XYZ Topeka Spring 2013

[ everything for Topeka families ]

filmmaking 101 local sixth-graders learn the finer details of directing films p 6

recycle renaissance Topeka families are recycling more than ever with the new curbside program p 34

recipes retrofun calendar & more

spring 2013

tton-o stormont-vail & cotton-o’neil

three levels of care

s of Stormont-Vail HealthCare provides a variety of levels of care. If a medical need occurs when your primary care physician is not available, you have three options: Mild

The ClinicModerate at Walmart by Stormont-Vail Severe

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays

Located inside the north Topeka Walmart and providing minor health services without an appointment for patients ages 18 months and older. Staffed by advanced practice nurses and a physician assistant.

Mild

Moderate

Cotton-O’Neil ExpressCare Severe

With three locations in Topeka and one in Osage City, these urgent care clinics, complete with lab and X-ray services, are available to patients of all ages who need treatment for a minor illness or injury.

You do not have to be a Cotton-O’Neil patient to be cared for at ExpressCare.

ExpressCare – Croco: 2909 S.E. Walnut Dr. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends ExpressCare – Urish: 6725 S.W. 29th St. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends ExpressCare – North: 1130 N. Kansas Ave. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays

ExpressCare – Osage City: 131 W. Market 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Stormont-Vail Emergency and Trauma Center

Open 24 hours a day, every day, and designed for sudden, serious injury or illness. Located one block west of Eighth and Washburn.

Call Health Connections’ Ask-A-Nurse at (785) 354-5225 evenings and weekends for help finding the most appropriate level of care.

stormontvail.org

o’neil

XYZ Magazine | Vol. III • Issue IV | Spring 2013

[ what’s inside ]

f ca IN EVERY ISSUE 10 cool kid’s bday

14 cool kid’s room 24 calendar 27 F.A.B.

32 day trip

34 environmental

features

18 troubling trend

With suicide rates among teens on the rise, it’s important for parents to recognize the warning signs, and for teens to feel comfortable seeking help.

6 filmmaking 101

Action! The PawStars have their aspirations set on Hollywood, but first for their local debut!

8 dinner & a show

AJ’s Pizzeria offers dinner and a “show,” but we think we had your little ones at “pizzeria.”

12 home away from home Local families are forever expanding their families – one semester and one foreign exchange student at a time.

21 first-grade fitness craze

Zumba is not just for parents. Local elementary students are moving to the beat and getting in shape.

22 a strong pair of lungs One local teen has all but perfected the art of bagpiping and is earning national recognition and the trip of a lifetime as a result.

28 happy preschoolers Two local preschools explore different curriculums and give parents distinctive learning choices.

parenting

35 music review 36 art project 38 recipes

40 tweenage

foodie review

41 retrofun

42 spring reads 43 keen eye

44 d.i.y. sewing 46 heard + noted

[ letter from the editor ]

[ everything for Topeka families ]

overachiever b y J a n i c e Wa t k i n s

“Spring is here and new life is everywhere, whether or not it was staring you in the face before and you just now happened to notice.”

I

’ve recently come to the conclusion that either by choice or circumstance, there are no more babies in my future. This is fairly ironic, given that spring is supposed to be the season of re-birth and new life and all that lovey-dovey stuff, but for me, it means that over four years ago I felt the last fluttering of tiny kicking legs in my belly, or the agonizing pain, yet great reward of evicting a living being from inside of me, and the glorious smells and sounds that little newborns make.

This realization, although painful at first, brought me one of the greatest rewards possible – I have embraced an old title in a new and overachieving fashion – Aunt Janey.

My oldest nephew, Willie, is four. And while my brother and sisters were aunts well before they were even in high school (yes, I was a teen mom to a now near teenager), I am still fairly new to aunthood.

It most certainly did not help that when my nephew was born, I was well into my own pregnancy with Eden and concerning myself with tiny pink tutus and nursery colors. Like near clockwork, a new niece or nephew was born about every nine months after Willie and before I knew it, I was the proud-but-less-involved-aunt to Willie, Kinley, Lillie and Jack.

Given my recent dedication to putting on the brakes and really stopping to live

Kerrice Mapes Publisher Leah Sewell Art Director Janice Watkins Editor-in-Chief Writers Annie Brock Grant Burns Rio Cervantes-Reed Lacey Gerhardt Cale Herreman Nicole Huckins Josh Luttrell Leah Sewell Shanna Sloyer Erin Snethen Jorrie Varney

life before it passes me by, I have been longing after the title of “Super Aunt” and I believe it may be within reach. I hurt every muscle in my body lugging them around playing horsey. I dig deep within my diaphragm for hidden accents in a rousing game of pretend detective. I work diligently to give them the things that their own moms and dads won’t give them and then carefully mask the evidence with wet wipes and not so subtle suggestions about how our day should be repeated in story form. And, I might add, I am loving every single minute of it.

Spring is here and new life is everywhere, whether or not it was staring you in the face before and you just now happened to notice.

— Janice

Janice Watkins Blake Zachritz Photographers Amy Cyphers EJ Drake Sarah Long Megan Rogers Zach Snethen Julie Velez Art + Production Leah Sewell Advertising xyztopeka@gmail.com 785.249.3126 Kerrice Mapes Rio Cervantes-Reed calendar Jessica Matheis Janice Watkins

cover photo

by Amy Cyphers Amy Cyphers Photography FIRST WHISTLE Pierson tried his hardest to learn how to whistle.

He eventually figured out that he could whistle if he sucked the air in.. so that is how he does it. And he is so proud of himself.

Marketing / Website Social Media / Distribution Rio Cervantes-Reed Kerrice Mapes Janice Watkins Administration Elizabeth Bell Reprints + Permission No part of XYZ may be reproduced in any form without prior consent from seveneightfive designs. For permission requests, call 785.249.3126 or email kerrice@seveneightfive.com XYZ MAGAZINE xyztopeka@gmail.com P.O. Box 750491 Topeka, KS 66675

[ our gang ]

. . .

3 , 1,2

our staff would love to hear from you! have something to say? email xyztopeka@gmail.com

2

WAKE UP BOOMER!

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1 5

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8 11

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See Boomer at the library Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am during Preschool Storytime.

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19 16 1. kerrice mapes | Publisher 2. Janice watkins | Editor-in-Chief 3. leah Sewell | Art Director 4. regina stephenson | Writer 5. annie brock | Writer 6. nicole huckins | Writer 7. lacey gerhardt | Writer 8. Megan rogers | Photographer 9. EJ Drake | Photographer 10. Cale herreman | Writer

18 11. Sarah Long | Photographer 12. Jorrie varney | Writer 13. TONY DAVIS | Writer 14. rio cervantes-reed Marketing Specialist 15. Josh Luttrell | Writer 16. chelle decker | Writer 17. Erin Snethen | Writer 18. shanna sloyer | Writer 19. amy cyphers | Photographer

Grab a bundle of books and a copy of Library News for kids events* schedule.

Your family won’t want to miss ‘em. *Warning: wiggling and giggling may occur.

1515 SW 10th Avenue | Topeka, KS 66604-1374 | www.tscpl.org 785 580-4565 | M–F 9 am–9 pm | Sat 9 am–6 pm | Sun 12 pm–9 pm

© TSCPL 2013

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filmmaking 101

by Cale Herreman • photos by Megan Rogers | Megan Rogers Photographie

The scene opens on an empty school. Paper litters a hallway. A classroom is in dissaray. Some desks are covered with baby powder, and some are knocked over. A small group of sixth graders enters the room. They excitedly explain why they came in on their day off to create this mess: they’re making a movie about an abandoned, haunted school.

Y

es, sixth graders can make movies! At least, they do in the Pawstar Movie Club - an afterschool program in its third year at Pauline South Intermediate School. Dusty Snethen, a fifth grade teacher at the school, connected with his high school friend Ryan Cavanaugh, a photographer and videographer, to create a program that would offer kids something that would be challenging and out of the ordinary.

“These kids don’t have a lot of access to equipment and experience,” Snethen says, noting that Pauline South is in a low-income area.

The club has had some equipment donated, and is raising funds to get more. Having only so many cameras and editing-dedicated computers means that club membership has to be limited. Students have to apply, and this year 15 were accepted.

Cavanaugh says of the application process that they are looking for “creativity, but also if they... want to learn how to edit on a computer, or they want to learn about shooting with a camera, want to learn about writing, or acting” they get attention. Eagerness to learn and a good work ethic help students make the cut.

(far left): A member of the PawStars “cuts” to take some off camera directorial suggestions. (left): The entire PawStars film club stops to pose in front of the lens. (below): Members of the PawStars work diligently on filming their latest feature.

When the club starts in October, they start with still images.

“We just give them a point-and-shoot camera, and we tell them to go take something interesting, and then we share all those photographs, and talk about them,” Snethen says.

“We talk about planning,” Cavanaugh adds. “The point of the exercise is there is no planning involved, and what they get, all of it is horrible. It’s supposed to be, they don’t know.”

Snethen continues, “We talk about why that’s not a good shot, and we bring professional photographs in, and look at those, and why those are good, and why do they look nice, and what kind of mood does this set.”

This sets up a framework for the more complex video projects.

The students develop a vocabulary for discussing pictures and films, and for honestly critiquing each other’s work. They also develop their planning, teamwork, and leadership skills when they start making videos.

“The next project is, we give them an object, and a song,” says Snethen. “We say, go shoot it, you can’t have any dialogue.

The object has to be the star. That really gets them to where they’re learning on the job, ‘Okay, how do we cut this? How do we get interesting camera angles on something like a chair?’”

“We gave them an old cassette-tape recorder. The video ended up being about how none of them knew just what it was!” Cavanaugh recalls.

The students’ work culminates in their final project, a five-

minute movie. Snethen and Cavanaugh have arranged to make something extra special for the kids: a big-screen premiere at Washburn Rural High School’s auditorium. A limo picks the kids up, they get to walk a red carpet and sign autographs, and their films are screened for the community.

Snethen and Cavanaugh are working to expand the program by making a year-round afterschool program beyond the school walls, and perhaps a film summer camp (look for it under the name -Yellow Brick Creative). A group of kids at one school have had the opportunity to have fun, to learn important life skills, and to create something that will be seen by others. If this could grow, perhaps Topeka could be the center of a new film renaissance.

You can see some of the student videos at the club’s website, pawstarproductions.com. XYZ TOPEKA

dinner & a show At AJ’s Pizzeria, kids can sit across from the brick oven and watch dough balls being formed, tossed, sauced and put into the oven with a paddle.

by Chelle Decker photos by Sarah Long | Joy ful Photography

A

fter a busy day at work my husband promised to grab my son and meet me for pizza at “that new place” for a quick dinner. I arrived first at AJ’s Pizzeria, and since my family wasn’t there yet, I grabbed a chair near the welcoming brick oven. It seemed to be a cozy place to sit and catch up on some emails on my smart phone. Instead I found myself captivated watching dough being tossed high in the air and new pizza crusts being put into the beautifully rustic, brick oven by an employee with a pleasant smile. We struck up a conversation and by the time my husband and son arrived we all had a terrific time interacting with our dinner being made right in front of us.

I’ve always enjoyed taking my son to places where he can see the process of his meal being made. When he was a toddler we ventured to Iwig’s dairy so that he could meet the cows that supplied his milk. As he got older I brought him into our kitchen to assist me with cooking. Now, we’ve been lucky enough to find eateries that not only make delicious food but also give him the entertainment of seeing the meal created. It’s all part of my quest to raise a “foodie,” of course.

The ultimate goal for me is raise a child that doesn’t want to eat a meal from a box or drive-thru, but who would rather spend time enjoying the art of growing, experimenting and cherishing fresh food and the millions of combinations that can make up a meal.

AJ’s Pizzeria is charming place where we easily caught dinner and a “show.” The owner, Adam Peyton, shared that he wanted to create a place that was both friendly for kids and adults. Kids can sit across from the brick oven and watch dough balls being formed, tossed, sauced and put into the oven with a paddle. Peyton cautions, however, that the art of tossing the pizza dough takes almost two months to perfect.

He was trained on the art of dough-making by an authentic New York pizza maker and he now passes on the knowledge to his staff. The oven is from Brooklyn, New York and is surrounded by bricks from the streets of Peyton’s hometown, Topeka. AJ’s is the only pizza place in Topeka that offers the

chance to see the dough being made, and Peyton says, “it’s fun for kids” while adults can enjoy the extended hours and full bar service. AJ’s even offers a trivia night at 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

Parents with picky eaters take note: AJ’s offers by the slice options for their pizzas, so kids can select their favorite toppings while parents can create their own masterpiece.

All the usual pizza toppings are offered along with unique ingredients and 17 specialty pizzas with names like “Hot Wing Pie,” “Jalapeño Popper” and “The John Stamos,” which includes a Greek medley of green olives, red onions, grilled chicken and feta cheese on top of white sauce.

Healthy eaters can enjoy a large array of salads. Peyton worked with the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan, Kansas to help design an extensive salad menu.

My best advice is to enjoy your large customized slice or calzone but leave room for dessert. AJ’s takes their dough and creates gooey cinnamon knots that most kids will love and are a perfect finish to a meal. The knots are also available in a garlic variety on the appetizer menu. Most importantly, make sure to order something made with the dough just to give kids the experience of eating something they just saw being baked.

Pizza isn’t the only offering in town where kids can see their meal being created. Consider an evening out at Kiku’s Steakhouse of Japan to see grilling right at your table or enjoy perusing the fresh ingredient options while building your own favorite combination at HuHot Mongolian Grill.

Of course, one of the best places you can develop your child’s love for meal creation is in your very own kitchen.

XYZ TOPEKA

AJ’s Pizzeria • 1930 SW Westport • open 11a - 12a Sun - Th, 11a - 2a Fri & Sat • 785.861.7000

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XYZ xyztopeka.com

cool kid’s room

d.i.y. nursery décor stor y and photos by Jessica Matheis

W

hen looking for inspiration to decorate little Charlotte’s nursery, Whitney Baker was not impressed with what the stores had to offer. Whitney, a sales representative for Balfour Yearbooks and owner of WDesignGallery on Etsy, wanted more for her baby than zoo animals, monkeys, Winnie the Pooh or a nursery plastered with pink.

Whitney’s husband Kyle Baker, the executive chef at Ramada West, gave Whitney full artistic freedom to decorate their daughter’s nursery. Being an artistic and creative mind, Whitney decided to look to the small businesses in NOTO and the West Bottoms in Kansas City for inspiration. The store she frequented the most in NOTO is a little shop called 4 Girls’ Garage where she found refurbished dressers and shelves to put up on the nursery walls. A few of the pieces came from garage sales, like the Jenny Lind crib that she sanded and repainted white. The walls are painted with a pale blue 10

xyztopeka.com XYZ

Your Child

Deserves The Best

At Family Service & Guidance Center, that’s exactly what they get.

Growing up can be tough.

The friendly knowledgeable staff at FSGC is here to help your child transition through the difcult times. Call us today to see how we can help your child live a happier, healthier life. “...because every child deserves a happy childhood.”

cool kid: Charlotte age: 7 weeks color accented with creamy eggshell shelves and empty frames on the wall that create a collage of shapes with the letter “C” for Charlotte, Whitney’s and Kyle’s seven-week old daughter, in the center.

This nursery could be described as shabby chic antique with an accent of carousel décor. Some of the most interesting pieces in the room are the photograph of the carousel above Charlotte’s crib and the refurbished shutters that hang on either side of the picture. This nursery is definitely a one-of-a-kind and an inspiration to all mothers who are looking to decorate their child’s room with a limited budget and a lot of creativity!

Improving children’s lives since 1904 @fsgctopeka

785.232.5005 • FSGCtopeka.com 325 SW Frazier Ave. • Topeka, KS 66606

XYZ TOPEKA XYZ xyztopeka.com

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home away from home

by Shanna Sloyer • photos by Sarah Long | Joy ful Photography

H

aus. Casa. 房子. Home. A word pronounced many ways, but universally understood. For foreign exchange students, host families provide a foundation for their experience in an unfamiliar country.

“I was so bored and homesick for the first month,” said Belen Perez, a junior at Holton High School.

Perez is accustomed to life in the city of Madrid, while her host parents, Dennis and Michelle Ramage, live on a farm. It took Perez some time to get used to depending on others for rides instead of using public transportation.

The Ramage family began hosting exchange students last year, when they invited a student from South Korea to share their home. They had planned to take a year off, but their son, Miles McClintock-Strozier, an eighth grader at Holton Middle School, asked to host another student this year.

“Teenagers are alike around the world. The boys will eat you out of house and home and like video games, and there are a lot of similarities between the girls,” said Michelle Ramage.

Teresa Fuentez, who has hosted exchange students from Germany, South Korea and Brazil, said that learning about the students’ different cultures was a good experience for her, and also for her young daughter.

“They were good role models for her because they take school very seriously,” said Fuentez. “They would come home from school and do homework first thing. It set a good example and showed her there’s more to life than just playing.”

In her home country of China, Sihan Chen, a junior at Wetmore High School, begins her school day at 7:30 a.m. and stays

until 6 p.m. After she arrives home, she has an additional study hall period in the evenings, and sometimes attends extra lessons on Saturdays.

“There are no elective classes or extracurricular (activities),” said Chen.

The study of other languages is part of the required curriculum in Germany, according to Russ Hinshaw, host father to Michael Winogradow, a junior at Shawnee Heights High School. Winogradow speaks Russian, German, and English, and studied Latin before coming to the U.S. Because Winogradow is taking a year off of school in Germany to participate in the exchange program, he will be required to retake this year upon his return. In addition to repeating a year of school, being away from their families and friends, and dealing with language barriers, exchange students make other sacrifices for the opportunity to be immersed in another culture.

Isabella Paiva is officially a senior in Brazil, but due to guidelines for exchange students, she is classified as a junior at Topeka High School.

While this may not seem like much of a sacrifice, Paiva’s class in Brazil graduated without her in December. She initially believed that she would be allowed to participate in Topeka High’s graduation ceremony in May, but with a classification of junior, she will have to watch from the audience.

“Now the only graduation I will have is if I go to college,” said Paiva.

The students agree that the opportunity is worth the sacrifice. Lucila Garcia, a junior from Spain who attends Washburn Rural High School spoke candidly about the benefits of the exchange program.

“Escaping my mother,” said Garcia, with an easy laugh. (left): foreign exchange students from all over the world have a lot in common with American teens, from video games to fashion to the inability to keep a straight face for the camera.

Gayle Shirazi is the regional coordinator for The Foundation for Worldwide International Exchange. She is responsible for placing exchange students with host families. With 18 years of experience, Shirazi has placed several thousand students in northeast Kansas.

Shirazi is also responsible for planning activities for the students so that they can connect with others in the program. This year, the exchange students will travel to the Grand Canyon over spring break, staying at YMCA camps along the way. They will also see Boot Hill in Dodge City, as well as Las Vegas.

Shirazi is always on the lookout for families who are interested in hosting students.

“Families who host think they will share or give an experience to the student, but the students teach the families so much,” said Shirazi. “We, the adults, learn so much about different cultures, and the kids in the house learn to share.” XYZ TOPEKA If you are interested in becoming a host family, please contact Gayle Shirazi, AYA Regional Coordinator, 785-272-2157, Toll Free: 1-866259-5704, Cell: 785-554-4447, Email: gshirazi@juno.com, or visit wisefoundation.com.

cool kid’s bday

all aboard birthday

by Nicole Huckins • photos by Amy Cyphers

Ever thought that having a “cool” birthday party could never include learning a little history along the way? In this issue we debunk the myth, and take a closer look at the Kansas Museum of History as the premiere place to hold a birthday event.

A

my Cyphers knew she wanted to incorporate trains somehow in an upcoming birthday party for her son August, who was turning two. After careful consideration she decided the museum’s “Working on the Railroad” party was a perfect fit, and it was an added benefit that the museum takes care of invitations, plates, utensils and party favors.

“The great part about having a party at the Kansas History Museum is that they plan the activities,” Cyphers observed, leaving the parents to enjoy the party atmosphere along with the guests.

cool kid: August, age 2 14

xyztopeka.com XYZ

Once all of the guests arrived, they followed a museum teacher to the real train housed inside the museum. There the partygoers enjoyed listening to the teacher read the story of “The Little Engine That Could.” All of the guests,

party planning Cost: Parties are $125 for 12 children and 6 adults Additional child - $7, adult - $6

including the adults, took a tour of the train and were able to hear the real train whistle, which was quite the privilege.

“It was very loud and the kids were all really excited to hear it blow,” Cyphers said.

Back at the party room, the guests learned even more about trains and what they do by acting out several different jobs on the play train.

Parties include: • Two-hour use of museum classroom • Active learning program conducted by museum teacher (1 hour) • Plates, napkins, utensils and cups • Museum admission • Children’s party favors • Invitations Parents provide: • Cake • Any additional food items • Drinks • Decorations

“One child shoveled coal while another oiled the train wheels, and another took tickets. The kids loved this part of the party,” Cyphers said. “There was even a train sound effects CD in the background while they role-played.”

The guests continued to enjoy the play train, then completed the celebration with a train cake and presents.

Partygoers then had open access to enjoy the museum, which was a first for some.

“The moms and dads that came all seemed to be very impressed and had great things to say about the party afterwards,” she raved. “Overall, it was a great birthday party. I would definitely do it again.”

August’s train party is just one of several different themes that the museum recently began to offer as an option for birthdays. Theme examples include a focus on the woolly buffalo including a “buffalo hunt,” and another that revolves around the Little House on the Prairie books.

All of the themes are historical and educational, but make for a unique and entertaining party.

XYZ TOPEKA

To see all of the available party themes, visit the museum’s website: http://www.kshs.org/p/birthday-parties/15039

Dis co ver y M o nte ssor i S cho o l • Offering a unique prescho o l experience

• Ser ving children 3-5 years o ld since 1975

• N ow enro lling for fall!

1701 SW Co llins Ave. Topeka, KS 66604

785.234.6746

d isco ver yscho o ltopeka.org XYZ xyztopeka.com

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SilverMOMS

Remarkable things happen when parents help parents

by Cale Herreman • photos by Megan Rogers | Megan Rogers Photographie

S

ometimes parents need help. Maybe they need a small thing, or something simple, such as another pair of hands in the house, an ear to listen, or someone to run to the store. Sometimes, a parent needs a community.

A local group is using Facebook to provide this kind of community care to its members. SilverMOMS, an offshoot of SilverbackKS, was inspired by the blog of a foster parent.

Kacy Simonsen, a group admin, explains, “She wrote about how nice it would be to have a network of parents that would be able to help each other if someone was in a tight spot.”

That’s how the group works: “If someone needs help, they ask. If someone has something to offer, they do it.”

SilverMOMS (which is open to dads too) has a group on Facebook, and people can only join if they are invited by a member. Privacy and trust are vital to its functioning, given that members will end up sharing personal information.

One group member says they feel able to share problems with others because, “I can trust them, because others in the group trust them.”

From its founding in November, the group has provided help in more than thirty situations.

Jude Quinn, another of the group’s admins, provides some examples. “SilverMOMS has helped parents know about jobs in the community. They have helped families who lost everything in house fires. They have helped outfit foster children with a plethora of Christmas gifts. It has been a place just to vent. They are whatever the parents need.”

Someone had a family member with mobility issues who

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needed a wheelchair. One evening, the problem was shared on the SilverMOMS page, and the call was heard. A spare wheelchair was located through networking and arrangements were made for its pick up as soon as the following afternoon. The recipient was, “Sobbing with excitement,” according to a group member, who declared, “This group is my own little tribe. I can bring anything to them, and they can help.”

buy, sell and so Much More!

Newborn Clothes Children & Maternity Clothes Baby Equipment Toys, Books and so much more!

There are limits to what this kind of parent-to-parent assistance can provide, and people can be directed to community resources, but the simple benefits of having a safe place to ask for help, and caring people who will hear the call, have turned out to be a big deal.

“No agendas, no politics, no criticism, no opinions, just help. Let’s help one another,” says Quinn. XYZ TOPEKA

3703 SW Burlingame Rd.

photos at right contributed by SilverMOMS

738 SW Gage Blvd 215-8421 www.viaspizzeria.com

266-0375 | www.mommyandmetopeka.com

MONDAY IS HAPPY HOUR...

FOR THE KIDDOS

Kyler Carpenter

LIVE

Kid’s Acoustic Dance / Music Party | 6-7 p.m.

Make your own pizza

Monday Night: 99c | Kids ONLY | ALL NIGHT XYZ xyztopeka.com

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troubling trend

by Annie Brock • photos by Megan Rogers | Megan Rogers Photographie

Suicide rates among teens have seen a recent increase. How can parents spot the warning signs?

L

ast September in the sleepy Missouri town of St. Clair, not four hours east of Topeka, 16-year

old Jordan Halmich took his own life. Just five weeks later, 15-year old Donna Cooley, a sophomore in the same town, hanged herself in her home. Not two weeks after that, Destiny Pearson, also a St. Clair High School student, committed suicide. It was determined that the suicides of the three teens were unrelated to one another, except that each brought a new level of horror to the close-knit town.

Although three students from the same small high school committing suicide within the span of seven weeks is an anomaly, it is indicative of a troubling trend that has been sweeping across America.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide rates among young people in the United States ages 10-24 have seen a recent increase, and now constitute 13% of deaths among that age group making it the third leading cause of death. More troubling still, 18% of students reported having had suicidal thoughts, and for every completed suicide it is estimated there are approximately 100 to 200 attempted suicides. Many of these teen suicides and suicide attempts are a result of a mental 18

xyztopeka.com XYZ

what you can do to prevent suicide

Teens Taking Action will soon be teaming up with a teen-run organization to prevent suicide in local teens.

There are, however, several national and local resources, should your teen need immediate attention. illness, particularly depression. In fact, it is estimated that upwards of 60% of adolescents who have committed suicide were exhibiting psychiatric symptoms at the time of their death.

“Almost every person suffers from some level of anxiety or depression at some point in their life,” said Jolee Eckert, a licensed clinical psychotherapist who works as Coordinator of Outpatient Services at Florence Crittenton Services of Topeka. “It is nothing to be ashamed of and it does not necessarily mean that one’s life has to be greatly impacted, but when it is not effectively treated or managed it can become a serious health risk.”

The line between an actual depressive disorder and what is considered normal behavioral and hormonal shifts during adolescence can sometimes be blurred, making it difficult for a parent or loved one to spot the warning signs that a teen needs professional help.

According to Eckert, adolescence is a time young people are developing a secure sense of self, and find it difficult to talk with parents about their feelings. Some believe they should handle problems on their own because they do not want to appear immature, but those feelings can become overwhelming and lead to a variety of disruptive behaviors.

“Parents should grow concerned if they note changes in their child’s weight, sleep patterns, school performance, or interest in activities that used to bring them enjoyment,” said Eckert. “One of the biggest warning signs that your teen is in trouble is an increase in risky behaviors and high levels of impulsivity. These behaviors might include self-harm, drug use or increased sexual activity.”

If you or your teen are experiencing dark or suicidal thoughts or just need someone to talk to please contact the National Suicide Prevention at 1-800-273TALK. For crisis intervention and mental illness diagnostic care, contact Florence Crittenton Services of Topeka, Inc. at 785.233.0516, or visit www.flocritkansas.org for information regarding programs and services, or contact Family Service and Guidance Center at 785.232.5005. The Family Service and Guidance Center Crisis Team can evaluate the need for hospitalization or other mental health services, help resolve conflicts between parents and children and provide support and interventions. The team will assist the family for up to two weeks while facilitating access to appropriate services at FSGC or in the community.

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Mental illness, and even suicidal thoughts, in adolescence doesn’t have to result in a negative outcome if the problem is quickly identified and treated.

Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the stigma attached to mental illness in our society.

Many teens believe seeking out help or treatment is embarrassing or a sign of weakness, even if their thoughts have turned to the dark or suicidal.

Eckert is quick to point out that mental illness impacts so many adolescents that it is very likely most teens know or are even good friends with someone else who is in treatment. In fact, she says that suicidal thoughts are not even necessarily uncommon for teenagers; the important part is developing a plan to help the teen survive the dark or scary thoughts.

“It is important to communicate to the teen they are not alone,” said Eckert. “I would stress that needing support is nothing to be ashamed of, as we all need it.”

If a teen feels reluctant to discuss their feelings with a parent or friend, school counselors are an excellent resource. Counselors can help students develop a plan to address their feelings, including helping them find a way to start a conversation with parents about their struggles.

Sadly, St. Clair High School isn’t alone in its struggle to grapple with the aftermath of teen suicide.

Similar stories pop up each day across the nation.

High profile teen suicides like that of Amanda Todd and Tyler Clementi have become a part of the collective conscience and sparked a national discussion on teen suicide. Bullying, physical and sexual abuse, socioeconomic status, and social media have all been identified as mitigating factors in the alarming trend, but exhibiting symptoms of mental illness remains a common thread among most teen suicides.

Mental illness, and even suicidal thoughts, in adolescence doesn’t have to result in a negative outcome, especially if the problem is quickly identified and treated.

“People suffering from mental illness need acceptance and supportive assistance in order to live a safe and happy life,” said Eckert. “They need to be seen as individuals who exist outside of just the mental illness – individuals who have gifts, strengths, and joys to offer to those around them and to greater society.” XYZ TOPEKA

first-grade fitness craze s t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J a n i c e Wa t k i n s

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n a Friday afternoon, twenty-three uniform-clad first graders at Most Pure Heart Elementary lineup and anxiously await the end of their school week and the last class of the day – Physical Education.

Suddenly, someone from the back of the line exclaims “It’s Zumba day” and the once quiet, single-file line starts jumping up and down, with breaths of “Yeeeeeees!” being exhaled in harmony. The first graders excitedly prepare for their third demonstration as “little stars” in the Zumbatomic program – the kid-friendly version of the “feel the beat, let loose” workout sweeping the nation.

Dawn Markley-Stueven, is known as the “Zumba lady” at Most Pure Heart of Mary School, much to the chagrin and dismay of her eldest daughter. A certified Zumba instructor and owner of her own Zumba dance studio, Club Z Style Fitness, Markley-Stueven has been dancing to the beat for almost five years and was drawn to the Zumbatomic program because of her own kids.

“The goal is to get kids moving, to make it fun and it’s geared towards their activity,” Markley-Stueven enthusiastically says as she prepares her song-track for the next class. “There is surfing, swimming, they act like animals, play guitar, play drums – it just gets them active.”

The Zumbatomic program is really a toned-down version of Zumba for adults, with modified moves and coordination levels and is split into “little stars” (4-year olds – 2nd and 3rd graders) and “big stars” (3rd grade and higher). MarkleyStueven has had success implementing the program in the school systems, with weekly classes held at Most Pure Heart of Mary School and West Indianola Elementary School and other schools actively looking to implement the program.

Another instructor also teaches a “little star” program once a month at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

Markley-Stueven notes that the program not only gets kids moving, but helps them learn rhythm and teaches them about different dances around the world, like the samba and the salsa.

On this particular Friday afternoon, the “Zumba lady” is preparing to teach the first-graders a new dance of the Reggaeton variety, prompting an overenthusiastic boy in the back to exclaim “I don’t even know what country that is!” Regardless of the country of origin or the introduction of new moves, the class stays moving the whole time and promptly responds that their favorite part at the conclusion was easily “everything.”

“I just love the expression. They get to act crazy and put attitude in it,” Markley-Stueven smiles as she ushers out the tired, but content class. XYZ TOPEKA XYZ xyztopeka.com

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a strong pair of lungs one determined Topeka teen took up a unique hobby that blossomed into an award-winning talent b y J o r r i e Va r n e y • p h o t o s b y E J D r a k e

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ery few instruments can deliver an emotional performance quite like the bagpipes. Their unique sound leaves our eyes brimming with tears at weddings, provides a heartfelt farewell at funerals, and prompts dancing during times of celebration. Few would argue that learning to play would be a challenge for most adults, so it may come as a surprise that one Topeka boy began his journey as a competitive piper at just ten years old.

Jack Williamson, now 15, is a typical teenage boy. He is a dedicated student at Topeka High School during the day and enjoys playing video games and hanging with friends in his free time. Five years ago, while researching his family genealogy, Jack’s father, Jim Williamson, uncovered the family’s Scottish heritage. This newfound link to their familial roots sparked the family’s interest in the Scottish culture and all that it had to offer.

Within a few short weeks Jack was learning to play the bagpipes.

“It took about two months to get them running. They are kind of like a violin. At first they sound just dreadful because there is so much stuff to figure out,” Jack said.

The bagpipes require a steady stream of air to make the nearly continuous sound. This type of breathing requires consistency and stamina from the piper, which takes training and practice to perfect.

Today Jack is one of the top young

pipers in the nation. He has competed in piping competitions throughout America, starting with his first competition in St. Louis, Missouri in 2009, where he was crowned champion.

When entering a piping competition the pipers must submit their music to the board, or directors of the competition. The piper is notified of what they will play one day to one week prior to the competition. Each piper has an hour to warm up before playing in front of a panel of three judges.

said, “It’s the same thing, the challenge of it. Because when they are going really well it’s really exciting, you feel like you are doing something really intense, and you feel like you’ve accomplished something, but, when they’re not going really well it’s incredibly frustrating. So you have to kind of work on the fly and fix small stuff before it becomes big stuff.”

“You just walk up and play as well as you can”, Jack said.

“I practice an hour every day. If something isn’t going well I keep practicing and hash it out. I’ve been known to practice for two and a half hours at a time,” Jack said.

This past November, Jack was invited to compete in the Balmoral Classic Competition held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This invitation-only competition is widely regarded as the National Bagpiping Championship. Jack came home as piping champion in the March/Strathspey/Reel category. Between competitions Jack keeps his skills sharp by playing with a local pipe and drum band - the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes and Drums.

When he needs support and encouragement Jack turns to his family.

“I come from a family of musicians,” Jack said.

His father also plays the bagpipes and his brother is learning to play the highland drums.

When asked about the best and worst part of playing Jack

While Jack possesses a natural talent, a portion of his success can be attributed to his hard work and dedication.

This summer Jack will take his competitive hobby to another level. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association of Northern Ireland has chosen Jack to travel to Northern Ireland, where he will stay with a host family and play with an Irish pipe band. The band will compete in several major competitions throughout Ireland, leading up to the pipe band championship. Jack is excited about the opportunity to travel and expand his piping experience.

As for his future plans, Jack said, “I just kind of want to see where life takes me. I like the bagpipes. I’m probably going to keep playing those for, hopefully, the rest of my life. I enjoy it a lot. I’ll just go where ever the wind takes me.” XYZ TOPEKA

Tulip Time

Spring 2013

by Jessica Matheis & J a n i c e Wa t k i n s

April 5 – April 21, 6a – 11p, Ted Ensley Gardens (Lake Shawnee), Doran Rock Garden (Gage Park) and Botanical Garden (Old Prairie Town) Visit the various locations around town and take in the sights and smells of spring with the 5th annual Tulip Time festival. Group tours are available by contacting 785.368.2439.

Bunny Fun and Egg Hunting Madness Get into the Easter spirit with celebrations held at each Parks and Recreation space across the county: Bunny Bash Saturday, March 23, 11a – 1p, Velma K. Paris Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, March 24, 12:30p, Lake Shawnee Moonlight Egg Hunt Thursday, March 28, 8p, Shawnee North Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 30, 9a, Auburn Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 30, 11a, Garfield Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 30, 12p, Shawnee North Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 30, 1:30p, Central Park Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 30, 2p, Dover Community Center For more information visit parks.snco.us, or call 785.368.2448.

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Topeka s Got Talent

Saturday, April 18, Lake Shawnee Prepare for your children to show off their unique talents in Topeka’s Got Talent, a Parks and Recreation-sponsored event featuring children ages 5-17, with built-in age categories. Pre-registration is required with rehearsal prior to the event. Contact 785.267.1156 for more information.

4-H Livestock Show Saturday, May 4, Time TBA, Domer Arena, Kansas Expocentre See all of the work that community 4-Hers have put into the raising and grooming of their livestock at the annual fair and livestock show. Admission is free to the public.

Alligator Frenzy Grand Opening

Thursday, May 9, 10a, Topeka Zoological Park

It’s gator time! Head over to the zoo for the grand opening of this bayou adventure and learn about the creatures that reside in the swamp. Admission is included in regular zoo admission price.

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Opening Day!

Mark your calendars for the important opening days of the mini-train and carousel, open weekends, commencing April 12 and open 7 days a week starting May 20. Let the kids start counting down now – the opening days for all pools (weather permitting) is May 25.

Preschool Track

& Field Meet

Wednesday, May 15, 6p, Shawnee North Community Center Hunt down your miniature sweat bands and track suits for your budding Olympian now. This event, specifically for 3-5 year olds that have not yet attended Kindergarten, includes the 300 yd dash, 100 yd run and running broad jump. Registration deadline is Monday, May 13.

Campout with Dad

Saturday, June 15, 5:30p, Topeka Zoological Park

Don’t miss this exciting and wildly fun overnight experience at the 2nd Annual Campout with Dad! Pack up your tents and camping gear and enjoy camp food, bonfires, s’mores, fishing, movies, games and activities! Contact the zoo for pre-registration and pricing information.

Fairs and Festival Fun

Don’t miss out on these annual spring favorites: Mulvane Art Museum’s Mountain/Plains Art Fair

June 1 – June 2, Washburn University Enjoy amazing art by both local and national artists and many fun art activities as the ArtLab sets up shop outdoors.

Wheatstock

June 15, 12p – 8p, Old Prairie Town Bring your whole family and your lawn chairs to enjoy acoustic and bluegrass music. This fun-for-thewhole family event is free. Enter at the 1st and Clay gates. sign up to receive the xyz weekender for up-to-date events: xyztopeka.com

F. A. B. (find a babysitter)

by Rio Cervantes-Reed

XYZ mined its sister magazine, seveneightfive, for the best upcoming events for you and your partner, or for a Girls or Guys Night Out (GNO) in Topeka. Call the babysitter, get a cab on standby and have a F.A.B. time!

Open mic jams every week! Whether it’s singing, playing an instrument, or reciting poetry or storytelling, check out the following weekly and show the world, or at least Topeka, that you’ve got mad skills!

Sunday: Abigail’s Bar & Grill | 3701 SW Plaza Dr. | 9p-1a | Hosted by a rotation of awesome local bands Speck’s Tavern | 2105 SW Mission Ave. | 5p-9p | All ages jam hosted by Kyler Carpenter

Monday: Quinton’s Bar & Deli | 4121 SW

Huntoon (at Gage) | 9p | Acoustic jam hosted by the Gypsy Jazz Band

Tuesday: PT’s Coffee (Flying Monkey) | 17th & Washburn | 7-9p | All ages open mic hosted Chris Aytes. Read poetry or a short story, recite a Shakespearean soliloquy, try out comedy bits, perform a dance or share any creative expression or talent.

Ad Astra Theatre Ensemble | adastratheatre.com Edges | May 9 -12 | Edges is not a traditional musical; it is an exciting new show about four burgeoning adults asking classic coming-of-age questions.

The 24 Hour Play Festival | June 15 | The 24 Hour Play Festival is back for its 3rd Year. 24 Actors, 6 Playwrights and 6 Directors get together to create 6 new 10 minute plays in 24 Hours.

Bluegrass & Apple Jam | April 12-27 | A Musical Review

by Karen Hastings. Fill your bellies & tap your toes!

Dale Easton’s The Drunkard | June 14-29 | Step back in time to the Vaudeville stage! Directed by Karen Hastings.

Topeka Civic Theatre | 785-357-5211 or topekacivictheatre.com for reservations Hairspray | Mar. 1-30 | The classic re-telling of the John Waters movie that inspired a play that inspired another movie based on the play. Got it? Good. Don’t miss the TCT version.

Laughing Matters | Apr. 5 + 6 | May 11 | “Live entertainment... and cheaper than a movie!” Improv is

Serendipity | 820 NE Kansas Ave. | 8p | The Midweek Jam with Ross & David has been known to attract some major talent. You can be one of them!

Thursday: Lazy Toad | 5331 SW 22nd Place | 8p | Hosted by Top City Jammers

Art every month!

On Stage!

Break Room Theatre Events | breakroomdowntown.com

Wednesday:

First Friday Art Walk | Various locations | Visit artsconnecttopeka. org for a map and listing of special monthly art events all over Topeka!

always a great choice for date night or GNO. Enjoy table service from the full bar. Doors open at 7p, show starts at 8p.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Apr. 19 - May 4 | Tennessee Williams’ women were always hot and steamy, the men always hot and brooding. Watch them smoulder on stage as this classic drama unfolds.

Next to Normal | May 3 - 19 | Rolling Stone magazine says this musical, “pushed Broadway in new directions.”

Contains strong language and adult themes.

Red, White & Tuna | May 31 - June 22 | Take a satirical ride into the hearts and minds of the polyester-clad citizens of Texas’ third smallest town.

happy preschoolers two Topeka preschools are offering alternative curriculums that cater to preschoolers’ natural sensibilities

by Nicole Huckins photos by EJ Drake | edrake photography

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pringtime is here, and parents across the capital city have admissions applications, tuition, and curriculum options on their minds.

But we’re not talking college, we’re talking preschool.

Experts agree there is overwhelming evidence that preschool is a key predictor of overall school success.

These early educational environments not only give young students their first exposure to the alphabet and numbers, but also to socialization with their peers.

Recently, we visited two area preschools that offer an alternative curriculum from the more traditional model. Both incorporate philosophies adapted from Europe, a concept increasing in popularity across the United States.

The curriculum utilized by The Discovery School of Topeka is founded on the teachings of Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator who honed her unique educational approach in the early twentieth century after opening a school for impoverished children.

“The Montessori way is looking at children as individuals,” said Cathy Brennan, the school’s director. “Our job is to present, and the children lead us.”

Indeed, one of the main principles of a Montessori classroom is for children to engage in meaningful work at their own pace with a trained guide.

Keri Haas of Topeka strongly supports the Montessori model of The Discovery School. Her 4-year old son, Jackson, currently

attends the school, her older son is an alum, and she plans on enrolling her youngest at the school when the time comes.

“The kids have the freedom to be so independent in a controlled environment,” said Haas.

Brennan describes the classroom environment as four major areas where children do “work,” including math, language, art, and sensory learning.

The math area, for example, includes materials like beads and number rods with a progression to more abstract mathematical concepts depending on the ability of the student.

There is also a practical life area which includes items that might be found in a kitchen or garage. Here children develop fine motor skills by engaging in activities like pouring with a funnel or using tweezers to pick up objects.

“The three year-olds come to it naturally,” said Brennan of the practical life area, which is a large part of their classroom.

Nestled behind the school is the Nature Sanctuary, which provides a perfect opportunity for play as an extension of their classroom into the outside world.

“Montessori was a true believer that children needed to be outside,” Brennan said.

This is no ordinary playground though.

Discovery School 1701 SW Collins Ave. • 785-234-6746

Manchester School for Young Children 5221 S.W. 15th Ct. • 785-272-1414

Rakes, wheelbarrows, and gardening tools are just a few of the choices for play. A bright yellow slide and teepee made of large sticks are focal points of the play area. The sanctuary is also surrounded by several workable gardens and worm and dinosaur digging areas. “[Discovery] provides those different opportunities that have allowed them to grow,” said Haas of her children’s experiences at the school.

Haas recommends that parents research the Montessori method to learn if it is the right fit for their child.

The Discovery School offers a variety of unique opportunities for the preschoolaged student, and Brennan sums up the philosophy behind the student-led approach simply: it’s all about where the children are and where they can lead you.

The Manchester School opened

its doors in December 2012 as another option for Topeka families seeking something different in their preschool curriculum.

Manchester follows the Reggio Emilia approach, which was conceived in 1945 in the town of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Much of the area was in ruins after World War II when the community came together to support a fresh, new approach to education as it rebuilt. This approach rapidly gained a following for its innovative methods in early childhood education.

Manchester’s director, Christine Turner, describes the focus of their philosophy as childled. Although lesson plans are prepared, they are easily adapted.

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what the children are gravitating towards, and create new lessons to respond to those interests.

“If it’s really what they want to learn about, they will be more engaged,” said Turner. “We let them experiment, and take a step back as traditional teachers.”

The school accepts students of all abilities, and welcomes those who may need outside services as well.

Inga Martinson’s four-year-old son, Nils, recently began attending Manchester. She likes the Reggio approach because the children are able to choose what they learn.

“It’s a very open concept, and he’s very happy,” she said.

She also notes her son’s behavior has improved at home since enrolling in the school.

Manchester places great significance on the use of natural and recyclable materials.

“It’s really about respecting our world,” Turner said.

Environments are purposely constructed as a “third teacher” in order to create meaningful opportunities for the children to learn. The classrooms are full of old materials made new again including plants the children grew from seeds and simple play pieces.

Martinson described picking up Nils one day and watching the children making pretend pancakes with slices of a tree.

“They’re so creative with natural things,” she said.

The idea of respecting the natural world extends to food as well. All of the food provided is fresh and unprocessed, prepared daily by the school’s chef. This became particularly important to Turner after the birth of her own daughter.

“I’m responsible for what goes into this little person,” said Turner.

The children come together to eat in their central gathering space called the piazza.

Manchester’s atelier, Italian for art studio, is another distinctive Reggio trait. Preschoolers travel in small groups to the atelier three times a week for a lesson with the atelierista, or art teacher. The children work first in their sketchbooks to make a plan for their artwork.

“The art doesn’t look the same,” said Turner, since the children are encouraged to express their own creativity instead of completing the same project.

Parents of Manchester students are required to sign up for ten hours of volunteer service per year, and Turner plans to use some of these hours to work on the outside garden area this spring. They will also implement a half-day preschool for children ages four and up in the fall.

While the new school continues to make changes and improvements, perhaps the best measure of success is the enthusiasm of its students.

Manchester, in that regard, is a winner according to Nils Martinson who wakes every day eagerly asking his mom, “Am I going to school today?” XYZ TOPEKA

provider appreciation Childcare is a decision that most parents mull over for weeks, if not years. A local organization is hoping to ensure quality childcare in the area and reminding us all to appreciate your childcare providers.

S u b m i t t e d b y Te r e s a S c o t t , s p e c i a l t o X Y Z

What is CAP? Capital Area Providers (CAP) was born from a vision shared by a group of forward-thinking family childcare providers. These providers saw a need for providers to share ideas, network and offer courses and training on childcare subjects.

Today, CAP is comprised of childcare providers, childcare center staff and others interested in promoting professionalism and supporting providers.

What is Provider Appreciation Day? Provider Appreciation Day is a day of recognition, celebrated annually on the Friday before Mother’s Day. The day was formed by a group of volunteers in New Jersey in 1996 that recognized the need for a day of appreciation and recognition for childcare providers. This year Provider Appreciation Day will be celebrated May 10th.

In appreciation CAP board members would like to thank the following providers/members of CAP: Darcie Alfaro Karen Artzer Jessica Beam Theresa Beeler Pam Beam Pattie Boone Robyn Case Maria Christian Barbara DeBaere Carolyn Fehring Vickie Hansford Kay Howerton Linda Hubert Carol Hunt Judy Jellison Michelle Karungu Mary Hughes Kay Kuhlman Karen Leiker Janet Miller Meaghan Morris Robin Osborn Betty Phelps Candy Pisoki Marilyn Qualls

Bill Reinsch Lynette Renfro Virginia Schmelzle Betty Schneider Becky Thill Brie Vines Judy Walker Donna Wege Kimberly Thomas DeAnna Reedy Angela Gomez Cindy Ridder Brandy Schmelzle Cindy Vess CAP Board Members: Dawn Brown Jackie Freeman Jayme McKinney Dawn Membrino Teresa Scott Cindy Vess Melissa Patterson Cassandra Campbell

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day trip!

(toddler style)

It’s the rite of passage for every child raised in Kansas: the fabled journey to Oz (a.k.a. Wamego) s t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J a n i c e Wa t k i n s

*Editor’s Note – In honor of the anniversary of our Day Trip column, we are revisiting the very first location featured in Day Trip, as a reminder that it does not matter if you have been to a place one time or 1,000 times – it’s the adventure that really counts!

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n an ironically warm, spring-like afternoon in the middle of winter, I gathered up my two best explorers and headed out on 1-70 for a little day trip adventure.

A short and scenically beautiful 45-minute trip through the Flint Hills, the drive to Wamego passed easily with the assistance of a couple of juice boxes, a rousing game of “I Spy” (where the answer always seemed to be a cow) and a mini box of crunchy goldfish.

I had prefaced our little day trip to the charming town of Wamego (a town that I vaguely recall from my own day trip adventures as a child with my grandma Essie, mainly to the annual Tulip Festival where I recall sweaty park fun and homemade taffy mixed with orthodontia nightmares), as an adventure to Oz. This initially caused confusion for my 3-year old daughter, Eden, and my feisty four-year-old nephew, Willie, as they did not understand how a place could be called “Wamego” and “Oz,” but they soon got the point when we arrived at our first destination – the Oz Museum.

Set on the town’s main street and featuring over 4,000 Wizard of Oz artifacts, this quaint museum is truly every Oz-lover’s dream come true. Take two toddlers who are deathly afraid of the flying monkeys, however, and you are eternally grateful that the museum can easily be navigated in a half an hour.

Another huge bonus is that children three and under are free.

(Serious side note: Hypothetically, you may want to prepare your four-year-old nephew that you intend for him to be three during the visit, or face the consequences of your moral compass drifting off the navigational path and an ongoing rant, in ear and eyesight of the two museum staff of “But Aunt Janeeeeeey, I am FOUR!” for the entire museum trip.)

Overall, the museum is a great attraction for three-year-olds to 30-year-olds, mesmerizing my daughter with the chance to sit in the Wizard’s throne and rule over the enchanting land of Oz, and easily capturing my interest with the old dolls, buttons, pins and wardrobe pieces, stemmed from the success of the movie, encased in shiny glass to protect them from Cheeto hands (45-minute car trip. Remember?). The hospitality was great, despite my attempt to pull one over on the teenage attendants and even the scary part the dark forest of the Wicked Witch was quickly passed through to reveal a smiling and glittery Glinda. The exit is shortly thereafter and we rushed past the gift shop section, despite the grabbing hands of my little explorers.

Following our trip to Oz, we headed down the main strip and off to the Kreem Cup. All week, prior to my trip, all the native Wamegoans, were telling me that I had to stop for lunch at the Kreem Cup, but on this trip I was less than impressed. The 70’s-themed décor reminded me of an old Vista Burger and their ice cream machine happened to be broken and limited to just chocolate (Blech!). Still, Willie did not seem to mind his massive chocolate cone and it earned me another rung on my quest to climb the “best aunt” ladder.

Our final destination was the city park, where my adventurers became quickly enamored with the giant windmill. They climbed the steps to the impressive architectural beauty and then gazed at the old storefront, before crossing a bridge atop a pond to the playground. The park featured the same twisty slides and shiny monkey bars as most city parks, but there was something about the charm in the windmill, the statues placed neatly in every corner and the old railroad running around the circumference of the grounds, that made it an “extra special park,” at least according to my adventurers.

Eden & Willy have pretty much the time of their lives in “Amigo”

We prepared to leave Wamego, aptly named “a city for all seasons” because even on this warm winter day, we had succeeded in our quest for adventure. As we pulled out of town, Willie and Eden sighed and yelled “Bye, Amigo,” while waving at more cows. I laughed at their mispronunciation of the town name, but silently thought to myself “Yes, Bye Amigo,” for Wamego had been a true day trip friend to me and my little adventurers. XYZ TOPEKA Do you have a nearby location, or favorite day trip adventure that you would like to see featured in the next issue of XYZ? If so, send us an email at xyztopeka@gmail.com and point our gas tanks in the right direction!

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recycle renaissance Topekans are stepping up in greater numbers than ever to participate in recycling, thanks to the new Shawnee County curbside pickup program.

topeka

by Leah Sewell • photos by Megan Rogers Megan Rogers Photographie

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f you ask any young child what they can do to help the environment, the most common response will be an emphatic, “recycle!”

Kids love to recycle. Common household items have a chance at reincarnation once they’re emptied, cleaned and piled into the recycling bin; they can become new containers, new pages in a book, playground equipment or anything else a curious mind can imagine.

Now Topeka kids and families can get even more excited about recycling with the new Shawnee County curbside recycling program.

Curbside service began in January 2013 with the introduction of the blue-lidded recycling containers, and so far, Topekans are stepping up to recycle at numbers greater than ever before seen in our city.

“People are overwhelmingly in support of what we’re doing,” says Joan Graves, operations assistant for the Shawnee County Solid Waste Department. “We’ve seen a huge influx of new recyclers in the community.”

Prior to the curbside recycling program, Shawnee County residents were often saddled with the comparatively laborious method of utilizing drop-off recycling sites.

“People were tired of the mess of having to sort recyclables, store them in the garage and remember to put them in their car. We’ve made it so much simpler,” says Graves.

While a knowledge of what items to place in the recycling container is still very important to the process, gone are the many storage bins lining the back porch with labels of “plastic,” “paper,” “glass,” etc. The blue-lidded bin is a catch-all for any recyclable object. Tin cans can mingle with empty water bottles. Corrugated cardboard and old magazines can coexist in the same container. The process has become streamlined and efficient for the customer.

Kids can help by identifying household items and trash that are good candidates for recycling and older kids can even shoulder the small chore of rinsing out bottles and cans to prepare for the bin. This small amount of work and care pays off in dividends. Graves estimates that Topekans have recycled 25% more tons of materials in February 2013 alone. That is a whole lot of stuff that doesn’t belong in a landfill. And another reward for recycling – Topeka kids just might get to witness curbside pickup on recycling days (every other week on your neighborhood’s trash day), which is a totally awesome sight with the introduction of robotic arms that arch off the trash truck to handle the bins.

“Kids are typically very interested in all our equipment, because these are big trucks. But the robotic arms are fascinating for them,” says Graves.

You don’t have to explain to your kids that the robotic handling is a cost-effective way to do pickup, taking a fraction of the time and requiring only one worker (the driver) to man the vehicle. You can be happy in knowing that the minimal

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costs keep your trash bill low, even with the introduction of the new curbside recycling program, and let the kids form their own equations. Recycling = robots. Already, they’re off to a great start as little environmentalists.

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Visit snco.us/recycling for your neighborhood’s pickup schedule, a full list of recyclable items and how to properly place them in your recycling bin. If you’re ever unsure, Graves says customers can always give the Shawnee County Waste Department a call at 785-233-6147.

princess & the playlist

by Nicole Huckins

I

f you have little girls, you probably know all about the Disney princesses.

With a five year-old and a three year-old girl at home, and being a little girl once myself, it’s second nature to sing loudly along with Disney movie songs. So while out shopping alone one quiet afternoon, I picked up the Brave Songs and Story CD that I thought might let me persuade the girls to finally put away that overplayed Christmas CD. I have never seen or heard a “Song and Story” album before, and I was curious to see if the “story” component would hold their interest.

First, if you haven’t seen Disney’s latest princess movie, you should. Set in medieval Scotland, it features Merida, a young, wildly curly red-haired princess who is being forced to marry a boy from another clan. Of course, I won’t ruin the story, but it does involve a witch, a bear and an evolving mother-daughter relationship, which is my favorite aspect of this movie.

From the moment I brought the soundtrack home, the front cover full of Merida’s red curls gave away the secret: “Mommy, what’s this?” they both asked nonchalantly, knowing it had something to do with Brave. It was clear by their pleading eyes they were curious and excited for new music, so a recent day trip out of town gave me the perfect opportunity to test it out. As expected, they loved it. The songs are uplifting, cheery and catchy. By the third time we listened to it, they were touting out the refrains. Although the first song “Noble Maiden Fair” is in Gaelic, the soft lullaby melody and beautiful bagpipes make it quite enjoyable. Surprisingly, the story part of the CD, which is quite long at fifteen minutes, was a hit too. It is narrated but includes actual sounds and character voices from the movie, which makes it quite easy to visualize the story unfolding.

As a downside, the songs are short and there are only four. After doing a bit of research, I discovered that only two songs are directly from the movie - the “Noble Maiden Fair” and “Touch the Sky.” The other two songs, “My Spirit Flies” and “Like I’m Alive,” are inspired by the movie, so those looking for a brief version of the soundtrack may be disappointed. Although it is short, it seems to be a great length for the younger crowd, and you can’t beat the price at only five bucks.

Now I have to figure out how to get the Brave Song and Story out of the CD player. Perhaps I’ll be on the hunt for The Little Mermaid Song and Story. XYZ TOPEKA

art!

four seasons ink drawing project and photos by Blake Zachritz

What you need:

What you do:

white drawing paper (9 x 12 is shown)

Begin by pencil tracing an approximate ½” border around the paper, which will serve as a visual frame. You can cut a ½” strip from a cereal or cracker box to lay along each edge of the paper for the border. Younger artists may need help holding the stencil to pencil trace the line, while older artists can likely forego the straightedge stencil and use a ruler to do their own measuring for the border.

pencil and eraser ultra-fine Sharpie marker colored pencils ½” straightedge stencil for border

Fold the paper in half, both vertically and horizontally to find the center line in each direction. Use your ultrafine Sharpie to hand draw the lines, which includes the border and the center lines in each direction. Hand drawing the final pen line is excellent practice in hand-eye coordination.

This lesson is one that my second grade artists always look forward to drawing, having seen it on the walls at previous art shows each spring. While this lesson is part of my second grade curriculum, it is a fun drawing activity for many ages because it provides opportunities for creativity, as well as a certain amount of planned repetition within the work.

This work will contain four drawings of the same location, 36

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detailed to show the four seasons of the year. While the tree should be the main focus of each frame, if you use a thin pen there is plenty of room for many seasonal details. The first frame will be fall, followed by winter, spring and finally, summer. Fall and summer trees will have rounder forms, while winter and spring trees will generally be bare. The creative process begins when the young artist begins to decide what to draw as the general picture. If there is a house in the general picture, there might be a wading pool in the yard in the summer frame, or smoke in the chimney during the winter frame. The artists generally enjoy looking for weather patterns that are more visible in different seasons, such as snow, or realizing the differences of a brighter sky in the warmer months and a hazy, gray sky in colder months.

Drawings might include cars arriving, lawns being mowed, or leaves being raked. My favorite part of teaching this lesson is watching the artists and the excitement and creativity they have while developing their ideas.

After ink drawing all of the details and labeling each frame with the season, color can then be added with colored pencils. Since this is such small work, it is important to remember to work smoothly. Encourage your artist to make new colors by blending existing ones. Most importantly, don’t forget to have your young artist sign his or her work! XYZ TOPEKA Blake Zachritz has taught art at Topeka Collegiate School since 1998. She is the proud mother of three “grownies.”

Works included in photos are by Collegiate secondgraders: Noah, Lexi, Jordan, Rose and Peyton.

The two full pieces on the left are by Evan (now in fourth grade), and Luxanna (now in third grade)

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smoothie bar

by Chelle Decker • photos by Sarah Long | Joy ful Photography

W

hen my son has a sleepover, we love to make a “pizza toppings buffet” so each kid can decorate their own personal sized pizza. The kids love having ownership of their dinner.

Likewise, you can enjoy doing an ingredients buffet for smoothies as a dessert treat, or as a great breakfast wake-up food for tiny guests. Consider making a “smoothie bar” with bowls of ingredients for kids to pick. Some favorite toppings might include strawberries, bananas, pineapple, coconut and more. Little fingers will enjoy grabbing up all their favorites to toss in a cup for an adult to blend together.

Here’s a recipe for one of my favorites that packs plenty of protein and doesn’t take up an entire day of calories.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie 6 Tablespoons Chocolate PB2

yum. & only 332 calories!

¾ Cup Quick Oats 1 ½ Tablespoons Flax sprinkles 2/3 Cup Silk Pure Coconut Milk 6 Cups Edys Fat Free Yogurt Blends Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Add PB2, Quick Oats, Flax sprinkles, and yogurt to blender. Add milk last. Blend at low speed. More or less milk can be added to achieve ideal consistency. Yields 3 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 332 Calories, 63 Carbs, 5g Fat, 14g Protein, 168g Sodium, 4g Fiber. *Nutritional information according to MyFitnessPal.com calculator.

ABOUT PB2 and Chocolate PB2 PB2 is powdered peanut butter that has been pressed to remove the oil. This results in a peanut butter that has 85% less fat. The powdery texture is terrific to use in recipes, or water can be added to create a peanut butter texture for sandwiches and celery. It can be found in the health food section of many grocery stores. In Topeka, it can be found at HyVee in the Health Market Section. XYZ TOPEKA 38

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waffle extraordinaire

have a waffle iron? have a lazy weekend morning? this recipe’s for you!

recipe and photo by Josh Luttrell

I

was first introduced to Leige style Belgium waffles when I was visiting Portland, Oregon. My boss, who is actually from Belgium, had previously explained to me how fantastic “real” Belgium waffles were.

After one bite I was a convert. These waffles are closer to a delicious pastry than a healthy breakfast, but I think its okay to indulge once in a while. They also take a little bit of time to make, but are perfect for a morning where you have some more time with the family and aren’t in a rush.

Toppings • • • • • • • • •

Bacon (slice per waffle or more if you love bacon) Brie (a couple slices per waffle) Basil (one leaf per waffle chopped) Strawberries and whipped cream Yogurt and granola Apple sauce Nutella Whipped Cream Pear

Leige Style Belgium Waffles 1 packet active dry yeast 1/3 cup warm water 1 1/2 tbsp white sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups flour (pastry flour is preferred, but all-purpose flour works just fine) 2 eggs 3/4 cup melted butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 2/3 cup pearl sugar or turbinado sugar (using pearl sugar is the traditional method for making Liege Waffles but is often hard to come by. If you can’t find pearl sugar, you can use turbinado sugar, which was used for the waffles in the picture).

1. Mix yeast, water, sugar and salt in a bowl and let stand for 15 minutes to let the yeast develop.

2. Pour flour into bowl of stand mixer with a paddle attachment, then pour the yeast mixture into the middle of the flour and blend on medium for 2-3 minutes.

3. Add eggs one at a time allowing the first to incorporate before adding the last.

4. Slowly add the melted butter, vanilla, and cinnamon while the mixer is running. At this point you may be wondering why this batter looks nothing like waffle batter you have ever used. The batter should be a little lumpy and much closer to pastry dough.

This is what you want.

5. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and allow to rest at room temperature for one hour or until the batter has doubled in size.

6. Gently fold in the sugar and rest another 15 minutes. By this time the batter should be easy to work with and feel like dough.

7. Divide the dough into separate balls, about 8.

8. Spray the griddles with cooking oil. Place each ball of dough in a whole square or section of the waffle iron. Cook for about 3 minutes. Each waffle iron is different so I advise keeping an eye on the first one. You’re looking for a nice golden brown and enough time for all that sugar to caramelize.

9. Top with whatever you like on your waffles. I made a bacon, brie, and basil waffle with a pureed peach and jalapeno sauce(Cup of canned peaches, half a jalapeno, pinch of salt). Be creative!

XYZ TOPEKA

i was a

tFood weenage Critic

The house specialty, the Cuban, and the spicy sandwich, the Flaming Lips

Local food reviews by food aficionado Grant, age 11. photo by EJ Drake

The Basics: Boca Café 1414 S.W. 16th St. | 785.783.2150 Hours: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. 7 Days a Week

The Affamato sandwich with corn chowder

S

ince my mom took me there a few months ago, Boca Café has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants. When you walk in, you’ll notice it isn’t the biggest restaurant in town, but they have some of the nicest employees. When you go to the counter to order, the staff will walk you through your choices—and there are lots of choices to make. There are salads, sandwiches, soups and . . . waffles! You can come up with all kinds of interesting combinations, so take a few minutes to check out your various options.

Everything on the menu sounds delicious, but I am hooked on the Affamato with a side of soup. The Affamato has salami, pepperoni and ham with mozzarella and sun-dried tomato marinara on your choice of bread. I first tried it at the recommendation of one of the employees and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It’s warm, juicy and sooo tasty. My favorite of the soups is the tomato basil, but today’s soup was corn chowder so I gave that a whirl. I enjoyed that too.

My mom is a big fan of the Cuban sandwich with one of the delicious salads as a side. It’s messy, but she says it’s worth the mess. My dad had the Flaming Lips sandwich special and I enjoyed trying that too. Spicy! It’s called Flaming Lips for a reason.

My mom and I always save half of our sandwiches so we can split one of the desserts. There is a different dessert selection every time we go. On this visit, we shared the peanut butter cup cupcake. It was good, but my favorite dessert so far has been the flourless chocolate cake . . . or maybe the apple strudel. Let’s just say we eat here every chance we get and we’ve tried several of them.

The atmosphere is a cool gathering place for people of all ages. The décor is creative and I really like the way they’ve converted regular coffee cups into light fixtures. Local artists show their work on one wall. The seating is sometimes challenging with just a few booths and the high-top tables can feel a little cramped. Still, hanging out there makes me feel kind of like I’m in college already and I like it.

XYZ TOPEKA

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MASH!

by Annie Brock photo by Megan Rogers | Megan Rogers Photographie

The year is 1994.

You and your seven best friends (4EVA!) are huddled over a bedazzled Lisa Frank binder. Your side ponytail flaps in the playground breeze and you nervously finger the halfdozen snap bracelets that adorn your wrist as you wait to find out whether you’ll one day be married to überhunk Jonathan Taylor Thomas or that kid who wipes his boogers on the underside of his desk in 4th period English.

This is MASH. MASH is a game, presumably invented by bored tweens, meant to predict the future. It consists of a recorder, a player, and, often, a group of inexplicably fascinated onlookers. The player is asked to offer up anywhere from three to five selections in a variety of categories – future partner, car, job, and number of children are popular options, although you can get more specific with things like yearly income and college alma mater. The name of the game, MASH, stands for Mansion, Apartment, Shack, and House, and refers to the pre-set choices of what type of dwelling you’ll one day occupy.

There are regional variations to the game. In many areas, at least one undesirable option in each category is crowd-sourced from the group (Geo Metro, Porta Potty cleaner, etc.). After the selections are finalized the recorder begins drawing a spiral, and when the player says “stop” the recorder

counts the number of lines across the diameter of the spiral. This is the magic number.

If the number is seven, for example, the recorder makes her way through the player’s answers crossing out every seventh option until only one choice remains in each category. And, thusly, your imaginary future is told.

While the feasibility of how one might live in a mansion and drive a Lamborghini on a Porta Potty cleaner’s budget remained unclear, it didn’t really matter to the players.

The point of playing MASH was that whatever the future held was infinitely more exciting than what was being offered in the halls of the elementary or junior high school.

Like cootie catchers and Ouija boards, the game of MASH tapped into the adolescent desire to grow up as quickly as possible. It laid before us the unlimited opportunities for work and love, and served to promise that life does get more exciting than meatloaf surprise day in the cafeteria.

Even if MASH has gone out of fashion, the idea that a life full of limitless possibilities spans before us never gets old. So grab your tween, pull out a few college-ruled sheets of paper, and a number two pencil, and relive your glory days as you let them imagine their days yet to come. XYZ TOPEKA XYZ xyztopeka.com

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spring reads b y J a s o n J . L a m b , T w e e n L i b r a r i a n , To p e k a a n d S h a w n e e C o u n t y P u b l i c L i b r a r y

T

he highest honors in America for fiction and nonfiction for kids were handed out by the American Library Association (ALA) earlier this year. Here are some of the more popular awards and their winners and runners-up. Check these out from your public library and treat your kids to an award-winning story time experience.

Caldecott Medal The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of 19th-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the ALAon, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The Newbery Medal was named for 18th-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children bi-annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of ALA.

Winner: This Is Not My Hat written and illustrated by Jon Klassen

Winner: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Honor: Creepy Carrots! illustrated

by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds Honor: Extra Yarn illustrated

by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett Honor: Green illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger Honor: One Cool Friend illustrated by David Small, written by Toni Buzzeo Honor: Sleep Like a Tiger illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue Geisel Award The Geisel Award, which is named after the author of the Dr. Seuss books, is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished, new book for beginning readers.

Winnner: Up, Tall and High! written and illustrated by Ethan Long Honor: Let’s Go for a Drive! written and illustrated by Mo Willems Honor: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons written by Eric Litwin, created and illustrated by James Dean Honor: Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover written and illustrated by Cece Bell 42

Newbery Medal

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Honor: Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz Honor: Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin Honor: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage Printz Award The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. Mike was a school librarian at Topeka West High School for many years and retired from teaching in 1994.

Winner: In Darkness by Nick Lake Honor: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Honor: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Honor: Dodger by Terry Pratchett Honor: The White Bicycle by Beverley Brenna Credit: Award descriptions and images from the following ALA websites http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/ bookmedia and http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/14/ winners.

ke e n e ye

b y J u l i e Ve l e z | J u l i e V P h o t o g r a p h y

Do you have a keen eye? keen (adj.) /kēn/ : extremely sensitive in perception B Find the 6 differences between these photos.

B Stumped? See the answer key on page 46

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d.i.y.

Lunch Money Pouch tutorial by Erin Snethen | photo by Zach Snethen

I

know what you’re thinking. “I’m a frugal momma. I always pack my kids a nutritious lunch every day. My kids don’t need lunch money!” But every mom knows you always need a backup. The baby was crying all night or you were up all night stressed out about a big meeting the next day. You know the drill. “Kids - you’re eating school lunch today!”

The crowd cheers. Here’s a great zippered bag to store their lunch money in for these tired occasions.

Cotton Print: Lower Front: 3 1/2” h x 6 1/4” w Upper Front & Back: 5 1/2” h x 6 1/4” w 7” Regular Zipper 7” – 3/8” wide Ribbon Matching Thread, Optional Contrasting Thread Printable Fabric or Fabric Markers 1. Press 1/2” to wrong side along one long side of Lower Front. Place the folded edge of Lower Front next to lower edge of zipper teeth, centering the zipper across the width. Using a zipper foot, stitch next to fold through seam and zipper tape.

2. Repeat Step 1 for one long side of Upper Front & Back, attaching piece along top edge of zipper tape.

(See picture 1, right) 44

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Tip: To get close to zipper, move zipper out of the way as you sew.

3. Right sides together, fold ribbon in half. Place raw edges of ribbon to right side of fabric, 1/2” above zipper. Using long stitches, baste ribbon to Upper Front.

4. Use Printable Fabric to add your child’s name to their Lunch Money Pouch.

5. Center the rectangle on Lower Front. Rectangle should be approximately 1” h x 3” w. Using an iron, fuse to Lower Front. To add detail, zigzag using contrasting thread along entire rectangle. You can also use fabric markers to write your child’s name on a piece of solid cotton.

4. With right sides together, fold pouch in half, lining up remaining long side and both short sides. Make sure ribbon loop is inside the pouch, enclosed. Using a 1/2” seam allowance, stitch all three sides.

(See picture 2, right)

printable tutorial: xyztopeka.com/d-i-y-sewing/

5. Open zipper to turn pouch right sides out. Press outer edges creating a crisp rectangle. XYZ TOPEKA

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From the back seat of the car, my 3-year-old tells me he is making a sign. When I ask him what it says, he responds: “Go away police ...in case we get pulled over.” – submitted by Barbara Bebe, (age 6): “Daddy, don’t make me laugh, my throat hurts and I can’t laugh right now.”

Me: “Okay, baby. But what am I doing to make you laugh?”

Bebe: “You’re making that face. It’s funny.”

Me: “Sorry. How’s this?” (Putting on my most neutral expression possible) Bebe: “It’s like you’re not even listening to me.” – submitted by Shannon

heard + noted

what Topeka kids are saying “XYZ Heard and Noted” on Facebook

Josiah (4) has planets on his ceiling. One fell off, and as he picked it up I told him what planet it was. He replied...

“That’s my anus?” – submitted by Heather Luke (3 ½) walking into grocery store on a sunny day today. “Mom, when I’m walking on the ground, the ground finks I’m big not widdle!” (talking about his shadow being tall!) – submitted by Angie Rachel: “Mom, what if the milk shop closes up?”

Me: “What? You mean like Hostess?”

Rachel: “Yeah, like the chocolate chip muffin shop...”

Me: “Well, since milk comes from cows, I think we’re pretty safe.” – submitted by Julie Today, Natalie was telling my mother-in-law, Denise, and I the reasons why we need to get a dog. Denise was telling her the reasons we should not. After a good discussion, Natalie looked thoughtfully at her grandma and said, “You know, you’re right.

I’ve thought about what you’ve said and I decided I need a horse instead.” Fail. – submitted by Adrianne

weekends, too, can be this good.

here’s how: • go to xyztopeka.com • enter your email address • receive weekly emails highlighting the most awesome family-friendly events happening this weekend.

ke e n e ye B Answers from page 43 785.233.5577 * 15th & Lane

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