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To find a Boys Town pediatric specialist near you, visit boystownhospital.org or call 531-355-1234.
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KILEY CRUSE
CONTENTS
REAL MOMS + ADVICE 6 Editor’s Column 8 On Our Radar 10 Momaha Bookshelf 24 Get Organized 31 Be Well
SEUSSICAL FOODS + CRAFTS 14 The Lorax 18 Cat in the Hat 22 Green Eggs and Ham 25 Oh, the Places You’ll Go 28 One Fish, Two Fish
SEASONAL 32 St. Patrick’s Day Floats
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March 2020
SPONSOREDFEATURES
12 YMCA of Greater Omaha 20 The Rose Theater 26 Boys Town National Research Hospital 30 Huntington Learning Center
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Now ow RegisteRiNg fo foR
2020
oNce-a week swiM lessoNs
MoRNiNg, afteRNooN, eveNiNg & sat. MoRNiNg tiMeslots available
momaha where moms connect
VOLUME 11 . ISSUE 3 . MARCH 2020 editor in chief CHRIS CHRISTEN chris.christen@owh.com 402-444-1094
creative director + designer KILEY CRUSE cruse@owh.com 402-444-1375
assistant editor MARJIE DUCEY marjie.ducey@owh.com 402-444-1034
copy editor SHELLEY LARSEN shelley.larsen@owh.com 402-444-1143
momaha.com editor ASHLEE COFFEY ashlee.coffey@owh.com 402-444-1075
content contributors AMY TOKOS CHRIS CHRISTEN
cover photo KILEY CRUSE
account executive DEBORAH FERNSELL deborah.fernsell@owh.com 402-444-1209
account executive M A R I LY N M A R T I N marilyn.martin@owh.com 402-444-1405
402-932-2030 LittleWavesFamilySwimSchool.com 4
March 2020
Momaha Magazine is a monthly publication of the Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102. Momaha is a registered trademark, and all content is copyright 2020 by the Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved. The opinions and perspectives published herein are those of the authors and should not be construed as those of Momaha Magazine.
When children are your everything, Anything can be. At Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, science and heart lead us to even greater pediatric breakthroughs. We provide the very best in pediatric specialty care, advance pediatric research, educate tomorrow’s experts and advocate for children, families and entire communities – to improve the future of medicine, and the life of every child. To find a physician for your child, call 1.800.833.3100 or visit ChildrensOmaha.org.
Education
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Research
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Advocacy
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MOMAHA.COM EDITOR ASHLEE COFFEY Wife to Kevin Coffey, deputy digital editor and music critic for the Omaha World-Herald. Mom to Sam and Elliott. Follow her on Twitter: @AshleeCoffeyOWH
H
WELCOME TO SEUSSVILLE
appy March! And happy birthday to one of my favorite children’s authors, Dr. Seuss! March 2 — his 116th birthday — people across the United States celebrate by reading one of his many famous books. In my house, our favorite Dr. Seuss book is “The Cat in the Hat.” For a while, we read that book every night. We read it so often that I started memorizing a good chunk of the words. And while I do love the story, I wasn’t always pumped to read the book at bedtime. Fellow parents will probably agree when I say it’s a rather long book for bedtime — 61
pages. (Most books we read are between 10 and 15 pages.) But my least-favorite Dr. Seuss book is, without a doubt, “Fox in Socks.” This tonguetwister takes forever; I found myself restarting sentences all the time. Truth be hold: I hid the book so I wouldn’t have to read it. And, honestly, I can’t even remember where I tucked it! If you’re looking to join in on the Dr. Seuss celebration, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got plenty of Dr. Seuss-themed snacks (green eggs and ham) and crafts (a Lorax planter) to keep you busy while the weather is still a little cold and wet.
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March 2020
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JUNE 15-JULY 30
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www.duchesneacademy.org/apps/form/summer-camps
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closes soon on april 11
dig and build alongside our very own dinosaurs! take on engineering challenges and imagine yourself as an architect, paleontologist, construction worker, and more. Presented by: 0000105150-01
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ON OUR RADAR MARJIE DUCEY
THINGS TO TRY THIS MONTH
KEEPING COOL Trapped in a boiling room with little or no air conditioning? Or just plain hot in your upstairs bedroom despite central air? Try the ZenCooler air cooler. Just add water and plug it in to get relief. Not only does it cool the air, it cleans and humidifies it, too. One single filling will cool a room for eight hours. $89.95, zencooler.com
HEALTHY PORTIONS Eating the right amount is the key to every food plan, but who has time to measure every handful? The clear Precidio snack-in-a-box container makes the task easier with two 6-ounce chambers and pop-up lids for easy pouring. It’s durable, dishwasher safe and a swell alternative to a plastic bag. There’s also a smaller colorful version for kids. $9.99, Amazon.com
HERE COMES BABY Are you expecting baby No. 2? Or perhaps trying to teach a third or fourth child how to become a big sibling? Little Medical School’s “How to Be a Great Sibling” kit has you covered. It comes with a plush baby doll, real stethoscope, choke tube tester, dry-erase marker, stickers, activities and more to help kids prepare for a new sibling, become a helper and watch the newest family member grow. Ages 4 and older. $29.99. littlemedicalschool.com
EASY LISTENING “Amazing” summed up our reviewer’s reaction to the HyperX Cloud MIX wired gaming headset. Plush padding and crisp, high-res sound let you experience video games better and be incredibly comfortable doing it. The headset also offers little touches such as Bluetooth, braided cables and detachable cables and microphone so you can configure it exactly to your needs. $199.99, hyperxgaming.com.
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March 2020
CLEAR COUNTER CLUTTER In our tester’s hand, the lightweight plastic Kuhn Rikon Wave Counter Helper felt like it wouldn’t hold anything. Thankfully for her tablet, the Wave Counter Helper held strong from the rubber surfaces on the top pocket and on the ends, rendering it immobile once weight was applied. However, it securely holds only a thin cookbook. The utensil rest can cleanly accommodate nothing bigger than your favorite wooden spoon. $10, www.kuhnrikonshop.com
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Check it out! omahalibrary.org
Inspiring imagination, learning and fun!
100+ toys for ages 8 and under Choose from building blocks, dolls, games, musical instruments and more Reserve online or in branch for pickup Get started at omahalibrary.org/toys-and-kits. 0000105251-01
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MOMAHA BOOKSHELF MARJIE DUCEY
He wrote this word, and it’s name was nerd
H
e was the first person to use the word “nerd.’’ He wasn’t really a
doctor. But Dr. Seuss did write children’s books that have sold millions of copies and have been translated into several languages. His real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel and he wrote and illustrated more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. He added the Dr. because his father had always wanted him to practice medicine. He adopted the nom de plume while writing for a Dartmouth College publication. The first documented use of the word nerd appeared in his 1950 book, “If I Ran the Zoo.’’ Nerd was a creature from the land of Ka-Troo. In 1984, Seuss received a Pulitzer Prize for a lifetime of contribution to children’s literature. National Read Across America Day is an observance in the United States held on the school day closest to March 2, Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Some of our favorites:
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March 2020
“GREEN EGGS AND HAM” Seuss’ highest-selling book ranks No. 4 on Publishers Weekly’s list of the best-selling children’s books of all time. Publisher Bennett Cerf bet Seuss $50 that he couldn’t write a book using only 50 words or fewer. He did, and 49 of them are one syllable. That makes it a good choice to encourage children to read by themselves.
“THE LORAX”
“THE CAT IN THE HAT”
A moving book about environmentalism, this contains one of Dr. Seuss’ most famous messages. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.’’ The small orange creature in the book spoke for the trees against the greedy, and the logging industry was so upset that it sponsored a similar book, “Truax,” told from the logging point of view.
Although it took him a year or more to write, this 1957 book made Dr. Seuss famous. “It is the book I’m proudest of because it had something to do with the death of the Dick and Jane primer,’’ he once said. He found that series boring and wanted to create a more fun way for children to read. Seuss had a closet full of hats sent to him by children from all over the world.
B efo
3 Convenient Locations 180th & Dodge • 402-932-2922 192nd & Pacific • 402-991-0696 178th & Pacific • 402-452-3057
Contact us to enroll or for more information
enroLLmenT@SmALLmirACLeChiLdCAre.Com oLLmenT@SmALLmirACLeChiLdCAre
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HAT”
re im e Chil d Ca & h o o l Care re & Afte r S c
Full & Pa r t-T
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“ONE FISH, TWO FISH,
RED FISH, BLUE FISH” a year This freewheeling plot about 1957 famous. two youngsters and their udest of amazing pets was a response hing to to a Life magazine report he Dick on illiteracy that concluded nce said. that schoolchildren were not learning to read because their oring a more books were boring. This book o read. encouraged kids to be both of hats observant and imaginative, and n from all Dr. Seuss hoped it would start children on a path to reading the rest of their lives.
“OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO” Published in 1990, this was the last book by Dr. Seuss, who died in 1991 at 87. The narrator jumps hurdle after hurdle, leading the book to be known as the perfect antidote to anyone who’s stuck at a crossroads in life. The title came from an optimistic greeting his classmates used at Dartmouth. The second half of the salutation was, “The people you’ll meet.’’ Sources: Google, Wikipedia, mentalfloss.com, 11points.com, shmoop.com
MARCH 21 10 AM - 12 PM
EGG HUNT
SEE THE EASTER BUNNY
MAKE & TAKE ACTIVITY
KITE MAKING
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SPONSORED FEATURE YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA
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Activity at all ages The YMCA can help older family members enjoy their golden years
R
unning a healthy household takes a lot of hard work. Between the kids, school and activities, plus work and relationships, it’s all too easy to feel the stress of keeping up. And the modern household nowadays increasingly means a multigenerational family living under one roof — where parents aren’t just taking care of their kids but also their aging parents — and that stress can be compounding. According to Pew Research, a record 64 million Americans, or 20% of the total U.S. population, are now living in multigenerational households, up from 51 million 10 years ago. Smart moms know that keeping their children active is of paramount importance to their overall growth, health and wellbeing, but it’s important for aging grandparents to stay active, as well. And just like savvy parents know that they can rely on the YMCA to plug their kids into active and healthy classes and programs, so too can busy parents rely on the Y to provide essential programs and classes to keep their aging moms
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March 2020
and dads active, healthy and happy — fully enjoying their golden years. With swim, gym, sports and more, including Silver Sneakers and Renew Active programs, the Y offers numerous workout options for the active older adult. But often it’s not just the physical component that keeps us feeling healthy; it’s the simple interaction with others that can stimulate healthy and happy minds. With more than 600 group fitness classes to choose from every week, older adults and seniors can enjoy quality time with others in a warm and inviting venue, avoiding the isolation and loneliness that can happen when the rest of the family is at work or school. For the more serious issues of aging, the Y offers LiveStrong programs tailored specifically to cancer survivors and their paths to physical and mental recoveries, and Parkinson’s programs led by certified Delay the Disease instructors. There’s also behavioralbased education with the YMCA Weight Loss Program, helping active older adults learn the vital importance of
eating healthy, and avoiding overweight situations that lead to other serious health problems. The Y has a little something for every active older adult. The Healthy Living Center in Council Bluffs offers older adults and seniors a place enjoy a Y venue all their own, where programs and activities are tailored to fit the lifestyles of those enjoying their golden years. Members there don’t just drop in for a workout and leave. They tend to spend entire mornings or afternoons with others, a testament to the importance of interaction in our daily lives. Whether you’re juggling the needs of a multigenerational household or have parents or grandparents living on their own, we’re all in need of recreation and activity options to improve our quality of life, and the YMCA supports healthy families of all ages. Visit any of the Y’s 10 metro locations or visit www.metroymca.org to explore all the programs and activities offered at the YMCA of Greater Omaha. 0000105254-01
SESSIONS RANGE FROM
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FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTER NOW at lauritzengardens.org Off Interstate 80 at 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha | (402) 346-4002, ext. 253 | Open year-round for discovery 0000105143-01
SUMMER ADVENTURE AWAITS!
New experiences, skill building, a sense of community and lasting friendships are all an integral part of camp at the Y!
LEARN MORE:
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uss -
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March 2020
TUFFS OF FUN When you can’t get enough of The Lorax ... make planters and cookies STYLING + PHOTOGRAPHY Kiley Cruse
“P
lant a new Truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.” You, too, can speak for the trees (or flowers), inspired by the Lorax’s message to take are of the earth.
The Lorax Planter • 3.5-inch terra cotta pot • Light orange paint • Paintbrush • 15 mm googly eyes • Small orange pompom • Light yellow yarn • Craft glue
1. Paint the pot orange and let dry. 2. Make the mustache with 20 6-inch strips of yarn tied tight in the middle. (We wrapped the yarn 10 times around the length of a smartphone, pulled the looped yarn off the phone and tied it tight in the center with a 6-inch length of yarn.) Cut the loops open to form the mustache. 3. Glue the mustache to the outside of the pot, at or slightly below center. Glue the pompom just above the center of the yard to create a nose. Affix the googly eyes above the nose. 4. Cut ¾-inch lengths of yellow yarn. Glue the strips above the eyes as eyebrows. 5. Once glue is dry, trim the mustache if it’s too long. 6. Fill the pot with soil and plant your favorite flower seeds. We created a Truffula tree with pipe cleaners and a faux fur pompom. Adapted from www.hwtm.com
Lorax cookies • Nutter Butter cookies • Sugar eyes • Yellow frosting • Pastry bag with small star tip
1. Put yellow frosting in pastry bag. 2. Use frosting to glue sugar eyes to the cookie. 3. Pipe a mustache below the eyes. Let frosting dry before stacking. Adaped from kindergartenisgrrreat.blogspot.com
Find supplies for these activities at David M. Mangelsen’s
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ACTING « DANCE « VOICE « D The Rose Theater proudly presents:
Youth Artists
for
YOU!
Starring...
YOU are the star of The Rose Theater’s latest “production:” The Rose Studios for Youth Artists! This 27,000-square-foot educational facility (the largest of its kind in the United States) is dedicated to helping Omaha-area student artists discover their talents in musical theater, acting, dance, voice, drama and more. “Rose Kids” join a positive, supportive theater family, led by a staff of professional working theater artists who shine on stage and in the classroom. At The Rose, every child feels like a star, whether they are taking their first steps on stage or have already landed a leading role. Rose classes provide young people with the opportunity to polish their theatrical skills -- and their life skills -- all while having the time of their lives! Enroll in a 2020 summer camp today and be one of the first students in the spotlight at The Rose Studios for Youth Artists!
12100½ West Center Road, Omaha, Nebraska 68144 DoubleTruck-Feb2020.indd 1
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March 2020
Ac
The l perform educatio for youn in th
DRAMA ÂŤ MUSICAL THEATER Classes led by professional, working actors
Dance Instruction with a focus on technique
Opportunities for Ages 2-18
Group & Private Voice Lessons
cting & Drama Classes for All Ages
largest ming arts onal facility ng artists he US
Performance Opportunities for All Ages & Abilities
27,000 sq ft of classroom space
www.rosetheater.org 12/19/19 11:32 AM
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BOREDOM BUSTER Too wet to go out and play? This craft saves the day
N
ext time the kids say, “How I wish we had something to do,” put them to work on this “Cat in the Hat” pencil holder. Fast!
“Cat in the Hat” pencil holder with Truffula Tree Pencils • Recycled can, clean and dry with label removed • Red and white yarn (We used thick 5-ounce yarn) • Stiffened white felt • Craft glue • Glue gun • Scissors • Permanent marker
1. Using a permanent marker, use hash marks to denote six equal sections down the side of the can. This is your guide for the hat’s red-and-white striped design. 2. Squirt a little glue on the end of the white yarn and secure to the bottom rim section of the can. This first row is the most important. Once the glue is dry and the end of the yarn is secure, pull the yarn taut as you wrap it around the can to form your first stripe. Snip the yarn end and secure to can with glue. 3. Start a new stripe with the red yarn. Continue alternating colors up the side of the can, using your notches as a guide for stopping and starting each color. 4. Secure yarn with glue all around the top edge. Be careful using a hightemperature glue gun; the glue is hot to the touch. You may want to use hot glue gun finger-tip protectors. 5. The final step is the hat brim. Cut a white circle from stiffened felt and attach with glue to the bottom of the can. To cut the circle, we used a bowl about 2 inches wider in diameter than the can. 6. To make Truffula Tree pencils (as shown), you will need colorful pencils and glittery pompoms. Using a glue gun, affix a pom pom to the eraser end of each pencil, and voilá! You have a Truffula Tree. Source: club.chicacircle.com
STYLING, TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY Kiley Cruse
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March 2020
NO TRICK TO IT ‘Cat in the Hat’ treats build on a theme — without wrecking the kitchen TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Christen
“I
t is fun to have fun. But you have to know how.” This is one time when playing with your food might be encouraged. Have no fear; there is not too much to juggle here. And cleanup is a snap.
“Cat in the Hat” Hats • 12 creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (we used Oreo brand) • 36 cherry-flavored gummy rings (we used Life Savers) • White cookie icing
1. Separate cookie layers, being careful to leave the white cream filling intact on one cookie half. This is the section that will be
the base for your hat. 2. For the first tier of the hat, pipe icing around the bottom edge of a gummy ring and place the ring frosting-side-down in the center of the cookie cream. 3. Repeat with two more gummy ring layers, each anchored with piped icing. Don’t be too perfect in stacking the layers; the idea is to mimic the topsy-turvy topper worn by Dr. Seuss’ mischievous Cat in the Hat. Note: You could double your batch of hats by giving the discarded cookie halves a creamy, circular base layer of icing. Also, our 14.5-ounce bag of 5-flavor Life Savers Gummies had just enough red ones for a dozen cookies. Source: cupcakediariesblog.com
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SPONSORED FEATURE ROSE THEATER
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‘Amazing’ new facility New venue will allow the Rose to offer more classes
S
ince the announcement in June 2019, The Rose has been buzzing with excitement for the new Rose Studios for Youth Artists. The building features 27,000 square feet, seven spacious dance and creative drama studios, a 200-seat performance space for class sharings and much more. Among the most excited is Sue Gillespie Booton, director of Broadway at The Rose, who leads a teaching staff of 15 dance, musical theater and voice instructors who guide students from ages 2 to 18. “I can’t even decide what part is the most exciting,” says Booton about the new Rose Studios for Youth Artists. “First and foremost, we are going to be able to accommodate more students, and offer more classes in dance, musical theater and drama. We have safer floors, which is better for dancers, extra space in the studios and the space for students to relax together. It’s all so incredible and amazing.” The Rose will expand upon its current class offerings, which include a full slate of acting, musical theater, dance, voice and drama classes. The theater offers about 100 classes during the school year and about 75 summer camps. The new facility, combined with classrooms at the downtown theater location, will allow The Rose to offer even more opportunities to area students. “Students love The Rose because it has hands-down the best teaching staff. The Rose is somewhere kids can come in as regular kids and leave as skilled artists. It is a magical place,” says Katrinka Stayton, longtime dance teacher with The Rose and director of The Dance Lab at The Rose (the theater’s competitive dance team). Booton says that, over the past several years, The Rose has seen a steady increase in class enrollment, due to the professional quality of the program, opportunities to work with working artists from across the United States and the instructors’ ability to take students’ skills to the next level.
“We’ve come so far,” she says. “When I started seven years ago, we had 40 students and one studio. Now, in our current studio, we unfortunately have had to turn kids away. We are at total capacity at 350 students, so it’s been huge growth, and we don’t plan to stop there.” Booton’s enthusiasm is reflected by students and staff at The Rose. “They are so excited,” she says. “They ask me all the time, ‘What’s happening next? When can we see it?’They can’t wait to be in there as well.” The Rose Studios for Youth Artists is slated to open in the spring. Students in The Rose’s summer camps will be among the first to experience the new facility. Registration is now open at www. rosetheater.org. As The Rose looks toward the summer, Booton says the entire Rose family is brimming with excitement for the classes to begin. “It’s going to be extraordinary,” she says. 0000108155-01
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March 2020
ACTING « DANCE « VOICE « DRAMA « MUSICAL THEATER
SUMMER on Stage Spend Your
@
Performing Arts Summer Camps
« « « « « «
Omaha’s premiere performing arts facility for young people Classes taught by leading professionals in the field Many performance opportunities for all ages One-week & multi-week camps available Camps for ages 2-18, beginners to advanced NEW facility at 120th & Center, the largest of its kind in the US!
ENROLL TODAY!
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I LIKE GREEN EGGS AND HAM! Book and dish make trying new things fun TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY Kiley Cruse
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March 2020
Learn a bout animal behaviors and nutrition. Explor e a day in the life of a veterinarian. Perforrm a simulated exploratory surgery. Inteeract with live animals each day.
“D
o you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them. I do not like them Sam-I-am. I do not like green eggs and ham.” But have you ever made green eggs and ham? If not, then you are in for a treat. Try them honor in of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, here or there or anywhere. What’s that you say? “Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!”
Green Eggs and Ham • 6 hard-boiled eggs • Avocado (small-medium size) • 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
SAVE $25 ENTER THIS CODE AT CHECKOUT:
MOMA20 Junior Vet Camp
Intermediate Vet Camp
Students completing 2nd - 5th grade Mon. - Thurs. 8 am - 4 pm • June & July
Students completing 6th - 8th grade Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4 pm • June & July
For registration and information, visit:
www.oxbowvetcamp.com
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• 1 tablespoon lime juice • Salt to taste
Join Us For a special
• Sliced deli ham
5 Week spring session
• Green food coloring • Toothpicks
1. Peel the hard-boiled eggs and cut them in half. Scoop out the yolks and place them in a medium-size bowl. 2. Add the mayo, lime juice, salt, avocado and a couple of drops of food coloring. 3. Mix and mash well. 4. Scoop or pipe the yolk mix into the bowl of the egg whites. 5. Cut ham slices in half. Roll each section and hold in place with toothpick. 6. Place the ham on one end of the egg and push the toothpick into the egg.
For neW stUdents!
“Descendants 3” Theme Session Begins Monday, March 2nd 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm Cost $65.00 Includes Baton, Pom/Dance and Tumbling
Source: www.theinspirationedit.com
Green Egg Chunk Word Spinners Turn rhyming words from “Green Eggs and Ham” or another Dr. Seuss favorite into a chunk word game. • Green plastic eggs • Permanent marker
1. Write consonants around the edge of one half of the egg and the chunk word on the other half. 2. Spin the egg parts until the letters line up to form new words. Source: www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com
the steppe center 11730 peel circle 402-592-4545
register at
www.stepperettestudios.com 23
0000105263-01
GET ORGANIZED AMY TOKOS Amy Tokos is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Freshly Organized. You can find more organizing tips at freshlyorganized.com.
Kids Love to Sew
Oh, the places you can go with a good book
Classes only $12
M berninaomaha.com
10144 Maple
402-572-1212
Build memories with your family at NATURE CONNECTS® by Sean Kenney Featuring sculptures inspired by nature and built from nearly 800,000 LEGO® bricks. 100 Bancroft St., Omaha | lauritzengardens.org 0000105143-02
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March 2020
ost youngsters love books, and we parents love the snuggle time that comes with reading together. It’s a great way to wrap up a day. There is a sweet spot for the number of kids books we keep. You want enough to give them options but not so many that they take over the house. As with most of their things, kids have definite opinions about which books they love. My first child wanted us to read a Barney board book to her every night when she was a toddler. It wasn’t my first choice, but her enthusiasm was contagious. She’s now 24, and we’ve kept that one Barney board book in her memorabilia box. To facilitate a love of reading, you need to make it easy for kids to find their favorite books. If your child reads in bed, then a bedside basket or nightstand that can hold their favorite books would be perfect. It you read together on the couch, then have a few books nearby. It makes it easy to snuggle up with a favorite. Keep the number of books in these spaces manageable. Little ones who can’t read words identify books by color. If you’re organizing books on a shelf, keep this in mind. Having them in color order, like a rainbow, will help a young toddler identify their desired book in the collection. Too many books can be overwhelming to a child. It makes it hard to find a book they want to read. You’ll know you have too many books if there’s always a mess on the floor when your child goes to find a book, and cleaning up the books is a struggle. Fewer is better. A bookshelf or closet with all the extra (non-active) books can help you keep an eye on the number of books in your household if you don’t have a home library. As kids travel through reading levels, you’ll go from reading board books to chapter books in a matter of a few years. When kids outgrow or lose interest in certain books, it’s a great opportunity to pass them on to neighbor kids, friends, schools or libraries. Another fun option is a book exchange where each child brings a set number of books and everyone takes turns picking one they’d like to read until everyone has what they want. Any extras can be donated.
com.
MAGICAL, EDIBLE ART Oh, the compliments you’ll get from these crazy cool swirls
“A
nd will you succeed? Yes! You will,
indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)” This cookie recipe takes a happy cue from Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Just know: Coiling the dough can test even an experienced baker’s patience. But you’ll be famous as famous can be, serving swirls as pretty as these.
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Cookies • Favorite sugar cookie dough recipe • Food coloring (we used purple, pink, yellow and blue) • Sprinkles, if desired
STYLING + PHOTOGRAPHY Kiley Cruse
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Divide dough evenly into four bowls and add a few drops of food coloring. 3. Pinch off a grape-sized portion of each color of dough. 4. Combine dough into a large ball. It will look like a little beach ball. 5. Using your hands, roll out the ball on a flat work surface until you have a cylinder, or snake, about 12 inches long. 6. Starting from one end, coil the dough, twisting as you go, into a circle. 7. Roll edges of the cookie in sprinkles. 8. Bake the cookies for 10 to 11 minutes, or until done. Variation: These cookies are fun on lolly pop sticks. Adapted from nowyoucanpinit.blogspot.com
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SPONSORED FEATURE BOYS TOWN NATIONAL RESEARCH HOSPITAL
.
A mom’s instinct Gut feeling leads to life-changing epilepsy care
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hildren don’t come with operating manuals, but there’s an inherent skill set that seems to arrive with a new child – parental instinct. Erin Hoferer had the instinct that something wasn’t quite right when she picked up her 14-month-old son, Brently, from day care. She noticed he seemed limp and had a strange look on his face. Erin took him to the emergency room where the doctors in her hometown of Creighton, Nebraska, were able to stop his seizure. For the next few years, the family managed the condition until the mom instinct resurfaced. “Your mom gut gives you this weird feeling all the time like, ‘There’s something that’s not normal here,’” Erin said. “I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t know what.” Brently began to show more uncharacteristically angry, unempathetic behavior at school and at home. When Brently had another seizure, Erin turned to Boys Town Pediatric Neurology for help. The family traveled from Creighton to Boys Town National Research Hospital to see Hannah Klein, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric epileptologist. Brently had a series of medical tests and then he and his family headed home, anxiously awaiting the results. They didn’t have to wait long
before getting a personal call from Dr. Klein with an update. Dr. Klein explained that there was some strange activity in Brently’s MRI. Brently showed no improvement with medication and was still having multiple seizures a day, some lasting as long as five minutes. Dr. Klein told the family that
Brently was a candidate for brain surgery. The parental concerns kicked back in. “What’s going to happen? How will he be after surgery?” Erin asked herself. “It was scary, but you kind of have to swallow (your fears) and do what’s best for your child.” Within weeks of the operation, Brently’s happy-go-lucky personality resurfaced with laughing, smiling and spontaneous bouts of singing. “Every day you see a little bit more of him shining through. I haven’t seen that smile so much throughout a day for over a year,” Erin said, with a big smile of her own. There is still a journey ahead, but the family is confident they’re on the right track in the care Brently is receiving at Boys Town Hospital. He is surrounded by a team of specialists in epilepsy, neurosurgery and neurodevelopment, along with wraparound services to address any social, emotional or co-occurring conditions. As for the parental instinct, Erin knows in her gut that she’s at the right place for her child’s care. “I did not know that Dr. Klein was going to be this fabulous little angel who was going to guide us through all of this,” Erin said. “I would recommend Boys Town Hospital for neurology. They have made me and my family feel so safe.” 0000105259-01
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Come grow with us! You’re invited to schedule a free meeting to get to know our pediatricians and staff. Boys Town Pediatrics offers: • 24-hour nurse helpline • 24-hour appointment scheduling • Extended evening and Saturday hours • Same Day Pediatrics for sick appointments • Five convenient Omaha locations
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A SNACK YOU CAN COUNT ON One, two, three ... How many candy fish do you see? TEXT Ashlee Coffey + Kiley Cruse PHOTOGRAPHY Kiley Cruse
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P C A7M 0 ust , 202
Aug May 26 –
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elebrate Read Across America week with a sweet snack inspired by “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” Easy enough for the kids to help make, and yummy enough for the whole family to happily eat. Make a batch and enjoy it like a Yink, with your favorite drink − pink ink (strawberry milk).
“One Fish, Two Fish” Popcorn • ¼ cup butter • 12 large marshmallows
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• ½ cup brown sugar • ¼ cup popcorn kernels, popped, or 1 bag plain popcorn • Blue food coloring • 1 box Swedish Fish candy
1. Pop the popcorn, transfer to a large bowl and set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, sugar and marshmallows. Once smooth and combined, remove from heat. 3. Add food coloring and stir until desired color is achieved. 4. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn and carefully mix until popcorn is well-coated. 5. Spread coated popcorn onto a sheet of waxed paper to cool. 6. Once cooled, add in Swedish Fish candy and serve. Source: www.recipeforasweetlife.com
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• Construction paper in red and blue, plus two additional colors • Blue or white poster board • Craft glue • Googly eyes • Markers
1. Trace child’s hand on construction paper − one of each color − and cut out shape. Alternatively, you can cut two of one color that is not red or blue. 2. Glue one googly eye on the palm side of the handprint. 3. Using a marker, draw a mouth and gills. 4. Glue handprints on the poster board in order: one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Two fish can either be two of one color or one color plus red overlapping. Variation: Instead of using construction paper, you could make handprints with different colors of paints.
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Adapted from www.thehouseofburkeblog.com
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SPONSORED FEATURE HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER
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One-to-one tutoring Huntington’s individualized approach is more effective than a group setting
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ou’ve seen several red flags, including a decline in grades and a poor report card. Maybe your child has asked for homework help, but you can tell your child has big skill gaps and you feel unequipped to help him or her close them. If you know your child could benefit from the help of a tutor, your next decision is what type of setting is going to be most effective: a one-to-one or group tutoring setting? At Huntington, we are proponents of individualized tutoring for students for a variety of reasons: • One-to-one tutoring programs are customized for each student’s needs. In a one-to-one tutoring session, the teacher determines what to cover based on the student’s specific needs and goals. The curriculum is designed to address each student’s challenges. Sessions are built specifically around the student. • Students can’t get lost in the crowd. Just like in a classroom with many students, students in a larger group tutoring session can fade into the background by avoiding asking questions or engaging the teacher. Not so in an individualized tutoring program. Students get the help they need because they are the sole focus. • The programs scale according to students’ growth. Because an individual tutoring session is designed around each student’s areas of weakness, there’s no risk of students getting left behind. Tutors will not move ahead to a new concept without ensuring their students master the essential building block skills first. • Students learn more than just school skills. A quality subject tutoring program focuses on more than the academic skills your child needs for success. At Huntington, for example, we strive to help
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students boost their self-esteem and turn around any negative feelings they might have about school. Our goal is to help students become motivated self-starters who are confident in their abilities. Signs it’s time for tutoring So, when should you call Huntington? When the grades have fallen, of course, but here are several other signs your child needs personal tutoring help: • Your child lacks study skills. Watch for sloppy or incomplete notes from class and a haphazard approach to nightly homework. Take note if your child seems to make things harder on him or herself by succumbing to distractions or failing to set up good habits during homework and studying. • Homework takes way too long. Tasks that you know should be quick take a long time because your child gets distracted or easily confused. Observe how your child spends his or her time and
how long it takes to get going when he or she sits down to do work. • Your child doesn’t care. If your child once enjoyed school and now seems lazy and apathetic about the idea of learning, there might be something going on behind the scenes. There’s a reason for that lack of effort. You need to find out what it is. • Your child’s typical nightly routine: avoid. If procrastination and avoidance has become the nightly norm, your child is probably be struggling with school material. Avoidance is easier than slogging through something difficult or asking for help. Call 1-800 CAN LEARN to learn more about Huntington’s one-to-one student tutoring plans. We work with children of all ages to identify and target their areas of weakness so they can get back on track in school.
ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, algebra through calculus, chemistry and other sciences. Huntington offers prep for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at www.huntingtonhelps. com. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com.
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March 2020
BE WELL MARJIE DUCEY
Raising a kind kid Y
ou can’t just tell your children to be nice. It’s a learned skill, just like figuring out how to tie your shoes or to read. That means a little homework, both for the child and the parent. Zachary LaBrot, an assistant professor and a licensed psychologist at the University of Nebraska’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, says start with these four steps. No. 1: Sit down and talk with your children about what it means to be kind and what kindness looks and acts like. Give specific examples. “I might tell a child, ‘Say nice things to people.’ ‘Say please and thank you.’ ‘Hold open the door.’ ‘Offer to help others,’ ” LaBrot says. No. 2: Behave the way you want your children to behave toward others. “It’s something you have to be aware of,”LaBrot says. “Be sincere about it. Show kindness in everyday interactions.’’ That might mean being patient with the waiter who messes up an order when you are out for dinner or helping a neighbor clean up her yard. “It’s a huge thing. When kids see their parents being kind, they are way more likely to do it themselves,’’ LaBrot says. No. 3: Practice with your child on being kind. There might be opportunities when the family is out in public that your child doesn’t recognize. “Prompt a child to compliment someone’s outfit or carry something for someone,’’ LaBrot says. “Kids learn through practice. With practice, kids get better and are more likely to do it in the future.’’ No. 4: When you notice your child being kind, make sure to label it. Tell them you are proud of their actions. “When we take the time to praise them, it makes your child feel good and do more kind things in the future.’’ LaBrot says that by teaching your child to be nice, you are not raising a pushover. You can teach them how to stand up for themselves at the same time. “Take those same four steps. Talk to them about appropriate ways they can stand up for themselves
and give them feedback. It’s just a matter of taking the time to show them both skills.’’ LaBrot knows the steps work because he incorporates them in his work with children at Munroe-Meyer and his own daughter, 6-year-old Spencer. They practice and find lots of opportunities when they are at school and other activities. Recently, Spencer was nervous about visiting LaBrot’s grandfather, whom she didn’t know well. They talked beforehand about things she could do to be helpful during the visit. It made for a delightful time for both Grandpa and Spencer. “She brought him a glass of water. She would sit and talk with him,’’ he says. “She was extremely helpful and kind.’’
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LIME IS SUBLIME Tangy floats are two-ingredient wonders STYLING + PHOTOGRAPHY Kiley Cruse
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reen food for St. Paddy’s Day is a must. Start a tradition in your household with St. Patrick’s Day (lime sherbet) Floats. Two ingredients and a couple of stirs, and these tangy treats are ready to serve. And good to the last drop!
St. Patrick’s Day Floats • Lime sherbet • Lemon-lime soda
1. In a drinking cup (we recommend clear glass), add 2-3 scoops of lime sherbet. (Adjust according to the size of the cup and personal preference.) 2. Slowly pour lemon-lime soda over the sherbet. Be careful – it will foam and rise if you pour too quickly. 3. Serve immediately with straws and spoons. Source: homecookingmemories.com
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COMING SOON Adapted p by y Wendy y Kesselman,, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett Anne Frank was a real girl who was concealed in an Amsterdam storage attic with seven other people to evade the Nazis. Each day she would reflect on her harrowing ordeal in her journal. What emerged was a living, poetic, and often gently humorous portrait of childhood in the throes of a crisis. Witness her story live onstage at The Rose Theater.
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” ~Anne Frank
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