FREE
DECEMBER 2020 | VOL. 2 • ISSUE 12
at the library
BY NAOMI HURTIENNE MAGOLA, YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN
K-3rd
Good Night, Wind
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall Illustrated by Maëlle Doliveux
WARM UP WITH A GOOD BOOK On December 21st, winter will officially be here! It is the perfect time to cuddle up on the couch with some good books and steaming mugs of hot cocoa. To prepare for maximum snuggling, check out one of these books to get you in the mood. All three books are available through the Terrebonne Parish Library System, and you can reserve a copy today at www.mytpl.org.
All the hard work blowing leaves off of trees has taken its toll on Winter Wind and now he wants to take a rest. He travels around the town trying to find a comfortable place to sleep, but everyone keeps waking him up and kicking him out. When he befriends two small children, it is up to them to help tuck him in before he has a meltdown.
4th-6th
Golden Compass
Written by Philip Pullman
Preschool
Best in Snow
Lyra has spent her childhood growing up on a college campus with little interference from the grownups in her life. When her friend Roger is kidnapped, it is up to her to travel to the distant and frigid far North to rescue him. Will she be able to outsmart the witches and the shadowy organizations in time to save Roger?
Written and Pictures by April Pulley Sayre The temperature is dropping, a breeze is blowing...snow is coming! In this beautifully photographed book, readers will follow along with woodland creatures as they enjoy their time in the snow. From squirrels to blue jays, they will delight in all the beauty and wonder that abounds when snow is falling.
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ADVERTISING Deanne Ratliff Director of Sales Beth Tabor PUBLISHER Brian Rushing
DIGITAL MARKETING Keely Diebold
EDITORIAL Mary Ditch Editorial Director Bonnie Rushing Contributing Writer
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Drew Miller
CREATIVE Amber Duplantis Senior Designer Lauren Pontiff Graphic Designer
MODELS Isabella Miller and Allie Duplantis DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Michelle Ortego FAMILY FIRST
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CONTACT Publisher: publisher@rushing-media.com Editorial: mary@rushing-media.com Sales: sales@rushing-media.com FAMILYFIRSTHOUMA.COM P.O. BOX 5013 HOUMA, LA 70361 • 985.868.7515 Family First Magazine is a free publication. The entire content of this publication is copyrighted by Rushing Media, with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Family First Magazine is published monthly by Rushing Media.
Heavenly Scent of Houma, LLC
1539 MLK Blvd • Houma 985.851.1559 Mon - Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-4
Vitamins, Herbs, Essential Oils, Natural Cleaning Products
(Closed Dec 26th) (Closed Sundays)
1437 St. Charles St. Suite. 109 • Houma, LA 70360 • (985) 868.2216 M-F 9:30-5:30 • Sat 9:30-2:00
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!
Jennifer D. Rodrigue, Kenneth J. Cruse, Micah A. Callais, Henry M. Peltier, Meghan Louque MD, FAAP FNP MD, FAAP MD, FAAP PNP
604 N Acadia Rd, Suite 200 & 200B • Thibodaux, LA 70301 • 985-448-3700 5040 W Main St • Houma, LA 70360 • 985-851-2000 • www.centerfp.com
FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
HEALTHY BITES WITH TGMC | BY MELISSA RILEY, MHA, RDN, LDN
FUN WITH FOOD
CELERY REINDEER AND BANANA SANTAS Food offers a realm of possibilities to help children learn. Food can become a hands-on activity to help promote healthy eating. Kids need a variety of fruits & vegetables daily. Fruits & vegetables are naturally low in fat and are great sources of nutrients such as; potassium, fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It can be helpful to prepare multiple servings ahead of time to make an easy grab-and-go snack.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 3 bananas
• 6 red M & M’s
• 6 strawberries
• Chocolate sprinkles
• 6 white marshmallows
• 6 wooden skewers
• 6 miniature white
STEP 1 Cut the bananas in half and trim pointed ends so they are flat. Thread each piece of banana onto a skewer.
marshmallows
STEP 2 Thread regular sized white marshmallows on top of the bananas. STEP 3 Cut leaves from strawberries and thread onto skewers cut side down so they are sitting on top of the marshmallows.
STEP 4 Top the strawberry with a miniature marshmallow. Adjust ingredients so there is no skewer showing out the top. STEP 5 Gently press an M&M onto each banana for a nose and then add two pieces of chocolate sprinkles for the eyes.
INGREDIENTS • 5 celery ribs, ends trimmed and cut in half • peanut butter (or seed butter of choice) • 20 gluten free pretzels, cut in half • 20 homemade googly eyes • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic • 10 fresh raspberries
DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Slather the nut or seed butter into the celery ribs. STEP 2 Add the antlers, eyes, and nose for the full Rudolph face. FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
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PLACING FAMILIES AT THE CENTER OF NEWBORN CARE
NICVIEW 2
®
LIVE Video Streaming NOW AVAILABLE AT TGMC WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER TGMC Women’s Health Center knows that childbirth is an emotional event for parents and families, particularly when a newborn’s first few critical days, weeks, or even months are spent in the NICU. NICVIEW 2 is inobtrusive and can be activated and repositioned at will, ensuring NICU staff remain in control of the care process at all times. 24/7 video streaming with NICVIEW 2 helps families feel more involved right from the start, making them partners in the process of giving their hospitalized infant the best start in life.
For more information, visit TGMC.com
FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
SYNERGY BANK PRESENTS SYNERGY CENTS WITH PENNY D. PELICAN
HOMEMADE GIFTS ARE OFTEN THE BEST Merry Christmas, friends! Do you have any Christmas traditions with your family? My family and I always exchange presents on Christmas Eve. To save money and make the gifts more special, we exchange homemade gifts. This year, I am giving all my family and friends homemade cookies! I will bake them myself and place them in decorative tins. You can’t go wrong with delicious baked treats when sharing gifts, but can you think of other gifts you may be able to make yourself? In the past, I’ve made snow globes and Christmas tree ornaments. The internet is a great resource for finding easy homemade gift ideas. Have an adult help you find more ideas.
MAKE YOUR OWN SNOW GLOBE
This quick, easy project is fun to make and could be a great homemade gift.
SUPPLIES NEEDED: • S mall glass jar with lid • S ilicone sealant
• S mall toy to put inside jar
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Put a small drop of silicone sealant on the bottom of your toy.
2. Press the toy firmly in the center of the jar lid. Let dry for at least 10 minutes.
• Distilled water
3. Fill your jar with distilled water.
stores)
5. Add a couple pinches of glitter.
• Glitter
6. Add silicone sealant to the outside rim of the
• Glycerin (available at drug or craft
4. Add one to two drops of glycerin.
jar.
7. Screw jar lid onto jar tightly. There will be water overflow, so you may want to do this over a towel or a sink. 8. Wipe off excess water. 9. Shake your globe and enjoy!
FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
QUARTER SEEK
Penny wants to make a gift for her friend using the quarters she saved. Materials will cost $3.25. Circle and count the quarters below to see if she has enough to buy what she needs.
PENNY HAS ___________ QUARTERS. DOES PENNY HAVE ENOUGH TO BUY THE GIFT? _____________ Find game solutions at banksynergy.com/penny.
FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
GET MOVING WITH THIBODAUX REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
BEING ACTIVE AS A FAMILY Remaining an active family this time of year may feel like a challenge. While school is still in session, your child may not have had the ability to return to play or return to after-school activities. Therefore, it’s easy for physical health to go out the window—especially when kids are buried under a mountain of homework, studying for pre-Christmas break tests, and distracted by their electronic devices. Thankfully, there are plenty of creative ways for kids to get moving once the last school bell rings. Here are a few fun tips to add to your calendar for the fall!
Take family walks. Get your family into the habit of taking walks in the neighborhood after dinner. Not only will kids get some fresh air and exercise, but it’s a great opportunity to bond! Make a list of items to ‘seek’—the first to mark off all items wins! Example: red bird, Christmas wreath, yellow car, dog on a leash, etc. Go on nature hikes around the neighborhood and back yard! Hikes may not get your heart pumping as much as soccer practice, but they’re a great opportunity to sneak in some physical activity while bird watching or looking for collectibles to use for craft projects. Great local trails to walk include the Mandalay Nature Trail, Southdown On-Road Loop & Off-Road Trail, Peltier Park, Ward’s Creek Trail, and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve just to name a few! Ever played four-square, hopscotch, or jump rope? Encourage “old-school” games from your childhood! Do you remember when you used to play games of pick-up basketball with the neighbors? There’s no reason why you can’t pass your childhood games onto the next generation. Parents, get out your old jump ropes and challenge your children to a little double-dutch! Take the stairs. Encourage the whole family to skip the elevators and escalators for stairs. Put on a YouTube tutorial. Yes, that thing that often keeps children from any physical activity can also be a source of great (and free) exercise for all different ages! Check out kid-friendly exercise tutorial videos on YouTube. Examples to check out on youtube.com include: 20 Online, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Debbie Doo Kids TV, and Power Girl Fitness to name a few!
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FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
At the Wellness Center, we’re improving the health of the region one person at a time.
And this means...
More game time
More crunch time
More first times
More party time
SPONSORED BY
Isn’t it time to start living your best life? Change Starts Here.
For more information contact the Thibodaux Regional Fitness Center, 985.493.4950. FAMILY FIRST
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985.493.4400
DECEMBER 2020
thibodaux.com
S.T.E.A.M. ACTIVITY
FIVE LITTLE SNOWMEN
www.paisleyparkresale.com 6861 West Park Ave. Houma, LA• 985-876-2227
WE BUY & SELL GENTLY USED ITEMS
There’s a reason Dr. Seuss books are still so popular! Rhyming helps to teach a child how language works. It helps them notice and work with the sounds within words. Rhymes help children experience the rhythm of language.
OFFERING CASH OR STORE CREDIT FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
Learning rhymes is important for writing, too. It can help children understand that words that share common sounds often share common letters. For example, the rhyming words rat and sat both end with –at.
Baby Gear (Pack N Plays, High Chairs, Walkers, Etc.) Children's Clothing (Newborn - Youth 10-12) Children’s Shoes (sizes 0 - Youth 4) • Maternity Fashions
Use the Five Little Snowmen to act out the following rhyme: Five little snowmen standing in a row, Standing straight and tall in the deep, cold snow. Out came the sun, shining bright and hot all day. And one little snowman melted away. (Repeat with 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0.)
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Markers or crayons • White paper
Grade
• Scissors
CHANGER Act now to take control of this school year.
READING • MATH • WRITING • STUDY SKILLS GEOMETRY • ALGEBRA • ACT PREP Our personal learning approach will really connect with your child, combining engaging technology with amazing teachers, raising grades and confidence.
CALL TODAY! 985-223-3798 Sylvan Learning Center • 657 Corporate Drive, Ste A www.sylvanhouma.com FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
Unwrap a New Smile THIS HOLIDAY SEASON !
CALL FOR A
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION! DR. NICOLE THIELER • 985.876.4484 • WWW.THIELERORTHODONTICS.COM 206 MYSTIC BLVD. • HOUMA, LA 70360
WHAT TO DO: STEP 1 Draw two or three circles to create your snowman or use our template. STEP 2 Create five snowmen. STEP 3 Use your markers or crayons to decorate your snowmen. STEP 4 Give them eyes and a nose, a scarf and a hat! STEP 5 Cut out your snowmen. Ask for an adult’s help! STEP 6 Say the rhyme outloud. Each time one melts away, simply hide him from view! You can download a snowman color sheet at familyfirsthouma.com.
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985-262-1435 • trinitycoverage.com FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020
FAMILY FIRST
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DECEMBER 2020