Family October 2013 by FAMILY Magazines of Michiana

October 2013 • Moms Just Know • Free

PARENTIN G MEDIA AS SOCIATIO

2013 Silv Award W er inner G eneral Ex cellence

Fall Into

FAMILY Fun

List of Pumpkin Patches

in Michiana

Have a

HalloWeekend

With Your Family

Candy-Filled

“Mummy” Craft

Food Allergies Are Not a Joke

“ There's a

monster in my closet!”

Dear Mom:

Breathe In, Breathe Out and Leap In

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

eyes

Through the

of a child …

all things are possible. Eighty percent of learning is done through a child’s eyes. It can make all the difference when it comes to reading, computer usage and blackboard instruction. For many children, the key to better grades is better vision. That’s why a top quality eye exam should be at the top of your back to school check list. The talented team at Boling Vision Center looks forward to serving you and making sure that your children have everything they need to appreciate all of the possibilities a good education can provide.

Schedule your child’s eye exam today. 800.283.8393

bolingvisioncenter.com

Amazing Here Amazing Happens Happens Here

IN THE NEXT ISSUE:

Contributors

Family Improvement

President & Publisher:

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.

Assistant Editor: Chaunie Brusie

Chaunie@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Creative Promotions manager: Jena Bontrager

Congratulations!

Betsy Tavernier

Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Jena@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

July 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.

Camryn – Age 5

Grace – Age 9

Julia – Age 11

on the cover: Sophia of South Bend, 5 years old Photo: Classic Image Photography, Granger Stylist: Maria Gonzalez

Distribution Manager: Mike Trentacosti 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 September 2013 Established in 2006. All rights reserved. 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 7: Number 10

Want to win a $50 Gift Basket full of prizes from Lansers the Natural Way?

www.MichianaMom.com

Then check out our coloring contest on pg 43!

Take a Stand for Family! Login to The Family Magazine FaceBook page and join in our 100-day-long Take a Stand for Family Crusade!

PARENTING MEDIA ASSOCIATION

2013 Silver Award Winner

2013 Gold Award Winner

2013 Silver Award Winner

General Excellence

Editorial and Design Awards Competition

Find the Hidden Acorn! For your enjoyment and fun!

The FAMILY Magazine is a proud member of PMA

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.

F R O M T H E P U B L I S H ER

Things We Learned

From Making The October Issue

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

Fall = family fun! If you’re

not loving fall as much as we are already, Michelle’s article on the top destinations and activities for family fun this fall will definitely get you in the spirit! Check out page 14 for all of the leaf-falling action!

2. Halloweekends, anyone?

Our marketing coordinator Jill just spent a spookyfilled weekend in Cedar Point and is giving us the inside look at the Halloween fun waiting for you and your family just around the corner! See page 16 to start planning your own Halloweekend!

A weekend getaway right here in Indiana!

Love

Right Now!

Jeans

Family Time in the Car

Pumpkin Spice Scented Candles

Kids Playing in the Neighborhood Together

Great Teachers

Dark Brown Nail Polish

7. Changing Leaves Ham & Bean Soup

9. The Innocent Fun of Halloween 10. Butternut Squash Casserole

Crafts aren’t just for kids. We are so thrilled to

welcome DIY crafter Jill Lebbin from Every Day is an Occasion! She will be providing us with fun crafts you can do the kids every month and we are in love with this month’s adorable candy “mummy” craft. It’s quick and easy—and of course, yummy! Get all the details on page 22.

(at FAMILY)

Learn all about a fun family getaway close to home on page 18.

Things We

11. Pumpkin Carving 12. Our Local Farmers

allergies are no 5. Food joke.

And we’re not kidding. Noelle Elliot takes us through just how serious food allergies are at school and at home—and what we can all do to keep kids safe. Page 38. OCTOB ER

Check it Out! Do

Want the "organic"/green version of The FAMILY Magazine each month with bonus articles? Sign up for our Email Newsletter on our website and get your own organic copy delivered to your email inbox each month!

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

2013

N O17

n’t forget to pick up your cop y of the NEW SASS Y Magazine!

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4Keeps

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.

By Casey Kiel

Cheeta

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

Testimonials From Our Readers “Great content with a local flare? Gotta love FAMILY!” ~Meagan “I have to tell you, I subscribe to a lot of national parenting magazines, and FAMILY is still one of my favorites. Can’t believe it’s free!’ ~C.B. We'd LOVE to hear from you! contact: The FAMILY Magazines

Betsy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

100% Recyclable

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

the FAMILY magazine

table

contents

live your best

4 5 Things We Learned Making the October Issue, Things We Love 5 Reader Testimonials 3 Coloring Contest Winners

family fun

14 Fall Into FAMILY Fun in Michiana

By Michelle Shirk

16 Have a HalloWeekend With Your Family

By Chaunie Brusie

8 The FAMILY Month Calendar

18 The NEW Playscape Exhibit at the Children’s Museum

11 Book Reviews

20 There’s a Monster in My Closet!

By Sue Reber, M.L.I.S. & Alec Overmyer

5 Movie Review

By Cole Pollyea

By Chaunie Brusie and Jena Bontrager By Jane Suter

NEW family craft

22 Candy-Filled “Mummy”

By Jill Lebbin

family expecting

26 Debunking the Five Myths About Doulas

By Meagan Church

38 6

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

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family features 28 Dear mom

By Meagan Church

family mom

30 The Day My Dress Got Stuck in the Dressing Room

Your Dental Benefits expire at the end of the year;

Use Them

By Chaunie Brusie

Before You Lose Them!

32 “The Other Woman”

By Michele Ussery

special section

34 Kids Expo Section 46 Pumpkin Patches and Haunted Houses 2013

We offer ALL of the services your family needs to have a bright, white, healthy and life-long smile.

family health

38 Food Allergies Are No Joke

By Noelle Elliot

Call to make your appointment today! 574-968-3719

calendar of events

44 Go to www.MichianaMom.com for tons of additional family events – updated daily!

6502 Grape Road, Suite 882 | Mishawaka www.universitymeadowsfamilydental.com

Monday - Thursday 8-5 • Friday 8-1

RIBBIT ING News! PIGGIE b o o k ! & T N A H P E L E ew n A from the New Y ork T imes bes t sell ing a uthor

Mo Wil lems!

Don’t miss Let’s Go for a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball!, and all the other Elephant & Piggie books!

100% Recyclable

Mo’ Mo at

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

The FAMILY Month

LIVE your best

Thistleberry Farm Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch open daily

Bob & Thom Comedy Show

Wunderkeys Music Class

So You Think You Can Dance?

World Teacher’s Day

God’s Time For Little Ones free story hour, Peace Lutheran School

Glass Garden Tile Project

Make Art Together Preschool Class Annie Get Your Gun

- I Made It!

South Bend Museum of Art music & art class

Breastfeeding Class, Lakeland Community Center

2 6 9 11 13 Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M

Whoa, That’s Scary! • According to the National Retail Federation, the US will spend $8 billion this Halloween. • The average American spends almost $80 on Halloween per year! • 35 million pounds of candy corn go on sale each autumn. (If you laid each piece end-to-end, you could circle the moon 20 times.)

What We’re

Pinning This Month

pinterest.com/familymags Playing in the leaves!

Couldn’t agree more!

Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider Who doesn’t love hot apple cider? Make up a batch of this spiced cider in your crockpot before the big soccer game and warm up while you cheer your favorite team on. In a crockpot, combine 1 bottle of apple cider with two cinnamon sticks. Stir in 1/3 c. brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. allspice and 1/8 tsp. ground cloves. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low heat before serving.

Pic Tap Go Looking for an app that lets you take your photos to the next level? PicTapGo, it's an app that allows for photoshop quality photo edits for iPhone photos while on-the-go, making it a perfect app for busy Michigan Moms. PicTapGo was designed by professional photographers to make great photography accessible to the masses. PicTapGo allows for photos to be directly posted to social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, all without being cropped, making for easy sharing and documenting of a baby's first steps and other young adventures. Editor’s note: I had the chance to try out this app and I loved it! I am new to Instagram and was frustrated by the cropping and editing limits; I liked the PicTapGo app for the variety of editing options and for the fact that I didn’t have to crop my picture to share it. I found it to be a great addition to my photo editing collection! And just because I liked it, we are giving away free downloads of the app—get all the details on FAMILY Magazine Facebook page!

Costume Contest Don’t forget to enter your child in this year’s costume contest! Visit our website and Like our Facebook page for more information!

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

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Calendar 31

Halloween

Niles Haunted House Scream Park

29 30

Sweetest Day

FAMILY Magazines Kids Expo

All Hallows’ Eve

Kids Expo

Don't forget to attend our 7th annual Kids Expo this year on October 26th at the Century Center. Along with some great community organizations attending, there will be tons of activities for the kids, including tick-or-treating and a costume contest, along with giveaways and prizes for the whole family! Get all the information on page 34.

FAMILY

Movie Review

The Butler

Reviewed by: Cole P.

Considering that it’s not only the third major blaxploitation film in the last nine months (behind “42” and “Django Unchained”), but also a historically significant movie event with an all-star cast, Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” had a lot to live up to. It’s my duty as a film critic to formulate a knowledgeable summary of the quality of the film and pass it on; however, “The Butler” is one I’m having a hard time with because of how wide-ranging this movie is. I can almost guarantee that no single person will formulate the very same judgment, but I’ll share mine anyhow. “The Butler” is a movie that, while it sometimes contains scattershot narrating that may offset the viewer, ultimately tells an applaud worthy story that captures quite a bit of cinematic and historical importance all the while exercising its cast effectively. “The Butler” chronicles the life of an African American butler, who worked his way up the chains to wind up working for the President of the United States (many Presidents, in fact). It begins with the tragic death of his father and continues to chronicle his endeavors in a mostly heavy-handed manner. While it isn’t a bone-deep character study, the movie tries hard to the point where one might say that it’s good enough. The abovementioned wavering narrative had me pointing out flaws, but what really saves it is how passionately Forest Whittaker commands the screen. As the viewer, I could occasionally sense the passion he emitted while attempting to (and succeeding at) emote in crucial scenes that, without his acting prowess, would have otherwise suffered.

Halloween Craft Alert! Try this fun felt craft with the kiddos this month: cut pieces of orange felt into pumpkin shapes and black into different mouth, eyes and nose pieces. Let the kids assemble their own jacko-lanterns with crazy and silly faces. For a twist, add some magnets to the pumpkins and stick to the fridge so the kids are entertained while you cook dinner! 100% Recyclable

I went to the theater with my grandmother, a woman who lived through the time of this story, and she didn’t love it; neither did I. Ultimately, it’s a movie that is never fully engaging, though the material really required it to be. Out of all of the movies we’ve seen this year, “The Great Gatsby” was our favorite, if for no other reason, then because of how involving it was. While “The Butler” is neither of those things, it still contains enough good qualities to get my recommendation, despite the fact that it’s not as potent as it probably should be.

Cole's Rating: (3½ out of 4)

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 THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

The perfect gift to

Did you know...

handcrafted furniture

Lanser’s The Natural Way features a large selection of Amish furniture?

that will last for generations

Look to Lanser’s The Natural Way!

Looking for that special Christening or baptism gift? We have a beautiful collection of heirloom Christening gowns and gifts.

“Amish” furniture isn’t just a style of furniture; it’s a tradition by woodworkers who have handcrafted furniture for generations. Come see the quality pieces in the store and let us help you find the perfect fit of beautiful furniture that you can pass down from generation to generation. We offer 5 types of different woods including brown maple, oak, sap cherry, quarter-sawn oak and cherry. Not sure what kind of stain you need? We also offer stain-matching to existing furniture. And while you’re in the store, be sure to check out our collection of adult furniture and heirloom rockers!

NEED THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS? We have them. Be sure to order any personalized gifts early! If you’d like, make an appointment and we can help you design your gift–rest assured, it will be one-of-a-kind and memorable. And remember, you can’t go wrong with classic children’s toys! Our selection of toys are made of the highest quality, to last for years of cherished play!

Start your holiday shopping now!

25% OFF Melissa & Doug Toys No limit! Through October 31, 2013

620 W. Edison Road, Mishawaka, IN Same plaza as Bonefish Grill 574.807.8797• www.TheNaturalWay.org Like us on Facebook!

FAMILY book reviews

Appetite for Life: The Thumbs-Up, No-Yucks Guide to Getting Your Kid to be a Great Eater

By Stacey Antine, MS, RD Reviewed by Sue Reber, M.L.I.S, Children’s Supervisor, Bittersweet Branch of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library How many times has your child said, “I’m not eating that!” You then feel frustrated because you want your child to eat healthy, but you are unsure how to get your child to eat the healthier choices. Appetite for Life: The Thumbs-Up, No-Yucks Guide to Getting Your Kid to be a Great Eater by Stacey Antine helps guide parents and children toward making healthy choices. Stacey Antine, a registered dietitian, has worked as a nutrition counselor and media spokesperson for twenty years. Ms. Antine became aware of the “State of children’s health” in the US through her corporate research. Deeply concerned, she quit her job and founded HealthBarn USA, an organization that works with children and their families to give them tools to live healthier. How a child eats now determines how healthy they will be when they become adults. Through research, Stacey discovered children tend to eat healthier food when they find out where it comes from and how it is prepared. She believes in a hands-on approach to get children more involved with food. Some of her suggestions include taking your children to the market with you, starting a garden and getting them involved in the preparation of the meals. The recipes included have suggestions on what children can do depending on their age level. Stacey instructs families on how to follow the HealthBarn USA’s Seven Healthy Habits. These habits are: eat breakfast, exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, share a family meal, recycle, brush and floss teeth and get a good night’s sleep.

Some thought provoking information from the book invites parents to rethink how they eat. Children will eat what they see their parent eat; if a parent does not like a certain food they will typically not offer it to the child. Children at an early age are open to eating healthy. They just need to be offered healthy choices. Stacey cautions against hiding vegetables in foods to trick children. It usually does not work. Being more open with the way foods are prepared, and allowing your children to be a part of the process is much better overall. Throughout the book is a wealth of information, such as, comparing store bought food and homemade food nutrition levels, what to pack in a child’s lunch, a pantry list, meal planning for the week, healthy alternatives, how to feed an athlete, starting a garden and many other healthy suggestions. She also offers gluten-free and vegetarian menu options. This book is user friendly and does a great job of answering questions you might have. Pumpkin Pie Dip, Pasta and Sweet Peas and Raspberry Crumble are a few of the appetizing recipes this book has to offer. Making small changes in your food choices will make a huge difference in the overall health of your children now and in their adult heath. This book is available for check-out from the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris-Public Library.

The Secrets Of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel By Michael Scott Reviewed by: Alec Overmyer This six book series written by Michael Scott tells the tale of Nicholas Flamel, joined by his wife Perenelle (though they later get separated on opposite ends of the world). In the first book, The Alchemyst, Nicholas and Perenelle come across Josh and Sophie who have silver and gold auras and are the “twins of legend” from an ancient prophecy from the ancient island of Danu Tails (a.k.a Atlantis). Throughout the rest of the book and series, Josh and Sophie continue to get trained and they get their auras “awakened” so that they can be trained in the four elemental magics—which are water, fire, earth and Aether (time). During the course of the rest of the series, the four of them continue on around the world and make many friends and many enemies. Only one side will come out on top. You’ll have to read the rest to determine if the elders or the humans come out on top.

100% Recyclable

If you enjoy the Harry Potter series or teen fantasy type books, then you will definitely enjoy reading this series. I enjoyed this book because it contains many elements of the Harry Potter series but without all the wands and physical objects in the book. I also enjoyed this series because it has the use of auras and time magic, such as Aether, which are elements you don’t see very often in magical books like this.

Alec is an eighth grader and enjoys reading in his free time. Alec also enjoys music and is in his school choir and plays oboe in the school band.

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

YMCA of Elkhart County and Premier Arts

Festival of Trees and Lights THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Wine & Canvas Night Wine & Canvas — we make painting easy and exciting! Our talented artists will instruct you step-by-step through re-creating the chosen painting. At the end of the event, you’ll take home a work of art that you created. “Life is too short for blank walls; unleash your inner Picasso”

6:30 p.m. • $50 per person Held at YMCA, Elkhart Includes all art supplies • Two glasses of wine • Snacks Call YMCA to reserve your spot today 574-389-7878

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15

Gala Event and Auction benefitting Premier Arts and The YMCA of Elkhart County

6:30 p.m. The YMCA of Elkhart County 200 East Jackson Boulevard

Share the Enchantment

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 PREMIER ARTS presents an All-Youth performance of

ELVES SHOEMAKER THE

AND THE

A holiday treat for the whole family!

Visit Premierarts.org for more information

10:30 a.m. • $10 per person Performance at YMCA, Elkhart Tickets available at Lerner Theatre box office

NOT TO BE MISSED! Local Talent Showcase from 1 to 5 p.m. on the festival stage!

FALL in Love with...

Simply Smooth Lips As the days get colder, you won’t want to leave home without one of Carolyn's Cove five different Scented Lip Balms! Allnatural and homemade, it’s a great way to keep your lips soft and smooth. Carolyn's Cove www.CarolynsCove.com, Elkhart - $3/tube

Think Pink Fall in love with this statement piece— with 84 "pink" Swarovski crystals, it’s sure to capture attention! $10 of EACH ring sold through October will be donated to the Susan G Coleman foundation! Touchstone Crystal a Swarovski Company, Granger - $52.00 www.mytouchstonecrystal.com/sparkles

Vintage Hobo Love Our vintage Hobo handbag will have you MORE than falling in love; it will have you head over heels! Known for its slouch shape and thick contoured strap, our Hobo is easygoing and fashionable. Flirt boutique, Rochester- $288 Facebook.com/myflirtboutique

Jessica Lynn Photography

Darling Little Diva Start your little divas off in style this fall with these two adorable Mudpie vests and leggings. A little animal print will look ferociously cute on your little ones and keep them warm! Jules Boutique, Goshen www.Jules-Boutique.com

Bootastic Bouquet™ Try our new Bootastic Bouquet™ for your Halloween parties, classroom events or office – it’s our classic fruit arrangement with a fun and fresh Halloween twist, featuring pineapple “ghosts,” “bats” and “cats” all dipped in chocolate! Edible Arrangements, South Bend & Granger www.EdibleArrangements.com

Breast Cancer Bracelet Promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month in style with this customized, handmade watch. Made with mixed metals band and a striking breast cancer awareness ribbon dangle. Wearsomefun, Elkhart - $28 574-596-6983

LIVE fun

By Michelle L. Shirk, J.D.

t’s beginning to look a lot like autumn! After a surprising September heat wave, you’re probably ready to welcome crisp air, changing leaves and cooler temperatures. Need ideas for seasonal family fun in the Michiana area? Look no further! Fun on the farm

Welcome the fall by setting a date to pick apples and pumpkins with your little farmers. Jollay Orchards (www. jollayorchards.com) in Coloma offers special Harvest Festival activities every weekend through October 28th. In addition to a U-Pick orchard and pumpkin patch, guests on these weekends can enjoy a hayride, fishing pond, Ferris wheel, farm animals and more. Be sure to stop into Grandpa’s Cider Mill for a drink and a slice of pie before you head home. You may even be able to watch cider being made right in front of you! Those looking for a mental challenge with their pumpkins should head to Barbott Farms & Greenhouse in Stevensville. You can see a photo of the farm’s amazing steam train corn maze at www.barbott.com. A run at the maze costs $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children, with a discount available for large groups. Tread carefully – the maze covers 20 acres and guests who make every wrong turn will traverse approximately five miles!

Get outdoors

Fall is a great time for families to get outdoors. Improve your family’s health by training for and participating in a charity walk or run this season. The October 12th Fall Frolic (www.tma-el.org/development-fall-frolic.htm) in Mishawaka allows participants to choose between a 2K fun run, 5K walk/run, 10K run and a kids’ obstacle course. All of these races benefit the Montessori Academy at the South Bend Center for the Homeless. On October 26th, families can run or walk in costume to support the Elkhart County Down Syndrome Support Group at the Haunted Hilly Half Marathon and Frightening 5K in Middlebury. Even slower racers have a chance to win a prize by wearing the best male or female costume! An untimed One Mile Monster Mash is also available. Find complete details at www. stonesouppromotions.com/event/show/41034563.

Get ready for Halloween

It’s time to start making Halloween plans! This year, supplement your neighborhood celebration with a visit to the Potawatomi Zoo (www.potawatomizoo.org). Zoo Boo, a family-friendly trick-or-treating event, takes place on Friday, October 25th, Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th. The Sunday afternoon time slot is recommended for children ages seven and under. Don’t worry, the Potawatomi Zoo makes sure kids aren’t the only ones who get to have fun this month. Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, the zoo’s adults-only Halloween party, is scheduled for Thursday, October 24th. While Amish Acres (www.amishacres.com) in Nappanee has food and fun to offer guests all year round, October may just be the best month of the year to visit. During Fall Harvest Days, which run now through October 27th, visitors can tour the grounds, shop for fudge and crafts or check out some of the entrants in the 2013 Scarecrow Contest and Reunion. After you’ve worked up an appetite, stop in for the famous family-style “Thresher’s Dinner” that includes your choice of two meats, ham and bean soup, bread with apple butter, sage dressing, mashed potatoes and various other culinary delights. Be sure to leave room for a slice of seasonal pie for dessert!

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

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See a show

Fall brings plenty of exciting performances to the Michiana area. The Morris Performing Arts Center (www.morriscenter.org) in South Bend welcomes the, “So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2013” on October 8th and “In the Mood: A 1940’s Musical Revue” on November 12th. On October 27th, Elkhart’s Lerner Theater (www.thelerner.com) hosts the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. Finally, if you pay a visit to Amish Acres (www.amishacres. com) as suggested above, you can end your day at the farm with a showing of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” or “Arsenic and Old Lace” in the Round Barn Theater.

ON SALE NOW!

Enjoy a fall festival

Looking for a great fall festival? You’ve got several fun-filled options to choose from. On October 5th, the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church puts on the Chapel Hill Arts & Crafts Show (www. chapelhill-craftshow.org), a juried event featuring more than 280 exhibitors. Head down to Dowagiac on October 12th to enjoy Under the Harvest Moon (www. dowagiacchamber.com), a familyfriendly festival that boasts an “extreme pumpkin carving competition” as well as a caramel apple and cider bar. New Buffalo hosts its Harvest & Wine Fest (www. harborcountry.org) on the same date. Adults can taste wine from local vineyards while kids enjoy art activities, a bounce house and hayrides through town.

Stay home

Of course, you don’t even have to leave the comforts of home to enjoy a dose of fall fun! Bake some of those freshly picked apples or pumpkins into a pie. Rake fallen leaves, let the kiddos jump in the pile, then repeat. Grab a sweatshirt and take a refreshing stroll around your neighborhood. Organize a S’more-making evening with family and friends. Curl up inside with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. However you choose to celebrate fall, be sure to savor the season. After all, it will be time for snowmen and Christmas carols before you know it!

Additional sources: www.swmichigan.org www.inthebend.com

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.

100% Recyclable

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 • 7:30PM MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOR TICKETS

CALL: 574.235.9190 ONLINE: MorrisCenter.org VISIT: The Morris Box Office

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY fall family fun

Have a Haunted HalloWeekend With Your Family!

By: Chaunie Brusie

What’s black, orange and smiling all over? Your family at a stay during one of Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends! FAMILY Magazines own Marketing Coordinator Jill Ludwick recently treated her family to their own early trick-or-treating with some rollercoaster-sized thrills for a stay at the HalloWeekends of Cedar Point. Jill gave us the scoop for all that your family needs to plan your own spooktacular weekend!

Where to stay

“There are several hotels on property, including a marina and campgrounds that you can stay at,” says Jill. “You can also walk in and out of the park there!”

What to eat

“There are several food vendors throughout the park, including a Famous Daves, TGI Friday's, Chicfil-A, Dairy Queen, along with many others,” says Jill. “A picnic shelter is located just outside of the main entrance for families to bring their own food.”

What to do

There is family friendly fun including trick-or treat for the little ones all through October!” Jill exclaims. Families can trick or treat on Saturday and Sundays thru October 27. Families can even trick or treat with over 50 life-sized dinosaurs in the special Dinosaurs Alive! Exhibit in the park. The park’s festivities include 10 walk-through attractions, parades, six live shows, a haunted house and of course, lots of pumpkins. Some of the shows include a “Friendly Monsters” show that invites families to get to know some fun and friendly monsters, a “Halloween Hullabaloo,” with lots of music and dancing, a special “Charlie Brown” performance, and several acrobatic, magic and carnival-like type events. And what haunted weekend would be complete without a haunted house? HalloWeekends has several haunted locations around the park, including “Eerie Estate,” a haunted mansion, “Eternity Infirmary,” an outdoor haunted corn maze and a haunted wax museum. There are also Haunted Weekends, where zombies come alive in the park at 8 p.m. with several haunted locations throughout the park. Cedar Point’s “Zombie High School” features “flesheating hellions and glass-eyed teachers” who “lurk the halls and locker rooms, waiting for unsuspecting visitors.” “The haunted weekends are very scary for the little ones,” explains Jill. “But there is still plenty to do away from the scary areas.” Attractions for the little monsters among us include: • Planet Spooky: featuring seven rides for little ones. • Howl-O-Palooza: “Designed with the pint-sized ghouls” in mind and includes a fun house, costume contest, hay bale maze and special Peanuts appearances. 16

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

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What’s new at Cedar Point this year

The newest attraction for 2013 is the GateKeeper Roller Coaster. “It turns and lunges protecting the front entrance of the park,” says Jill. There are a few new attractions coming to Cedar Point next year, such as the Pipe Scream and the Lake Erie Eagles. The Pipe Scream flies 43' above Midway at 43 mph and has been dubbed "the best of a roller coaster and flat ride in one." The Lake Erie Eagles is described as a “unique experience and updated version of a classic thrill ride. Riders will sit in one of eight “eagles” suspended from arms 28 feet in the air. As the ride spins, the eagles will swing outward – and riders have the unique opportunity to control their flight experience from mild to wild!”

RIDE THE Hesston ghost train!

Cedar Point fun facts • The oldest ride “grave” at Cedar Point belongs to the Monorail, which was built in 1959. • The “monsters” at Cedar Point are the result of the work of 20 makeup artists who take a surprising short four hours to transform the ghoulish actors. • The park boasts 67,200 corn stalks, 800 pumpkin and 400 gourds as part of its Halloween make-over. Jill says that she would “aboosolutely” (get it? Too much? Ok, we’ll stop with the Halloween innuendos, I promise) go back to HalloWeekends for Halloween. “It was a lot of fun riding roller coasters for the first time with my son, who is 13,” Jill says. “The zombies freaked him out a bit but it was worth the walk through Frontier Trail to get to the Mean Streak Roller coaster later in the evening.” So what are you waiting for? Have a spooktacular time at Cedar Point this October!

Take a Terror-iff-ic ride through the haunted woods of the Hesston Steam Museum behind a real steam locomotive. Your train will be haunted by many ghoulish creatures: ghosts, goblins, witches but the scariest of all the Mad Lumber Jack is sure to find you as well. Ride trains on three railroads including the Shay. The Hesston Ghost Train is frightening fun for everyone. (Appropriate for young children). Fall colors are at peak brilliance. Ride three railroads, shop The Depot Store and grab some delicious food. The Hesston Cider Press will be in operation with fresh squeezed apple cider, warm or cold. A great fall treat! See the Saw Mill operate and take a wagon ride.

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Offer not valid Labor Day Weekend. Expires 1/1/2014 *There is an admission charge for the Steam and Power Show. THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY fall family fun

The NEW Playscape Exhibit at Children’s Museum in Indianapolis

By: Chaunie Brusie & Jena Bontrager

Wow!

Our October issue is jam-packed with family fun and we just had to get another staff member on board! Our Creative Promotions Manager Jena takes us on a tour of the fun-filled weekend she and her husband had with their 15-month old daughter, Bayleigh, at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. They were there to check out the brand-new Playscape exhibit, designed just for the 0-5 age set. Now, the museum can be a place the whole family can enjoy! (Note: all opinions are solely Jena’s only!) Tell us about the exhibit:

The exhibit is geared towards children ages 0-5 years old. The Babyscape nesting area is perfect for ages 0-18 months. The area is enclosed with a nice padded floor and filled with tons of toys, mirrors and textures. The nesting area also includes an elevated platform accessed by a ramp (perfect for those who are just starting to walk to go up and down) that includes plenty of buttons to push to see objects to whirl and twirl in the air. And don't worry about the toys being super germy! If you find a toy that is just a little too sticky for your liking, just put it in the "Dirty Toy Bin" and new sanitized toys will be put out! The music studio room is perfect for all ages—plenty of fun instruments to play and they have different times throughout the day that you can join in music playing sessions with one of the Playscape leaders. The art area was great but probably meant more for those children who will sit and focus on the art piece. Bayleigh had too short of an attention span to want to sit and do a drawing when there was sand, water, toys, instruments and balls to be playing with! 18

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

The creek with a waterfall was like an at-home water table on steroids! It was incredible and a prime spot for all ages! They provide jackets in a variety of sizes for the kids to wear so they don't get soaked while exploring the water table. Scoops, cups, large syringes and gates to move the water different directions are just a few items you will find at the multi-height water table. The water is also chlorinated and is cleaned and recycled daily! Good to know Bayleigh wasn't playing is dirty creek water no pun intended. The other room in the Playscape is great for ages about 18 months-5 years. This room includes a “Whirly Twirly Tower” where kids can experience objects being twirled in the wind (Bayleigh wasn't too fond of this, she was a tad bit too young to understand the concept), and the Reaction Contraption where children and parents control balls traveling on various tracks and tubes, which have levers to manipulate the paths. Bayleigh's favorite part of this room was the Blockopolis where she could stack foam blocks and make foam block paths and ramps to send balls down. The sand table is probably best suited for ages 2-5. There are scoops and brushes to search and Printed on Recycled Content Paper

find hidden treasures in the sand. I felt like Bayleigh has too short of an attention span to stand and do this part. Plus, she just wanted to take the sand and dump it on the floor.

Does the museum have stuff for older kids? Will mom & dad enjoy it at all?

YES and YES!! A lot of the other exhibits are perfect for ages 5 and up! Wes and I had an absolute BLAST going through all of the other exhibits and actually learned a lot in the process!

What was your favorite part about the museum?

My favorite part of the museum was the overall cleanliness of the place! I was very impressed how clean everything felt, which helped ease my germaphobic worries with how many kids and families go through there in a week’s time. I also enjoyed the food court! They had a ton of healthy food options to choose from and even had gluten-free and organic food choices.

Some fun facts about the Children’s Museum: • The Children’s Museum is the largest in terms of size (nearly 500,000 square feet, attendance over 1.25 million a year and 120,000 artifacts in our collection). • They are the only museum to have a public library within our building, with a professional live theater and a planetarium in addition to our multiple exhibits. • The museum has a concierge who can help you with everything from emergency diapers to hotel and dinner reservations and directions to area attractions. • They have new online history site and are about to celebrate 50 Years of Fear with the nation’s oldest haunted house attraction.

What was your favorite part about the playscape exhibit?

The Playscape also has a lot of fun daily activities for parents and kids, such as: Experiencing Art Together:

Occurs on Thursday–Monday from 10:30–11 a.m.  and daily from 2–2:30 p.m. Join staff in the Art Studio where a museum staff member will lead you and your family in a guided exploration of an authentic work of art. Gain inspiration to create your own unique artwork utilizing a variety of materials. Specific activities will vary.

Making Music Together Friday:

Monday 11:30 a.m.–noon Daily 3–3:30 p.m. In the Music Studio, a museum staff member will lead you and your family in three different musical activities exploring rhythm, melody, and artful expression in music. Play authentic musical instruments, sing familiar and new songs, and get up and moving as we explore various genres of music.

Musical Storytelling:  Tuesday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–noon In the music studio, a museum staff member will help bring a story to life using instruments and harmonious sounds. Experience familiar stories in a brand new way during this participatory experience. Exploring Music with The Indianapolis Children’s Choir:

September 2013–February 2014. On the second Thursday of the month from 10:30-12:30 First Saturday of the month from 9:30-12:30 Third Sunday of the month from 12:30-3:30, an early childhood music specialist from The Indianapolis Children’s Choir will be on hand to help expand and extend your child’s musical play. Sing new songs, learn about musical instruments from around the world, create beats and rhythms, and even improvise your own musical creation all under the guidance of our ICC experts!

My favorite part about the Playscape exhibit was seeing Bayleigh shrill with excitement moving from station to the next and not having to worry about her climbing on something she shouldn't be, pushing buttons that she shouldn't be or making a mess with water or sand. I also enjoyed the leaders in this exhibit as they are all professionals in child development and aware of the importance of sensory objects and items for kids. Everyone was very educated, friendly and willing and wanting to engage with Bayleigh at every station she was at. It was refreshing to have employees be truly excited about what they do and their genuine approach to assist Bayleigh and help her explore was radiant in the rooms. I also absolutely LOVED the room built specifically for nursing moms. How many times have you as a nursing mom gone to a public place and there is no where to breastfeed your baby except the dirty bench outside the restrooms? Not here! This room has private rooms for not only mom and baby, but your hubby and other children as well. Each room has a nice, soft chair, a TV and toys to occupy your other little's. Brilliant!!

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Learn more about the Playscape Exhibit online at www.childrensmuseum.org/playscape Any tips for parents planning a trip to the Playscape?

Get there early to beat the crowds because the place fills up fast. If you don't, be prepared to wait in line a few minutes to get in to the Playscape exhibit as they only allow 239 people at a time to enter. Make sure your kiddos are well rested before coming—you don't want to travel three hours and then have your time spent there with a tired, fussy child! Also, be prepared for your kids to totally crash when you leave. The place is full of so much fun and stimulation that Bayleigh was asleep in her car seat before we pulled out of the parking lot.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY fall family fun

"There's a monster in my closet!" By Jane Suter

I spent last night in a race car. Well, not really IN a racecar, more like half-

hanging out of one like a broken seatbelt. As you can imagine, I barely slept. But at least it was better than last week when I woke up in a boat. Yes, truth be told, I sleep around a lot. But does this make me an outstanding mother? I would have to say yes! However, sleeping around does have a few drawbacks. Like when I forgot where I was and stumbled, half-asleep, face-first into a wall. And lately I find myself really missing my own bed. As messed up as this all may be, there's nothing I can do about it. It's the monsters fault. Monsters have plagued me, personally, since childhood. Mine were of the closet-dwelling variety, only to be rivaled by the under-the-bed faction. Closet-dwellers are particularly terrible. Especially when the closet doors have slats like mine did. The beasts would keep me up all night making strange sounds whilst they leered at me from behind my matchy-matchy Garanimal clothing. I'm fairly certain they threw parties in there too, just to torture me as they plotted their next assault. So I would cry out to my mother. She would turn on the hall light, the closet light and my Holly Hobbie nightlight until my room blazed brighter than the sun. But it never worked. I would still lie awake, paralyzed by the thought of what was to come. I think the only reason I survived my childhood at all was my firm grasp of the laws governing monster behavior. Despite the dazzling lack of proof that they actually exist, we have all memorized, as gospel, a surprising wealth of monster facts. They have been passed down through the ages as a form of sacred, universal wisdom. Let's review: Monsters are nocturnal. They cannot exist during daylight hours. Also, parents are a monsterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kryptonite. The moment an adult walks into a room *POOF* they disappear. Monsters can also sense movement. So, for the love of God, stay perfectly still! And never, NEVER, turn your back on one. *Shudder*

Of course your bedroom door must also be up to code. It can't just be in any old, willy-nilly position. No. It must either be entirely open or entirely shut. No in-between ajar nonsense. That goes for your eyes too. Keep your peepers plastered in the OMG! position all night long -- blink at your own peril, my friend. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Like if you absolutely must get out of bed. Think bathroom emergency. You may then run, screaming, like your pants are on fire, to the toilet. The shrieking somehow confuses them. Which brings me to the most important of all monster rules: While in bed you must never, EVER, put your feet on the floor. Do not dangle them over the edge or allow them to pass the invisible line that separates your mattress from the rest of the room. I cannot emphasize this enough. Based on all of this scientific monsterology, you would think we humans were defenseless, but you'd be wrong. Our magical protection lies in our flimsy, paper-thin bed sheets. Yup, no matter the thread count, these coverings provide an impervious barrier to everything a monster can throw at us. Razorsharp claws and demon teeth? Don’t stand a chance ... Glowing red laser eyes and flesheating saliva? Bring it on ... . I don't claim to understand it, I just know all bed linens are like a Kevlar Vest to scary things. So pull 'em up to your chin and consider yourself locked and loaded. However none of this solves my sleeping-around problem. You see, monsters are currently partying in my own children's closets. So I join them in their plastic racecar bed and wooden boat bed (both of which are roughly the size of a Triscuit) when the beasts start dancing. I know, I know, in a few years my kids will grow out of this phase. In the future, these current invisible pests will start to appear in daylight hours – only then they will be disguised as people. Yet I hope my boys will feel my invisible arms around them once again and feel secure; possessing the confidence to look them square in the eyes, unblinking, and make them disappear. After all, if we've learned anything, we know love and light make monsters vanish in a *Poof*, right?

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY fall family fun

Candy-Filled

By: Jill Lebbin

“Mummy”

Halloween Craft

Have you started to think about what Halloween crafts you want to do with your kids? Well, here is one that is "Scary Fun!" These would be so fun to make and give away to grandparents, neighbors, teachers or you could even make them at a party or get together!

Ingredients:

7 Small candy pieces, such as m & m’s 7 Empty toilet paper roll tubes, with toilet paper removed and saved 7 Tape 7 Toothpick 7 Marker 7 Printer & printing supplies

Steps:

1. Put candy into tube. 2. Tape toilet paper to the side of the tube wrap vertically around so that the tube is covered including ends. 3. Fold toilet paper in half and create a little bit of a point. 4. Wrap toilet paper horizontally around the tube twisting as you go...DO NOT RIP TOILET PAPER OFF YET. WAIT UNTIL THE VERY END! 5. Keep twisting all the way down to the bottom. 6. Tape at the bottom...rip toilet paper off now. 7. By the top of the tube, push toilet paper up so that you can draw eyes with the color of your choice. 8. Make ovals with a marker for the eyes. 9. Take Happy Halloween sign and tape it to the back of a toothpick. (Visit Jill’s website at http://everydayisanoccasion.com/mummy-halloween-crafts-tutorial-free/ to print!) 10. Push Happy Halloween sign into the side of the tube.

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Enjoy! Jill Lebbin is a wife, mother, craft fanatic and DIY blogger at www.EveryDayisanOccasion.com. She and her husband Marcel have been married for five years and love living in Granger with their two spunky kids, Marcel Jr. and Lilly.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

Sunday

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend

So You Think You Can Dance?

Glass Garden Tiles Art Project

Marie Yeager Cancer Center

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Battell Community Center

Ballet and Tap class for kids

~Anthony Brandt

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Notre Dame Hockey

Downtown South Bend

Kids' Night Out,

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."

Tuesday

Monday

October 2013

Leininger Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

1pm - 4pm Lexus of Mishawaka

Saturday

The Lexus Ride & Drive for Kilts!

Take a Stand for Family! Login to The Family Magazine FaceBook page and join in our 100-day-long Take a Stand for Family Crusade!

Niles Haunted House Scream Park

Downtown Mishawaka Library

Magic Tree House Book Club

Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles

Breastfeeding Class for Moms and Dads

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Mahoney Family Dentistry, South Bend 5:30pm

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Information Night

Polish Style Dinner

(12 years & under with paid adult)

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Saturday October 26, 2013 10:00 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2:00 PM The Century Center, South Bend

Trick-or-Treating

Hilton Garden Inn

A Dazzling Night with the Men in Kilts

Peace Lutheran School

God's Time for Little Ones

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Kids Expo

1003 Industrial Parkway Elkhart In. 46517 9am-3pm

Notre Dame vs. USC

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The Pumpkin Patch

Blue Line Handmade Market Place

Hoedown & Hog Roast Elkhart 4-H Community Fairgrounds Center

FAMILY expecting

Debunking

Five Myths of Doulas

The roles of doulas can often be misunderstood or not even known. Many people have not even heard the term before or know what it means. The Greek translation of doula is “servant woman,” but the more modern take is “birth assistant.” Doulas are typically women who are passionate about helping mothers through their birth experiences by offering comfort and encouragement.

By Meagan Church

While doulas have been attending more births over the last few years, there is still a lot of mystery and misunderstanding around who they are and what they do. Deborah Allen, a DONA-certified doula who has been practicing in the Michiana area for 15 years and is the mother of four, offered her expertise to help debunk these common myths surrounding doulas:

A doula would take the place of my husband/partner’s role in labor.

“Most people assume this, but it is absolutely not true,” Deborah said. “A doula is another part of a woman's birth team. She is meant to enhance and help bring about a positive, memorable birth experience for both mom and dad as well as for other family members and/or friends.” Deborah went on to explain that a doula’s role is to meet with the parents before birth to understand the mother’s birth plan and wishes for labor and delivery. “In short, a doula is there to enhance the birth experience and team, not to replace anyone.”

Doulas only help with natural birth.

“A doula’s job is not to create a birth experience she thinks a parent should have, but to help create a birth experience that the parents are wanting, which might include forms of pain medications, induction and even cesarean section,” Deborah said. Doulas specialize in assisting laboring women through birth, whether that is drug-free, with an epidural, a scheduled c-section, or even a vaginal delivery after c-section. Their role is to offer comfort and support, regardless of what twists and turns a laboring woman experiences. 26

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I’ve already been through birth once, so I know what to expect and don’t need a doula.

Many moms may feel they understand birth after being through it once and assume that a birth team isn’t as necessary for subsequent pregnancies. “Just like each of your children are the same in some ways, there are many ways they are different and this can be said for birth also,” Deborah said. She went on to explain how every birth is different. “A doula is there for the unexpected things that could happen.”

A doula is too crunchy for me. She might even show up in Birkenstocks.

As Deborah was quick to point out, every doula is different. “One of the most important things about getting a doula is the interview,” she said. “I always suggest interviewing a potential doula prior to hiring one. In fact, I strongly suggest interviewing at least three different doulas because each one is going to be different. Similar to doctors, there are many of them, but not all of them will be for every patient.” So, sure, some doulas may show up in Birkenstocks, but if that doesn’t fit your style, interview a few others until you find the right fit.

A doula will be my voice and talk to the hospital staff for me.

“A doula will not speak for the parents, but she will help to create an environment for the parents to feel comfortable in speaking for themselves.” Deborah explained that a doula is there to help parents understand their options and develop a plan, but the parents are still the ones making the decisions and speaking for themselves with the medical staff.

d f o oo d . o g go od fu n.

d c h o ic o o e g

Kids have always loved the McDonald’s® Happy Meal®. Michiana moms are lovin’ them too. With apples in every meal, more food and drink choices, plus reduced calories and sodium, what’s not to love? Especially since our Happy Meals still have all of the fun and great food kids have been enjoying since, well, mom was a kid herself.

Meagan Church is married to her highschool sweetheart and is the mother of 3 kids. She is a writer and children’s book author. She is also the brainpower of the online resource Unexpectant, exploring the realities of birth, babies and beyond.

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Here’s another thing to be happy about. With every Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal® purchase, a donation is made to the Ronald McDonald Family Room® at Memorial Children’s Hospital in South Bend.* *McDonald’s® of Northern Indiana donates 5¢ per Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal sold.

MCD_FamilyMag_FNL.indd 1

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9/25/13 FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

11:09 AM

DEAR mom

Dear Mom: By Meagan Church

Dear Mom, Practice with me: Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold it. Hold it. And out. It is now fall and football season and homework time and extracurricular extravaganza. Did I mention the holidays are approaching? But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Let’s try it again….

Breathe in. Breathe out. School is back in session. Sports and clubs and homework have all started. Your mornings and evenings (and, well, pretty much all day) are a hurried mess. Your nights are late. Your eyes are tired. Your sleep is restless.

Breathe in. Breathe out. 28

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Here’s the thing: don’t let the busyness

distract you from the beauty of what’s happening all around you. Have you noticed the falling leaves? Sure, they may mean you need to add raking to your to-do list, but let’s not focus on that right now. (And, anyway, aren’t decomposing leaves good nutrients for the soil? Just saying.) Instead, take pleasure in the crisp air, the crunching of leaves beneath your feet and the beauty of their vibrant colors. Rake up a pile, gather the kids and jump in. Sure, the neighbors might think you’re crazy (and probably your kids will agree), but it doesn’t matter. Forget your schedule for a few minutes. Give yourself permission to buy store bought cookies for the bake sale. Be the last parent to pick-up your daughter from golf practice. She won’t literally die of embarrassment (or annoyance). Call it a lesson in patience. And, an exercise for yourself in breathing, relaxing, slowing the pace and not putting the accelerator to the floor. Because, just like those leaves, this season of life is also changing. That golfer? Yeah, she’s not so little anymore, is she? And your cross country star? When did he get so tall? And, when did the college brochures start arriving?

Here’s the thing; the changes don’t stop. The aging doesn’t slow. It speeds up. But, you don’t have to let it pass in the blink of an eye. You don’t have to let it get lost behind busyness and rushing and over commitments. Instead, be irresponsible (in a manner of speaking). Reprioritize. Gather the family. Goof off. Take a hike. Carve a pumpkin. Build a bonfire. Turn off the smart phone. Check out for a few minutes and reconnect with those little people who aren’t quite so little anymore. Build that leaf pile. Jump in. And do it again. Breathe in.

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“She has a smile that can light up a room.” - John Link Equipment Specialist

Avis L. Barker, D.M.D.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY mom

The Day My Zipper Got Stuck in the Dressing Room Yesterday was a looong day of shopping. Which is unfortunate because 1) I actually really loathe shopping and 2) We had the girls (a.k.a. crazed maniacs recently released from the zoo) with us. t First stop was the Verizon store for new phones. My phone has literally been broken for months, but I’ve been too cheap to fix it or buy a new one. But because I’m flying to New York this weekend, so the time had come for me to bite the bullet and get a phone. An internal war was waged a bit at the store as Ben and I struggled with the smartphone decision. Should we try to be cool for once in our lives and get the iphone? How about a cheaper Verizon version? Could we really shell out $60 a month for data and be ok with it? After gazing longingly at the sleek and beautiful iphone, admiring the crystal clear streaming video, and proclaiming over the wondrous apps it contained, the cheap and practical side of me won out. We went with the basic phones, but did up our cool factor by getting the most basic, 75 MB, $10 a month plan you can get. So at least, should the urge strike, I can check my email while I am grocery shopping. Cool mom, yes I am. Next, came jean shopping for my husband, a once-a-year occurrence because the man hates shopping and furthermore, requires jeans from only a certain store that I never visit. *Coughprimadonnacough* Finally, hours later, with two tired and cranky kids promised a trip to the mall play area, it was my turn to shop for the afore mentioned trip to New York. (In case you are wondering, I am going to New York to speech at a school, something I do as part of an awesome non-profit organization that works on promoting pregnant and parenting resources on college campuses. Holla.) I needed a confidence-boasting outfit that would minimize my spare tire, as the truth is, I dread public speaking.

By Chaunie Brusie

I saw myself in full and horrific glory. Honestly, I’ve really avoided shopping after my second child was born. And there is a reason. Each and every dimple of cellulite stood out as if illuminated from the single florescent light above me; I had one of those darkish things on my leg like old women have; my stomach took on a life of its own, threatening to turn me into one of those overweight women, who should they need a c-section, actually have to have their fat stapled up to their shoulders so the doctor can get to them. And then, there were the things that I’m pretty sure used to be my boobs, the final insult that one is permanently bigger than the other, causing me to have the saggy, lopsided breasts of a ninety-year-old woman. I’ve never been so depressed in my entire life. Until that is, I tried on the first dress I picked out. Sure, it was a little snug, but it’s not like I couldn’t zip it up. I couldn’t breathe and my stomach pooched out like it was taking aim, but still, it was on. The problem of course, came in trying to get it off.

“I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life, thank you for your help,” I blurted it out.” The zipper became stuck at exactly halfway down. Just far enough that I could move the dress around, but still too far up for me to pull the dress down my cellulite, or up my granny parts. I made heroic attempts to part with the dress. Up and down we danced around the dressing room, my fat cells protesting as I prayed and shoved against that stupid zipper.

The problem of course, is that I knew I was operating on a tight timeline. Ben took the girls to the play area as I tore through the first store I saw, piling outfit upon outfit on the unsuspecting saleswoman.

10 minutes into it, sweat pouring down me, I took another look at myself in the mirror, this time, sobbing at the sight I thought couldn’t get any worse, now magnified times a hundred. And it was at this precise moment that my phone (my new phone!) rang.

In the filled-to-the-brim dressing room, I hurried to undress and made the unfortunate mistake of catching my reflection in the mirror.

“Chaunie? Where the heck are you? Mya pooped and she’s going crazy. We gotta get out of here.”

You know how when you’re at home, you can come up with all sorts of justifications as to why your reflection looks so awful? You know, like, oh, I’m just bloated from the burrito I ate last night? Or, this shirt just looks too small because I’m standing at this weird angle? Or, that cellulite is just a reflection?

The sound of my poop-filled child’s screams reverberated through the airway as I looked at the diapers and wipes firmly lodged in my purse.

The dressing room mirror gives no such mercies.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

Great. So I doubled my efforts. With no success. Desperation filled me as I tugged on the zipper, hearing that unmistakable sound of fabric ripping. Printed on Recycled Content Paper

10 more minutes passed. My phone rang again. “Where are you??” “Ben, I am stuck in the dressing room! I am literally stuck in here, I can’t get my zipper down!” Silence on the other end of the phone. 10 more minutes of struggle ensued before I threw in the towel. I attempted to make myself look more presentable, pulling my sweaty hair up, throwing on a tank top over my top half before I did the inevitable. Timidly, with more mortification than I have ever experienced in my life, I stuck my head out and called out the saleswoman, “Um, excuse me? Would you mind helping me? I’ve been stuck in the dress for half an hour…the zipper seems to be broken.” More than willing to help me, she crowded into my full dressing room and did the ol’ up/down zipper move to try to get it unstuck. Puh-lease. Did she think I had stood in there for thirty minutes without trying that? “Hmmmm,” she said, “Wow, that is really stuck. You know what?” leaning in closer to examine the zipper, “Actually the zipper itself is broken…. hold on.” I braced myself as she pulled on both sides of the fabric with all of her might, busting the zipper with her hands like a sumo wrestler, the little pieces ricocheting off the walls like missiles. I slinked out of the dressing room and thanked her, my face burning with shame. “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life, thank you for your help,” I blurted it out.

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www.InspireAthletics.com THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY mommy & daddy

“The Other Woman”

By Michelle Ussery

Every woman fears that term “the other woman”. You hear it and immediately you are filled with sympathy or have one of those knowing looks. You tilt your head to the side, perhaps lean in a little closer and though you have never met her, you instantly dislike her. “The other woman” is a term often used to indicate that another woman has disrupted your idea of a perfect life. She is often younger, perhaps shaped differently than you and you find yourself picking out her flaws. I have a “the other woman” in my life. I never thought she and I would be so linked and I never dreamed that the things I found flawed in her would be the very things that brought us together. The other woman in my life did not steal my husband; she did not steal anything from me or rob me of my dreams. The other woman in my life is the mother of my children.

Meeting the other woman In May of 2010, I ran into a distant cousin at a family function. I had not seen her for many years as our paths were two very different and opposite directions. She was five months pregnant with twins, an addict struggling with her addictions, homeless and hungry. Simply put, she showed up for the free food. I was a single mother to five foster children. I had been fostering for a few years and my home and heart were so full of love and joy and yet I could not take my eyes off her growing belly. I was intrigued and disheartened that someone so clearly not ready could bear children while I had suffered a miscarriage and seemed unable to conceive my own child. I was drawn to her because of her situation and I poured all of my resentment at the situation into mercy and began to advocate helping her. As one rehab, then another failed, I was bombarded by late-night phone calls and the general sensation I was being used. Still I carried on. I fed her when she was hungry and helped her anyway that I could. I watched in helplessness 32

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

as she waivered with adoption and found a family. Meanwhile, I prayed that she would be willing to let me adopt the twins, but my house was full of kiddos already and I was still a single mother. I finally made my plea to adopt the twins and just as the first family fell through and hope seemed to prevail on my side, she made a decision to keep the twins. I feel like I had let out a breath I had been holding for months and began to focus on making her as stable as possible. On August 7th she was in my living room when suddenly she cried out in pain and began to hemorrhage. I will never forget the race to the hospital and praying the whole time for those twins that I wasn’t sure would even make it through this birth. The doctor erupted from the room 21 minutes after we arrived and he had delivered us two tiny breathing baby boys six weeks early. The twins struggled but pulled through—all 2.3 lbs and 4.5 lbs of them. I held Baby “B,” as the little one was called, and he opened his eyes and looked at me and that was it—I had given my heart away. I stayed an entire week at the hospital with the twins and their birth mom and the day they left to go back to the center I went home and cried like I had given up my own flesh.

The next three months were a roller coaster of emotion as I cared for the twins at every turn while she struggled to control her addiction. Not long after, I received a call that she would be spending the next two weeks in jail and asked me to keep the boys. Those were the hardest and yet the most wonderful weeks of my life. The time had Printed on Recycled Content Paper

come to give the boys back to their birth mom and I was a mix of emotions. Clearly shaken from her experience of being locked up, she showed up for a few hours and then asked to leave, without the twins. I did something even I could not believe—I said no. I watched her drive away with the boys and my heart shattered into pieces but to give them stability and permanency I needed her to make the decision that was best for them, not me.

On November 30th , I got the phone call that changed my life. The boys had been taken and she had asked that I care for them. I have had custody of the twins for three years and early this year, the adoption was finalized! I could not imagine my life without these amazing boys. The other woman in my life is a constant source of pain and joy to my heart. It pains me the distance that is between us and the joy of these beautiful little boys who busted into my world and turned it upside down. Having been born positive for drug exposure, the twins have had some setbacks. Autism, FAS and Dysphasia are a few that top the list of the conditions we work with. My sweet boys know they are safe, they are happy and they are loved. I named my boys Aden and Judah. Aden means brave and my beautiful son lives up to his name. He is strong, beautiful, brave and the joy of my heart. My Judah’s name means Praise. He is so musical and gifted in ways I never dreamed. The “other” woman in my life did not take from me; she brought the twins into this world and for that reason, I have the utmost respect and love for her. I pray for her when I hear that she is still struggling. My twins and I live every day in thankfulness to God for their amazing life and for surrounding us with his peace and hope for the future. Most women resent when their life did not go as planned and many would have buckled under the pressure but the love that I have for the twins and the thankfulness I feel for their birth mom and my faith keep us strong.

Michele Ussery has been a licensed foster parent for 7 years. In her spare time, she enjoys writing children's books.

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INVALUABLE FAMILY MEMORIES BEGIN WITH VALUES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Destination FamilySM from American Express® is a collection of complete family vacation options featuring hand-picked, family friendly destinations and resorts. Families can choose from four- and five-star hotels and resorts that are offering special family amenities to American Express® Cardmembers. Destination FamilySM benefits include†: • Connecting or adjoining rooms • Kids stay, play and/or eat free • Exclusively negotiated benefits that vary by property such as: 50% off second room, resort credit, free night stay, free kid’s club, complimentary babysitting, complimentary breakfast, guaranteed early check-in/late check-out Select hotels and resorts in: United States: Arizona • California • Florida • Hawaii • Massachusetts • New York Caribbean • Mexico • Central America • Europe • Canada

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

Dance Marathon’s 5K for Riley Hospital for Children is October 3 September 26, 2013 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— Saint Mary’s College’s students will host their sixth annual Dance Marathon “For The Kids 5K” (FT5K) race in support of Riley Hospital for Children on Thursday, October 3. Riley Hospital, located in Indianapolis, treats sick children from all over the state, including the South Bend area. Since Saint Mary’s students began Dance Marathon in 2006, they have raised more than $610,000 for the General Benefit Fund at Riley, which supports the areas of the hospital that have the greatest need. While the actual Dance Marathon is months away (April 5, 2014), students at the College are eager to kick-off fundraising for the year with the annual FT5K run. The slogan for the event is “We Stand. We Dance. We Run.” Ellen Smith ’13, co-president of Dance Marathon, said the slogan sums up why she’s helped put on the event throughout her time at Saint Mary’s. “We stand on our feet for 12 hours and we dance for those who can’t, and I think running is especially significant because so many children lose their chance to be a kid when they are in the hospital, whether it be running, dancing, jumping, playing, just having the innocence of being a child,” she said. The public is invited to participate in the FT5K that will take place on campus at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 3. There is no pre-registration for the event. Just arrive at 4:30 p.m. at the softball fields on the north end of campus. The cost to participate is $12 for runners and walkers. For a campus map, go to https://www. saintmarys.edu/campus-map. All proceeds will go towards the Dance Marathon total. 36

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

FAMILY health

Food Allergies

Are Not a Joke By Noelle Elliott

s a child I did not know a single person with a food allergy. Fast forward 20 years and I now have my own children. I know, just off the top of my head, at least a handful of kids who have severe allergies that attend our son’s school. When I first learned of food allergies, I was confused. I thought it was more of an aversion to certain foods. For example, my 6-year-old son swears he is allergic to mushrooms, yet will devour a marinara sauce, which is loaded with them.

No laughing matter

While my son’s attempt to get out eating mushrooms may make me smile, a true food allergy is not an aversion; it is a serious matter that needs attention. According to FARE, Food Allergy Resource and Education, Food Allergies affect 1 in every 13 children (under 18 years of age) in the U.S. That’s roughly two in every classroom. Every 3 minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department – that is more than 200,000 emergency department visits per year. A reaction to food can range from a mild response (such as an itchy mouth) to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially deadly reaction. Just last month, a teenage girl was killed from simply eating a rice krispie treat at a local camp that was laced with peanut butter—she was severely allergic to peanuts and the reaction was instant and fatal.

Common culprits

Eight foods account for 90 percent of all reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction. The number of people who have a food allergy is growing, but there is no clear answer as to why. Scientists are working on a cure, but for now it is important to spread the word because it is a matter of life or death.

Food allergy bullies

Unfortunately, the issue of food allergies in children isn’t as simple as packing the right lunch—children also have to deal with peers who might not understand their diet and who might tease them for it. For instance, let me tell you the story of a second grade girl who brought a 38

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

tuna salad sandwich to school. At lunch time the smell that emanated from her sandwich caused uproar in the classroom and she was teased and isolated from everyone else. She couldn’t live it down for at least a month. And although eventually the other kids forgot about it, I haven’t because I was the little girl. I pleaded with my mother to never pack another smelly thing in my lunch again. She agreed and I had a bland cheese sandwich for the rest of my school career. Imagine if that teasing would have persisted? Food allergy bullying is a real problem. Kids like to test their peers. Any difference, whether it is glasses or freckles can be magnified tenfold to a child who is the subject of bullying. A difference in appearance, although devastating when targeted as a child, is not life-threatening. However, jokingly slipping a peanut in a classmates snack could be.

Dealing with isolation

Another issue many parents of children with food allergies encounter is social isolation. Children with food allergies are often isolated from their friends, simply out of fear. If you have a child who has a food allergy the fear of letting your child play at a friends house is all too familiar. Even though my children do not suffer from food allergies, I make a point to pack allergy-free lunches. For example, one of my son’s best friends has a severe nut allergy. So severe that he had a reaction on a plane when the person in front of him opened a bag of peanuts. In an effort to avoid exposure to tree or peanuts I don’t pack my son peanut butter or any type of granola bar in his lunch. If I know his friend will be riding in our vehicle I make sure to double check if there are any peanuts between the seat cushions and make sure to vacuum thoroughly. If my child was the one with the allergy I would appreciate the same consideration. It takes a little creativity but allergy-free lunches can be simple to assemble for your child’s daily bread `n butter. And even if your child does not have an allergy, it’s always a great idea make a more appealing lunch that your children will actually eat.

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Snack Mix

I have a storage container of snack mix. This is not only a great treat for lunches, but for the car, or movie night. • 2 cups of popped popcorn • 1/2 cup Surf Sweet gummy bears (organic, all-natural candy) • 1/2 cup pretzels • 1/2 cup raisins or dried fruit • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

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• Boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into strips • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1 tsp Zatarain’s Creole Seasoning (optional) sub paprika • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 3/4 cup breadcrumbs (optional)

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Dip chicken in olive oil or veggie broth, then dip in mixture of seasonings and breadcrumbs. Bake on a tinfoil-lined baking sheet at 350 degrees Farenheit for approximately 20 minutes.

Side: Grapes Side: Celery and hummus Note: The cheese can be omitted or replaced if there is a dairy allergy in these recipes.

Most of these items can be found at your local grocery store. We can all do our part to help keep our kids healthy and safe. For more information on food allergies visit www.foodallergy.org. 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 | October 2013

Birthday Party Resource Guide

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Visit Lanser's the Natural Way to turn in your coloring contest or send it in by mail for a chance to win a

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Hey Kids! Color this page and win! The coloring contest winners will be featured in our December issue of FAMILY Magazine and receive a $50 Basket full of prizes from Lansers the Natural Way!! One winner will be selected from each of the three following age categories: 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12 years of age.

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

For your chance to WIN, color your best picture and mail entries to: LANSERS THE NATURAL WAY • 620 W Edison Rd #140 • Mishawaka, IN 46545 • (574) 807-8797. Coloring contest is open to children 12 years and under, and entries must be mailed by November 1st, 2013. Winners will be featured in the December issue of FAMILY Magazine and will be notified via phone or email by Lansers the Natural Way. 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

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

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

Wagon Wheel Theatre

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Have Fun! Stroller Accessories Registry Gifts Baby Toys Carseat 42

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

Find the words below in the Lansers the Natural Way word search puzzle. Words can be forwards, backwards, diagonal, vertical or horizontal.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

October 2013 October 1

October 6

6:30 pm

3:00 pm

5 pm-10 pm

Healthy Living

Battell Community Center This class immediately follows the Zumba class in the gym at 6:00 pm. Each class will teach children a lesson on how to make healthy choices every day! All families are welcome to come to any and all of these fun classes! A healthy snack will be provided.

October 2

Homemade Hungarian Goulash

The Cherry Orchard

Hoedown & Hog Roast Elkhart 4-H Community Fairgrounds Center

South Bend Civic Theatre In 1900 Russia, an aristocratic family faces uncertainty as change comes to their family home, including the impending destruction of their beloved cherry orchard. A classic play of people whose way of life is being pushed aside leaving nothing but memories and unrequited hopes. Two great playwrights combine to create a feast of characters in moments humorous and sad. Call: (574) 234-1112

17745 County Road 34, Goshen, IN 46528 Hoedown & Hog Roast by Goshen Hospital & Health Care Foundation to benefit the NEW Ed Bradford Family Health Career 4-H Scholarship. Live country music by South Bend band, Everyday People. Line Dance Instruction. Hog Roast with all the fixings. Saturday, October 12, 2013 5-10 pm at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairground Community Center. Register online at www.GiveToGoshen.org or call 574-5334500. Tickets $20. Sponsorships available.

October 7

October 13

1:00 pm until 3:00 pm

10:00 am

11:00 am-10:00 pm

Simeri's Old Town Tap Come out to Simeri’s and enjoy wonderful homemade Hungarian Goulash. The price is $7.00 for a bowl and $3.75 for a cup. Call: 574-289-1361

Ballet and Tap class for kids

5:30-6:30pm (Ages 4-6); 6:45-7:45 pm (7&Up)

Battell Community Center This class is a ballet and tap class (30 minutes each) where children will be learning the very basics of each style of dance. Leotards and tights are encouraged, or clothing that is easy to move in. Class held in Dance Room II. This class is free of charge. 574-258-1664.

October 4 Kids' Night Out

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Downtown South Bend It's all about the kids this Friday! Bring the family downtown and enjoy activities for any age. There is no fee to participate. (574) 282-1110.

Octoberfest

5:00 pm-8:00 pm

Downtown Goshen

October 5

Fit 4 Fall 5K Run/Walk

Riverview Park The Fit 4 Fall 5K Run/Walk raises funds to support Hospice at Home, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism in Southwest Michigan. The race takes runners and walkers through Riverview Park’s scenic trails and wooded terrain. Chip timing will be used to determine winners for age divisions, and medals will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each age group.Pre-registration is encouraged at www.fit4fall5k.com, as the first 500 registrants will receive Fit 4 Fall 5K shirts and goody bags.

Glass Garden Tiles Art Project

Bazaar Sunday

Marie Yeager Cancer Center Patients and family members are invited to create a glass “Garden Tile,” a unique contribution to the Garden Tile Wall in the Marie Yeager Cancer Center. Each tile is meant to be a personal expression and added to the Garden Tile Wall. Participants can choose to decorate their 6” x 6” clear-glass tiles with a variety of colored glass pieces. The theme is nature, specifically flowers. Water Street GlassWorks will fire the tiles at their Benton Harbor studio and bring them back to the Marie Yeager Cancer Center to be installed on the Garden Tile Wall. The tiles will create a wall of colorful artwork for all to enjoy for decades to come. (269) 9275361.

The State, South Bend Come one, come all to the greatest bazaar around! Join is for a fun South Bend tradition as we turn The State into an upscale shopping venue with local vendors offering vintage goods, antiques, handcrafted items, repurposed furniture, sustainable products and more. Fun music and tasty food round out the experience. Admission is free. Grab a friend and make it a Bazaar Sunday!

October 8

So You Think You Can Dance?

Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, the eleven-time Primetime Emmy® Award winning show that sparked America’s fascination with dance, is set to captivate audiences again this Fall live on tour. The season 10 tour line-up includes: Aaron Turner, Amy Yakima, “Fik-Shun,” Hayley Erbert, Jasmine Harper, Jenna Johnson, Makenzie Dustman, Nico Greetham, Paul Karmiryan, and Tucker Knox.Due to the physical nature of the performances, not all dancers may be appearing. Call: 574-235-9190

October 11

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Notre Dame Hockey 7:35 pm

Compton Family Ice Arena, Notre Dame

October 12

The Color Run

Leininger Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

Coveleski Stadium, South Bend Are you ready for the craziest, colorful, 5k of your life? You bet you are. Race it solo or form a Color Team. Check out more race details at thecolorrun. com & well see you all squeaky clean at the start line.

10:00 am-8:00 pm

6:00am

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

*Please be sure to call ahead to confirm times and information.

Calendar of Events

Douglas Rd. Mishawaka

Come out and enjoy a fun day of running through corn mazes and picking pumpkins with the whole family! Call: 574-259-8960

October 14

Breastfeeding Class for Moms and Dads 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm

Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for your baby and is a special time for moms and babies to bond. The class will cover: The benefits of breastfeeding, how to know when your baby is hungry, proper latch-on methods, checking your baby’s input (feeding) and output (dirty or wet diapers), how to prepare to return to work and weaning. Cost is $30 and due at registration. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover cards are accepted. If you are an associate of Lakeland HealthCare, inquire about our discounted rate. Parents should attend the class prior to their baby’s birth.

October 17

God's Time for Little Ones

Thursday Mornings 10:30 am-11:30 am

Peace Lutheran School Children are invited to meet in the preschool classroom of our school building, which is located just behind the church. Little ones will join us to hear a simple story from the Bible to learn about God’s love! This is a Bible story hour for little ones with simple and fun crafts, songs, and activities. Please call to reserve a space for your preschooler. Call: 574-273-8260

October 18 Polish Style Dinner 5:00 pm-7:30 pm

M.R.Falcons, South Bend All-you-can-eat Polish Style: Chicken, sausage, noodles, cabbage & potatoes. The entrance cost is $12 per person. Call: 574-288-1090

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Have an event you'd like to submit? Visit www.MichianaMom.com! October 19 The Pumpkin Patch 8:00 am-8:00 pm

Elkhart, IN Come out and enjoy a fun day of running through corn mazes and picking pumpkins with the whole family! Call: 419-707-0024

n e t r a g r e d n i K

Notre Dame vs. USC

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

October 20 Spider’s Web 3:00 pm

Magic Tree House Book Club

Downtown Mishawaka Library This month’s book is Dolphins at Daybreak. Follow the adventures of Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Children in grades 1-3 will explore the book of the month using trivia, games, crafts, and snacks. Children should have independently read the book before the meetings. Registration is required and begins Monday, September 9. The library cannot accommodate groups in this series of programs. Call: 574-259-5277

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School 1331 North Main Street Elkhart, IN 46514 St. Thomas the Apostle School is Catholic in character, but open to all faith traditions. Approximately 12% of our current enrollment is non-Catholic.

October 26

Clark Run For Enrichment 10:00 am

10:00 am-2:00 pm

Century Center, South Bend Come out for a fun day where your kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, fun with Ronald McDonald, hang out with Swoop from the Silver Hawks, and many other exciting activities. Parents will get the chance to learn about local businesses who offer different activities for their kids to participate in! The cost is free for kids 12 and under and $5 for adults. Kids are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes for participation in the trick-or-treat.

October 31

Niles Haunted House Scream Park

Celebrate "40 Years of Fear" at the Niles Haunted House Scream Park. The three haunted houses updated each year for fresh fear! The Field of Screams will keep you dazed and confused. Ride the Dark Terror-tory Haunted Hayride. Free admission to the midway for fiendish food and ghoulish games. Free parking

100% Recyclable

Now Registering

Please call our school office at 574.264.4855 for more information or to schedule a tour. Visit us at www.stselkhart.com or www.stthomaselkhart.com!

October 21

Kids Expo 2013

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School! for Fall Classes!

South Bend Civic Theatre, South Bend The queen of suspense, Agatha Christie, spins a tale of murder, blackmail and deception. Complete with secret rooms, vanishing bodies and signature plot twists, this tangled web will ensnare you in mystery and mayhem.

Stanley Clark School This family friendly event features a 5K Run, 3.5K Walk and .05K Tiger Trot (held on school soccer field). The Stanley Clark School's Parents' Association is excited to showcase the beautiful rolling hills of South Bend’s south side and offer a unique, well organized race for area runners. This is a fundraiser for the SCS's Parents' Association. *this event is for ages six and under

more at

as hom St. T ol Scho ” n “A ed a v i e c te re e sta on th d! r rt ca repo

• Outstanding Academics

• Christian Family Atmosphere

• Safe Environment

• 21st Century Learning Facility

• Before and After School Care

Recently Renovated and Expanded

www.stselkhart.com

www.stthomaselkhart.com THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

Pumpkin Patches & Haunted Houses 2013 The ElectricPineapple

Manicures • Perms • Color • Cuts Razor Cuts • Foiling Call or Walk In! Tuesday 11am-7pm Wednesday thru Friday 7am-4pm Saturday 6:45am-12:30pm

102 N. Chaptoula Street • Bristol, IN • 574-848-4955

The CreativeVillage

Find us on FaceBook!

Art, Education & Inspiration Come and see us at the Village for your free gift!

Handmade gifts and vintage items by local artists

A Unique New Shopping Destination

51772 SR 19 Elkhart, IN (North of the toll road) • 574-326-3103 • www.the-creative-village.com

Would you like a job that works around your busy schedule? ADEC is a not-for-profit agency that assists people with developmental disabilities live independent lives.

Elkhart County Amish Acres Reservation Center Fall Festival, pumpkins

1600 West Market Street, Nappanee, IN 46550. Phone: 800-800-4942,

Group, Lodging and Theatre

Reservations: AmishAcres@AmishAcres. com

Kercher's Sunrise Orchards Farm Market 19498 CR 38 , Goshen, IN 46526

Phone: 574-533-6311 Email: maureen.kercher@gmail.com Pumpkins, Pick-your-own apples, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, child-sized haybale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, cider mill (fresh apple cider made on the premises), prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area and school tours. Knollbrook Farm 15463 County Road 46, Goshen, IN 46526

Phone: 574-831-3090 Pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo. The Pumpkin Patch -

58095 County Road 105, Elkhart, IN 46516

Phone: 419 707 0024 Open: September 15 through October 31 Pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, wagon rides, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), restrooms, picnic area, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, school tours.

St. Joe county Leininger Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch -

13504 Douglas Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545

Phone: 574-259-8960. Email: reservations@lfcornmaze.com Pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, porta-potties, picnic area, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours.

For more information visit www.adecinc.com Positions are currently available in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | october 2013

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Matthys Farm Market -

57754 Crumstown Highway, South Bend, IN 46619

Phone: 574-287-1935

Email: matthysfarmmkt@nutrenaretailer.com

Pumpkins, pumpkin patch, hay rides, corn maze, petting zoo. Thistleberry Farm -

61391 Mayflower Rd, South Bend, IN 46614

Phone: 574-289-0164 Email:info@Thistleberryfarm.com Corn (sweet), pumpkins, pumpkin patchpick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, train rides, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, pony rides, petting zoo.

Orthotic & Prosthetic Solutions

Custom Orthotics

Cass County Amazing Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, child-sized haybale maze, tractorpulled hay rides, wagon rides, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours.

Prosthetics Sports Support & Bracing Gait Analysis

18430 US highway 12, Edwardsburg, MI 49112.

Phone: 574-370-3403 Email: cornmaze@aol.com

Ecklerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Produce & Greenhouse Farm 1879 Barron Lake Road, Niles, MI 49120

Phone: 269-683-2509 Email: seedsman@ecklerfarms.com Thousands of dried gourds, blueberries, tomatoes, raspberries (red and black) Sprague's Family Fun Farm -

33120 Middle Crossing Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047

Phone: (269) 782-8578 Email: spraguesfamilyfunfarm@gmail. com Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, straw or hay bale maze, childsized haybale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, restrooms, school tours. Wicks Apple House -

52281 Indian Lake Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047 Phone: (269) 782-4205 or

Phone: (269) 782-7306 Email: kcasey@locallink.net Pre-picked apples, farm market

17530 Dugdale Dr. South Bend, IN 46635 574-233-3352 www.midwestorthotics.com

100% Recyclable

THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | October 2013

Lose weight. Gain years. Heather rediscovered herself and uncovered the strength to reach her weight loss goals at the Elkhart General Hospital Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. The Bariatric & Metabolic Institute, which features the only fellowship-trained, boardcertified bariatric surgeons in the region, offers an individualized program that ensures long-term success through patient education, support groups and follow-up.

Find out if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending one of our free seminars. Visit www.egh.org or call toll free at 855-874-3BMI (3264) for more information.

600 East Boulevard â&#x20AC;˘ Elkhart, IN 46514