer crumbs, buy the chips that come in cans.

A damp washcloth placed in a zippered plastic bag and a roll of paper towels packed in with the lunch supplies will go a long way toward cleaning up unexpected messes. Baby wipes or hand sanitizer are also a good idea.

Eat local PHOTO BY BILL SANDERS

Packing your own lunch is an easy way to save money on a family vacation.

Meals on the road If you want to avoid fast food, try packing your own lunch for the trip.

There are lots of options.

Cold fried chicken can be packed in a small cooler with a container of slaw and potato salad. Stop at a rest

One way to avoid fast food is to eat at local restaurants along your route.

You can get restaurant recommendations from “foodies” along your route by making a post on Chowhound.com.

You’ll probably get quite a few suggestions for good quality, inexpensive local restaurants.

Rick McDaniel is a freelance writer.

E-mail him at southerncooking@ charter.net.

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Charlotte’s natural wonder all the activities inside the museum.

“They have a great variety,” she said.

“There are hands-on things for toddlers and then a lot of activities for bigger kids. He’s going from one thing to the next. There are so many things to look at, so it’s very exciting for him.”

Discovery Place also features a new Kapla area that allows children, and adults, the chance to construct creations using unique wooden building blocks made of pine.

“I enjoy coming out here and watching because it’s usually more of the parents, especially the dads, who love to play in the Kapla blocks section,” Lewis said. “They get very competitive about who can build the biggest formation, and it’s fun to watch.”

Make a day trip to Discovery Place

By Angie Campbell Gannett News Service Six-year-old Caia Staton and her classmate Kye Newsmith squealed with excitement as their hands touched a sea urchin in the touch-pool inside the aquarium area at Discovery Place.

Minutes later, Caia yelled, “This is the coolest museum ever!” as she ran past to explore the other hands-on activities inside the science and technology museum. Her mother, Emerald Staton of Charlotte, smiled as she watched the two girls and admitted she was having fun, too.

“I used to come here when I was younger, and there’s so much that’s different now,” she said. “The exhibits and the hands-on stuff are all new.”

Families looking for a way to bring science to life have only seven months left to journey to Charlotte’s Discovery Place before it closes for a year’s worth of renovations. In January, Discovery Place will close and renovate its 26-year-old Tryon Street facility, with plans to fill its museum with new science and technology, and interactive displays.

“We’re doing renovations to allow us to create a museum that changes more frequently and so we can more easily host exhibitions such as our current Norman Rockwell exhibit,” said Natividad Lewis, manager of marketing and public relations for the museum.

Discovery Place’s museum will reopen to the public in early 2010 with a fresh, new look, Lewis said.

In the meantime, there are plenty of reasons to plan a day trip — or two — to visit the museum, she said.

“A lot of people when they think of Discovery Place, they think it’s just a children’s museum,” Lewis said.

“Many of our guests are families, and we try to make it so that it’s entertaining for the entire family. We do also try to mix things up so that we can attract other audiences, such as by showing blockbuster films in the IMAX and presenting exhibitions such as Body Worlds.”

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SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

A full-size cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil skeleton at Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries at Discovery Place in Charlotte.

Special exhibits Before it closes for renovations, Discovery Place museum is offering at least two eye-popping exhibitions — A Day in Pompeii and Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries.

Children fascinated by prehistoric life are sure to be enthralled by the exhibit “Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries,” which opened April 18. This 7,000-square-foot exhibition includes a diorama of a 130 millionyear-old Mesozoic forest in China and allows families to encounter more than 35 species of dinosaurs, mammals, fish reptiles and insects in their prehistoric habitat.

A Day in Pompeii will open in July and allow visitors to experience everyday life in A.D. 79 in the Roman city of Pompeii before it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Permanent exhibits Aside from its frequently changing special exhibitions, Discovery Place’s 140,000-square-foot facility also offers two levels of permanent exhibit areas.

Families can explore simulations of plate tectonics, weather and the weather cycle or visit the museum’s colorful salt and freshwater aquariums. A puppet theater presents science lessons through music and shows while a collection of wilderness animals from across North America

Want to go?

Discovery Place’s Tryon Street museum is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m.

Sundays. It is only closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Cost is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children aged 13 and younger.

IMAX films can be purchased separately or with museum admittance. Individual film prices range from $11 to $7, depending on the type of film. Discovery Place’s IMAX theater features both full-length feature films and museum-themed documentaries.

For more information, call 704-372-6261 or visit www.discoveryplace.org. teaches about animals, such as grizzly bears and raccoons.

To enhance early childhood development, Discovery Place designed Kidsplace especially for children 7 and younger and includes an infant and toddler play area, Lewis said. Exhibits provide children with the opportunity to learn nature lessons by using their developing senses.

On the museum’s second level is one of the most popular permanent exhibits, Rat Basketball, which showcases a team of rats trained to dunk a ball.

Laurie Williamson, of Durham, said her 2-year-old, Jack, enjoyed exploring

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IMAX presentations Families looking to rest their feet at the museum have the opportunity to catch an educational or theatrical film in IMAX format at Discovery Place’s IMAX Dome Theatre. Documentaries on a wide range of subjects are also offered. Moviegoers now can experience “Dinosaurs Alive!” or “Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs.”

Lewis said Discovery Place’s IMAX theater’s dome format is more interesting than standard IMAX theaters.

“I, personally, prefer it because you’re able to have a peripheral view as opposed to just a flat screen,” she said. “When you watch a movie here, you’re surrounded by it.”

Charlotte Nature Museum A few miles from Discovery Place, the nearby Charlotte Nature Museum will be open during Discovery Place’s upcoming renovations, and tickets for this affiliate can also be purchased at Discovery Place’s box office.

For a $5 admission fee for those 2 and older, visitors can walk among free-flying butterflies in the Butterfly Pavilion, observe live North Carolina native animals in Creature Cavern, experience a room filled with interactive lessons about insects or explore environmental lessons in Our Big Backyard.

“We work very hard to offer a variety,” Lewis said. “Whether it’s the nature museum, Discovery Place or the IMAX theater, there should be something to please every member of the family.”

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Why my mom is special

KIDS’ VOICES

As Mother’s Day nears, we asked students at Rainbow Mountain Children’s School in West Asheville what they’d like to say about their moms, and why they are special. Here’s what they said:

Auden Harwood, second grade

Nitara Kittles, second grade

Counti McCutchen, second grade

Maggie Fletcher, third grade

“I love my mother because she’s kind, she’s gentle, and she speaks Portuguese. She protects me. She makes me happy.”

“I love my mom because she brought me into this world. She cares for me and loves me.

She watches movies with me.

And at night she reads a story. This is why I love my mom.”

“My mom is special. I love my mom for helping me, for making me feel better and for giving me a hug. I thank my mom for cleaning and for doing stuff I want to do when we have been doing stuff she wants to do.”

“My mom is awesome because she is funky and cool.”

Kit Tracy, third grade

Michael Travers, third grade

Alec McMahon, fourth grade

Julli Diskin, fourth grade

“My mother is special because she really cares about me. My mother is a good clam chowder cook. My mother is a good baby entertainer.”

“My mom is unique because she will spend three hours in a bookstore with me.”

“My mom is hard-working because she is a teacher. She makes learning fun. She is caring because when people are tired she lets them rest. I appreciate my mom for being happy a lot.”

“My mom has always been there for me. When I was sick for so long she was right by my side.

She is caring, fun, cheerful, trustworthy and loyal.”

Adriana McCassim, fifth grade

Conor Stuart-Roe, fifth grade

Ben Waldman, fifth grade

Eva Peterson, third grade

“I think my mom is giving because every morning she makes breakfast and packs my lunch. That is what the world’s greatest mom would do. I think my mom is very trustworthy because whenever I see someone who scares me or I am scared of doing something, she always cheers me on.”

“I appreciate my mom because she is very thoughtful. When I have a problem I can talk to her about it and she will try to help me the best way she can.

That means a lot to me.”

“My mom is fun because she plays baseball, football, hockey and a lot more stuff. I appreciate the time she bought me my new Zoo York skateboard deck.”

“I love my mom because she helps me with my homework. She makes me feel better when I am sad. She cooks for me. But the best part is that she loves me.”

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— Compiled by Barbara Blake

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A gift from the heart Celebrate mom with a Mother’s Day present she’ll keep forever

By Pam J. Hecht WNC Parent correspondent Sure, jewelry, clothes or better yet, a gift certificate for a massage (in a quiet place where no children are screaming), would bring a smile to mom’s face. But does that really hold the same special meaning as a homemade gift?

Not crafty? Making a gift from scratch might not be as hard as you think. Here are some craft ideas that the special mom in your life might really like and use all year round.

You can turn anything into a crafty gift for mom, said Mimi Shackelford, a former exhibit designer for The Health Adventure museum, freelance artist and private art teacher.

Shackelford, who shares her craft skills with kids awaiting therapy at Mission Hospitals and teaches at the Center for Creative Retirement’s College for Seniors, said she recycles discarded containers like pencil jars, candle holders or vases for projects.

Meredith Lincoln’s students can make gifts for their mothers like crocheted scarves, ceramic wall hangings and objects out of clay. Lincoln, who teaches art at Cane Creek Middle

School in Fletcher, said she’s learned a few things about what kids like to give their mothers on their special day. An instructor for more than 30 years, she retires this June.

“Older kids want to give presents, but they don’t want to be sappy about it.

They love their moms, but want to be cool,” she said. “They appreciate the utilitarian purpose of things and want to make things their moms can really use.”

So where else besides a class can you go for craft ideas and help? Check out a craft book from the library or bookstore, go online or try a local store that sells craft supplies.

Popular crafts for mom Tashah Thompson, classroom coordinator for A.C. Moore craft supply store in East Asheville, said the best sellers for Mother’s Day are kits to make keepsakes like framed hand and foot impressions and homemade card supplies, especially for the younger set.

“A lot of dads come here with their young kids to make something for Mother’s Day,” Thompson said. “Most of them are generally confused and tired from running around.

“Teenage girls usually come in to

make mom a T-shirt, beaded bracelet or scrapbook page,” she said. “Some of the hipper kids go for the scented candle or soap kits.”

Another popular craft product for Mother’s Day is the make-your-own stepping stone kit, said Leslie Pearson, event coordinator at Michaels Arts and Crafts in East Asheville. Other easy and inexpensive options, Pearson said, are oversized mugs that can be personalized, paintable wooden boxes, bead projects and sun catcher kits.

“We’re seeing increasing numbers of people coming in to make homemade gifts,” said Tamara Rose, the store’s manager. “The way the economy is, people don’t want to spend large amounts of money on gifts.”

Cost is partly the reason why local artist and instructor Irene Semanchuk Dean recommends making a gift for mom out of polymer clay, a synthetic plastic material. And, in addition to being inexpensive, she said, it’s good for beginning crafters because it’s easy to work with, is pre-colored and can be “fired” or baked, in a home oven. It’s also gaining in popularity and is readily available in most stores that sell crafts.

A member of Asheville’s Southern

Highland Craft Guild, Dean creates switch plates, clocks and fan pulls, among other things, out of polymer clay. Her work is displayed at shops and galleries locally and elsewhere, and she’s written three how-to books about polymer clay for both kids and adults.

“Anybody can do it,” said Dean, who makes Mother’s Day gifts for her mom.

“Sometimes my mother will even buy things I’ve made. She’s definitely one of my biggest fans.”

Retro aprons are also popular and can make a unique Mother’s Day gift.

“It’s the latest thing in retro crafts right now,” said Terry Taylor, senior editor at Asheville’s Lark Publishing, publisher of mainly craft-related books.

Magazines and books like “A is for Apron,” by local crafter Nathalie Mornu, are filled with apron projects that would make a trendy gift, he said. The aprons are worn as skirts, over a pair of pants.

They can be purchased and then embellished with fabric glue and things like buttons, sequins and fabric.

Taylor also recommends the “Pretty Little” series of how-to books, published by Lark, with instructions for making simple pincushions, potholders and purses with a modern twist.

Homemade gifts hold special meaning The first Mother’s Day after her teenage daughter died seven years ago was a hard one for Sandy Bruns. But her sister-in-law’s sister made it a little easier. She sent Bruns something simple to make, but that meant a lot.

“It was a card made out of a piece of fabric folded into a purse,” she said. “She wrote a special message and put it inside. It said, ‘Happy Mother’s Day to a special mom. You’re in our prayers this month’ and she told me she knew it was going to be a different kind of Mother’s Day for me now.

“It was special to me and since then, if someone loses their child or mom, I try to do something special for them.”

For one Asheville mom, that something special once came in the form of a shoe.

Though they’re now long gone, Maggie McLaney still remembers her daughter’s first pair of American sneakers. They became the first Mother’s Day present her daughter, DeAnn, 8, who was adopted from Russia, gave her.

DeAnn, then 4, was thrilled to have a pair of shoes that lit up with each step, but couldn’t wait to transform one of them into a work of art for her new mom. Her pre-K teachers helped her paint the shoe

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gold, fill it with dirt and plant a flower in it.

“I kept it for years after the plant died,” McLaney said. “It was difficult to throw away those little shoes, but they weren’t bronzed and didn’t keep.”

Some of the most special gifts don’t cost a thing.

Amy Westmoreland’s daughter Lauren gave her a gift she’ll never forget.

“When Lauren was about 6 or 7, she overheard me grumbling about one day wanting a snazzy laundry room in a new house, with a counter to fold the clothes and a room where everything was neatly organized,” Westmoreland said.

“I could not have been more surprised when she led me downstairs into our basement and showed me the new ‘laundry room’ she’d created for me.”

Lauren had set up a card table near the dryer, neatly labeling hand-folded cards to explain each area, she said. The drying rack was all cleaned off and ready to use and the tops of the washer and dryer were clean and shiny.

“She was so proud and I could see the message in what she’d done,” she added. “She wanted to give me something nice, and I know she was also hoping that I would love the house like she and her brother do.”

— Pam J. Hecht

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SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT

Sandy Bruns displays a scrapbook page with the purse she received from a friend one Mother’s Day, after her teenaged daughter had died.

Get crafty: Here are a couple of simple crafts to make. If you’re a little adventurous, try your hand at polymer clay. You can’t go wrong, even if it ends up being a gift only a mother could love.

Simple yet stunning polymer clay picture frame Contributed by artist Irene Semanchuk Dean, Asheville, www.good-night-irene.com 2-ounce package of polymer clay (“Sculpey,” “Primo” or “Fimo” are popular brands, available at most craft stores, in a variety of colors) An acrylic roller from a craft store, rolling pin or cylinder-shaped object, like an unopened soup can Picture frame (used here is an inexpensive acrylic frame, available at craft and other stores that sell frames) Craft knife Colored gel pens or permanent markers 2 sheets of paper larger than the frame Heavy book Craft glue (like Elmer’s or Sobo) 1. Remove the polymer clay from the package and gently squeeze and stretch it for a few minutes to “condition” the clay – this is an important step.

2. Flatten the clay into a pancake with your hands and place it onto a piece of plain paper. Roll the clay flat to about 1/8-inch thick, to a bit larger than the size of your picture frame.

3. If desired, use your roller to gently press a piece of lace, window screen or any other material with texture, into the clay to add a design (remove before baking.) You can also use a rubber stamp or apply pieces of different color clay on top.

4. Gently place the acrylic frame on top of the sheet of clay. With a craft knife, trim the excess clay along the bottom edge. Then, trim the other three edges – can be straight or wavy. Then, lift the acrylic frame and set it aside.

5. Cut a piece of paper a little smaller than the dimensions of the acrylic frame’s photo opening. Center it on the sheet of clay and cut around it to make a PHOTOS SPECIAL TO WNC PARENT hole for the photo. Remove the center piece of clay. (Opening can also be cut out with a wavy or other edge design.)

6. Now you’re ready to bake your picture frame. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on the package. Most specify 275 degrees F for 10 or 20 minutes (20 usually works best, depending on your oven).

Leave the clay frame on the paper, which won’t burn while cooking at that low temperature.

7. After 20 minutes, take the frame out of the oven and place it on a flat surface. Put another piece of paper on top, and then place a book or something heavy to make sure the frame stays flat as it cools.

8. When the frame has cooled completely (about 30 minutes), use your gel pens or permanent markers to color in parts of the stamped designs. Put the frame back in the oven for 10 minutes to set the ink so it doesn’t rub off.

9. Remove the frame from the oven and let it cool again. Use craft glue to attach the clay frame to the acrylic frame. Let the glue dry completely and insert your best photo of you.

(Safety Note: Tools used with polymer clay should not go back into the kitchen. Clean up: Be sure to clean your hands after working with polymer clay. Apply hand lotion to break down the residue, then scrub with a nail brush or textured sponge.)

Roll texture onto the sheet of polymer clay, using a piece of plastic, lace tablecloth.

Trim the clay around the picture frame.

Trim an opening for the photo in the middle of the clay.

Pretty purse message card Contributed by Sandy Bruns, Asheville mother of six Fabric about 12 inches square (best if two different colored fabrics, one 10 x 5 1/2 and the other about 4 x 6 inches) Scissors Fabric glue or needle and thread Two small pieces of Velcro (usually comes in squares at craft, hardware or fabric stores) (You can also make the purse out of a sturdy paper such as cardstock, with craft glue) 1. Cut out a 10 x 5 1/2-inch rectangle of fabric for the purse body.

2. Fold it in half lengthwise, then cut upper sides, so that it is tapered at the top to resemble a purse shape. Top should be 3 inches across.

3. Trace a 3-inch circle onto another piece of fabric (can use a jar top for tracing or can draw freeform.)

4. Cut out circle, fold it in half and cut a smaller semi-circle to form handle (when opened, circle should resemble a doughnut.)

5. Glue handle halves together, then glue handle onto top inside of purse.

6. Cut out a 1 x 3-inch oblong shape for the “clasp.”

7. Glue or sew to back edge of purse and fold over to front.

8. Glue or sew a small piece of Velcro to the front of the purse and another piece under the clasp, so that they attach.

9. Place a hand-written note and/or small gift inside for mom.

Apply glue to back of clay frame.

Easy orange juice can pencil holder Contributed by Mimi Shackelford, Asheville A clean, empty frozen orange juice can White craft paint Paint brush Elmer’s glue Different colored tissue paper Modge Podge, available in craft stores (optional) 1. Paint can white and allow to dry.

2. Tear tissue paper into 15-20 small pieces.

3. Using a mixture of Elmer’s glue and water (1/4-cup glue and one tbsp water) or Modge Podge, glue pieces of tissue paper to the can, one by one, overlapping them as desired.

4. Paint a coating of glue, Modge Podge or clear finish over the tissue paper and allow to dry.

(Project can also be done using a glass bottle or jar, with or without paint.)

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Give mom a book — and time to read it — for Mother’s Day

By Craig Wilson Gannett News Service Every mother has a story or two.

And it seems every child has a story or two about Mom. Here are some new titles to keep in mind for Mother’s Day on May 11, or anytime: “Mother Nurture: Life Lessons From the Mothers of America’s Best and Brightest” by Stephanie Hirsch (William Morrow: $24.95). Every suc-

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cess story begins with a mom. Just ask Steven Spielberg’s mother.

“A Remarkable Mother” by Jimmy Carter (Simon & Schuster, $22.95).

Memoir from the former president about his mother, Miss Lillian, who once discussed the family’s “twoholer” outhouse with Johnny Carson.

“Please Excuse My Daughter” by Julie Klam (Riverhead, $22.95).

Memoir about growing up as the only daughter of a dependent mother who

shunned a career.

“Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers” (Borealis Books, $24.95). Collection of stories from the likes of Jonis Agee, Heid Erdrich and Morgan Grayce Willow.

“Making Up With Mom” by Julie Halpert and Deborah Carr (Thomas Dunne Books, $24.95). Explains why mothers and daughters disagree about kids, careers and casseroles, and what to do about it.

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“Grabbing at Water: A MotherDaughter Memoir” by Joan and Maddy Lambur (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $14.95, paperback). The authors look at raising children from wildly different perspectives.

“Designated Daughter: The Bonus Years With Mom” by D.G. Fulford with Phyllis Greene (Voice, $22.95).

Returning home after the death of her father, the author becomes her mother’s closest companion.

Get some help around the house

By Barbara Blake Staff Writer At the end of the day, most moms probably would say no to flowers and chocolates on Mother’s Day in favor of a little more help around the house every day of the year.

If you’re a mother, that means you have kids. And those kids can be transformed into bona fide helpers in areas from laundry and cooking to gardening and housecleaning. Even preschoolers can pitch in in small ways, pushing the start button on a dishwasher or tossing clothes into the washing machine.

On top of getting a helping hand from the youngest members of the family, teaching children from an early age how to keep a yard and household running will lead to lifelong skills and habits that will benefit them as adults.

And, strange as it may seem, doing household chores is good for their brains.

“Children learn by doing; every time you give them something to do that makes them think, you help their

brains develop,’’ said Cathy Cody, chair of the early childhood development program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

“If you ask them to help you separate the towels according to color or size — and even some 2-year-olds can do this — you are teaching them to classify. Anytime you can count things as you’re working, it’s great. Just keep in mind the child’s age and developmental level, and keep it fun,’’ Cody said.

Rylee Sommervill, 7, of West Asheville, is proud to be taking on increasing responsibility around the house to help her mom, Laura.

“She takes the silverware out of the dishwasher and puts all the pieces in their places, and she’s just learning to mop,’’ Laura Sommervill said.

“And I feed the dog and the cats,’’ Rylee added. “And I water them, too.”

Six-year-old Hannah Kinsland, also of West Asheville, is responsible for making her own bed, and loves helping her mom, Crystal, with dusting. She also has the unsavory but necessary job of cleaning out the cat’s litter box.

How children can help A child’s ability to help around the house will vary according to maturity level and physical ability. Here are some examples of age-appropriate chores that most children can do. Cathy Hohenstein with Buncombe County Cooperative Extension offers tips for kids in the kitchen.

Kitchen chores 3-year-olds Wash fruits and vegetables Pour measured liquids into bowl Stir dry ingredients Tear lettuce Help set the table 4-year-olds Open packages Get ingredients out of fridge Peel bananas or oranges

Mash and stir ingredients Help set the table Spoon out cookies

Get ingredients out from cupboards and fridge Prepare salad from cut vegetables Begin to read recipes Roll and shape cookies Knead dough for larger loaf of bread

PHOTO BY JOHN COUTLAKIS

Hannah Kinsland, 6, helps her mom, Crystal, with chores at their West Asheville home.

“It’s her cat, and we told her she needs to help take care of it,’’ Crystal said. “Sometimes we have to prod her, but if she doesn’t do the stuff she’s supposed to, she doesn’t get her allowance.”

Cathy Hohenstein, an agent with the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, said it’s important to ensure the child isn’t overwhelmed by the chore.

“It’s really easy for children to mess up a room when playing and

Turn on oven Shred cheese, vegetables Use small appliance with supervision Plan a simple meal

Other chores Ages 2-4 Help make the bed 5- and 6-year-olds Put (plastic) dishes in the Cut soft foods with a dull sink knife Take laundry to the laun Measure ingredients dry room Stir mixtures Help feed pets 9- to 12-year-olds Set the table Knead small load of bread Learn how to follow recipe Dust with socks on their hands Open cans Use microwave with super- Mop in small areas, with 7- and 8-year-olds vision Help plan the meal help

going from one thing to the next — cleaning up the mess is another story,’’ Hohenstein said. “Younger children and even young school-aged children may not be able to process all the steps needed to really clean up the mess, and they’ll be overwhelmed.

“With a little guidance or help getting started, they can then do the job.

And you also can use it as a lesson for cleaning up something when they’re done with it, and not making such a mess,’’ she said.

Water the garden with premeasured water Pick up toys Help wipe up messes Ages 4-6 Carry and put away groceries Water the garden Feed pets Get the mail Empty wastebaskets Remove dirty sheets and eventually learn to put on clean ones Carry dirty dishes to kitchen or sink Put away clean clothes

Set out clothes, backpacks and shoes for the next day Keep room in order Ages 7-12 Help wash the car Learn to wash dishes Clip coupons Plan basic meals Write a grocery list Clean the bathroom Walk the dog Plant garden flowers Pick up dog waste Change the litter box Bring in firewood Rake leaves Operate washer, dryer

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Send us your photos We welcome photos of family, neighborhood, school, church and other social activities involving children. Send your high-resolution photos, along with a brief description of the event and names of everyone pictured. Don’t forget your name, address and phone number.

Send to: Katie Wadington, WNC Parent photos, P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, NC 28802 or e-mail to kwadington@CITIZEN-TIMES.com

Katie Shayne Elliott, almost 2 1/2, plays among the daffodils. Submitted by her grandparents, Courtney and Karen Cummings of Weaverville.

Ryan Cole Miller, 18 months, rests after what his mom describes as a “long, hard weekend of visiting grandparents in Leicester.” Submitted by his mom, Michelle Miller of Hickory.

Friends gather to celebrate the 2nd birthday of Mia Yin McMurry, seen in back row with green shirt in the hands of her father.

Submitted by mom, Meg Turner, of West Asheville.

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This is just a sampling of the posts and photos at WNCmom.com. Visit the site for lots more.

Advice from the forum

Jennifer asks in ‘Gifts for twins+’: When purchasing gifts for your twins, did you buy identical gifts or different? My triplets fight over everything, whether it is the same or different. On one hand, if they all had identical toys, it might decrease fighting, but if I had different toys, they would teach the boys different things. What do you think?

Julia writes in, ‘Are you struggling to keep your family’s food costs down?’: The best thing I have found to keep food costs down (recession or no) is to make a list. It is so important to make a menu, then a list. This stops you from impulse buying, eating out because you have no food, and from buying things you already have. You will also find that you are eating healthier because you have your meals planned, no need to order pizza. So that way you save money on groceries and on eating out!

You can also buy discounted milk and freeze it. I did that with my favorite coffee creamer after Christmas (Gingerbread, mmmm) and I just pull one out when I am finished with the other. I have heard people do it with regular milk too. That could really save you some money since I saw some marked $0.99 at Ingles yesterday.....

James adds:

Nancy answers:

I (try to) keep costs down by cooking mostly from whole ingredients rather than buying packaged products, and by buying as much of those whole ingredients as I can at local farmers markets (or, ideally, growing my own).

Then I cook large batches — usually at least double or triple the recipe — and store the uneaten portion for later. Solves the money problem and also the “it’s 8 p.m. and I haven’t made dinner” problem (which otherwise invariably ends in pizza).

Peeps ... yuck! Posted by Nicole Adams

A handful of more than 300 photos at WNCmom.com

I always bought things for my daughters to share, feeling this was a concept that could never be learned too early! The only time I bought them the same thing was if it was a doll or stuffed animal that was meant to be theirs personally — something they might sleep with and would each need their own.

Posted by Sonya Stone

Tanner and Katelyn Wilson, Easter 2008. Posted by Lisa Wilson

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Cruising with kids makes for a great vacation

By Doreen Nagle Gannett News Service Want to have a fun family vacation without spending it at the gas pump?

Like the idea of unpacking the kids just once during the trip? Want a resort and activities that you and your children can enjoy separately for part of the day? Well, welcome to cruising.

If you are new cruise vacationers, here are some questions you might want to ask before booking:

The children’s zone What programs are there for children? (Most cruise ships now run supervised kids clubs and teen clubs for all but the youngest.)

What are the children’s activities? Request a sample schedule.

Question what’s involved: I had given permission for our son to participate in a scavenger hunt. I was not informed he’d be running all over the ship with other kids — unsupervised.

Make sure all children’s activities are included in the price.

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What are the age ranges and hours for each program? This is important especially if siblings and friends want to be together in the same group but age requirements keep them apart.

What is the club’s procedure for signing in and signing out?

Is a background check run on the youth staff? Are they trained in breaking the ice so your solo child can make a shipboard friend? What’s the ratio of kids to staff?

How are emergencies handled?

How would you be contacted if there was an emergency?

Are there certain areas of the ship kids are not allowed in?

Is there evening entertainment aimed at children such as magicians, family comedians?

kids can “fill up” when they want to.

Milk and juice are generally free during meal and snack times.

Mom and Dad time Can you hire an in-room babysitter?

Can you leave the kids onboard at their club if you go ashore?

Tip from the trenches With some exceptions, cruises

Dining Are tables assigned? If so, can you request a table with other families?

Are menus kid-friendly?

Drinks, including soft drinks, cost extra on some ship lines. But you can purchase a soda package so the

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charge extra for shore excursions at each port. Do your homework beforehand by researching the port and what activities you can book on your own to save money. Don’t forget to figure transportation to and from the port activity.

This is the opinion of Doreen Nagle. author of “But I Don’t Feel Too Old To Be A Mommy” (HCI, $12.95). She welcomes parenting tips and concerns at parentinginanutshell@joimail.com.

Mother’s Day facts The driving force behind Mother’s Day was Anna Jarvis, who organized observances in Grafton, W.Va., and Philadelphia on May 10, 1908. As the annual celebration became popular around the country, Jarvis asked members of Congress to set aside a day to honor mothers. She finally succeeded in 1914, when Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. 82.8 million: Estimated number of mothers in the United States in 2004.

55: Percentage of 15- to 44-year-olds who are mothers.

81: Percentage of women 40-44 who are mothers. In 1976, 90 percent of women in that age group were mothers.

94.1: Number of births in 2006 per 1,000 women of childbearing age in Utah, which led the nation. At the other end of the spectrum was Vermont, with a rate of 52.2 births.

August: The month with the highest number of births, with 369,316 taking place that month in 2005.

Tuesday: The day of the week with the highest number of births, with an average of 13,169 taking place on Tuesdays during 2005.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Single-parent vacations can be just as fun if you follow a few simple guidelines, tips

By Trip Woodard WNC Parent columnist With fuel prices approaching the point where service stations are now posting, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it,” summer vacations are becoming more difficult to afford for many single or divorcing families.

Trust me: The suggested tactic of taking out a home equity loan to pay for gas doesn’t work either.

And then there is the thing about electronics. Have you ever gone to the beach or somewhere with your kids only to have them spend most of their time watching TV, DVDs or playing video games? And you are standing in the background wondering, “What is

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wrong with this picture?”

Here are some suggested dos and don’ts about summer vacations that may help: Do consider pairing up with another single parent, friend or relative and renting a condo or place that offers cooking capacity. This will save on housing and meal expenses. If you do eat out, try early bird specials or just at lunch. Web sites like www.vrbo.com post nice but less expensive rentals.

Do not partner up with a parent who is incompatible with your definition of “fun” and “appropriate.” If that parent shows up at the beginning of the trip with a complete collection of Zamfir CDs, that may not be a good sign. If he or she has to notify a parole officer about going out of state, this is not a good sign, either.

Do research your intended destination for freebies offered by state parks facilities, the local Chamber of

Commerce and any area festivals. Plan the level of activity during your vacation to match the age and needs of your children. Give them fair warning that some “me time” will also be fair to you.

Do not take any more electronics such as laptops, video games, iPods or DVD players than may be needed for sane car travel. If these conditions are a problem for your kids, then give them the option of staying home to play these things while you make time to pursue some of your own interests.

Do make up a “wish list” of place and things you and your children would like to do someday. Investigate Internet travel sites and see what kind of deals might be possible to make some of these dreams come true.

Do not limit yourself or your children about possibilities. Dreams, whether they are realized or not, are always important.

Do look into even less expensive

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vacations like long weekends or overnight camping trips. We are fortunate to live in an area that offers so many options for this such as dancing, music and a few strange festivals.

Remember that other people come here from other places for their vacations. No fooling.

Do not guilt yourself about what you perceive as your financial limitations. Ultimately, your time and what you do with it is what your children will tend to remember. Time is always your most precious commodity.

Speaking of time, I need to stop writing so I can go buy more gas. My home equity loan is not yet maxed out.

This is the opinion of Trip Woodard, a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical member of the N.C. Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He may be contacted at 274-9931.

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2 great books praise moms

By Jennifer Prince Buncombe County Public Library The book market is full of nice titles celebrating motherhood and babies. There are books about the baby’s siblings, books about the baby’s grandparents, even books about the baby’s family’s dog.

Barbara Park, author of the Junie B. Jones series for children, invigorates this genre by making the narrator of her new book, “MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here!”

(Random House 2008), a baby who has yet to be born.

The precocious star is eager, sassy and quick to point out to the mom all of the problems with living in “a womb with no view.” There is nothing to do! There are no puppies, toys or swings. There is not even a zoo.

The baby complains, “I’m so tired of floating. I’d love to go boating, but where’s the canoe?” Each complaint ends with, “MA! There’s nothing to do!”

As the baby anticipates life outside the womb, worries begin to present themselves. The baby admits to snoring. The baby predicts nights fractured with crying, “plus my head’s kinda wobbly, I’ll need support prob’ly.”

Soon, the baby’s cheerfulness reasserts itself and baby promises the mom gurgles, coos and other cute baby things.

Ultimately, the baby decides it is best to wait a while longer to grow bigger and stronger. With the time left in the womb, there is the possibility of growing hair!

Viviana Garofoli’s illustrations are large, bright and imaginative. She captures the rosy-cheeked baby’s cheery attitude and vivid imagination perfectly.

When the baby bemoans the lack of a canoe, Garofoli shows the baby, umbilical cord (bungee cord, according to the baby) and all, paddling contentedly in an orange canoe. With just a line for a mouth and two dots for eyes, the baby is remarkably expressive: confused, frustrated, content and joyful. Strategic positioning of the baby’s body disallows any knowledge of the baby’s gender.

For a gentle, quiet look at babies and motherhood, consider “Motherbridge of Love.” According to source notes, the poem that comprises the text was sub-

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mitted anonymously by an adoptive mother to the charity Mother Bridge of Love. The charity, in turn, made the poem into a book. In “Motherbridge of Love,” the adoptive American mother describes to her Chinese daughter the wondrous symbiosis between the adoptive mother and the biological mother. Each mother contributes to the well-being of the child: “The first one gave you life; the second taught you to live it.” The first mother gave physical form, emotions and talents. The second mother provides a home and nurtures the intrinsic gifts.

Josee Masse’s paintings for “Motherbridge of Love” are saturated in turquoise, blue and green. Red and pink accents are subtle, but arresting. Uncluttered canvases, fluid lines, and elongated shapes impart unaffected elegance.

Source notes at the end describe in detail Mother Bridge of Love.

This book is available through the Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Visit www.buncombecounty.org or call 250-4700 for more information.

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KIDS’ HEALTH

Use sidewalk chalk to get your children involved in outdoor fun and exercise

By Linden Veillette WNC Parent columnist Most homes have a bucket of sidewalk chalk tucked away somewhere. Kids usually use it to write their names and draw pictures, but chalk can also provide endless exercise opportunities for kids of all ages.

Sidewalk chalk is an inexpensive way to provide hours of fun and exercise. Most families have access to a sidewalk, driveway or an area that has a safe patch of asphalt or concrete without vehicle traffic.

Even patios and basement floors can provide space for sidewalk chalk fit-

ness activities.

Playing games can make most people forget they’re exercising.

While kids may not like to “exercise” by walking or running, playing games with chalk can get their mind off the exercise itself.

The most common games you may see played with sidewalk chalk are tick- tack- toe and hopscotch.

Balance and agility are improved while hopping on one foot during hopscotch. Four square is another popular game that most children learn during physical education at school. All it takes is a piece of chalk and a kickball. Hand-eye coordination is greatly improved during this game. Chances are if you ask your kids how to play, they’ll know the directions and how to draw a foursquare court.

Obstacle courses are another fun

creation your kids can create with sidewalk chalk.

Your family can draw rings, cones, hurdles and other obstacles in a course. Suicide drills, hopping through rings with one or two feet, jumping hurdles and zigzagging through chalk cones can be a great workout for parents and kids. Be creative and design a fun and challenging course that improves strength, agility and cardiovascular health.

You can also use chalk to draw your own circuit-training course.

Use the chalk to draw different stations. Write exercises to do at each station. Rotate around, staying at each station for one minute. Ideas for exercises are jumping jacks, squat thrusts, push-ups, sit-ups and windmills.

Drawing mazes with chalk is

another way to get exercise. Have kids hop, run or skip through the maze. Use dots to create a connectthe-dots game. Draw dots big enough for both feet to land in. Let your dot course weave, turn and zigzag from a start to end. Kids can jump from dot to dot, building leg strength and getting their heart rates up.

Exercising with sidewalk chalk games is inexpensive and fun. It improves cardiovascular fitness, strength, motor skills, math and art skills, and is a great way for kids to work out while having fun playing games.

This is the opinion of Linden Veillette, an ISSA-certified personal trainer who has developed a program for children called FitKids. E-mail her at linden_v@yahoo.com.

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Quick dinner Cowboy cheesesteaks Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1-pound piece top-round steak (London broil or flank steak) 4 slices (about 4 ounces total) pepper Jack or chipotle Cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce 4 large hamburger buns or rolls Coat a large skillet with oil and heat over medium-high heat. Cut steak in half horizontally so you have two large, flat pieces about 1/4-inch thick. Cut each of these pieces into fourths, giving you 8 fillets. Working in batches, if necessary, cook steaks 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until medium-rare. Place a cheese slice on 4 of the steaks; cover with a lid until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Spread barbecue sauce on the top and bottom of each hamburger roll. Place a cheese-topped steak on the bottom of each roll. Place a plain steak on top of that, then put the bun top on.

Approximate values per serving: 440 calories, 22 g fat, 79 mg cholesterol, 35 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 512 mg sodium, 45 percent calories from fat.

Gannett News Service

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GROWING TOGETHER

Boxes of fabric, patterns tell a family’s history

By Chris Worthy WNC Parent columnist It all felt too intrusive at first, but lured by the great bargain and seemingly unlimited potential, I began to dig through the 14 boxes of fabric and patterns my husband and I had hauled home from the auction house.

As I opened each box like a treasure chest, I found much more than I expected. Mrs. M., part of her estate spread out on my laundry room floor, slowly became a friend.

I bought the fabric because my daughter is learning to sew, and I am still such a hit-or-miss seamstress that my chances of ruining a given piece of fabric are pretty high. But Mrs. M. was an expert. She had satins and exquisite cottons and enough polyester knit

from the ’60s and ’70s to melt down and power my minivan for years.

Mrs. M. was frugal. I know this because she saved every tiny scrap of fabric. Leftovers from a sewing project were tied in neat bundles, ready to be used for mending or perhaps a quilt. When she spotted the latest fashion in a newspaper ad, she clipped the sketch and filed it away. I imagine she used these ideas as she bought some of the many patterns she collected. If she couldn’t find the perfect match to the A-line skirt and short jacket — the one with the matching pillbox hat — she cut her own from newspaper.

The stacks of newspaper patterns are a time capsule. With “front” and “seam” noted in pencil in the margins, the patterns tell the story of civil rights marches and voices of change, along with more mundane news of school lunches and sports victories long since forgotten.

Sometimes Mrs. M. splurged on a mail-order designer pattern. She

stored them carefully in the original envelopes. I can only imagine her excitement as she opened each for the first time, ready to sit down at her sewing machine and create her own runway fashions.

Life changed when Mrs. M. and her husband welcomed a daughter. The snazzy suits gave way to little girl sundresses and jumpers with heartshaped pockets, their remnants tucked away with the patterns saved for future children.

Maybe because she made so many of her own clothes, Mrs. M. was keenly aware of the importance of taking care of what she wore. Her full-length aprons, well worn and no doubt well loved, were eventually folded and put in the scrap box.

Like the rest of us, Mrs. M. had a few unfinished projects. So far, I have discovered two dresses — complete, but for sleeves — and a timeless wool skirt that is pinned and ready to hem.

Another skirt was set aside, needing a small seam repair.

Mrs. M. never got around to those projects, but imagine my surprise when I discovered that we share more than a love for making things and caring for our families. Unknowingly, some 40 years ago, Mrs. M. was making clothes in exactly my size. A new, custom “retro” skirt is surely a treasure.

As her family grew a bit, Mrs. M. shared her talents, taking custom orders for funky knit pantsuits and satin bridesmaids dresses lined with tulle. Each measurement is noted on the pattern envelopes, in a handwriting that I now instantly recognize.

I think Mrs. M. would be pleased to know that another mom is picking up right where she left off, carefully treasuring what she acquired. I know her well enough now to be sure she would approve.

This is the opinion of Chris Worthy, an attorney who took down her shingle to be a stay-at-home mom. Write to her at growingtogether@chrisworthy.com.

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Quick dinner Cranberry chicken croissants Prep time: 7 minutes Total time: 7 minutes Servings: 2 1 cup finely chopped, cooked chicken breast 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons dried cranberries Salt and pepper, to taste 2 croissants 2 large lettuce leaves Combine chicken, mayonnaise and cranberries. Stir to combine; season with salt and pepper. Split croissants open. Place a lettuce leaf on the bottom of each and top with chicken filling.

Approximate values per serving: 520 calories, 31 g fat, 123 mg cholesterol, 33 g protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 571 mg sodium, 54 percent calories from fat. — Gannett News Service

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A muffin for your morning Give breakfast a healthy boost when you make them yourself

By Brenda Wade Schmidt Gannett News Service Muffins can be diet-busters.

But baking your own can help control serving size and allow you to pack them full of nutrition, dietitians say.

Softball-size, commercially prepared muffins are really three to four servings and can contain at least 400 calories. A proper serving size is actually a 2 1/4-inch muffin, says Teresa Beach, registered dietitian with Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. That’s the size you’d bake at home in a tin that makes a dozen. A normal muffin would contain about 130 to 150 calories.

“Having a jumbo muffin for breakfast isn’t very good,” says Joanne Shearer, registered dietitian with Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota.

She says when most people think of muffins, they think of the ones found

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at bakeries, which are more like cake.

“Muffins are not meant to be sweet like cake,” Shearer says.

But a single serving-sized muffin that includes nutritionally dense ingredients can fit into even a diabetic diet.

Substituting whole wheat flour for some of the all-purpose flour and using flax instead of some of the fat will add more fiber and nutrition, Shearer says.

Keep the eggs in the recipe, too.

They have more nutrition than an egg substitute, and yolks hold the nutrients that protect our brain and eyes, she says.

If you still want your store bought muffins and you’re reading labels, a low-fat muffin would have less than 5 percent of its calories from fat, Beach says.

If you’re making your own muffins from a box mix, stick with ones that include fruit and avoid those with chocolate chips, says Beach. Also check the label for fat and figure in what you’re adding for fat.

“Some of them are going to be really out of this world,” she says.

Focus on mixes with nutritional value, such as whole wheat products, Shearer says. Those with all white flour don’t provide many nutrients.

“It’s kind of like junk food,” Shearer says.

A good rule of thumb for muffins applies to all food: Eat at home to control portion sizes and nutrition.

“Even if you’re making no changes in your cooking at home, it’s healthier than eating out,” Beach says.

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Morning glory muffins 1/2 cup raisins 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 large tart apple, peeled and grated 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 1/2 cup coconut 2 cups grated carrots 3 eggs 2/3 cup canola oil 2 teaspoons vanilla Soak raisins in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, soda, salt, sugar and cinnamon.

Stir in drained raisins, apple, walnuts, coconut and carrots. Beat together eggs, oil and vanilla. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture to blend. Fill greased muffin tins or use cupcake liners. Bake 18-20 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.

Source: Willow Creek Lutheran Church Cookbook, Dell Rapids, S.D.

Buttermilk blueberry muffins

Cream cheese cranberry muffins

1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup blueberries 1 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt 1 cup buttermilk

1 cup butter, softened 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Gently fold in blueberries. Combine yogurt and buttermilk; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Makes 12 muffins.

Source: Modified from “Taste of Home’s Guilt-free Cooking” (2007, Reiman Media Group, $29.96)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and pecans.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the muffins for five minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. Makes 24 muffins.

Source: “Taste of Home’s 2008 Annual Recipes” (2007, Reiman Media Group, $24.99)

Building a mightier muffin Simple substitutions can make your muffins healthier and lower in fat, sugar and overall calories. Here are what two dietitians recommend.

Teresa Beach, registered dietitian with Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., suggests making only one substitution when changing a recipe, like flax for part of the oil or applesauce for part of the oil.

Make the substitution based on your health goal, such as eating less fat, for example.

Joanne Shearer, registered dietitian with Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota, recommends substituting whole wheat flour when possible, or using half white flour and half whole wheat flour. Whole wheat will make a denser baked product but also will add fiber.

Use a sugar substitute like Splenda for half of the sugar. Splenda doesn’t brown as well as sugar, and the muffin may not be as tender and may crumble more. You’ll save as

much as 30 calories, Beach says.

Substitute healthy nuts such as walnuts for pecans to get the benefit of omega 3 fats. Other good nut choices are pistachios, soy, almond and sunflower seeds.

Substitute 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce for 1/2 cup oil in a recipe.

Don’t worry about choosing between greasing your pan or using paper liners. It

doesn’t make that much difference when it comes to fat, Shearer says.

Substitute flaxseed for either oil or an egg. Use 3 tablespoons of ground flax for 3 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of oil.

Add back in 1 tablespoon of liquid like orange juice. For an egg: Use 1 tablespoon flax softened in 1/4 cup water.

Gannett News Service

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KIDS PAGE

MAZE

COLOR THE PICTURE

CONNECT THE DOTS FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS

T T R S D U O L C F F B N

V A F E T N U S Q B G B L

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P O C S W I M M I N G E L

C B E I V E C B N R F A L

E P A I L M H X Z L V C E

S W I M S U I T I Q H H H

G Q D R A O B F R U S B S

T N W O E I E J W K I A A

V P I T C G N A Y W F L E

C D I L U E V N K A R L S

A K N A I E A I X T A V R

R Z R A S A E N T E T P C

A D U L S U S O B R S G J

BEACH BALL BOAT CLOUDS KITE LIFEGUARD OCEAN PAIL SAILING SAND SEASHELL SKY STARFISH SUN SURFBOARD SWIMMING SWIMSUIT WATER WAVES

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May 2008 May 6 Read-O-Rama Read-O-Rama! Teen Book Club meets at 6 p.m. at the Enka-Candler Library to discuss “Bone by Bone by Bone” by Tony Johnson. All interested teen readers are welcome. Library is at 1401 Sandhill Road. For more information, call 2504758.

May 6 and 13 Childbirth 101 A two-session class for expectant parents covering the labor and delivery process, relaxation, breathing patterns, birth options, positioning and comfort measures. Bring two pillows and a blanket. Two Tuesdays, May 6 and 13, 6:30-9 p.m.

Cost is $90, or free with Medicaid. Registration required. At Pardee Health Education Center in Blue Ridge Mall, Four Seasons Boulevard, Hendersonville. Call 692-4600 for information.

May 7 It’s Art Time Children ages 2½-5 can make Mother’s Day gifts at this East Asheville Recreation Center art pro-

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gram. From 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays.

Adult participation required. $2 per class.

May 8 ‘Parenting through a Divorce’ Explore how to be the best parent you can while dealing with divorce. Presented by facilitators Roger Miller, Ph.D., and Judith Mishkin Miller, LCSW, psychotherapists with more than 25 years of clinical experiences. Jewish Family Services of Western North Carolina presents this workshop as part of its Families and Couples Spring Series. All are welcome. From 7-8:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Asheville, 236 Charlotte St. Call 253-0701 for information.

May 9

CITIZEN-TIMES PHOTO

Parents night out Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church offers a parents night out. May’s night out is the last until September. Community members are invited to bring their children ages 1-11 from 6-8 p.m. A pizza dinner, craft and a lesson are provided.

Optional donation is $4. Please RSVP to the Rev. Sean Maney at 242-8402. The church is at the corner of Patton Avenue and Bear Creek Road in West Asheville.

The Myers family of Atlanta enjoys the Lake Eden Arts Festival last fall. The spring installment will run May 9-11.

May 9, 16 and 23

May 10

Letterland at Tweetsie Railroad

Asheville Area Birth Network

On select Fridays in May, the Tweetsie Railroad will be transformed into the world of Letterland, the popular United Kingdom-based reading system that teaches young children the alphabet and phonics skills by bringing the letters to life! This phonics-fun event will feature characters from “Letterland ABC,” the United Kingdom’s best-selling alphabet book. Visitors will be greeted by Quarrelsome Queen and will also have the opportunity to ride on Talking Tess’ Train, Golden Girl’s Go-carts and more. For more information and tickets, visit www.tweetsie.com.

Discuss the current choices in maternity care and community resources. At True Health Family Wellness Center, 1095 Hendersonville Road, Suite A. Call 335-0224. Info: www.ashevillebirthnetwork.com. 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Asheville Tourists at Pack Library

May 9-11

Pack Library kicks off the summer reading program, “Hit the Books,” with an appearance by the Asheville Tourists and Ted E. Tourist, 11 a.m.noon. Pick up a “Hit the Books” entry form to earn prizes as children read their way through the summer. Library is at 67 Haywood St. For information, call 250-4700.

Lake Eden Arts Festival

‘Fun with Friends’

Performers include Nanci Griffith, Arrested Development, Habib Koite’ and Bamada, Javier Garcia, David Wilcox and more. Children 9 and younger are free. For tickets, call 68-MUSIC. Visit www.theleaf.com for information.

Special needs children can enjoy fun from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Mount Carmel Baptist Church’s Ministries Building, sponsored by The Arc of Buncombe County. Inflatables, games, food and more. Please RSVP to Krisy at 253-1255.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS ‘Game show mania!’

Bill Grimsley brings the fast-paced excitement of several TV game shows to the Fairview Library, at 2 p.m. Trivia questions for children and adults, digital scoreboards, flashing lights, microphones, special sound effects and prizes make for a good time. Contestants will be chosen at random from the audience. For ages 8 and older. For information, call 250-6485. Library is at 1 Taylor Road in Fairview.

Kids Art Day Transylvania County Arts Council invites children ages 5-12 to participate in an art class to help the Transylvania Community Arts Council decorate its yard for the summer. $5. From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, call 884-2787 or visit www.tcarts.org.

Mother’s Day craft workshop Get some help making a unique gift for mom at Spellbound Children’s Bookshop, 866 Haywood Road. From 1-2 p.m. For ages 4 and older.

Registration is suggested as there will be limited space and materials available. $5 materials fee.

For more information, call 232-2228 or visit www.spellboundchildrensbookshop.com.

Tiny Tykes Day A special event for the little ones, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Oakley Recreation Center, 749 Fairview Road. Giant inflatables, crafts, face painting, balloon twists, and more. For children 5 and younger. Free, with donations accepted. For information, contact Oakley staff 251-4042 or East Asheville Recreation Center staff at 251-4041.

‘Wild and Free’ Little Pearls presents “Wild and Free – Connecting with Wonder through Wildlife” in downtown Asheville. The event features wildlife tales in film, storytelling and song, along with live raptors and other wildlife. Little Pearls will debut “Wild and Free: A Screech Owl Named Pinkey” and honor Clyde Hollifield, the human “star” of these films. The event is a fundraiser for an upcoming series of Animal Pearls. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children. From 3-5 p.m. at Jubilee!, 46 Wall St. Visit www.littlepearls.org.

Through May 11 ‘Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders’ “Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders” will be on display through May 11 at the N.C. Arboretum’s Baker Exhibit Center. Learn about bizarre live insects from around the world in this exhibit featuring a butterfly house as well as more than two dozen living and mounted bugs ranging from glow-in-the-dark scorpions to birdeating tarantulas. The arboretum is in Bent Creek at N.C. 191 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. For information, call 665-2492, or visit www.ncarboretum.org.

May 12 Nature crafts home-school program Use Mother Nature’s offerings to create crafts to take home from Chimney Rock Park. Program runs 10:30 a.m.-noon. Call 800-277-9611 to register. Cost is $12 per student, $11.50 for par-

ents; annual passholder cost is $7 for students and free for parents. Nominal fee for materials.

May 12-15 Woodworking class Are you an aspiring woodworker, but do not know where to start? This class at Asheville Hardware and Asheville Woodworking School is for you.

Learn about wood, sharpening, measuring and marking, and joinery as well as traditional European hand tools. Use new skills to build a small table. Cost is $195. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information, call 252-8088 or e-mail rebeccagholson@ashevillehardware.com.

Asheville Hardware is at 91 Biltmore Ave.

May 13 MOPS The All Saints Anglican Church MOPS group helps moms of young children with support, responsibilities, resources and relationships.

Mothers of Preschoolers meetings are 6:308:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at All Saints Anglican Church, 15 McDowell Road and N.C. 191. Child care and a meal for all moms are provided. The All Saints MOPS group is affiliated with MOPS International.

May 13-16 ‘The Gruffalo’ The Dolly Parton Imagination Library Foundation brings “The Gruffalo” to the libraries. “The Gruffalo” is a fun retelling of Julie MacDonald’s book by the same name. It involves costumes, original music by Dolly Parton and a fun story about a clever mouse who outwits several animals, brought to the stage by Dollywood’s Penguin Players. Free. At 6:30 p.m. May 13 at Enka-Candler Library, 1401 Sandhill Road; 10:30 a.m. May 14 at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road; 6:30 p.m. May 15 at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.; 11 a.m. May 16 at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road.

May 14 Home-school program Home School Happenings offers four age-appropriate programs from kindergarten to eighth grade at The Health Adventure on origami, the science of sound, robotics and more. Cost is $5.50 per child. From 1:30-2:30 p.m. For reservations, call 254-6373, ext. 329.

Holistic Parenting Forum The Holistic Parenting Forum is a free group that meets monthly to provide an opportunity for a diverse community of parents committed to natural living to gather. The group provides support, education, and resources to parents who want to create a healthy environment for their children at home and in their community. All meetings are 6-8 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Earth Fare in West Asheville. Children are welcome. For information, call 230-4850 or e-mail shantisunshine@gmail.com.

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May 15 Home-school program The Colburn Earth Science Museum offers a program for students in first to third grades at the museum’s outdoor classroom in Swannanoa, 1011:30 a.m. Cost is $5.50 per child. Call 2547162 or visit www.colburnmuseum.org.

May 16-18 and 23-25 ‘The Little Engine That Could’ A full-size replica engine of the famous character

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created in the original book by Watty Piper is coming to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and the Bryson City Depot. Enjoy train rides, characters from the book, petting zoo, toy store and more. Tickets are $18 for ages 2 and older.

Call 800-872-4681 or visit www.gsmr.com or www.thelittleenginethatcouldtour.com.

May 16-18 and 23-24 ‘Fables’ Imagine a camel in a tutu performing for an audience of her peers, a crow convincing a bear that cooking pots are the latest in fashionable headgear and an arrogant lion humbled by a tiny

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS beetle. All of these characters and more will be on stage at the BeBe Theatre in “Fables,” the spring production of Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre and students from the New Studio of Dance. Based on the stories of Arnold Lobel. Shows are 7:30 p.m. May 16, 17, 23 and 24, and 2 p.m. May 18. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $15 general admission in advance, $12 and $17 at the door. At BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St., Asheville. Call 2542625.

May 17

mation or to register, contact Kim Turner at 2324526, or kturner@ashevillenc.gov

May 23-24

May 24-25

Family Fun Day

Asheville Firefighter Combat Challenge

Brevard’s White Squirrel Festival

Fun-filled day for the family. Enjoy free hot dogs, activities for kids, a bounce house, obstacle challenge, games and much more! At Lake Tomahawk Park in Black Mountain. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 669-9296. 401 S. Laurel Circle Drive.

May 20 Breast-feeding class

Bids for Kids The Arts and Crafts Connection, a local volunteer group, is sponsoring Bids for Kids, a Spring Auction and Chocolate Symphony, to benefit Arts For Life, 7-10 p.m. at the Biltmore Lake Clubhouse. Arts For Life is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives and healthcare experiences of children and adolescents battling cancer and other serious illnesses. For tickets, e-mail annavog@aol.com. For details on Arts For Life, visit www.theartsforlife.org.

Learn the art of breast-feeding. Class covers breast-feeding basics to help give moms a good start. From 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Pardee Health Education Center in Blue Ridge Mall, Four Seasons Boulevard, Hendersonville. Call 6924600 for information. Class is free, and registration is not required.

May 21-22

Hershey’s track and field meet

Smart Start dental health program

About 150 boys and girls, ages 9-14, will compete at the Hershey’s Track and Field Youth Program at Asheville High School, hosted by Asheville Parks and Recreation. Events will include the 50 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 800 meter dash, 1600 meter run, 4x100 meter relay, standing long jump and softball throw. This event is open to all levels of skill, including beginners.

Registrations are now being accepted. For infor-

Smart Start dental program story time, 10:30 a.m. May 21 at the Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, and 11 a.m. May 22 at Swannanoa Library, 101 W. Charleston St. An educational, interactive puppet show (10 different puppets) about dental health and nutrition.

A dental hygienist will be on hand afterward to answer questions and check the children’s teeth at no charge. Call 250-6480 or 250-6486 for information.

Come join in the fun at the Asheville Firefighter Combat Challenge as you watch firefighters from around the U.S. compete from 6:30-10 p.m. May 23. The Kids Firefighter Combat Challenge, a scaled-down version of the Combat Challenge, is 5 p.m. May 23 and 10 a.m. May 24. Cost for the kids’ challenge is $1, with proceeds benefiting Mission Children’s Hospital. For information, visit www.ashevillechallenge.com.

May 24 Fairview Library book sale Build your summer reading library at the Fairview Library’s book sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. All books are 25 cents. Proceeds benefit the library, at 1 Taylor Road. Call 250-6485.

The fifth-annual White Squirrel Festival in downtown Brevard will include the second running of the popular Squirrel Box Derby (a go-cart race down jailhouse hill in downtown Brevard), a 5K/10K White Squirrel Race, live music and more. For more information, visit http://whitesquirrelfestival.com.

Through May 25 ‘Get the Message’ The Health Adventure’s latest exhibit helps children experience the dynamic variety of tools people use to communicate. Try virtual cave art, signal a crane operator, puzzle over expressions, send a message in Morse code and more. The Health Adventure is in Pack Place. Call 2546373or visit www.thehealthadventure.org.

Monopoly tournament

May 26

Test your Monopoly skills. Registration is noon12:30 p.m. Rounds at 12:30 and 2 p.m. Cost is $5. Proceeds benefit Eblen Charities. At Hillside Games, 156 Tunnel Road. 232-4645.

Self-defense class

Weaverville Library book sale Stop by Weaverville Library from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for a big used book sale with a wide selection of adult and kids books. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Weaverville Library. The library is at 41 N. Main St. Call 250-6482.

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer a self-defense class for all females ages 12 and older from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Waynesville Recreation Center. The class is free for members of the Recreation Center and $3 for nonmembers. For information, call 4562030 or e-mail recyouth@townofwaynesville.org.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Continued from Page 45

May 27 Pardee parenting classes All classes are at Pardee Health Education Center in Blue Ridge Mall, Four Seasons Boulevard, Hendersonville. Call 692-4600.

Classes are free, and registration is not required.

Infant care class: Learn the basics of infant care. From 6:30-8 p.m.

Prime-time with a pediatrician: Learn from a local pediatrician what to expect with a newborn in your home from 8-9 p.m.

May 28-June 1 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus At Asheville Civic Center. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased at the Civic Center box office or at Ticketmaster.com. Performances are 7 p.m.

May 28-30; 6 p.m. May 31; and 2 p.m. May 31 and June 1.

May 30-June 1 Mountain Sports Festival A weekend of outdoor sporting activities, including a kids’ area, Iron Kids competitions all weekend, and a free climbing wall. The Wondergirl 5K, the culmination of the Girls on the Run program in area schools, will be run May 31. For information, visit www.mountainsportsfestival.com.

May 30-June 8

recyouth@townofwaynesville.org.

Starts June 14

‘Day out with Thomas’

June 7

Swimming lessons

Hop aboard with Thomas the Tank Engine as he chugs through the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Tweetsie Railroad. Meet and take pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, listen to Thomas and Friends storytelling and enjoy activities in the Imagination Station. Advance tickets are required as this event frequently sells out.

May 31 Fairy Tale Ball Come dressed as your favorite fairy tale creature or character. A royal time for all at the second annual Fairy Tale Ball, complete with elegant food, music, dancing and a visit from the Balloon Fairy. Runs 6-8 p.m. at Spellbound Children’s Bookshop, 866 Haywood Road.

Suggested ages 4 to 12. Free. For more information, call 232-2228 or visit www.spellbound childrensbookshop.com.

June 6 School dance The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will host a dance for grades three to five at the Old Armory from 7-9 p.m. There will be pizza, drink and a dance contest. Cost is $5 per person. Registrations are now being accepted at the Recreation Center. For information call 456-2030 or e-mail

Asheville Area Birth Network Discuss the current choices in maternity care and community resources. At True Health Family Wellness Center, 1095 Hendersonville Road, Suite A. For more information, call 335-0224 or visit www.ashevillebirthnetwork.com. Meeting runs 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Ice cream social Celebrate Flat Rock at the annual ice cream social of the village of Flat Rock, noon-4 p.m.

Rain date is June 8. Open to the public on the grounds of the Flat Rock Village Hall and throughout the village. There will be free ice cream and entertainment all afternoon. Flat Rock merchants will be doing demonstrations. There will be walking tours of Connemara at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site scheduled at specific times. Free concert 6-8 p.m. on the back porch of the Wrinkled Egg in Flat Rock. For information call Carol Andrews, 697-0208.

June 13-22 ‘Alice in Wonderland Jr.’ Join Alice’s madcap adventures in Wonderland.

At the Peace Center in Greenville, S.C. Most enjoyed by ages 4 and older. Adult tickets are $25, students and children are $15. For tickets, call 800-888-7768 or visit www.peacecenter.org.

Southeastern Fitness and Rehab is offering swimming lessons June 14-July 19 for ages 6 months to adult. Class size is limited to five participants per instructor. Cost is $60 for six weeks for SEFR fitness members and $95 for nonmembers (includes use of pool during family swim time for one year). Call 274-2188 or e-mail Heather at hgast@southeasternfitness.com.

June 14-15 Father-Son, Father-Daughter Golf Tournament Asheville Parks and Recreation will sponsor the 36th annual R.B. Kisiah Father-Son, FatherDaughter Golf Tournament at the Asheville Municipal Golf Course. It is divided into three divisions, with each segmented into flights. The Father-Son Division is a 36-hole, best ball tournament; Father-Daughter Division follows a 36hole, captain’s choice tournament format. The Father-Son/Daughter 12 and Under Division is June 14 as an 18-hole captain’s choice tournament. Shotgun starts will be at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 14. Registration is $75 per person and includes a cart for both days. Registration and cart for the 12 and Under Division is $40 per adult; children play free. Register at Asheville Municipal Golf Course. For information, contact Deanna Stone at 298-1867 or dstone@ashevillenc.gov.

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2008 CAMP GUIDE The following camps have submitted information since the publication of WNC Parent’s March issue, which included the 2008 Camp Guide.

The Camp Guide is available at WNCmom.com.

Horseback riding camp Canton June 9-Aug. 22

British Soccer Camp Waynesville Recreation Center July 28-Aug. 1

Mary’s Horseback riding day camp offers halfday sessions from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday for children ages 7 and older and adults. Camp runs weeks of June 9, 16 and 23; July 7, 14 and 28; and Aug. 4, 11 and 18. Cost is $230 per week. Saturday riding time available for $65. Space is limited. Call 648-7507.

Boys and girls ages 3-16 can participate in a British soccer camp with coaches from Great Britain as instructors. Camps run as follows: ages 3-4, 9-10 a.m. for $65; ages 4-6, 10 a.m.noon for $90; ages 6-16, 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m. for $105; ages 8-16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for $150. All camps include a shirt, ball, personal player evaluation and end of camp gift. Campers may register online at www.challengersports.com and receive a free $30 soccer jersey. The deadline to register to receive a free jersey is June 13. There is a $10 late fee for all registrations received after July 18. For information or to register contact Waynesville Parks and Recreation at 456-2030 or recathletics@townofwaynesville.org

Camp Julian Lake Julian Aug. 4-13 Buncombe County Parks & Recreation is offering day camp for rising first- to eighth-graders at Lake Julian in Skyland. Camp runs 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Register by July 11. Cost is $150 for Aug. 4-8, $90 for Aug. 11-13 or $35 per day. Local artists, naturalists, archery, fishing, cookouts and other special programs will fill these eight days. Fees include programs, transportation and snacks. To register contact Grace Young at 250-4265 or grace.young@ buncombecounty.org.

Mi Mundo en Espanol Arden July 7-Aug. 1 Teach your children Spanish through immersion with fun experiences, hands-on activities, music, visual aids, books and games all in Spanish.

Camps run 9 a.m.-noon, Monday-Friday. Cost is $85 per week. One- and two-week sessions available. Registration is required. Call Claudia McMahan at 681-0843 or Beatriz RiascosSocarras at 687-9620 or e-mail mm_spanish@hotmail.com.

Nature Explorers Camp Bullington Center June 23-27 The Bullington Center in Hendersonville will offer Nature Explorer’s Camp, running 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for rising fourth- to sixth-graders. Learn to build bluebird boxes, make greeting cards with natural materials, catch and identify critters in the creek and many other activities and crafts. Cost is $130 and space is limited. Call 698-6104 for more information.

Swannanoa 4-H Center, dates vary

Buncombe County Parks & Recreation Services is hosting a Fun and Fitness camp for rising firstthrough eighth-graders. Camp runs 9 a.m.-noon.

Register by June 6. Cost is $50. To register contact Grace Young at 250-4265 or grace.young@buncombecounty.org.

Swannanoa 4-H Center is offering several camps this summer. Available camps include traditional camp for ages 8-12 at $375 per week and Trekker adventure camp for ages 9-15 at $395 per week, open June 29-July 4 and July 6-11.

Cloverbud traditional camp for ages 5-8 at $175 per session and Forestry camp for ages 8-12 at $225 per session for July 13-16 is also available. For more information, visit www.swan4h.com, call 686-3196 or e-mail swan4h@yahoo.com.

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La Leche League

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Mother-to-mother breast-feeding support and information. Monthly group meetings at the First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St. in downtown Asheville. Both the baby and the toddler group meet on the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Leaders are available for breast-feeding support 24 hours a day: Susan 628-4438, Jane 6701032, Jenn 713-3707 or Adrienne 713-1534.

Fun and Fitness Camp Buncombe County Sports Park June 16-20

Ongoing Asheville Arts Center programs For information, call 253-4000 or visit www.ashevilleartscenter.com.

Parents morning out: Now enrolling for its summer session. This performing arts-based program for 2- to –5-year-olds includes Kindermusik, storybook theater, crafts, playtime and “Little Stars,” a Broadway appreciation class.

‘101 Dalmations’: Register for Asheville Arts Center’s summer production of one of Disney’s most popular shows. Classes meet at 4:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer.

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Zanora Ingle of Leicester

Teen girls support group New support group for girls, ages 13 - 17, with concerns about eating, exercise, body shape, size and self-esteem. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesdays at the Women’s Resource Center, 50 Doctors Drive, Asheville. Free. For more information, call T.H.E. Center for Disordered Eating at 337-4685.

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Christian Breese of Leicester