SEPTEMBER 2022 SHINE BRIGHT Baking and Learning with Itty Bitty Bakers Switching Sugars with Sean of Souththe Birmingham Children’s Theatre for the Very Young presents Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Page 14 Farm The FORFall Andy’s Farm Market celebrates 25 years in business! Page 22 Birmingham Animal Hospital + Resort opens a one-stop shop for pet families. Page 18 CARE CANINESFOR
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4 Bham Family September 2022
EDITOR’SAlmost-Fall! NOTE
If you’re feeling the back-to-school frenzy of September, you are not alone! It’s the return of regular betimes, class schedules, all the sports, and everything in between. Even though I’m happy about the return of football—and will keep my allegiance to myself in order to maintain the peace!—my nightly mom-daughter neighborhood walks still feel as though I’m slogging through a sauna. Still, I know crisper days are on the horizon. (I saw some crunchy brown leaves in the parking lot at church last week!)Because of the fake fall we “enjoy” down here, you can at least hang on to sweet-treat weather with a visit to The Whole Scoop in Hoover. The best part: Owner David Cohen rewards A Honor Roll report card recipients with free ice cream! So, use it as an incentive to do well in school and enjoy a tasty family outing. Read more of the Cohens’ story on pageOne12.of my favorite features each month, our Kids Who Shine column, can be found on page 30. This month, you can read all about the great work that Heidi’s Kids does in our community, as well as learn about volunteer opportunities to get your kids involved in giving back. In the spirit of back to school, we also have a fun read from Jessica Hamby, founder of Itty Bitty Bakers, who gave me some great recipes and ideas for engaging kids in the kitchen not only with baking, but with math and reading too! Find the story on page 25. No school-age kids just yet? Flip to page 14 to check out the latest from Theatre for the Very Young, a part of Birmingham Children’s Theatre. With performances of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star several times this month, you’re sure to find one that fits into your family’s schedule. We have much more packed within these pages that I hope you’ll find time to settle in and read—whether it’s with a pumpkin spice latte or not. Be sure to check out our website and Facebook page to for other happenings. Birmingham offers endless stories to tell, so if you know of a person, event, or business we should feature, we’d love to hear from you! Happy
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6 Bham Family September 2022 These folks are the ones to thank for our magazine’s success — spend your money with them, and tell them you saw them in Bham Family! OUR ADVERTISING PARTNERS Aldridge Gardens 17 Amazing Grace Farms 11 Applause Dancewear 2 Brookwood Baptist Health 9 Children’s of Alabama 31 Compact 32 Deo Gloria Wood Works 2 Hoover Met Complex 6 Kasey Davis Dentistry 20 Birmingham Family Magazine @BhamFamilyMag RECYCLE ME!bhamfunandfamily.comBirmingham Family Magazine @BhamFamilyMag RECYCLE ME!bhamfamily.com ABOUT US Bham Family is published monthly by JBMC Media, LLC, P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham AL 35260. 10,000 copies are printed and distributed at more than 650 locations throughout Jefferson andCounties.Shelby DISTRIBUTION If your business would like to make copies available to customers, please matthew@jbmcmedia.comemailwithyourbusinessname,address,pointofcontact,andnumberofcopiesyouwouldlike. ADVERTISING To reach the largest audience of parents in Birmingham each month, partner with us. matthew@jbmcmedia.comEmailtogetstartedwithapartnershipthatwillbeakeypartofyourplan. Painted Personalities 21 Pediatric Smiles 2 Sike’s Children’s Shoes / Jack n Jill 3 Urgent Care for Children 5 Vineyard Family Services 24 Vulcan Termite & Pest Control 21 Wrapsody 3 Stadium Trace Village | 205.882.8226
25 12 22 18
Animal
teaches lessons
Bham Family September 2022 7 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
16 Families in Business Andy’s
Holy
Shine Heidi’s
Motherhood Always
Faith Cancer
30 FEATURE STORIES All About Theatre for the Very Young Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Dads Ward
Cover photograph courtesy of Andy’s Farm Market
14 Community for Canine Care The new
Resort
Kids
ON THE COVER Just
Kids
12 Sean of the South Stressing over sugar
Andy’s first opened in 1997 and now boasts three locations around Birmingham. For fall, they bring in more than 70 varieties of pumpkins and gourds, including Cinderella, Fairytale, Jarrahdale, Flat White Boer, Baby Boo, Silver Moon, Snowball, Snake gourds, Hubbard squash, and more. for Williams gives advice p. 8 Moly striving p. Whole Scoop p. p. Farm Market p. 22 gives mom a mission p. 26 Who Kids Comfort Toys p. Star shines p. Birmingham Hospital + p. With Itty Bitty Bakers beyond p.
18 Cooking
on stage
10 Food The
the kitchen
“I’m just a common man, drive a common van. My dog ain’t got a pedigree.” This is a line from a hit country song, “Common Man,” from the 1980s by John Conlee. Listening to that song, I had a clear picture in my mind of what he was trying to convey. He wore jeans and boots, worked hard, and drove a Ford or Chevy pickup truck because that’s what a common country music man did. The definition of a common man would be different today, brushed off as “without influence or power.” Common car brands today include many foreign models that were considered exotic in the 1980s. We use the word “common” to describe may words: common good, common practice, common ground, common knowledge, common law, common prayer, common sense, and—I think most importantly—common courtesy.
JUST FOR DADS
8 Bham Family September 2022
Merriam-Webster describes the word “common” as “widespread, general common knowledge.” How did common sense and common courtesy become widely accepted knowledge, and who is teaching it today? We are continuing to find ways to isolate ourselves and have fewer face-to-face interactions with others. The vitriol that is spread from friends, acquaintances, and strangers on keyboards—a safe distance from fists—is desensitizing us to consequences of discourteous behavior.
I was at Walmart recently, and two men cut in front of me in line as I was standing six feet away from the cashier, waiting to be called upon. Growing up in south Texas, cutting line in front of another man would have been grounds for a serious butt-whooping, and I would have deserved it. My childhood peers, mom, teachers, and coaches all discouraged me from selfish acts by real and unspoken consequences, and they helped me to learn the definition of common courtesy. Traveling during the past months, I’ve noticed that people seem to have difficulty waiting for others to exit elevators, waiting for the rows in front to exit before they deplane, holding off on having personal conversations in private, and other behaviors that would not be considered courteous to others. It seems there is a plea to be kind every day, but I don’t think there is a consensus of what kindness means.
As parents, we must understand that creating well-adjusted adults means we must prioritize the social and emotional well-being of our kids. It seems adults have not fully learned how, or are just plain uninterested in, playing nice with one another. One of my mentors continually talks about the “village mentality,” where neighbors looked out for the well-being of the community. We must realize we are connected to others, find things in common with our community, and we must teach our children to be empathetic. Let’s hope “common” actually becomes common again.
Ward Williams is the founder and executive director of Vineyard Family Services. Contact him at ward@vfsdads.com. WilliamsWard
Bham Family September 2022 9 Now is the time to check your insurance deductible. If you’re close to or have met your annual insurance deductible, your out-ofpocket costs could be significantly reduced. Now could be the ideal time to schedule any appointments or procedures you’ve been putting off. Why wait to start feeling better? Make an appointment today. Appointments tend to fill up quickly as the year closes. We opened additional time through December so you can book early. To find a specialist near you, visit BBHCareNetwork.com/Deductible Learn More YourMaximizeHealth with your benefits.
10 Bham Family September 2022 HOLY MOLY MOTHERHOOD
At 16, I could think of nothing other than driving right out of my driveway, alone.
Striving SmithAlana
At 24, I was eager for marriage and owning a home—starting my grownup Atlife.26, I was striving to get into graduate school, focused on entrance exams and interviews. At 28, I was consumed with having a child. It was finally the right time.And now, motherhood. The vast expanse that is mothering a child.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
To strive: to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. I think most of us have been striving toward something for most of our years.At 10, I just wanted to land my back tuck in gymnastics. At 13, I had to keep my A average, and my social circle, intact.
-Henry David Thoreau
At 18, I was skipping across that high school stage and into adulthood. At 21, I was applying to nursing school, more than once, and finally celebrating with a legal beer.
For so many years, all of our energy has been put into improving ourselves. And now, that energy is put into another. Instead of striving, mothers are just surviving those first years. And then maintaining. Keeping up with the schedules and activities and the Joneses.
We’ve stopped striving for ourselves, because there’s just not much time left over. But in the small spaces of the day, between naps or in carline, you probably find yourself eager to accomplish something. Maybe it’s just organizing your closet. Or maybe it’s learning to cook, or finishing your degree. Or writing a book.
Just know that the motivation you used to have, is still there, it just needs room to grow. And time. When you aren’t in the trenches of motherhood, you’ll find yourself again. And for now, we will just strive to be the best we can at mothering. All of the other steps have led you to this, and it’s all that really matters in the end.
It’s no wonder so many moms feel like they are just drifting along—having everything they’ve ever wanted, yet still somehow unsettled.There’s no medal or degree that is just out of our reach. No big test to study for. No team to make. But there are sippy cups and snacks and diapers and hugs. And tantrums and missing shoes. And all the love.
Alana Smith is a boy mom (ages 7 and 2), nurse anesthetist, and writer in Birmingham. She shares her writing at Holy Moly Motherhood (on Facebook and Instagram), where she tackles all things motherhood and marriage.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KELLY SIKKEMA ON UNSPLASH
Serving Alabama veterans, first responders, and endof-life adults and elderly A 113 acre farm less than one hour from Birmingham 9375 County Highway 26 ~ Ragland, Alabama amazinggracefarms.org ~ (205) 281-7828 Veterans, first responders, and end-of-life patients have access to: • Handicapped assistance for fishing in a well-stocked pond • Deer and turkey hunting guides • Relaxing views on an expansive porch • Bird watching • Watching lightning bugs and listening to frogs • Beautiful sunset views • Fire pit hot dog roasts • Trout stream fishing • And much, much more, all with volunteer guides and caregivers on site
David acknowledges that opening an ice cream shop on Main Street USA is the epitome of the The American Dream. “After so many years working in corporate America, I finally realized that I was an entrepreneur. Corporate America really didn’t want me to do it my way; they wanted me to do it their way,” he says. “The amusing irony is that I imported many of the same positive principles that I learned in corporate American into my business.” David’s wife, Sue, a
The Whole Scoop serves up more than 40 sweet-treat flavors —and rewards kids with good grades, too.
David Cohen and his family hand out more than just over four dozen flavors of ice cream in their Hoover storefront. There are lessons in responsibility, studying hard, and giving back, too. For starters, David says The Whole Scoop was always meant to be a family effort. After opening in their original location on Valentine’s Day 2011, “Both of my kids worked here as soon as they were able to reach inside the cabinets,” says David. “They learned a lot about responsibility. Robbie (now 24) jumped in and helped us to be successful right away. When my daughter, Katie (now 21), worked here, she always used to tell me that I could go home and she would take care of everything.”
Scoops and Smiles in Hoover
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE
12 Bham Family September 2022
Another lesson: The Whole Scoop rewards good study habits with free ice cream. “We started the A Honor Roll Free Ice Cream 11 years ago, and it is one of the most enjoyable things we get to do,” he says. “It’s so exciting to see a third-grader bring in his first report card with all As and present it to me with such a sense of accomplishment.”
Coming up for fall: seasonal Pumpkin, Apple Pie, and Cinnamon choices. The shop’s number-one seller is Cookies and Cream, “then it’s a toss-up between Salted Caramel Truffle and Krazy Kookie Dough. They are opposite ends of the ice cream world—and on opposite ends of our cabinets.” Like a dad who can’t name a favorite child, David says his favorite flavor changes all the time. “Right now, it’s Graham Central Station.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
One of his favorite ways to do that is to host a Spirit Night at the shop. “We have several schools that truly embrace them as ways to not only raise money for the PTO, but also to make an impact on their kids,” David says. “We invite them in as celebrity scoopers, and they really enjoy having their students see them having fun outside the classroom. There may just be a little competition between the principals to see who can be the most successful!”
Flavor-FULL!
“We are happy to serve the classics like Cookies and Cream, Butter Pecan, and Rocky Road,” says David. “And we have a great selection of kid-friendly flavors; Krazy Kookie Dough is the most popular.”
Bham Family September 2022 13 registered nurse, remained in her “corporate” job. “Thank goodness she was able to do what she does when we first opened,” he says. “She was the only reason that we could take the risk and open the shop when we did.” After operating their first location on South Shades Crest near the YMCA for eight years, David decided to move to the current location on Brock’s Gap three-and-a-half years ago. “When this spot was presented to me in 2017, I saw the opportunity for immense residential growth and all the positives that the Met Complex had to offer. It has been everything that we hoped for,” he explains. Not only did David see the potential in the area, he also knows Hoover is a popular place to call home for many in the Birmingham area. “I believe that when people move to Hoover, it’s because of the schools—I know that’s why we chose to live here,” he says. Because he and his family believe the schools are great, they also wanted to find a way to give back to the community. “I was part of Hoover City Schools Foundation for eight great years. Our schools and teachers deserve all the love we can give them, and we want to do everything we can do to support them.”
Visit The Whole Scoop at 1021 Brock’s Gap Parkway in thewholescoopicecream.comHoover;
The Whole Scoop offers 47 flavors of ice cream, as well as three no-sugar-added flavors and a vegan option.
14 Bham Family September 2022 ENTERTAINMENT
Q: What is Theatre for the Very Young?
Tiny Theater, Big Imaginations
ON PAGE 15
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S THEATRE
Q: Why do you love TVYA?
A Q&A with Rebecca Yeager of BCT
A: I am in awe of young children. Almost everything around them is novel, and they leap toward it with insatiable curiosity and wonder. The urge to discover and CONTINUED
A: Theatre for the Very Young (TVYA) is an emerging field focused on bringing babies and toddlers theatre that meets them at their level of developmental needs and skills. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star takes a song most children are very familiar with and turns it into an adventure through structured story, bold characters, and a lot of interaction and play. This is not “sit and listen story time,” because toddlers are made to move! Guided by Professional Star-Keepers, Glimmer and Sparkle, young recruits take an imaginary journey through the night sky. They meet many different types of stars and work together to solve problems along the way. Our wonderful designers created a child centered “yes space,” inviting the youngest theatre makers to engage with the story when and how they want to. My hope is that every child will feel at home in this beautiful space and leave knowing they are smart, strong, and kind.
In this play, written by Ernie Nolan and directed by Rebecca Yeager, a new galactic recruit, a missing star, and a bit of unexpected mayhem create the world of the Star Keepers. Every night, the Star Keepers must make sure each star is awake and ready to shine, but what happens when one goes missing? This interactive play takes kids on a journey that reminds all of us that mistakes happen, but no problem is too big if you ask for help.
3. It grows your brain! When your body moves to help tell a story, your brain remembers more.
The space is fully interactive, and kids have agency in the space to play, learn, and participate in the story at their own pace.
4. It grows your feelings! When we see characters feel big feels, it gives us tools to use next time we feel those same big
Saturday, September 3, 10, 24 at 10 a.m.
Children are encouraged to explore the set and props in a play time before the actors enter. Adults are encouraged to get out of their way! Actors float in and out of the seating spaces and children come on stage not only when they are invited to, but whenever they feel the need to as well. Young children are natural improvisors. They don’t carry our preconceived notions of what is something they should or shouldn’t do or be, so during a theatre experience designed for them, anything is possible. We never know how they might TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
Q: Why is TVYA important?
BJCC/Birmingham Children’s Theatre
2. It grows your heart! Meeting different types of characters helps you love different types of people.
Through repetition, rhyme, song, and audience interaction, Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star invites young kids to experience creative storytelling. It is great for kinesthetic learners and recall information.
The theatre is a sensory friendly facility and partners with Kulture City to provide sensory-safe spaces on and off the stage.
Recommended for ages 0 – 5 Approximately 45 minutes
Children under 2: free; children 2 and older: $8; adults: $15
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
A: 1. It’s fun! The best way to discover new things is by playing.
5.feelings.Itgrows your imagination! Watching and being part of plays helps you create new, fun things to do.
Bham Family September 2022 15 understand is innate in humanity and children fill that through play. Theatre for the Very Young is not only an opportunity for babies and toddlers to play and explore, but it is also an invitation for adults to trust the child they are with. When adults step back and let children be in charge of their play, they discover a fuller, more magical world than our grown-up minds can imagine. I love watching a family rediscover the power of play and imagination together during one of our TVYA productions!
The new TVYA-centered space at the Birmingham Children’s Theatre is called the Playspace! It has no lines between the stage and the audience. The playing space, hence the name, for both actors and audience members begins at the door to the theatre.
ON PAGE 17 SEAN OF THE SOUTH
Artificially Sweet
Example: “Have you seen traffic today? It’s a real pain in the aspartame.” So, Americans were eating sugar-free yogurt sludge by the gallon, hoping to live to be one hundred, and doing step aerobics. Companies started going bonkers and making bizarre frozen yogurt flavors like Blackberry-Garbanzo Bean, and CoffeeBubble Gum, and Toenail. Then, reports came out with new information claiming aspartame was deadly.
One report stated: “Aspartame turns your bodily fluids into formaldehyde, side effects include: Numbness, tingling, and profound interest in Jazzercise.”
I asked. “It’s frozen coconut milk.” I took a lick. It was sweet, but not in a good way. It tasted like whatever I had just licked was a food related to the Sheetrock family. “Why does it taste funny?” I asked.
16 Bham Family September 2022 I wasn’t going to write this, but I have to. Not only for me, but for the good of our children, and our children’s children. No matter how hard it is to address, some things must be done. I’m talking, of course, about the highly controversial issue of homemade ice cream. Ice cream wasn’t always under scrutiny like it is today. It used to be okay to eat ice cream. But then, suddenly it wasn’t okay, and lots of companies started coming out with healthy frozen yogurt.
A few years later, news reports claimed frozen yogurt was just as bad as ice cream. So, they came out with “sugar-free” frozen yogurt, made with “aspartame.” And the world as we knew it fell apart.
Aspartame is actually a lot of fun to say. It sounds like a dirty word, but it isn’t. You can use it in social settings and it’s acceptable.
BY ANNIE
PHOTOGRAPH SPRATT ON UNSPLASH
All of a sudden, journalists were telling mankind to stay away from anything that even remotely looked like sugar-free frozen yogurt, and for mankind to eat quinoa and kale instead. Which is probably why a few months ago, I found two fifty-pound bags of red quinoa in our pantry. It wasn’t long before my wife was feeding me what looked like chicken feed for every meal until sometimes— especially if I sat in one place for too long—grade-A eggs would start appearing beneath my haunches. But mankind can only go so long without ice cream. So one night, my wife announced that we were having a frozen surprise for dessert. But something was wrong. It wasn’t the real thing. It was fake ice “What’scream.this?”
CONTINUED
OctoberRain5-8pmOctoberThursday,6dateThursday,13 $45$50 (Aldridge Gar dens underChildrenmembers)12andFREE
“It’s a plant-based sweetener.”
Doctor Bob said: “Sean, the best part about getting your tonsils out is that you get to eat ICE CREAM ALL DAY LONG.” A boy will do almost anything for ice cream. And Doctor Bob knew exactly what I needed to hear. I agreed to go peacefully. They put me in a little buttless gown and Doctor Bob placed me in the front seat of a miniature Plymouth Belvedere with pedals.Ipedaled myself to the operating room, laughing with Doctor Bob. Just a couple of guys on our way to major surgery, that’s what we were. When I reached the operating room, I knew I’d been tricked. I saw four men dressed like Winn-Dixie butchers, wearing masks, holding sharp instruments.
I’d like for lonely people to find love. And for porches to be built on the fronts of houses instead of the backs. For neighbors to wave at each other. And most of all, I hope the man who wrote me a hateful email this morning knows that I don’t hold it against him. Because everyone has a bad day. I get it. Sometimes, people just need to let off steam. But if anyone were to ask me, which they didn’t, I think this world needs more homemade ice cream. And less aspartame.
Bham Family September 2022 17
2022
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
So I turned my Plymouth around and I got my little aspartame out of there. But Doctor Bob caught me. By then, I was kicking and screaming for my mother. I was making promises to never play with Granny’s cigarette lighter again, or try to paint the cat, or use the word beginning with the nineteenth letter of the alphabet. They held me down, placed a rubber mask over my face, and drugged me with scented laughing gas. And that’s what plant-based sweeteners taste like. So I don’t want stevia, or quinoa, or frozen yogurt, or Plymouth Belvederes. What I want is for America to go back to a time when ice cream was real, and real people ate it.
She“Plant-based?”showedme the bottle. When she unscrewed the child-proof lid, white dust filled the air and got into my nasal passages and mouth. Ever since that day I have had this persistent taste in my throat that reminds me of the flavored laughing gas Doctor Bob used when I had a tonsillectomy in first grade. Speaking of Doctor Bob, do you know how that old man convinced me to agree to a tonsillectomy?
I would also like for people to get along. And for dogs to get adopted. And for good music to make its way into the ears of children instead of the hokum that’s out there today.
18 Bham Family September 2022 FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF X
There’s a new animal hot spot in town, and your canines and felines may never want to leave
BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE
It’s been nearly two years in the works for Dr. Claire Woodall Bellman and Michaela Wright, but this month, Birmingham Animal Hospital + Resort finally opens its doors. “We left no stone unturned in our effort to create a first-class experience for our clients,” says Michaela, the hospital’s practice manager. “We asked ourselves what we would want for our own pets, and we spent about a year-and-a-half designing theThoughhospital-resort.”bothwomen are Birmingham natives, from Mountain Brook, they didn’t attend school together—Michaela graduated from Auburn with a degree in HR management, and Claire attended the Royal Vet College in London—or even meet each other until 2018, when Dr.
Creating a Community for Pets
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
During the 18 months Claire and Michaela took to brainstorm BAHR, they incorporated thoughtful design that includes “fear-free” protocols. “Not only does this represent the care your animals receive, but it is also built into the very architecture of our facility,” Michaela explains. “Examples include separate dog and cat entrances, as well as a color scheme designed to put pets at ease. Cats have a separate hospital ward from dogs and a separate boarding area and exam room. When it comes to compassionate care, we do everything in the room, with the client, in order to create a stress-free environment for the patient.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Even more importantly than aesthetics, BAHR is a one-stop shop, offering VIP and regular boarding, daycare, critical care, dental care with radiographs, diagnostics, digital radiology, grooming, hospice and euthanasia, microchipping, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, pain management, preventive care, spay/ neuter, ultrasonography, urgent care, vaccinations, and wellness exams.
“BAHR is one of a kind,” she says. “We have spent our lives devoted to animals—not just our own, but also our extended pet family through years of working in the industry—and now we can offer
2022 OctoberRain5-8pmOctoberThursday,6dateThursday,13 $45$50 (Aldridge Gar dens underChildrenmembers)12andFREE
The women agree that creating their own hospital has allowed them to do things their way, with an emphasis on quality veterinary care, fair pricing, and personal connections.
“Animals deserve a medical and resort experience with the same high expectations their owners have for themselves, and that’s the environment we’ve created here at BAHR,” says Michaela. “Our resort is completely indoors, so our dogs can play no matter the weather. We also have an indoor pool with fountains for the dogs to play in.”
Bellman came to work at a clinic where Michaela was the front office supervisor. Claire and Michaela had both worked at privately and corporately owned vet clinics, and—once acquainted—the future business partners realized they each had a passion for the unique qualities a privately owned clinic offers. “Our main goal with Birmingham Animal Hospital + Resort (BAHR) is being part of the community,” says Michaela. “We love our patients and their owners and want them to be a part of our family that we have grown here.”
Bham Family September 2022 19
“On top of that, we have hand-picked our staff and truly found some of the best of the best,” says Michaela. There are currently 12 staff members at the clinic, with plans to grow quickly once operations are in full swing this month.
20 Bham Family September 2022 quality care and cultivate personal relationships within our new, state-of-the-art facility. We love animals, we love our community, and we are raising the “BAHR” for veterinary medicine and Birmingham pets.” Birmingham Animal Hospital + Resort is located at 2316 1st Avenue South, Birmingham 35233. For more information or to request an appointment, visit birminghamanimalhospital.com, or call (205) 406-6710. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 We aren’t just your dental team...we’re family. 589A Shades Crest Rd • Hoover • (205) 822-7277 • kaseydavisdentistry.com
Bham Family September 2022 21 Helping Birmingham families enjoy pest-free outdoors since 1965. (205) Jeffersonvulcantermite.com663-4200Serving&ShelbyCounties ForForBirmingham. families.PERSONALITIES Face (205)TemporarypaintingtattoosHennaart907-0747|paintedpersonalities.com
FAMILIES IN BUSINESS
BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE
The Andy’s you imagine in Vestavia—the Creekside Nursery location—didn’t yet exist. “He later brought in some flowers, and we sold them in the parking lot. Eventually, we built a greenhouse behind the farmers market.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 23
Back when Andy’s Farm Market first opened in May 1997, Andy and his father did all the construction on the building— with a little help from a lot of family and friends. There were three employees, all in the Burris family: Andy, his wife, Tricia, who was pregnant with their first child, and Andy’s niece Jessica. “We only sold produce in the beginning,” says Tricia. “But we’ve since expanded to carry many local items, jams and jellies, frozen and refrigerated goods, and local honey. We sell peas and butterbeans—we shell them ourselves— shucked and creamed corn, snapped green beans, sliced squash and okra, and more.”
22 Bham Family September 2022
Tricia explains that, when they chose the original location on Rocky Ridge Road,
Flowers, Family, Fall, and Farmers Farm Market celebrates 25 years in business
Andy’s
Bham Family September 2022 23 they were looking for a freestanding building with the right demographics. “The original part of the market was an old house, and it was perfect for what we needed,” says Tricia. “We turned the garage into a walk-in cooler and expanded out front. It has been a fabulous location for us, and we have customers who have shopped with us since the beginning, 25 yearsExpansionago.” followed fairly quickly. The Creekside Nursery was built in spring 2002, with Andy and his nephew, Karl Brantley, constructing the greenhouse. (And Karl joining the family business for a few years after, as well.) By fall, they introduced a landscape division. The nursery was expanded in 2005, followed by a major renovation in 2015 and the addition of a second greenhouse. In between, a maintenance and turf division came along in 2008 and a Hoover store, a combination farmers market and garden center, opened in 2010. “Our children—Andrea, Manon, and David— came to work with us from the beginning,” says Tricia. “Our first daughter, who was born in October after we opened, would sit in a shopping basket on the counter while we checked people out. They would all ride on the forklift with Andy when he CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22 CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
24 Bham Family September 2022 would unload the truck. They grew up working there. We stuck Andrea in the middle of some pansies when she was 6 months old and used it for an ad in the paper. After that, we used our children in all our ads. They would be in the cantaloupes, watermelons, eating corn, holding flowers, in front of Christmas trees, and there was always an annual one in their Halloween costumes. Our customers would tell us they watched them grow up in the paper.”
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The arrival of Covid came with a slight silver lining for Andy’s: The entire family worked. “The children had to move home after their schools closed,” says Tricia. “We had not yet reopened the farmers market for spring, but we saw the need in the community and decided to get it opened quickly. We hadn’t hired employees for the market, so, our family—along with the longtime manager of that location—opened up and worked. It was an extremely stressful and uncertain time, but the openair environment was welcomed by our customers, and they were very appreciative of us being there.”
While Covid brought back the Burris kids, Andy’s has always been a place for family. “We’ve had several nieces and nephews work for us,” says Tricia.
“We hire as young as 14, so numerous middle and high schoolers have worked for us over the years. Some have been here for 10-plus years; our longestrunning employee has been with us 22 years. They’re all like family to us.” As Andy’s embarks on its 25th fall, customers can expect the same great service and variety of produce and flowers, as well as landscape design and installation, maintenance, and turf services. There will be more than 70 varieties of pumpkins and gourds, cornstalks, mums, pansies, violas, and lots of fun fall decor. “We have a station set up every year where children can come paint pumpkins,” says Tricia. Arriving soon, one of the busiest seasons of all: Christmas. “We started selling trees the first year we were in business,” says Tricia. “Over the years, it’s expanded to include services such as lighting, flocking, delivery, and set-up. Our tree service has become so popular that most of our trees are presold before they arrive. And, of course, we also carry garland, wreaths of all sizes and varieties, Christmas decor, and individually crafted mailbox saddles.”
“We have been very blessed over the years with wonderful employees and customers,” Tricia says. “Without them, we would not be where we are today.” Find the Andy’s location nearest you at andysgardencenter.com.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF JESSICA HAMBY
Have you ever noticed how math problems always pop up when baking and cooking? With kids in the kitchen, this is a great opportunity to practice what they’re learning in school.
If the recipe calls for one and one fourth cups of buttermilk and we need to double that, how much would that be?
For example, when younger school age kids attend our classes, we may throw out a word problem such as this: If there are nine ingredients in the recipe and eight kids in the class each get assigned an ingredient, how many leftover ingredients are there?
For older kids there are opportunities for practicing fractions such as this:
BY JESSICA HAMBY, MS, RDN
withCookingKids
Try out this method with a couple of our favorite recipes below!
CARROT APPLESAUCE MUFFINS Makes 24 mini muffins 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
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Itty Bitty Bakers teaches more than baking skills
Bham Family September 2022 25
The Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education preschool opens the new school year in a permanent facility
CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 FAITH
“Ever Singing for Joy”
26 Bham Family September 2022 PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF WOOLLEY INSTITUTE FOR SPOKEN-LANGUAGE EDUCATION
“I wrote this out of obedience to Christ,” Ashley said. “As I started my recovery from my initial surgery and treatments, I never set out with the intention to write a book. I just wanted to put my words together for my daughters to have something to read and know
BY TRACY RIGGS Cancer. A word everyone fears and no one expects to happen to them. Hearing the word changes lives forever. However, God can bring good out of the worst of times — and Ashley Huffstutler’s story is an example of His faithfulness. After testing concluded she had a brain tumor, and despite dealing with chemo, radiation and language difficulties, Ashley said she felt God call her to write a children’s book. “When I Hold You” was released in April.
“One of the main truths I continue to find myself saying has provided sure footing…I’m sure many of you have heard it, but take a minute and read this. Once you finish, take a deep breath and read it again,” David wrote in the blog.
“I really find that remembering that nothing is wasted by God and that through everything (not a few things, not some things, but all things) God is working for the good of those who love Jesus and for His ultimate Glory. If we truly believe what Scripture tells us, there is not a single circumstance that happens outside of the sovereignty of God’s authority, and if it is not outside of His authority, it is being used by Him for our good and for His glory,” David wrote. “For all of the unknowns and all of the change, there is but one constant … Jesus.”
One constant: Jesus. “God works all things together for our good for those who love Jesus, and ultimately all things are used by Him for His Glory” (Romans 8:28 and Colossians 1:16-18, 27).
When I Hold You, a beautifully illustrated board book with scripture intertwined in each image, is available at major retailers. Read about the Huffstutlers’ journey on their blog, “Ever Singing for Joy,” at blogger.com/profile/07096570516933963113.
Bham Family September 2022 27 that God is ever present. “The further I got into the process, the more I questioned God on if I could even write this,” Ashley admitted.Always wanting to be used for Him, in 2016 the Huffstutlers prayed God would give them opportunities to share His faithfulness. They were active at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham and had no idea the twists and turns their lives were about to take. In October 2017, David said, “Now, if you had told me a year ago that I’d be sitting in a semiuncomfortable chair in a Neuro-ICU room at UAB writing a blog at 12 a.m. after quite possibly one of the toughest days I’ve ever faced, and it was the answer to that prayer…I honestly would have doubts about actually praying that prayer.” “The Lord heard our prayer.” “However, the more I live this story, the more I see one thing clearly: the Lord heard our prayer and faithfully provided,” David said. “He has, for His reasons, set us on this journey. He is sovereign, and as hard as it may be, He truly is providing an opportunity to make His name known.” Ashley’s first symptom wasn’t that ominous: she lost sight in the right half of her right eye. Since she was pregnant with their second daughter, she couldn’t have a test to definitively diagnose the problem. They delivered their daughter early, and Ashley was tested again. The diagnosis: a low-grade glioma. A brain tumor. Cancer. Their first reaction was to cry. “This is my wife we’re talking about. My best friend, my bride, my love. She’s sick and I can’t fix it,” David said. But their next step was to turn to Jesus. “The real answer to keeping it together is knowing you don’t have to,” David wrote in the family’s blog. “Everything is broken and dying. Everyone is broken and dying. Every situation is broken and dying. There is absolutely nothing that you or I can do on our own accord to prevent/stop/heal that brokenness and dying.” “Lay it down.” “Not to get all Ecclesiastes on everyone (‘everything is meaningless’), but we literally have no hope of rescue in this world…apart from Jesus. The only call on my life is to lay it down. The only call on your life is to lay it down. That’s the beauty of true Christianity.” The next four years brought ups and downs for the Huffstutlers. Ashley has had multiple rounds of chemo and radiation, deals with seizures and has difficulty with communication, memory, stability and weight-loss. She even contracted COVID-19 in February 2021. “But the more time I spent in isolation,” Ashley recalled, “I realized this isn’t about me. It isn’t about COVID. It isn’t about cancer. It IS about trials. It IS about hardship. It IS about knowing God more intimately.“Ipray God would continue to use these trials to grow my faith, to increase my hope and to build my confidence. I’ve asked Him to teach me more of Who He is; that in anything we have to deal with, that He’d help me to seek Him in all circumstances.
It’s apparent the Huffstutlers gain strength from “dwelling on the Light,” evidenced by their faithfulness.
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Editor’s Note: This article was based on their blog; used with permission. Ashley Huffstutler passed away in May 2022. This article was originally published in The Alabama Baptist, www.tabonline.org, and is reprinted with permission.
When I Hold You ends with, “When our day fades into night, I gaze at dark but dwell on Light.”
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning or garlic powder (optional)
1 can pie filling (any flavor)
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3/4 cup milk
Preheat oven to 400°F. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening to a food processor and pulse for 20 seconds or until mixed evenly. In a large bowl, use a fork to combine biscuit mixture with remaining ingredients. Roll dough into 1 tablespoon size balls and place on a parchmentlined cookie sheet. Cook 12-14 minutes or until done.
A fun “snacktivity” with lots of room for variation—you can change up the pie filling flavor and the shape of the hand pie. Kids love making and eating these any time of year!
Makes 24 biscuits
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2 2/3eggscup brown sugar
Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously spray mini muffin pans with cooking spray or line with paper liners.
HEART-SHAPED HAND PIES
1 Granulatedegg or turbinado sugar for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Source: “Baking Class” by Deanna Cool MOON ROCK BISCUITS
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 9-inch ready to bake pie crust
In a medium bowl, add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir. In another bowl, whisk eggs. Mix in the brown sugar, then add melted butter and applesauce. Stir in grated carrot. Pour applesauce mixture over flour mixture, and stir until all the flour is mixed in. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each one about two-thirds full. Bake muffins for 15-20 minutes, or until light brown.
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt 1 cup shortening 1 lb. sausage; cooked and cooled 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Bham Family September 2022 28
4 tablespoons butter, melted 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
Preschool: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough by Karen Beaumont and Eugene Yelchin
BACK-TO-SCHOOL READING RECS
• Truffala Tree Cupcakes with The Lorax by Dr. Seuss • Rainbow Fish Cupcakes with The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister answer a question we ask, which moments they will need to linger in and discover more, or at what point they will need to guide the story. We can’t wait to see you at the theatre, and we are excited to experience what your little creators will do in an environment made just for them!
The mission of the Birmingham Children’s Theatre (BCT) is to educate, entertain, and enrich the lives of children through the magic of professional theatre. As Birmingham’s only professional theatre company with a specific focus on the education of children through the arts, BCT celebrates the unique role that it plays in the community and recognizes the importance of providing a quality experience for eager young minds across Alabama. For ticktets and more information, visit bct123. org/twinkle.
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• Ladybug Cupcakes with The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
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Cookbook: Super Good Baking for Kids by Duff Goldman
A NOTE FROM GLIMMER STARSHINE, HEAD STAR KEEPER Hello friends! My name is Glimmer, keeper of the stars. I am so excited to meet you and get you prepared to take on one of the most important tasks in your lifetime. You’re going to help us get all of the stars into the nighttime sky! My partner in stars, Sparkle, is going to be leading his very first Star Keeper training. We will work together to teach you everything you need to know about being a Star Keeper. Star keeper training is best suited for those who are between the ages of 0-5. If you’re a little older, that’s fine! I’m sure Sparkle and I can use your help in guiding our future star keepers. Meet us in the Playspace and get ready to reach for the stars!
Sparkle and I can’t wait to see you at the theatre, and we are excited to experience what these future Star Keepers will do in an environment made just for them.
Early elementary: Every Cake Has a Story by Christina Tosi
29 Bham Family September 2022 Preheat oven to 350°F. Unroll pie crust onto a piece of parchment paper. Cut out heart shapes (any size). Spoon pie filling onto half of the shapes leaving the edges bare. Place the remaining shapes on top and crimp edges with a fork to seal closed. Brush beaten egg over the top of each pie and generously sprinkle with sugar. Prick the top of each pie with a fork in an X shape to Transfervent.parchment paper to a large cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown. For fall, an apple variation of our delicious hand pies (recipe below) would be perfect paired with Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie by Herman Parish. We also love to pair a storytime with what we’re baking in class. Some baking and book combinations we used in past classes include:
Toddlers: Stir, Crack, Whisk, Bake by Maddie Frost
• Puppy Love Cupcakes with Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion • Blueberry Mini Bundt Cakes with Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon • S’mores Cupcakes with A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
Older elementary: The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling Middle/high school: Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte and Ann Xu
This year, Heidi’s Kids will provide comfort toys for more than 100 police cars and multiple fire engines at the Irondale and Trussville police departments.And,while the program is funded by donations from local businesses, there is an opportunity for middle and high school students to help stuff the bags.“We will prepare 3,000 toy bags each containing five toys in our office,” says Heidi. “The bags are stuffed and sealed by volunteers as well as local middle and high school students. It is a great opportunity for these students to give back and also earn community service hours required by most schools.”
If you’re looking for an opportunity to help your kids shine, then be sure to check out Heidi’s Kids in Irondale.Their mission, “We support and facilitate community involvement to ease the burden of those in need,” encourages others to “Be the Blessing.”
30 Bham Family September 2022
Part of their citywide outreach efforts include a Blessing Box (located in Irondale), which is stocked with pantry goods, children’s snacks, and pet food by residents to ease the burden of those experiencing food insecurity; a toy drive for the juvenile residents of the Lovelady Center; coat collection for distribution at Linn park; Project Pretty Girl, which provides Easter dresses to underprivileged children through the Jefferson County school system; and this summer’s lemonade stand fundraiser, Little Hands Doing Big Things. Children all over the Birmingham area could sign up for a kit that included three containers of powdered lemonade, four gallons of water, 100 cups, a lemonade stand sign, and brochures explaining what Heidi’s Kids does. Nearly 30 children participated across Jefferson and Shelby counties, raising more than $1,200 to help Heidi’s Kids further their mission.
Now, Heidi’s Kids is getting ready to kick off its fall Comfort Toy program, which helps to place toy bags in the backs of police vehicles and firetrucks.
KIDS WHO SHINE HEIDI’S KIDS
As the third year of the Comfort Toy Program approaches, Heidi says the organization is excited to be adding Crime Stoppers to the team this year. “Crime Stoppers will be supplying large handled bags for each vehicle to contain the toys, as well as gifting us with an additional toy for each bag,” she says.Each
Toys are then distributed by police officers and firemen to children they encounter during the line of “Thatduty. may be a car accident, domestic violence call, etc.,” explains Heidi Marimberga of Heidi’s Kids.“Children are often brought to the station to await the arrival of DHR or a family member when a guardian is arrested. The comfort toy package provides the child with a distraction from the events taking place around them.”
Comfort Toy package contains: • Activity/coloring book and crayons • Water basketball game • Pinball game • Jelly yo-yo • Prize from Crime Stoppers To learn more about volunteer opportunities and other ways to help support Heidi’s Kids, visit their Facebook page (search “Heidi’s Kids”), email heidiskids7@gmail.com, or call (205) 960-7255.
Above, Comfort Toy Left,packagesAdelaide Lucas hosted the top-producing lemonade stand, raising $250 to benefit Heidi’s Kids.
at 13 years old. Through her treatment and recovery, she bonded with the doctors and nurses saying, “they became like family to me.” She was so inspired by her care team, she decided to become a doctor and help other children going through a scary and similar situation. She also wanted to show that people with physical challenges can and should pursue medicine, too. She believes her journey to becoming a doctor was inspired as a patient here at Children’s of Alabama. Cancer
31 Bham Family September 2022
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