FAMILY Magazine January 2014 by FAMILY Magazines of Michiana

January 2014 • Moms Just Know • Free

PARENTIN G MEDIA AS SOCIATIO

2013 Silv Award W er inner G eneral Ex cellence

Importance of Family Traditions

Finding Faith

Gaming:

What You Should Know Before Hitting Start

in an Unplanned Pregnancy

Let It Snow:

Five

Wintery Experiments

Why it's Important to Talk to Your

Baby

Serving: Granger • Mishawaka • Elkhart • South Bend • Goshen • Niles Edwardsburg • Middlebury & Surrounding Communities

HOW IT WORKS:

This online voting contest will determine who has the Cutest Kid in Michiana in four different age categories. Contestants will simply upload their child’s picture during the first week (submission period). After the submission period is over, voters can vote on their image of choice up to five times per day during the one-week voting period. Age group categories to submit photos:

• 6-11 months* • 1-3 years old • 4-6 years old • 7-10 years old

*Child must be at least 6 months of age by 2/3/14 to enter.

After the one-week voting period for the Cutest Kid in Michiana, the child in each age group category with the most votes will be awarded with being featured on a FAMILY Magazine cover! The second and third place winners will receive a gift pack from the participating sponsors and supporters and will have their photos printed in the same issue as the first place cover winner for that age group.

2014 Submission Dates: February 3rd - February 7th at Noon

2014 Voting Dates:

February 7th at Noon - February 14th at Noon

2014 www.MichianaMom.com Sponsored by...

IN THE NEXT ISSUE:

Summer Camps/Child Care & Preschools If you would like your business and/or service to be included in the next issue, call The FAMILY Magazines at 574.387.5420 to reserve your space. Space is limited.

Contributors President & Publisher: Betsy Tavernier

Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Managing Editor: Jessica Haviland

Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Creative marketing director: Jena Bontrager

Congratulations!

Jena@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

November Coloring Contest Winners!

Marketing Coordinator: Jill Ludwick Jill@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud

Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Katie Brenneman

Katie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Medical Editor: S. Jesse Hsieh, M.D.

Kadence – Age 9

Distribution Manager: Mike Trentacosti Kevin Reynolds

Emily – Age 5½

Taylor – Age 10

on the cover: Reuben II, Granger 1st Place Winner of the Cutest Kids Contest (Ages 4-6yrs)

Family Magazines of Michiana would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, event information and inquiries to: info@Michianafamilymagazine.com The FAMILY Magazines 1233 E. University Drive Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.michianafamilymagazine.com The FAMILY Magazines January 2014 Established in 2006. All rights reserved.

Photo: Classic Image Photography, Granger Baseball Chair: Lanser's The Natural Way, South Bend

Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication. Read The FAMILY Magazines online each month! Go to www.MichianaFamilyMagazine.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way! Volume 8: Number 1

Want to win a

Handmade Gift Packet with a 3D Dinosaur Puzzle?

www.MichianaMom.com

Then check out the coloring contest on pg 45!

The FAMILY Magazine is a proud member of PMA

PARENTING MEDIA ASSOCIATION

2013 Silver Award Winner

2013 Gold Award Winner

2013 Silver Award Winner

General Excellence

Editorial and Design Awards Competition

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Find the Hidden Acorn! For your enjoyment and fun!

Please use the information compiled by Michiana Family Magazines for your research. Michiana Family Magazines recommends that parents and families interview each business or organization to make sure that it is safe and a good fit for your family. The information presented here and provided by Michiana Family Magazines is for informational purposes only and although every effort has been made to present accurate information, Michiana Family Magazines does not, in any way, accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information and/or for the businesses and organizations presented herein. We urge all parents and families to confirm any information given herein through additional research. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Michiana Family Magazines LLC, its officers, editors, staff or contributors. THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

F R O M TH E P U B LI S H E R

Things

We Learned Making

Photography: Classic image photography Makeup: Camellia Maalouf, Camellia Cosmetics Granger

The Holiday Issue

Things We (at FAMILY)

Love

Right Now!

1. A Starry Night 2. The Movie "New Years Eve"

It’s important to talk to your baby. Research shows this will help build their brain architecture. Find out more on page 16.

3. Faux Fir 4. Sledding! 5. Crock Pot Recipes 6. Long Sweaters 7. Crystal Mountain Ski & Spa Resort

Making your own household cleaners can save you money. And it is safer for your little ones to be around. Read more on page 38.

8. Great Goals 9. Multi-Grain Bread 10. Pine Trees

This year, avoid setting any resolutions. Focusing on your faults isn’t the best way to start off a New Year. Read our Dear Mom column to find out why on page 14.

Cutest Kid Contest will start in February. Keep an eye out for registration and voting dates.

You can have your own life and be a mom too. Read how one mom lived her dreams through an unplanned pregnancy on page 26.

Limit your child to games. In today’s world, video games are on almost, if not all, electronics. Find out what to do on page 12.

11. Tickle Fights 12. Snuggles

JANUA RY

What do Sunny 101.5 and FAMILY MAGAZINE have in common? Sunny Mom’s Club! Check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ SunnyMomsclub. 4

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

Winning free stuff is always fun! Go to our website at www. michianafamilymagazine.com and click on “Contests and Giveaways”. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment!

Check it Out! Don

2014

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Special Edit

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LITTLE

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BOOK

5 health Tips

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NEW YEAR

Printed on Recycled Content Paper

4Keeps

By Casey Kiel

About the artist Casey Kiel lives in Nappanee with her husband Matt and their four children – Mason, Caleah, Makinzie and Caden – who are the inspiration for this comic. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education and works as a Graphic Designer for the University of Notre Dame and as a freelance artist.

2 Hour Delay

Like '4Keeps' on Facebook or visit CaseyKiel.com

Testimonials From Our Readers “I am impressed with the quality of the FAMILY Magazine from the informational articles to the beautiful ads. The magazine does an amazing job of providing a variety of interesting topics as well as keeping the public informed about area events. Because of its popularity, you have to pick up a copy quickly while they are still available!” -Kathy “I love reading the articles in FAMILY Magazine. They relate to everyday mom’s just like me!” – Cindy T.

We'd LOVE to hear from you! contact: The FAMILY Magazines

info@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

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“I love the fact that this (FAMILY Magazine) is about my community.” – EVI55 (Website Comment) “Nice magazine that is free and about local people and businesses.” – Rebecca H. THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

the FAMILY magazine 32 12

table

contents Live Your Best 3 Coloring Contest Winners 4 8 Things We Learned Making This Issue 5 Reader Testimonials 5 4Keeps Comic

8 The FAMILY Month Calendar

Family Fun 30 Book Review: This Morning Sam Went to Mars

Family Recipe

47 Slow Cooker Vegetarian Quinoa

Reviewed By: Vicky Westphal

30 Book Review: Escape from the Land of Snows

Special Section:

Family Faith

Reviewed By: John Zylstra

20 Importance of Family Traditions

31 Movie Review: Catching Fire

Cole Pollyea

40 DIY Jewelry Craft

Jill Lebbin

10 Let It Snow Experiments

Michelle L. Shirk

Family Craft

Jan Pierce

Lara West

26 Finding Faith in an Unplanned Pregnancy

36 Pokagon State Park: A Park for All Seasons

Jeannine Eubanks

Chaunie Brusie

42 Adorable Adoptees from Elkhart Humane Society

Family Kids

12 Gaming: What You Should Know Before Hitting Start

Noelle Elliot

22 But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Not Tired

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

Holly Bowne

Printed on Recycled Content Paper

Family Pregnancy

18 Laboring According to Plan

Meagan Church

Family Mom

14 Dear Mom: Forget the Resolutions

Meagan Church

16 Why It’s Important to Talk to Your Baby

Meagan Church

32 When the Sickness Troops Invade

Jane Suter

Mommy and Daddy

38 Making Your Own Household Cleaners

Lara West

34 Bedtime Battles: When Your Baby Won’t Sleep

Chaunie Bruise

Oh, Look at These Cuties! Congrats again to our 2013 Kids Cover Contest Winners! (age group: 4-6 years)

2nCdE

1stCE

PLA

3rdE PLAC

Reuben II Ellie Lynn 100% Recyclable

Granger

Liam

Elkhart THE

Elkhart

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

The FAMILY Month 1

New Years Day-Fresh New Start

Free Art Friday, Downtown South Bend

Dress Up Your Pet Day

Fire and Ice Festival, Goshen 5-9pm

Goodwill’s Extreme Closet Makeover Community Service Project Begins - Mishawaka

Bubble Bath Day

W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu

What We’re

Pinning This Month

pinterest.com/familymags

ocolate b h hot ch it w p u Cozying a warm fire.

Adorable leg warmers

Waiting for the snow to melt.

Eggless

Cookie Dough

for little girls.

Five Fun Winter Activities for Kids: 1. Sledding

2. Ice Skating

Do your kids always want to have cookie dough but it’s not safe to give it to them because of the raw eggs? Well, with this Eggless Cookie Dough recipe you can now satisfy their craving and sometimes even yours! ¾ Cup Brown Sugar ¼ Cup Soften Butter ¼ Tsp Vanilla ¼ Cup Milk

4. Making Snow Ice Cream 5. Go to a Ski Resort

1 Cup Flour Pinch of Salt ½ Cup Chocolate Chips

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

3. Building a Snow Fort Printed on Recycled Content Paper

Calendar

The State Ballet Theater, Sleeping Beauty, Morris Performing Arts Center

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Spouses Day

Art Classes for Kids, South Bend Museum of Art 9:30 a.m.

Winnie the Pooh Day

24 F

“Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.”

31 F

How to make homemade silly putty with the kids. www.wikihow.com 1.

Pour ¼ cup of white glue into a plastic container. Add more glue if you would like to create more putty.

Add in any color of food coloring and stir.

Stir in two tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent.

Mix together until the putty starts to become more solid.

When it has reached a putty-like consistency, start to knead it with your hands.

Store in an airtight container for when your kids want to play with it.

– P. J. O’Rourke

Puppy Chow Recipe 9 Cups Crispy Rice Cereal Squares ½ Cup Peanut Butter 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 1 ½ Cups Powder Sugar Melt and mix the chocolate and peanut butter until smooth. Add cereal and stir until it is fully coated with the chocolate/peanut butter mixture. Put powdered sugar into large plastic bag and then fill the bag with the cereal mix then shake the bag. 100% Recyclable

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY craft

Let It Snow:

Wintery

Experiments

for Your Budding Scientists By: Jan Pierce, M.Ed.

Winter

is a magical time for children in Michiana and you can enhance their appreciation and understanding of the season by conducting simple yet serious science investigations right in your own home. Give your children a head start in mastering basic scientific methods of study by teaching them to investigate their world through prediction, observation, hypothesizing, estimating and recording their findings. Here are five simple snowy science experiments guaranteed to be both fun and informative.

1. What Happens When Water Freezes?

a. Fill an empty metal container to ½ inch from the top with water. b. Use a permanent marker to mark the water line on the outside of the can. c. Predict what will happen when the water freezes. d. Place the can on a tray or on aluminum foil and place in the freezer overnight. e. Observe the ice line the next morning and record the results. *Water expands as it turns to ice. Use the terms liquid and solid states. What will happen when the ice melts back into liquid state?

2. No Two Are Alike:

a. On a snowy Michiana day, catch falling snowflakes on pieces of black poster board. b. Have a magnifying glass of at least 10X strength ready to observe the flakes. c. Observe individual flakes and taking note of their structure. d. Record your observations in drawings. e. How are the snowflakes alike? How are they different?

*A snowflake is a single snow crystal of ice. The basic shape of a snow crystal is a hexagonal prism. Once the basic shape is formed, branching builds additional patterns. It’s true that no two snowflakes are alike.

3. The Ice Cube Race:

a. Place three ice cubes in identical containers. b. Leave one ice cube as it is, then add salt to the second and sugar to the third c. Estimate the length of time it will take for each ice cube to melt completely. 10

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

d. Observe at one minute intervals and record the information e. Write a paragraph describing the rate of melting for each of the three cubes. f. Can you explain why one melted faster? *Which would you use to melt the ice on roadways, sugar or salt? Why?

4. Make Your Own Icicles:

a. Punch a hole in the bottom of a can. b. Punch three holes around the top of the can. c. Loop twine through the three holes and hang the can outside on a day when the temperature is 32 degrees or less. d. Leave the can out overnight and make predictions. e. Observe the icicles formed the next morning. Adding food coloring to the water will enhance the experience. f. What will happen to the icicles during the daytime?

5. The Birth of an Ice Crystal:

a. Pour orange Kool-Aid® into a Petri dish. b. Prepare a bowl of crushed ice mixed with salt. c. Place the Petri dish into the bowl of ice. d. Observe for three to five minutes, stirring occasionally. e. Use a flashlight to observe the formation of an ice crystal.

*Freezing occurs when water cools. Molecules move more slowly causing them to come together and form ice crystals. Rapid cooling speeds the process. This lesson lends itself to predictions based on time. Observe and record information. Drawings of the crystal at each one minute point would be appropriate. Printed on Recycled Content Paper

Finale: Make Snowy Ice Cream:

After conducting your snowy science experiments you’ll want to do one last exercise in lowering the freezing temperature using salt. 1. Blend half a cup of cream and half a cup of milk. Pour into a plastic bag and seal. 2. Fill a second, larger plastic bag with ice and large salt crystals. 3. Place the smaller bag inside the larger one. 4. Wait five to ten minutes, occasionally shaking the bags to “fluff ” the ice cream. 5. Remove the ice cream bag carefully and enjoy.

Books About Snow And Snowflakes:

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino. (For ages 3-8) The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An UpClose Look at the Art and Science of Snowflakes by Kenneth Libbrecht. (For ages 6-12) The Snowflake Winter’s Secret Beauty by Kenneth Libbrecht.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen Snow by Cynthia Rylant Snowflakes Fall by Patricia MacLachlan and Steven Kellogg

Snow is Falling (Let’s Read and Find Out Science Series) by Franklyn Branley

Capture some this winter!

fun INNERTUBING

Ferrettie-Baugo Creek & St. Patrick’s County Parks Weekends, 11 AM - 5 PM snow permitting

(not recommended for ages 3 and under)

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS & RENTAL St. Patrick’s County Parks Wed-Sun, 11 AM - 5 PM

Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a freelance writer living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She is a retired teacher who specializes in parenting and family life articles.

100% Recyclable

www.sjcparks.org

snow permitting

Your Place for Outdoor Family Fun!

574-277-4828 for info on private innertubing parties

call 574-654-3155 THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY kids

Gaming:

What You Should Know Before Hitting Start By: Noelle Elliott

On Christmas day in 1984,

I emerged to our living room to find, sitting on a card table, a Commodore 64. My dad had bought the family our first home computer. None of us knew what to do with it but once I learned how to play hangman on it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. That was my first glimpse into the world of computer games. Now, fast-forward 30 years later and the landscape of gaming has dramatically changed. Games can be played anywhere at any time. Smart phones, tablets, laptops and computers make it easy to play thousands of games. Being the mother of four boys, this is something I am very familiar with. My oldest son prides himself on being a gamer.

What is a gamer exactly?

According to Wikipedia, the term “Gamer” can be broken down into a few categories. Casual Gamer- a player whose time or interest in playing games is limited. Casual gamers tend to play games designed for ease of gameplay and doesn’t spend much time playing more involved games.

Core Gamer- a player with a wider range of interests than a casual gamer and is more likely to enthusiastically play different types of games. Hardcore Gamer- a player that extends gaming into their lifestyle and may represent the stereotypical “game geek”. They are frequent purchasers of games, prefer to expend significant time on games, and are more likely to try to "master" their games by completing as many objectives and levels as possible. Like it or not, video games have become a major part of society and are marketed for people of all ages. In fact, there are games designed for children younger than one year old. One main question to ask is where should you draw the line?

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

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There are several apps designed for toddlers. ABC letter tracing, Alphabet Zoo and shape games to just name a few. The intent of these games is to teach, however, most parents use it to distract their toddler so they can quickly move through the grocery store. Are they missing a perfect opportunity to teach their children something tangible in the moment? Marketing for gaming products target new parents. It promises accelerated learning for children who use these devices. At some point your toddler will grow bored and need a more advanced gaming system. Once they grow tired of that, they will want an even more advanced gaming system. And the pattern will continue. Their need for instant gratification and visual stimulation will only manifest and the gaming industry is banking on it. Something that is not disputable is that the time spent sitting and staring at a screen is taking away from a child being physically active or spending time face to face with friends. It takes them away from dealing with conflict and resolution or showing empathy for another human. None of this can be achieved while sitting in front of a computer screen. There are several articles, sources and studies of conflicted findings on video games. Some studies say that they cause violent behavior and aggression while other studies suggest that it is better for kids with violent tendencies to express those feelings through video games rather than in real life.

If you are going to purchase a gaming system or tablet for your child, be sure to follow 10 simple guidelines.

Implement rules that are not negotiable.

Make sure both parents are on the same page.

Balance screen time with outside playtime.

Make it a privilege and not a given right.

Monitor everything your child is doing online.

Follow the age guidelines listed by the manufacturer.

Set the parental codes high on all devices that your children will be using.

Research any game online prior to purchasing it. A fantastic website that I use is Common Sense Media www. commonsensemedia.org.This website gives a parental review and offers suggestions on age appropriate games and apps.

Before going to a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house, call the parents and discuss gaming guidelines for your child.

Remind kids to never give out personal information such as age and location to anyone on the Internet.

The issue has been investigated even more closely with the increase in gun violence and mass shootings in our country. Could exposure to violent games result in horrific violent behavior in reality? Are the images and violence displayed on video games any more detrimental than the images seen on television? It is a tough judgment call. But, thankfully, as a parent it is your call. It would be impossible for a child to purchase a gaming system without the knowledge of his or her parent. However, the top selling holiday toys for the past decade have all included some kind of gaming console. It is hard to shelter your child from it. They will learn about different games at school, from a friend or even television. I can speak from a personal experience that having a gaming system in our home has caused more harm than good. Our son grows tired of age appropriate games and desires more complex games. Almost all the games that he wants, we disapprove of. It is the source of a lot of disagreements in our house.

Like all parents, I want my children to have fun with games but not at the expense of their safety. It is crucial to do your research. Keep games fun. The world we live in is filled with enough violence. Children do not need to be desensitized to it by thinking it is a game that can be turned off.

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Noelle Elliott is a social media junkie, blogger, writer and career woman. She lives in South Bend with her husband, four young sons and two chocolate labs.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY dear mom

Dear Mom,

Forget the Resolutions By: Meagan Church

Dear Mom, It’s that time of year again when we focus on our faults. Admit it; whether or not you actually make (or stick to) New Year’s Resolutions, there has been a voice in the back of your head asking how you will change in the New Year. How you will improve. How you will let go of that ugly habit. How you will finally conquer that thing that has been dragging you down.

You know what? Don’t listen to that voice. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t get healthy or go to bed earlier or finally stop smoking. But, what I am saying is don’t focus on the negatives. The new year can be such a hopeful time as we say goodbye to one year and look forward to the opportunities of the next.

So, don’t let this be a time of focusing on your faults. I know you do it. I do it. We all do it. Especially as moms, we can harp on those nagging negatives. The times when we lost our temper and screamed. Or we spanked when we swore we wouldn’t do it anymore. Or we rolled our eyes at our kids instead of breathing life and enthusiasm into them. We all have those moments. They aren’t pleasant. They aren’t ones we are proud of. But the good news is, we don’t have to stay there. And we don’t have to focus on them. Think about it this way: how do you see yourself as a mother? Do you see yourself as short-tempered and impatient, rushing from here to there with little time to make deep connections with your kids? Do you long for those rocking chair days when you could sit and nurse them and stare into their eyes instead of taxi-cabbing them around from one activity to the next, only making eye contact through a rearview mirror?

It’s frustrating. It’s irritating. But, it’s not an accurate portrait of how they see you. 14

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If you ask your kids what kind of mom you are, I’m guessing the story they would tell and the portrait they would paint is far different from the one you gave. I bet you would be surprised at the depth and the heart and the passion of what they had to say. Do they notice those exasperated moments that leave you stressing about what kind of mother you are? Possibly. But, they also see those countless moments when you show up. When you are present. When you care for them through actions, hugs and words of comfort. But, you don’t remember those times as well as the negative ones, do you? The good news is that they do. So, if you want to make a New Year’s resolution, go for it. Pledge away to get healthier, become more organized and kick that habit. But, also pledge to take it easy on yourself. Don’t focus on the negatives. Don’t focus on those bad moments of parenting. We all have them, but let them be single moments, not defining ones. Learn from them. Grow from them. And move on. Pledge to see yourself through your children’s eyes. Pledge to notice the good work you are doing through them. Because they notice it even if they don’t say it.

 Half Day and Full Day Preschool & Kindergarten Programs through 8th Grade  NLSA/NCA accredited  Established in 1874  Before and after school care available  Recognized as a National Exemplary school

Trinity Lutheran School offers excellence in education within a caring, faith-based community. Please contact us for more information.

Meagan Church is a writer and mother of three kids. Her current projects include DefiningMotherhood, and Unexpectant where she explores the realities of modern motherhood for her book project.

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30888 C.R. 6, Elkhart (Corner of Ash & Cleveland Roads) 574.674.8800 School@TrinityL.org • http://pk8.TrinityL.org THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY mom

Why It’s

Important

To Talk To Your Baby By: Meagan Church

Every parent wants to give their child a jump start on life. Perhaps that is why educational tools and devices

for babies and children are a big business. But, did you know that one way to make your baby smarter doesn’t cost you anything? Believe it or not, the key to brain development is as simple as talking with your baby. “Research has shown that talking with children from an early age helps to build the brain architecture they will need later in life,” said Kris Arizmendi, coordinator of the Talk With Your Baby (TWYB) program that offers free classes in South Bend, Ind. Kris shared how the simple act of talking to a baby can promote a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development.

Why is it important to talk to your baby?

Kris: In the first three years of life, a child’s brain will triple in size and will make millions of the connections necessary for talking, reading, writing and almost every other aspect of development. Talking with you child improves his cognitive development and literacy later in life, as well as increases his ability to form healthy relationships and develop social skills. Parents and caregivers are a baby’s first and best teacher in matters of building trust, dealing with emotional and physical needs and interacting with others in positive ways. It has been shown that it is the human interaction that matters and works best—they can’t learn from television or tapes!

like little sponges that soak up everything around them. The more you talk, the more they learn.

What are a couple of easy ways parents can speak with their babies?

Kris: There are millions of opportunities to talk with your baby throughout the day. Give your baby a play-by-play as you do things and use as many descriptive words as you can. “Time to throw the wet, cold laundry into the dryer!” “Look! Now the clothes are fluffy and warm!” Repeat your words, so that the baby can learn them. For example: “Do you want a bottle? Look here’s the bottle! Is that a good bottle?” The best things you can do are read books, tell stories and sing songs. One of the things TWYB stresses and loves to help parents with is getting that home library started by providing all participants with eight or more books throughout the classes. Make reading a daily habit with your child, even as a baby. If she is familiar with books from the very beginning, reading will become an everyday joy instead of a struggle.

What do you say to someone who feels strange about speaking to their baby?

Kris: Just because your baby cannot respond to you with words and sentences, doesn’t mean he can’t understand and respond in other ways. It’s not silly to talk with your baby because he is taking in every word you say and adding every interaction to their rapidly developing brain. Speaking and interacting with your child every chance you get isn’t strange—it’s the best thing you can do for your baby’s reading, cognitive and social development.

What sort of advantages does a baby who is spoken to a lot have over one who doesn't hear much conversation? Who can attend the TWYB classes? Kris: In one of the most telling studies to date, researchers followed parents and their young children from a wide variety of families and documented the frequency and substance of the words parents exchanged with their children. What they found is that children from more talkative families will have heard 30 million more words by the time they are 5 years old. That is 30 million more opportunities to build vocabulary, develop early literacy and learn important emotional and social cues. These same children from the talkative families did better on tests of cognitive development and reading readiness in the third grade.

How early should a parent start speaking to their baby?

Kris: Right from birth! The first three years of life are a “sensitive” period in babies’ brain development. During this time, their brains are 16

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

Kris: TWYB has multiple neighborhood classes that are open to anyone in the community—moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers, childcare providers…everyone is welcome! The classes are also offered at numerous local agencies to the clientele of those agencies. For more information on the TWYB classes and to read tips, go to: talkwithyourbaby.org or www.facebook.com/talkwithyourbaby.

Meagan Church is a writer and mother of three kids. Her current projects include DefiningMotherhood, and Unexpectant where she explores the realities of modern motherhood for her book project.

Printed on Recycled Content Paper

A FAMILY THAT KICKS TOGETHER,

STICKS TOGETHER!

The Rompa family has trained together for three years.

Finding Family Excellence in 2014!

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” –Aristotle

“

[Choosing between] One child in soccer, one in volleyball and one in another community club or the whole family learning and growing together? That was an easy decision for our family. Taekwondo has helped us to stay close and get fit.” - Michael Brummel

“

STAR Martial Arts gave our family the opportunity to grow both in physical and mental disciplines as well as flourish as a family as we worked towards our goal together.” – Elizabeth Reimer

“

Taekwondo teaches the same core values that we instill in our children. For me, it is just not enough to expect our children to live by a code that we as adults may not follow 100% of the time. When we are on the floor as a family, it sends a strong message to our children. Leadership by example works.”

ave you ever felt like a glorified chauffeur driving your kids around to and from band practice, soccer, gymnastics, swimming or drama club? By the time everyone has finished their extracurricular activities, family and personal time is limited.

At STAR Martial Arts, our motto is “A family that kicks together, sticks together.” A family taking part in fitness classes will teach their kids accountability, goal setting, self discipline and learn how to focus. As kids grow older, it’s difficult to find an activity that everyone in the family enjoys. At STAR Martial Arts, we provide classes where the entire family can train together and create long lasting memories. The Tran family has trained together for six months.

– Ronn Foster

All family uniforms & equipment for the price of one! Expires 3/31/14

Melanie & Seth (Husband & Wife Team)

FREE

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FAMILY mom

Laboring According to Plan By: Meagan Church

After giving birth to my second child,

I was quite the talk of the maternity ward. It wasn’t because I arrived at the hospital 9.5 cm dilated or that labor progressed so quickly that my midwife barely made it in time (both of which are true). It was because of my birth plan. Before my first child was born, I developed a birth plan that I used for both deliveries. It wasn’t anything too unusual or bizarre, at least not in my opinion. It included things, like, I wanted the option to eat during labor, keep my contact lenses in, have access to a birthing tub, have my partner by my side at all times, be allowed to progress free of stringent time limits and do it all without the aid of drugs and other interventions. So why was my plan the talk of the ward? According to the nursing student who spoke at length to me about it, she had never seen one before. She was so amazed by the whole idea that other classmates joined her in my room to discuss how I developed the plan and what had gone into the process. In that moment, I realized how important the plan was to me, not because I felt it was directions for the hospital to follow, but because it helped me understand what my goal was and kept me focused on achieving it. Below are the steps that I took to help develop my birthing plan.

Research: I did a lot of research beginning the moment I found out I was pregnant. I

read books like “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” by Henci Goer, attended birthing classes and listened to moms talk about their experiences. Gathering all that information helped me better understand the birth process and my personal preferences.

Write: With a general framework of preferences in mind, I went online to the “Baby Center’s” website and used a program to create my personalized plan. I simply clicked a few boxes, typed in a few descriptions and printed out my own plan. Discuss: I didn’t wait for the labor pains to begin and then surprise the hospital staff with my hopes and desires. I presented my plan to my midwife during a prenatal visit. She looked it over and we discussed it. She let me know if anything was unusual or against hospital protocol so we could have that discussion up front and before the heat of labor. The talk helped me to further confirm that she was the correct care provider for me. I also made sure my birth advocate, my husband, was informed and that he could speak for me if need be. By the time I entered the hospital, I knew what was realistic and what was not. I gave the labor and delivery nurse a copy and was comforted by the fact that my husband and midwife were by my side with the knowledge of my preferences already in mind. Because I did the work up front to understand labor and my own personal philosophy, I knew what my preferences were. During labor, that knowledge kept me focused and 18

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moving forward and made me feel as though my midwife and medical staff were working alongside of me as a team. The births of my two little ones were something I was involved in and not medical conditions that were happening to me. As a result, I had two good birth experiences and two healthy babies. Did my births go 100 percent according to plan? Not exactly but the point of developing the plan wasn’t to create a step-by-step outline of what labor and delivery would be like. Each birth is different and we can’t totally prepare for each twist and turn of the journey ahead. What my plan did was put me and those around me in the right mindset so if a twist did occur, we had an idea of how to handle it. It empowered me to make well-informed decisions concerning both my baby and me. As the nursing students continued to ask questions, I wondered how women could do labor without a plan or at least some amount of forethought. Perhaps it doesn’t have to be as formalized as the one I created but to do the research and have the discussions up front with your care provider will certainly help prepare you for the journey to childbirth. Keep in mind that even the best-laid plan can be sidetracked. Although, knowing your preferences ahead of time will help keep you more focused when the pain sets in or a twist or turn comes along.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

Special Section family faith

Importance of

Family Traditions Creating new traditions to keep the family together after the holidays. By: Lara West

It’s hard to believe that there is one word that is capable of producing a wave of nostalgia that will make even the grumpiest of people sigh with a smile at the memory of something known only to their family and the Lord. That word is…Tradition. Whether it’s a holiday potluck or sitting on the infield of the Indy500, traditions are an important part of life. They are the stamp that seals a love for family and Jesus in our hearts. When daily activities have us hustling and bustling through each day to the point we wonder where the time went, traditions are the thing that get us excited. Our hearts explode in anticipation of the memories we are about to make. Instead of looking back asking where the time went, we look forward to the precious time we’ll be spending together. There are many tools for fostering loyalty, nurturing integrity, and rooting compassion into the loving hearts of our family and traditions play a big role in developing these. Our children are tomorrow’s leaders so it is important that they each have a great understanding and a solid foundation of these important characteristics. Holidays throughout the year are notorious for family traditions whether it is baking cookies, carving pumpkins or coloring eggs. There are many traditions that don’t require a holiday at all and are something that we can do often throughout the year to help us grow in our faith as a familial unit and as followers of Christ. While traditions can sometimes be difficult to create on purpose, here’s a compilation of some thoughts that can help guide your search: • Center Christ. Many traditions may not appear to have a direct link to Jesus, but even the simplest of acts represent him and his love. There is no wrong tradition as long as we’re doing his work with all of our hearts. • Let it happen. Treasured traditions develop because we enjoy them as participants not because we were forced into them out of obligation. It’s great to purposefully start traditions but some of the 20

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Personal Traditions Growing up, my parents incorporated several traditions that my sisters and I are now passing on to our children. Two of these traditions that I feel really helped me become a well-rounded individual are the time we spent volunteering together, and learning to make donating personal.

• Volunteer together. Our communities are always in need. Find a need that satisfies your hearts and volunteer together. My parents bought us all these silly hand puppets, and we wrote a script together, rehearsed together and then every couple of months we would spend a day at Riley’s Children Hospital performing for patients. We loved that it not only brought us together in this unbelievable way but that we were able to witness to these amazing little people and hear the fruits of our labor through their laughter.

• Donate individually. Selfless giving is just part of human nature. It is nice to receive but I honestly believe with my whole heart that people love giving. Every year my birthday gift from my parents was the gift of giving. I would get a check that wasn’t made out to anyone. I was able to make a donation to any organization I wanted and it was always a thrilling experience to choose a cause and write the name on the blank line. Delivering that check was always the best feeling of satisfaction in the world for me. I still enjoy making my birthday donation to this day. Printed on Recycled Content Paper

best traditions are ones that develop naturally or even by accident. •

Be flexible. Although, we certainly don’t won’t our faith to take a backseat to daily activities it is ok to make schedule adjustments when needed. Sometimes what seems like a missed opportunity is really the springing board for a greater one.

• Call on the past. Traditions generally carry a long lineage through family roots, so this could guide you into a tradition that is completely unique to your family history. What are some your favorite memories growing up? Chat with the previous generations of family about their traditions and see if any of those can be incorporated into your family’s life. • More but not many. It’s good to have more than one tradition but not so many that you are overwhelmed by them. A nice spread throughout the year with a variation of daily, weekly, monthly and annual traditions should be an ultimate goal but they all should be things that the family enjoys. Not all traditions have to require planning and prep work or money. They all however, require time and devotion. There are some amazing faith-based traditions you may already have incorporated into your daily rituals. Every family has their own variation of a seemingly simple routine but while these rituals may seem simple, they are complex in the ways they impact our lives. These include:

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• Praying as a family. • Family dinner. • Bedtime readings. Family traditions that encourage a relationship with Jesus are the foundation of faith, strength and stepping stones to building our identities. The lessons we learn from them, at any age, support a growth of fondness and compassion while building love in our hearts.

Expires 1-31-2014

Lara West completed her degree in Elementary Education and has spent the last several years working as a ghost writer, completing manuscripts, children stories, research papers and article rewrites.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY mommy & daddy

But I'm Not Tired! By: Holly Bowne

ixteen-year-old high school junior Shea Rhodes doesn't usually go to bed until 2:30 a.m. on weeknights. So naturally, getting up for school can be a little rough. "Shea is very difficult to wake up in the morning. It takes several attempts every morning to get him out of bed. He takes naps when he gets home, then can't sleep. It is a vicious circle," says his mother, Beth Rhodes. The problem is Shea just isn't getting enough sleep. This isn't news to many parents of teenagers. Most teens in the U.S. today aren't getting enough sleep. According to a study by the Journal of Adolescent Heath, 69% of high school students are getting less than seven hours of sleep each night, as opposed to only 8% of teens who are getting the ideal amount of nine hours or more. Lack of a good night's sleep leads to all sorts of problems ranging from general crabbiness and poor grades, to more critical situations like depression and drowsy driving.

Sleep troubles

Often times, parents of teens become frustrated with their child, blaming them for staying up too late at night, but it may not be their fault. "Children entering puberty experience a biological change, a shift in body rhythm," says Lawrence MacDonald, M.D., FACP, medical director for The Center for Respiratory and Sleep Disorders in Novi, Michigan. This shift causes teens to stay up later and thus need to arise later. "Parents think their child is just being lazy, but it's the way their brains are set. It's like they have permanent jet lag." Lack of a good night's sleep negatively affects school work as well. The National Sleep Foundation's 2006 Sleep in America poll found "at least once a week, more than one-quarter of high school students fall asleep in school, 22% fall asleep doing homework, and 14% arrive late or miss school because they oversleep."

Shut off that screen!

Although there's a biological cause, a typical teenager's lifestyle plays a contributing factor as well. Staying up late on Facebook, playing videogames and watching TV all negatively affect a teenager's inner body clock. So what's a conscientious parent to do in order to help their teen get a good night's sleep? "Encourage your child to take a look at his or her schedule. Sports, extracurricular and social activities," says MacDonald. "Have them figure out what time they need to get up in the morning, and then work backwards from there."

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Other tips:

• Set a communication curfew. Half an hour before bedtime, have your teen hand over all electronic devices and turn off the TV. • Establish a bedtime routine. When they were younger, the rituals of brushing teeth and bedtime stories helped their mind know it was time for sleep. Encourage your teen to wind down each night by reading or listening to mellow music. • Avoid caffeine after lunch. It stays in the system for hours making it difficult to fall asleep. • Avoid bright lights in the evening; darkness lets your body know it’s time for sleep. If your teen uses these techniques and is still unable to fall asleep by a reasonable hour, then it's time to consult a sleep specialist. According to MacDonald, "Up to 10 percent of teens experience something called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. Some kids can't go to bed before 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m., even if they want to." But Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is very treatable. "We see a lot of it. Within a few weeks to a month we can reset their body clock."

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Special Section family faith

Finding Faith in an

By: Chaunie Brusie

Unplanned Pregnancy Two tiny blue lines. Who would have thought that two small lines, so innocent and inconspicuous in appearance, would change the course of my entire life as I knew it? I was a senior in college when they appeared, fresh off of a life-changing internship in Washington, D.C. and looking forward to senior year with my big plans to study abroad in Italy and then finally change my major to my life-long dream of writing. Ok, fine—and I may have been hoping for a sparkly ring on my finger from my boyfriend of four years, Ben. Yes ma’am, I had big plans for that senior year and not one of them included a baby. My unplanned pregnancy changed my life in obvious ways like bringing me my beautiful daughter who just started kindergarten this past fall. For me, my pregnancy was also a journey of faith that led me to find something I never even knew I was searching for.

Finding Out:

When those first two tiny blue lines showed up one night early in the beginning of the school year, I was completely devastated. My boyfriend and I were both cradle Catholics, dedicated to our faith and each other and we had desperately wanted to start our married lives together in purity. Unfortunately, we failed and that moment of failure became a symbol for how I viewed my entire start into motherhood—as a failure. I had worked hard my entire life to be the “good girl.” Valedictorian of my high school, Homecoming Queen and the President of every club you could think of. And yet, this happened in what was supposed to be the most important moment of my life, and I failed. This was not the picture-perfect moment I had dreamed about, surprising my husband in some adorable Facebook-worthy moment or cooking him a meal made completely of baby carrots. This was exactly everything I didn’t want out of life.

Moving Forward: 26

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After the pregnancy test, I tried to move forward. I tried reconciling the fact that I was going to be a mother a bit earlier than expected and that I still had college to contend with. We told our families, who were, for the most part, very supportive and even, much to my surprise, excited to meet a new member of the family. Ben and I also decided to get married and quietly planned a wedding for a few days after Christmas…for a mere 500 guests. So I got that sparkly ring after all. Life seemed good on the outside. I had a fiancé, I was doing well in my classes despite crippling morning sickness (who knew you could actually lose weight while pregnant?) and our wedding plans were coming together nicely. But inside, my life was a different story.

Overcome With Guilt:

While my life from the outside appeared to be moving forward, inside I was wrestling with guilt and shame about my unplanned pregnancy. I was overwhelmed by the guilt of going against my belief system and struggled greatly with trying to reconcile how my baby could be a “good” thing when she came from a “bad” act. I truly felt like I was not fit to be a mother because of how I had become pregnant. And on top of my own guilt and shame I struggled with the surprise of realizing how much others looked down on me as well. I felt that those outside of my family viewed me as just another unwed young mother about to become a statistic on welfare. It was so difficult to try to be happy about my baby when I was so ashamed about the circumstances surrounding my pregnancy.

Finding My Faith:

love but she was sent to teach me how to love perfectly. I felt a joy and happiness that hasn’t been matched since the birthdays of each of my children, when I finally let myself believe that God still loved me—and I could truly and freely love my baby. A few short weeks later, I was able to walk down the aisle to my new husband as a free woman, at peace with who I was as an imperfect mother who could hold her head up high and in a few short months, her baby in her arms. And since that day, I have made it my mission to help other young mothers who may be struggling with the same feelings of guilt, shame and doubt that I dealt with through my website, www.tinybluelines.com and in my book, Tiny Blue Lines: Reclaiming Your Life, Preparing for Baby and Moving Forward in Faith in an Unplanned Pregnancy, which will be released this month through the FAMILY Magazines’ neighbor, Ave Maria Press. I want every mother who may be faced with an unplanned pregnancy to know that she is worthy and can move forward to continuing to live her dreams while pregnant. Today, I am the proud mother of three young children and even though I never switched my major or made it on that trip to Italy, I am still living my dreams. And more importantly, those two tiny blue lines taught me the real secret of life— That faith—and love—can be found in the most unexpected of places. Pre-order your copy of Chaunie’s book on avemariapress.com or log on to the FAMILY Facebook page to win a free copy!

With my wedding date looming closer, I knew it was time to take action about the way I was feeling about my pregnancy. I felt so lost and alone and I knew that in order for me to freely and happily enter into marriage, I needed to make peace with myself and my baby. So, in desperation, I began to pray. I prayed in ways that were familiar to me, the prayers and Rosaries of my childhood and also in other ways my prayers made their way to Heaven in desperate pleas that grew in an intensity that matched my belly. And suddenly, one evening when I least expected it, I felt like I had my answer from God. I felt a peace that I had never felt before, when love flooded my heart and I finally realized that my baby was not a punishment sent to me as a penance; my baby, however imperfect her parents were, was perfect in every sense of the way. My baby had not been created of a perfect 100% Recyclable

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

Special Section family faith

Learning More

About The Author: By: Jessica Haviland

haunie Brusie is a labor and delivery nurse, a young mother of three, a freelance writer, editor and now, this month, an author! Chaunie’s first book, Tiny Blue Lines: Reclaiming Your Life, Preparing For a Baby and Moving Forward in Faith in an Unplanned Pregnancy, is being released through Ave Maria Press this month. Read on for an interview with Chaunie to learn more about how she juggles writing, work as a nurse and three kids! How did you juggle being the editor for Michiana Family Magazines, write a book and also be a mom to three children? Well, I wrote the book before I took on the role as Assistant Editor, so that helped! But in all honesty, I collected research and information for years through my blog and traveling the country speaking as an advocate for young mothers before I actually wrote the book, so it was years in the making. I did the book in small chunks of time and of course, I have a supportive husband who let me spend many Saturday afternoons in Starbucks! How much of your personal life played a part in your book? Everything! After I found out I was pregnant with my oldest during my senior year of college, I realized how difficult it really is for young mothers facing unexpected pregnancies and to continue pursuing their own dreams of living a successful life, whatever that may look like to them. There are still a lot of stigmas and stereotypes about unplanned pregnancies, especially in young women and that was an eye-opener to me in living that experience of being told I wouldn’t succeed simply because I was a mother too. I searched for a book like mine, filled with examples of other young mothers who had lived their dreams and succeeded as both mothers and professionals and when I couldn’t find one, I decided to write my own. What did you learn while writing this book? I learned that mothers are the most amazing creatures in the world. More than half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned pregnancies so this is really an issue that needs to be talked about. If we want women to succeed in the workplace and as mothers, we need to realize that life happens and recognize the ways that 28

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women can combine both in realistic ways. The stories I have heard from other women and the ways that they are working to live their dreams while raising families are the most inspirational and beautiful examples for women like me. And in writing the book, I was following in so many of their footsteps in making my own dreams come true. Also, I learned that writing a book is actually easier than I thought it would be, which was a nice surprise. Do you have any plans on writing any other books? Absolutely, I do! I will never stop writing and I hope someday I can become a full-time author. I imagine myself happily holed up in a cabin on a lake with endless amounts of coffee. I always joke that I have to be a writer, because it’s something that will never leave me, even when my kids do! Where will your books be sold? How can someone get a hold of it? My book is available wherever books are sold, and online through Ave Maria Press, Amazon or Barnes and Noble. I would also love for any readers to stop by my website, www. tinybluelines.com and say hi or purchase the book directly through me!

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FAMILY book review

The Morning Sam Went to Mars: A book about paying attention. By: Nancy Carlson Reviewed by Vicky Westphal, Children’s Assistant, Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library

After losing himself in a Mars exploration daydream at breakfast, Sam misses the school bus again. In class, he is distracted by an imaginary deep-sea dive causing him to run out of time on his spelling test and ends up feeling dumb. Sam visits a doctor who understands his imagination and advises him on how to focus his “powerful brain.” Following her advice to eat well, get plenty of sleep, organize his homework and ask his teacher or a friend for help, Sam gradually increases his ability to focus when he needs to and enjoy his daydreams at different times of the day. This picture book has bright, shiny pages and provides encouragement as well as sensible suggestions in a fictional way. Without labeling Sam or his problem, the sympathetic story offers useful advice for children who may identify with him. The story is very practical and looks at a common problem that offers some possible solutions. It is a delightful story that can help your child increase their self-awareness and allow both the parent and child to build effective strategies for focusing attention. It also helps children with attention problems to know that they are not alone.

Escape from the Land of Snows By: Stephan Talty Reviewed by: By: John Zylstra

The spirit of the rebel forces and the future of his country depend on him. In “Escape from the Land of Snows” by Stephan Talty tells the courageous story of the Dalai Lama’s escape through the rugged terrain, high altitudes and freezing snow of Tibet. The hope of every Tibetan: to protect “his holiness” at all costs. The people are united by one thing, the Dalai Lama, their protector. When the people of Tibet rebel against their Communist oppressors, the government puts the new Dalai Lama in power. When the flames of war threaten to engulf the capital city of Lhasa, the Dalai Lama must make an important decision, stay or flee. Staying would threaten his life; fleeing would assure the Chinese of his support for the rebellion and force them to take action against him. The preservation of the Dharma (Buddhist doctrine), a culture and the hope of Tibet depends on his decision but the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is trying to snuff them all out. To the outside world, he’s the “god king.” To the Tibetans, he is the latest incarnation of “Chenrizi,” the always-compassionate Buddhist spirit. Read the story of a young monk’s escape to India and of valiant rebels in “Escape from the Land of Snows.” You will see how the 14th Dalai Lama’s physical strength, spiritual faith and energetic youth are put to the test through sand, snow, sun and sickness. Stephan Talty shows how a hero rises and old traditions are forced to come to a screeching halt. 30

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John Zylstra is an 8th grade student at Covenant Christian School. He enjoys music and learning new instruments. John is an avid reader and likes to read different types of genres and topics.

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FAMILY movie review

Catching Fire Review (PG-13) By: Cole Pollyea

efore teen dystopian novels became dull and redundant (yes, I’m talking about Divergent), there came a trilogy of teen novels called The Hunger Games. As they caught publicity and the eye of certain filmmakers, it seized its opportunity upon the silver screen. For a follow up to a good film (The Hunger Games, 2012), Catching Fire isn’t bad. It showcases a lot of the same stylistics used in its predecessor and offers new insight too. What’s more, it’s also very entertaining. To begin, after a performance beyond anyone’s wildest expectations in the 2012 masterpiece, Silver Linings Playbook, everything Jennifer Lawrence stars in is worth seeing. Her talent continues to be displayed as she sustains the character of Katniss Everdeen, “Girl on Fire”, who is re-entered into the Hunger Games, a 75th anniversary that supposedly would solve all of the governments revolutionary problems. Unfortunately things are not what it seems and Katniss, yet again, is put against the odds. While this element was more evident in the first film of the series, it still irked viewers, including myself, of the lack of adult material. Of course, it was put out to attract a teen audience (job well done) but the way it avoids the intimacy and violence is a clear indication that reigns were applied. However, it is important for there to be some films that earn that PG-13 rating but it is one thing that held Catching Fire and The Hunger Games for that matter, back from being better. As I sat with my class of students on a field trip we attended to see the movie, I heard whoops and cheers all the way throughout the duration of the movie. Some of those whoops and cheers came from kids who had seen the film multiple times before. It is a movie that is, by no means, a masterpiece. Nonetheless, it’s a successful chapter in the creation of Suzanne Collin’s dystopia. To conclude, I would say that it caught fire with the fans and spread like mad. 100% Recyclable

My name is Cole, I’m an incoming Freshman at Penn High School, and I’m an unconditional film lover. Check out my website for more insightful reviews! CCConFilm.Blogspot.com

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FAMILY mom

When The

Sickness Troops Invade

By: Jane Suter

Kids pass on colds

and the flu like miniature valets of disease. So it didn’t surprise me when my own little biohazard jumped into bed with us, aflame with the plague. My husband rolled over and I embraced the pestilence. After a fitful night, my son was feeling better and I was exhausted. I was also infected. I could feel the storm of illness brewing inside me, but pressed on. We all know it’s illegal for moms to be sick. But it was coming, so I made the official announcement to my disbelieving husband. “I’m getting the flu,” I announced. “Really?” he replied, as if I had just told him I landed a job as a cocktail waitress on a Pirate ship. Then silence. If I could read his mind right now (and I can), he is thinking, “No way. She’s not really sick. She’ll be fine.” As I left him to ponder the gathering storm, he began searching for the can of Lysol. I was pretty sure he was going to bathe in it. What is it with men and germs? Hours later, I put the boys to bed. My raw throat and headache hailed the onslaught of doom. Oh yeah, I was a day away from embracing a carton of Puffs Plus and sipping Nyquiltinis. My hair will soon be in a scrunchy; PJ’s and slippers will be my uniform and I will be ugly ill. But I stayed positive in a tsunami of denial and false hope. I knew if I DID get the flu, the entire infrastructure of my family’s life would implode in a groaning WHOMP! And so it did. My soiree with the flu went like this:

Day One: My brain is the size of a bacon bit and I retreat to the sofa. Like an unemployment line of hungry, helpless, wee people, my kids wait for me to stir or cough before approaching my face. One by one the imperative requests pile up: “May I have a piece of gum? May I have a cookie? Do you mind if I get out the glue? May I cut the dog’s hair?” I grant every request with a weak wave of my hand. They have me at their mercy. I am helpless and they know it. The inmates have taken over. Attica!

Day Two: My home is a Wild West town of outlaws, complete with dust-bunny tumbleweeds. I finally lift my head up long enough to witness the wreckage. I will myself vertical and shuffle through the kitchen. An open peanut butter jar, banana peels and cracker crumbs litter the island. I whimper and look away; maybe it will 32

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disappear. Because I am my own nurse, I nuke some hot tea with honey and retreat back to the couch. But there is no rest for the weary. I realize, as I lie here expiring, thath the maid doesn’t get a day off.

3 Ships. 4 Itineraries. 1 Port. ore travel choices. More cruise flexibility.

Day Three:

The haze is lifting and I decide I cannot be sick any longer. Another day of this and our house will be condemned by the Health Department. I grab my garbage bag of tissues and clear a path to the dining room. I stumble around in a medicated stupor, feeling as pathetic as my dog looks (yeah, they cut his hair). I rally the troops and start barking orders. “Yay, mom is feeling better!” exclaimed my son. Indeed I am, now that the post-apocalyptic clean up has commenced. The sheriff is back in the saddle, albeit a little wobbly. At sunset my husband calls, again, to see if I’m feeling better. I swear he thinks he can stalk the illness out of me. He offers to bring home take-out and tells me he will do the laundry when he gets home. It is here where I allow my evil counterpart to take over. I cough and blow my nose, letting out a frail “Thank you.” Can you blame me? After all, who can resist free laundry service? Of course tomorrow I will resume my life as a domestic enforcer. But tonight I will wallow in the cool mud of my sty; surrounded by my little Petri dishes of disease and loving every molecule of them. Who knew the flu would land me in hog heaven?

tarting in January and continuing through mid-May of 2014, the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and the newly re-imagined Disney Magic will all be sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida. Choose from 3- and 4-Night Bahamian cruises as well as 7-Night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, departing throughout the week for more travel flexibility. And with Port Canaveral just an hour away from the Walt Disney World® Resort, you can extend the vacation magic either before or after your cruise to create the ultimate Disney experience. There’s something to delight every member of your family. Three spectacular ships. Four great itineraries. Sailing from Port Canaveral in 2014! Disney Magic 3- & 4-Night Bahamian Cruises - Nassau, Disney Castaway Cay Disney Dream 3- & 4-Night Bahamian Cruises - Nassau, Disney Castaway Cay

Disney Fantasy 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruises - St. Maarten, St. Thomas/St. John, Disney Castaway Cay Disney Fantasy 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruises - Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Disney Castaway Cay

Ships’ Registry: The Bahamas

to book your magical disney cruise vacation, contact us today! Jane Suter is an award-winning writer and mom of two very energetic boys, one in kindergarten and the other in second grade. Born in Chicago, she is proud of her Midwestern roots.

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574.534.1521 1.800.635.0963 www.mennotrav.com THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY mommy & daddy

Sleep Consulting? It’s a Real Thing By: Chaunie Brusie

When my daughter was about two-years-old, she suddenly had what appeared to be a nervous sleep breakdown. She wouldn’t stay in her bed, woke up constantly, screamed for hours and in general, simply wouldn’t sleep. It was like some sort of cruel torture. Many episodes of “Super Nanny” and a few incidents with the baby gate that I wish I could forget, we finally sleep-trained her to fall asleep in her own bed and stay there. But not without many tears along the way. When I heard about Kathleen Health, an actual licensed professional “Sleep Consultant,” I was completely intrigued. Not one to buy into typical parenting “hypes,” I had to see for myself—is sleep consulting a real thing and could it ever be worth the money?

How did you get involved as a sleep consultant?

My fascination with sleep began while earning my degree in Psychology, and continued through many years of experience in childcare. I first became familiar with the sleep consulting profession through a presentation with a local sleep coach while pregnant with my first child. When he was about six-months-old, we ended up hiring that same sleep consultant to help us address some night-waking issues. I felt that no matter how many books I read or well-meaning parents I talked to, I couldn’t quite figure out the solution without a professional, personalized support system and under her guidance we got the results we’d hoped for quite quickly. Receiving an education from a sleep coach tailored to my own child sparked my interest even more and I soon found myself in frequent conversations with other new moms about what I had learned. Throughout the process, I realized that being well-rested led to greater joy in parenting and a happier child and I wanted to be able to share that gift with others in a more professional capacity.

What can parents expect when hiring a sleep consultant?

The value of sleep consulting is that it’s tailored to each individual family’s needs and preferences. It’s a very objective approach. The initial intake is mainly an opportunity for goal setting, followed by 34

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a more in-depth assessment during which the consultant evaluates the child’s health history and temperament, as well as the family’s parenting philosophy, to find the best approach for that client. It’s also a consultant’s job at this stage to rule out any underlying clinical issues which may be contributing to sleep problems and refer out if necessary before beginning a sleep plan. Most consultants will ask the client to keep a sleep and nutrition log for several days before the consultation, in order to get a better idea of the child’s 24-hour day. Often there are simple routine changes, such as the timing of naps and bed, which alone can make a huge difference in how a child sleeps. At the consult, a consultant will outline these “hygienic” changes first, if needed, and give the family time to implement them. This will lay a strong foundation for formal sleep training if it is still necessary after foundational changes have been made. If sleep training is needed to complete the process, the consultant will help the family choose an approach that feels comfortable to them and allows them to make changes at the pace they want. Throughout the entire process, the consultant will provide relevant education on the science of sleep as it pertains to the child’s developmental stage, as well as provide follow up support until the family’s goals are met.

How much does it generally cost?

Most sleep consultants offer a number of packages to choose from but a standard complete consultation with sleep plan and follow-up could run around $250 to $350. As a frugal mom who was reluctant at first to pay for sleep services, I have never regretted the cost and often tell people that it was the best money we ever spent on our son!

What are the most common sleep challenges you encounter in families & children?

Night waking and nap resistance! Usually overtiredness and lack of appropriate routine are contributors to both so we work on those things before implementing a formal sleep plan. Another common roadblock is that parents have half-heartedly tried a number of methods to teach their child but never followed through, resulting in a confused child who resists the unpredictability of sleep as they know it. Often, fixing night and nap issues involves eliminating an existing dependency that the child requires to fall asleep. After that, the rest of the issues tend to resolve quickly. Printed on Recycled Content Paper

Sleep Tips for Your Toddler Dr. Asad Ansari from Memorial Children’s Hospital Pediatric Multi-Specialty Clinic gives FAMILY Magazine a few tips on how to get your toddler to bed easier at night. AAP recommends:

Set up a quiet routine before bedtime to help your child understand that it will soon be time to go to sleep. Use this time to read him a story, listen to quiet music, or give him a bath.

Be consistent. Make bedtime the same time every night. This helps your child know what to expect and helps him establish healthy sleep patterns.

Allow your child to take a favorite thing to bed each night. It’s OK to let your child sleep with a teddy bear or a special blanket. These often help children fall asleep, especially if they wake up during the night.

Make sure your child is comfortable. He may like to have a drink of water, a night light left on, or the door left slightly open. Try to handle your child’s needs before bedtime so that he doesn’t use them to avoid going to sleep.

Do not let your child sleep in the same bed with you. This can make it harder for him to fall asleep when he is alone.

Do not return to your child’s room every time he complains or calls out. Instead, try the following:

• Wait several seconds before answering and make your response time longer each time he calls. This will give him a chance to fall asleep on his own. • Reassure your child that you are there. If you need to go into the room, do not turn on the light, play with him or stay too long. • Move farther from your child’s bed every time you go in, until you can reassure him verbally without entering his room. • Remind him each time he calls that it’s time to go to sleep.

Give it time. Helping your child develop good sleep habits can be a challenge and it is normal to get upset when a child keeps you awake at night. Try to be understanding. A negative response by a parent can sometimes make a sleep problem worse.

Chaunie Brusie is a labor and delivery nurse and mother of three. Her first book, Tiny Blue Lines, a non-fiction guide to young motherhood will be released in 2014.

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How can parents know when it's time to call in an expert vs. normal sleep issues in young children?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this, it depends on a family’s goals. Some families choose to work with a sleep consultant because they’re totally sleepdeprived and unable to function normally; others have established fairly healthy sleep habits and just want some support as they put the “icing on the cake;” still others want to work with a consultant before their baby is even born, purely for the education and to learn how they can lay a strong foundation and avoid problems later on. While most sleep issues are in the range of “normal,” if they are disruptive to the family, by all means, seek help. My general guideline is this: if your child’s sleep issue makes him unable to focus and enjoy life or if you are unable to enjoy parenting because of it, it’s time to get professional support.

What's "normal" when it comes to children and nighttime awakening?

Newborns and very young infants wake frequently during the night due to nutritional need; this is completely normal in the early months and the nutritional need at this age should never be ignored. By about five to six months of age, for an average healthy baby on a steady growth curve, night waking typically begins to occur out of habit rather than hunger. Often this is a great time for parents to intervene and help the child break a night-waking habit because it will only become more ingrained over time. If night waking is not addressed at all, they can go on for years; studies show that nearly half of preschool-age children still wake up during the night simply because their bodies are in the habit of doing so. While some children may start to sleep through the night naturally, there is no particular age when it’s guaranteed to happen. Falling asleep and staying asleep are learned skills which must be taught, practiced and finally mastered.

Any tips for parents to try before calling in a professional?

Predictability within a daily routine goes a long way in establishing healthy sleep habits. The biggest mistake almost all parents make is giving children an inconsistent message around sleep. So many well-meaning parents find themselves exhausting their “bag of tricks” day in and day out to get their child to sleep, when in fact giving a single clear message consistently is the key to long-term success. Most children who resist sleep do so because they find it confusing and unpredictable; establishing a consistent routine works wonders in helping children to enjoy sleeping. Another tip to keep in mind is that the more cumulatively well-rested a child is, the easier it will be for him to fall asleep and stay asleep. Overtiredness is at the root of most sleep problems and young children need significantly more sleep than adults.

Have you ever had a child/family that you couldn't help?

Sleep consulting is a partnership which requires a great deal of commitment from parents; on rare occasions a family will decide partway through the process that their goals are different than they initially thought, and choose not to follow through on their plan. However, the feedback in these cases has still been positive because the families appreciate the knowledge and education gained through the process, even if they choose to use it in a different way. I would also note that my scope of practice at this time is limited to average-needs children but there are sleep consultants who are certified in special needs as well. For more information, visit www.katscradleconsulting.com.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY fun

“Pokagon State Park: A Park for All Seasons”

By: Michelle L. Shirk, J.D.

oes your New Year’s resolution include spending more time out in the great outdoors? If so, be sure to pencil in a visit to Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana. This exciting Northern Indiana destination is close enough to the Michiana area for a quick overnight getaway or even a daytrip. The Lay of the Land

Pokagon State Park is 1,260 acres, with an additional 200 acres located in the newly opened Trine State Recreation Area. The park is surrounded by a chain of interconnecting lakes and includes a wide variety of terrains ranging from rolling hills to open meadows to wetlands. “We try to keep it as natural as possible and do as much restoration as possible to get it back to its original landscape,” says Park Interpreter Fred Wooley. Visitors can explore the park’s diversity via nine numbered hiking trails. The park’s onsite resort also adds to the appeal. According to Tom Peet, Assistant General Manager of Potawatomi Inn & Conference Center, the hotel was originally built in 1927 but has since been expanded a number of times. Lodging options include seven historic cabins, four cabin suites and 126 guest rooms in the inn. Amenities include the Lakeview Grille, Courtyard Café, activities room, game room and indoor pool area. There’s also an exercise room, although “most people get their exercise in the park itself,” explains Peet. Peet refers to the park and inn as “a four season destination point.” Below, you’ll find a season-by-season guide to the best things to see and do at Pokagon State Park.

Winter

The park’s toboggan run is its star winter attraction. “It’s only one of two refrigerated toboggan runs in the Midwest,” explains Wooley. Visit www.tobogganrun.com to take a virtual toboggan ride and find current operating hours. The outdoor winter fun doesn’t end with the toboggan run. Wooley says that the Pokagon Park is the only state park to offer ski rental. Other winter activities include snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing and hiking. “The park is beautiful in the winter,” says Wooley, who lists white tail deer, squirrels and possums as animals that remain active during cold weather. In recent years, bald eagles have even been attracted to the park as a wintering site. The Nature Center remains open year round. Back at the Potawatomi Inn, things are bustling. Peet reports that those looking for a break from the cold can play ping pong in the game room, paint souvenirs in the activities room or take advantage of the indoor hot tub and sauna. In addition, the hotel’s Lonidaw Lounge offers one of the few remaining actual wood burning fireplaces in the Indiana State Park Inns system, says Peet.

Photos: Pokagon State Park

Spring

Springtime visitors to Pokagon State Park can expect “beautiful displays of redbuds,” says Wooley. Wildflowers begin to emerge as early as February, and birds likewise begin to return to the park in the spring. The park marks the change in season with a special “Welcome Back” celebration the first weekend in May. The saddle barn opens in spring for horse lovers to enjoy and the action picks up at the campsite. Peet mentions boat and bike rental as other popular springtime activities. Guests who would prefer to leave the driving to a professional can enjoy a guided tour of Lake James on a replica electric launch similar to the boats used during the park’s early years. Spring may be a solid choice for those looking for a relaxing visit.

Summer

Unsurprisingly, summer is the parks’ busiest season. In addition to the springtime activities listed above, swimming is available at two beaches. Wooley reports that these access points have very gradual slopes and are roped off for protection, making them an excellent fit or families. Those hungry for more physical activity can also play sand volleyball or basketball. Visitors can also enjoy mountain biking on the new multipurpose trail at Trine State Recreation Area. On the resort side, Peet says summer guests can look forward to fun activities such as outdoor barbeques and corn hole. Special events include the Lake James Association Firework Show that is held annually on the closest Saturday to July 4th, as well as a Sea Plane Fly-In at the end of summer.

Fall

Fall brings the changing of leaves from green to oranges, yellows and reds and making it a great time to hike the park’s trails, says Peet. For those looking for a memorable hike, Wooley recommends Trail 3, which goes past Lake Lonidaw, along a boardwalk and up rolling hills to Hell’s Point. Trails 7 and 8, which travel through open areas filled with tall prairie grasses, are also favorites among park employees. In addition, “Special events in the fall are really something,” says Wooley. The park offers a full slate of activities including weekend hayrides, a hoedown dance event and various Halloween-related activities. A fall visit doesn’t have to be action-packed to be enjoyable. Peet notes that fall is also a great time to enjoy a sunset or an outdoor bonfire.

Need more convincing?

Pokagon State Park has its fair share of natural attractions and manmade amenities but so do many other Indiana state parks. What makes this particular spot so special? “I think it’s this up north flavor that we have,” says Wooley. “Here, the mood’s different.” He says the park’s northern climate, lakes, conifers and high quality wetlands as distinguishing features. Peet says that Potawatomi Inn is the only state park inn currently located on a lake. “Pokagon’s definitely not the largest park, but it’s a little gem up in the northeast corner of Indiana.” Maybe this year is a good time to set a date to check out this “little gem” for yourself!

For More Information: On Pokagon State Park: www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2973.htm On Potawatomi Inn Resort & Conference Center: www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/inns/potawatomi 100% Recyclable

Michelle Shirk is a longtime resident of Northwest Indiana and proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School. She loves writing about family, travel and holiday/ seasonal events. THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

FAMILY mommy & daddy

By: Lara West

Making Your Own Household Cleaners Have you bought a different cleaning agent for every surface and type of dirt imaginable? Do most of those cleaners burn the insides of your nostrils, dry your eyes out and give you a headache? Have you thought about looking for an alternative? I have. Between the chemical burn on the tips of my fingers and the deflation of my pocketbook, I started seeking safer and less expensive cleaning solutions. Some of the popular DIY solutions I found are made with items that I already had in my house for other purposes, thus eliminating chemicals and saving money already. Nevertheless, before I could give up the security of strong chemical-laden commercial cleaners, I had to have trust that things like vinegar and baking soda would actually rid my house of germs and bacteria. There are three main products important to know about before you begin. Two of which you are probably familiar with in the kitchen, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll tell you why they make a good cleaning agent, too. They are vinegar and baking soda, and the third one is borax.

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Vinegar

Vinegar, although the smell can be undesirable, is both safe for consumption and a disinfectant. It is a weaker product, but should not be used at full concentration on most items. There are eyes, skin and respiratory system warnings associated with vinegar. (Be careful not to tackle a big area, like the shower, in one go without proper ventilation.) It is also important to know that vinegar won’t ward off as many germs on your counter tops as commercial cleaners, but it does disinfect against bad bacteria such as, salmonella and E. coli. It also makes areas barren to mold and mildew growth. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that vinegar has this effect on these dangerous microorganisms because vinegar has an acidic pH level, and “… many bacteria are inactivated by vinegar (acetic acid).” Vinegar is also great for removing soap scum and other deposits.

Making the switch

Personally, the hardest battle I faced when switching to do-it-yourself cleaners was fighting the belief that I NEEDED those harsh chemicals from commercial brand cleaners to clean my house quickly and keep my family healthy. I started slow in my transition beginning with the toilet bowl. My thought was that it’s a toilet bowl, and no yucky germs can get to me and make me ill from there. After seeing that the bowl was staying just as clean as when I used the chemical stuff I went a step further and tried vinegar and water to clean my windows with amazing results. Next came the floors, followed by the laundry detergent and lastly, I started to trust these cleaners on my counter tops and my dishes. I think you might be surprised at just how effective these cleaners really are, and how much money (and cupboard space) they can save you. Because you probably have vinegar and baking soda in your home right now, you can easily start testing them out today.

DIY House Hold Recipes • Surface Cleaner and Glass Cleaner: Vinegar Water Mix equal parts vinegar and water.

• Vinyl and Linoleum Floor Cleaner:

Baking Soda

You’re probably familiar with baking soda in some capacity. Whether you’re a baker, a home-remedy maker, a fan of great smelling refrigerators or once a student in a science classroom making volcanoes erupt, you’ve most likely had some experience with baking soda. Baking Soda is great for many purposes. You can use it in your cookies to make them rise. You can use it for personal hygiene. It’s also great for deodorizing smelly areas, and because it fights odors chemically, the smell is actually neutralized rather than masked. Baking Soda also makes a good cleaning agent. Its mildly abrasive texture allows it to gently scrub the surface, and it has good grease fighting abilities. There is no need to have a list of baking soda cleaning recipes stapled to your wall, though. The most effective thing to add to it in most cases is water. You might be surprised at what a quickly made batch of paste or a sprinkle on a damp sponge can do. You can use baking soda on almost all surfaces (except aluminum).

Borax

Borax is another product that is handy to have around when making your own cleaners. It is a natural substance that also has eyes, skin and respiratory warnings, as well as ingestion warnings, so it is important that it be stored well out of the reach of children and pets. It serves as a laundry booster, multipurpose cleaner and disinfectant. Borax works great as a laundry booster because it breaks down in the water to produce some hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a gentle and natural bleaching agent that helps keep your clothes white. There are many different quick and safe cleaning solutions that can be whipped together for all varieties of cleaning needs, and while these cleaners may not be right for every family, they may make a nice fit into your home.

3 cups water ½ cup Vinegar 1 TBL Rubbing Alcohol Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle.

• Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

1 cup Vinegar ½ cup Borax ¼ cup Baking Soda Pour baking soda and borax into basin, and then add vinegar. Let sit about 15 minutes and then brush clean.

• Laundry Detergent:

1 bar Fels Naptha soap 1 cup Borax 1 cup Washing Soda (Borax, washing soda and Fels-Naptha soap can all be found in the laundry aide aisle.)

(powder)

Grate soap finely. Mix with borax and washing soda, and store in an airtight container. Use 2 TBLS per load.

(liquid)

Grate soap and melt in about 6 cups water. Turn heat down, and add Borax and Washing Soda. Stir over low heat until dissolved. Pour mixture into a 5 gallon bucket, add about a gallon (16 cups) of water, cover and set aside overnight. The next day, mix the gooey mixture, add 2.5 gallons of water. (I store my detergent in old detergent bottles, and keep what I am using in an old milk jug.)

Lara West completed her degree in Elementary Education and has spent the last several years working as a ghost writer, completing manuscripts, children stories, research papers and article rewrites.

FAMILY craft

DIY

Jewelry Craft Materials: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Oven Bake Clay (I used Sculpey) Paint (I used Americana gloss enamel) Stamps Toothpick Decoupage medium Wax paper Molds (I used mod melt molds) Baking sheet Silpat Ring base Hairclip base Jump ring E-6000 adhesive

Note: All materials can be found at a craft store.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

Steps: Ring & Hairclip

By: Jill Lebbin

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. 2. Smash clay in your hands and on wax paper. Make it pliable to use. 3. Once the clay is pliable, push it into the mold. Make sure to only put enough that fits in mold. Remove the excess. 4. Pop out and place on Silpat on baking sheet. 5. Bake in 275 degree oven for 15 min. 6. Allow to cool. 7. Paint desired colors and allow to dry. 8. Apply decoupage medium all over and allow to dry. 9. Apply E-6000 adhesive to ring base or hairclip base and place flower on top. Allow to dry over night.

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Steps: Pendant Necklace: 1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. 2. Smash clay in your hands and on wax paper. Make it pliable to use.

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3. Once it is pliable, use a small cookie cutter or clay cutter and cut out desired shape. 4. Use toothpick and make a small hole at the top of the shape. 5. Use craft stamps to create objects inside of shape. Use toothpick to write names, etc. 6. Place on Silpat on baking sheet. 7. Bake in 275 degree oven for 15 min. 8. Allow to cool. 9. Paint desired colors and allow to dry. 10. Apply decoupage medium all over and allow to dry. 11. Put a jump ring in the hole and attach to a necklace.

Friday, February 28th, 2014 5-9pm Saturday, March 1st, 2014 9am-6pm at the Century Center

This pendant was inspired by Ashley from Make it-Love it.

Local vendors will have products and services for you to check out at the show!

Jill Lebbin is the owner and operator of Every Day is an Occasion LLC (everydayisanoccasion.com). She designs for paper manufacturers and teaches craft classes. Her projects can be seen on the Disney Blog, HSN, WSBT and published in craft magazines. She resides in Granger with her husband and two children.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

The Elkhart Humane Society Needs your Help! Loving animals are in need of families!

Baby Bowser- Baby Bowser is twoyears-old and full of life! He gets along great with other cats. He is an active boy who loves to play. Baby Bowser can’t wait to find a forever home! He is neutered and up to date on all his vaccinations

Jacob – Jacob is a mature Lab/Shepherd

mix. He is approximately four-years-old. He is neutered and up to date on vaccinations. Jacob knows basic commands and listens well. He gets along great with other dogs. Jacob has been at the shelter for a while and can’t wait to find a forever home.

Gator – Gator has been at the shelter since May 2013. He is a sweet boy who can’t wait to find his forever home. Gator gets along well with other dogs. He came from a neglectful situation and will need a home that will give him time to adjust. He is neutered and up to date on all his vaccinations. 54687 County Road 19 Bristol, IN 46507 (574) 848-4225 www.elkharthumanesociety.org

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Birthday Party Resource Guide

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Handmade Gift Packet with a 3D Dinosaur Puzzle! From The Creative Village, Elkhart.

NAME: _________________________________________ AGE: ______ ADDRESS: __________________________________________________ CITY: ___________________________ STATE: ______ ZIP: _________ DAY TIME PHONE: __________________________________________ PARENT’S NAME: ___________________________________________ E-MAIL: ____________________________________________________

Color this page and win! The coloring contest winners will be featured in our March 2014 issue of FAMILY Magazine and receive a Handmade Gift Packet with 3D Dinosaur Puzzle! One winner will be selected from each of the three following age categories: 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12 years of age. For your chance to WIN, color your best picture and mail entries to: The Creative Village • 51772 SR 19 • ELKHART, IN 46514 • (574) 326-3103. Coloring contest is open to children 12 years and under, and entries must be mailed by February 3rd, 2014. Winners will be featured in the March 2014 issue of FAMILY Magazine and will be notified via phone or email by The Creative Village. Winners' artwork will be featured along with their first name and age. For additional coloring contest entries, this coloring page may be photocopied and printed off.

100% Recyclable

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | January 2014

www.the-creative-village.com (574) 326-3103

R U N S S Y R N V K N B H T B Q J E F D R Y I R C X J R L R D S W U H J N O K O C A A H A D Y G T Q T X X B Y R N K Q C D R G N A I N O I T A C U D E E L P G I P T S A R F I Z R L R E E U I T T N U J T H T M E U W V P Z U N A A F S D Z Z T T E S X D Z S I S J X S S L I I J G I L O L T A H Q S X N Y N H O C N G S E R P R W S F C R S A I L I A O Z V G P W M I U Y D N T C R E A T I V E Y J F M T R D F E K E R S V B T R L C A R G M T S A B F M W X E H K O Q A V A T E L K H A R T F R A C S P I D F Y D O U E F Q N T B G O N O E O B H R M C H I P N N E G A L L I V S O L P P D A K W P G E I E V U H W

Have Fun! Find the words below in the Creative Village word search puzzle. Words can be forwards, backwards, diagonal, vertical or horizontal.

Vintage Dinosaur Creative Village Antique Jewelry Scarf

Puzzle Crafts Art Education Inspiration Handmade Artists

Home Party Studio Bracelet Paintings Furniture Elkhart

Krazy Kid Craft Class Party

Buy One Get One Free! Offer Expires March 31st, 2014.

2014

Saturday February 22nd, 2014 The FAMILY Magazines and South Bend Parks & Recreation are bringing Michiana Summer Camp Fair 2013 to the Century Center! On February 22nd from 10 AM to 1 PM you can come learn about all the different summer camp options for the kids this year! Whatever their interests, whatever their ages, there will be lots of great camps to choose from and you can ensure that your kids will have a blast this summer by getting them signed up during The Michiana Summer Camp Fair 2014!

You won't want to miss it! Here are just a few of the camps you can expect to see at the Summer Camp Fair! Bethel College Summer Camps Camp Alexander Mack Camp Crosley YMCA Cedar Lodge Compton Family Ice Arena Culver Summer Schools and Camps Global Link China Healthworks!