Our July 4 celebrations and memories at Laurel

by Mary Ann on June 28, 2011

 

fireworks pictures

Happy 4th of July from Laurel, MT

I grew up with a rolling stone, my dad. He liked to move and was forever looking for new ideas and new opportunities. He and my mom had nine children but until they hit number 9 they moved around quite a bit. I went to half a dozen grade schools and three high schools. I finished out my high school career in a new school in a new state. Who in the heck does that!!! Well, those were the days when if mom and dad moved ALL the kids moved too.

My husband grew up in the same town, Aurora, CO, all his life. He did live in two homes and that was a BIG move for his family. When we married my rolling stone nature rubbed off I guess and for the first ten years of our married life together we moved quite often; to college, out to work, to college, out to work, to college…you get the picture.

laurel mt pictures

Laurel, MT a railroad town filled with refineries

Then we moved to Montana and lived in three different homes until we landed in Laurel. That was a turning point for us and we found ourselves planted for twenty one years. For me that was an amazing experience to be in one place for twenty one years. I liked the feeling of having some roots, of belonging someplace.

Laurel was a small town then of about 7000 people. You could cross it from one side to the other in about five minutes. It is a bigger town now, about 10-12 thousand.

There are some real advantages to small town living. One day I got a call from the bank. “Mary Ann we have a check here from a casino in _______ and were pretty sure that you didn’t write it.” My check book had been stolen. That call saved me lots of money and frustration.

As a girl I had never learned how to balance a check book. So one day when I was in a huge mess I visited the bank with a stack of about 12 check registers and asked for some help. The sweet woman that I talked with took my stack of check registers home, balanced the whole thing and then taught me how to do it every month. Cost, exactly zip!!!

I had seven children and they caught lots of illness over the years. Ear infections were common, as were sore throats. I would call my trusty general practitioner (there are no specialists in small towns) and say, Robert, Marie isn’t feeling well and has a green runny nose. I’m sure she has an ear infection. Will you call something in?” “Sure Mary. You’ve seen enough ear infections to know”.

spectacular fireworks picture

Laurel swells from 10,000 to 40,000 on the 4th of July

Here is something else quite unique about this small town. They have a fire works display to DIE for. I am not kidding. The Laurel fireworks display is so magnificent that on the Fourth of July the population in town swells to 30-40 thousand people. They all want to see the most spectacular fireworks display in the state of Montana. The firemen stand at the exit from the freeway with black rubber boots and collect money to pay for the show. About two weeks before the big day the fire engine rolls through town stopping on every street and the firemen knock on doors collecting.

july 4 pictures kids

The 4th of July is all about kids in Laurel, MT

Our family loved and really celebrated the Fourth of July. We would pack up a large cooler full of watermelon, fried chicken, potato salad and treats and head to the park at about 2:00pm. We would stake out our space with blankets and then just chill out while the kids ran all over the park meeting friends, watching the parade and blowing off fireworks. Neighbors and friends would walk by and we’d have a good chat. I loved it.

You are asking yourself, “Good grief, when was this, 1950? How old is this woman anyway!!!” Well, this is how it was right up until we left in 2003, bank, doctor, fireworks and all.

So we are going home and meeting up with most of our children and their children to celebrate July 4th and weave new memories. We are looking forward to laying on a blanket in the park all afternoon and renewing old friendships. We are looking forward to fried chicken, watermelon and potato salad eaten with lots of laughter. We are looking forward to the most spectacular fireworks display in the state of Montana!

I will not be posting again until next Wednesday. However, Friday I have a dynamic guest blogger, Bonita Sutton, who will help you help your kids do some creative thinking. She is a science queen and her kids LOVE it, Let children learn science the fun way. Be sure and enjoy their video of what happens when you microwave soap. Trust me; you don’t want to miss it!

Happy Fourth of July!

 

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The Traveling Spark Station-Children learn about Dragons

by Mary Ann on June 27, 2011

 

dragon crafts picture

My exciting made-up dragon craft!!!

I am fascinated with dragons and fairies. From my earliest days I have studied them and learned about the origin of the tales and legends about them. So I decided to introduce Jack and Maggie to both of them. First was dragons and this weekend we will be learning about fairies because we will be in Yellowstone Park, a fabulous place for building a fairy house.

Let me show you what we learned about dragons and then you enjoy your own dragon experience!

I found so many wonderful dragon projects for kids on line. I am giving you the websites for a lot of them today. However, they were more labor and material intensive than I wanted so here is how I came up with the craft we did. In fact, this is what I do a lot of times because I believe in keeping things simple and not spending lots of money. : )

I stood in my very messy backroom where I have all the paper, glue, ribbon, wiggly eyes and other important stuff and I thought about dragons. “Hmmmm, what do I have in here that we could use to make our own dragon?” There was a pile of paper plates cut in half. “Yes, that would make a body. Of course we can use the wiggly eyes. Let’s see, construction paper and brads. Hmmmmm our body could move. Cool! Yellow feathers, they look just like fire. I think I am in business.”

I didn’t have a picture or any patterns and I didn’t make any patterns. It was all free hand because I am working with preschoolers and they are not too picky! If you had older children they would probably like some of the projects that I saw on line. However, if you put a pile of stuff in the middle of your table and said lets create dragons, I bet that would be even more fun! Kids of all ages, me included, love to create.

Here is what we did with what I found in my junk room.

We used cotton balls and painted the paper plate half and set it aside to dry. Because these are preschoolers I had all the parts cut out because scissors are for just cutting not cutting things out when you are three. :  )  While the kids painted their plates I read them two delightful and shivery dragon poems; The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll and I’m Tired of Being a Dragon by Jack Prelutsky.

While the plates dried we read a few story books about Dragons. I have listed all the books below that I checked out of the library.

dragon books picture

Maggie loved these books and made me read them twice.

Make your own dragon craft step by step:

I had the pieces for a long neck, a head, wings, ears and a three jointed tail.

1. First we hooked the neck to the plate with a brad.

2. Then we hooked the head to the neck with another brad.

3. We added long eyelashes, an eye and ears which we glued in place.

4. Then we made a tail by brading the three parts together and attaching them to the plate with another brad.

5. We braded both wings to the body, one on each side, using the same brad. Now our dragon can fly.

6. But no dragon is complete without fire so we glued a feather to the mouth. Voila! A dragon.

(We adults had to  push the brads through the paper and the plate but the children loved spreading them apart and pressing them down.)

We watched the short movie The Reluctant Dragon by Walt Disney. It is from the 50’s and you can tell. It is a good animated story and Maggie who is 5 thought it was funny. It didn’t hold Jack or Mary’s attention. Other possible dragon movies for kids would be Pete’s Dragon and How to Train Your Dragon. I LOVED How to Train Your Dragon. It made me laugh!!!

I had copied a cute dragon coloring page from the web and we had a fun time coloring it. I have given you a couple of links below to find some dragon coloring pages that you can print off.

Custard the dragon picture

Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash

We ended our fun day by watching Custard the Dragon on Utube. It was fun but not as good as the book, The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash. See if you can find the book at the library.

Here is some information on crafts, food and other fun things that you might want to add to your Dragon Week. Have chillingly wonderful time learning all about dragons. Don’t forget to read some folk tales and legends in your family reading time. There is just so much you can learn about other people and different cultures by studying their dragons. You will find dragons in France, England, China, Japan. The Philippines, Scotland, Hungary, Vietnam and more places than I can list here and they are all different. So take some time to read with your family about scaly beasts, frightened princesses and heroic knights.

 

Dragon Coloring pages to print off:

Why not try your hand at writing some Dragon poems:

  • Dragon Crafts for kids:

    Chinese dragon puppet

  • Chinese dragon puppet  http://bit.ly/meku01
  • Dancing Dragon  http://bit.ly/llaIhM
  • Dragons to make  http://bit.ly/felRrh
  • Dragon hat  http://bit.ly/ldpZoX
  • Hand print Dragon   http://bit.ly/mzyfPn
dragon craft images

A Dragon Hat and A Dancing Dragon

Dragon Food Ideas:

Bean Dip Dragon  http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Taco-Dip-Dragon

Cupcake Dragon  Your kids will love making these. I can think of many other ways to create a mouth and teeth! http://www.thecupcakeblog.com/strawberry-dragon-cupcake/

dragon cup cakes picture

Dragon Cupcakes and Taco Dip Dragon

Dragon Books for Young Children: 

dragon books images

Some fun dragon books

Dragon Books for Older Children : 

dragon books photos

Great books for older children

Dragon Books for young adults:

 

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Changing your point of view can change your life

by Cristi Gardner on June 25, 2011

hudson river plane pictures

Miracle on the Hudson

Changing your point of view can change your life!

I got a phone call from my son Nathaniel, who is working in West Virginia for the summer.  It was morning, he had been working out, and he was on his way back to his apartment to get ready for the job.

Traffic was c-r-a-w-l-i-n-g!  Something HUGE ahead of him was blocking the entire road, and all kinds of support vehicles were surrounding this mammoth thing.

Nathaniel began fuming inwardly.  What kind of object deserved to take up the whole road, delaying all of the drivers from getting to their destinations?  As he muttered to himself about the inconsideration and the frustration, he pulled up closer to the oversized truck, and he could see that it carried an airplane.  “An airplane!  Why doesn’t it just fly to where it should go?” he thought to himself.

Looking up, he saw people thronging the overpasses, taking pictures and cheering.  He flipped on the radio, just in time to hear the announcer report that the airplane that had emergency landed with heroic perfection on the Hudson River, saving hundreds of lives, was on its way to its final exhibition place.

In that instant, Nathaniel’s perspective changed.  Faster than light can travel, he went from being annoyed to being grateful that he was a part of this historic moment.

In an instant!

hudson river plane images

The Hudson River Plane

When we watch the NBA Finals (or any other game), it’s interesting to note that the same game is played—the same exact game!—and yet half the fans leave ecstatic, and half leave dejected.  It’s all in their perspective.

We have all had the experience of being two year olds, four year olds, ten year olds, teenagers…on up to where we are in our life journey.  We have the perspective of experience that helps us to see results more clearly.  As we continue to live, we will continue to gain greater perspective.

So why do we often expect our little ones to see clearly what they may not have the perspective to realize yet?

Remembering how to look at things from a child’s perspective

  • Is freeing for us, and for the child
  • Is entertaining
  • Creates an optimal learning environment
  • Creates a safe place
  • Creates a place of love and appreciation for our differences

Our patience increases and our ability to teach and listen grows when we learn to look at things through the eyes of a different, less experienced point of view.

Next time you’re frustrated with someone who has been on this earthly journey a short time, try bending down . . . and remembering.

Our journey’s lessons constant;

Our learning has no end.

We never stand so tall as when

For a small child we bend.

Changing your point of view can change your life!

Cristie gardner photo

Cristie Gardner, my friend of over 20 years

Cristie B. Gardner, author and director of the musical theater production “Kirtland: City of Gathering and Glory” and author of “Your Book of L.I.F.E. (Living in Focused Energy) for Women,” is mother of eight incredible children.  She constantly works on a bucket list of over 81 goals.  Over the years she has had the privilege of serving as head of service organizations with thousands of women members, as well as supervising young women’s organizations and children’s organizations!  Her favorite hobbies: people, teaching, reading, writing, speaking, learning about our divine nature and potential…and helping others in their quest.  Cristie is available as a speaker to motivate and inspire you with YOUR bucket list!  To contact her: [email protected] Put speaker request in the subject line.

 

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Nine tips on being a great step father

by Mary Ann on June 22, 2011

 

dad and daughters picture

Elizabeth, Kash, Ashley, Aubrey, and Parker

“My kids are great!  They are energetic, imaginative, loving, and occasionally ornery.  I have three girls and one boy, whose ages range from three to eleven, and they have been my kids for exactly four months.

Being a “step-dad” is not something I expected a year ago, but it was not an idea that scared me either.  I have five siblings that have 13 kids between them and I have always enjoyed spending time with their children.  Now that I have four kids to call my own, I have a different perspective on the relationships that I have with my nieces and nephews. The responsibility one has as a parent is enormous. An uncle can feed his nephews a bunch of sugar and then send them back to their parents; a step-father does not have that luxury.

The important thing for a step-parent to remember is that you are an adult, and the kids are…kids.  They have lost a parent, whether through divorce or otherwise.  Someone who has been there consistently for most of their lives is now only there occasionally.  It is not your job to replace that parent. It is however, your job to be a new parent.  One that is patient, and loving, and willing to teach the same qualities to your new kids.

dad and daughter images

Kash and Parker

Like all parents, a step-parent’s patience is tested on a daily basis.  My philosophy, when faced with a new problem, is “Yield to the expert”.  My wife knows her children better than anyone.  So, I ask her opinion on almost everything.  She is very patient and very willing to teach me how to be a good dad ( Preparing to become a father).  I am very blessed to have the family that I do, and love them very much.”

I did some research and Kash is well on his way to being a great step-father. Here is a list of tips from a long time step dad and Dr. Phil.

How to be a good step father:

1.Don’t Plan to be the disciplinarian. There are boundaries to your authority. Be reasonable, and as much as possible show them that what you have to say is sensible. The stepparent, although not actively initiating direct discipline, should certainly work to maintain the normal boundaries that exist between an adult and a child. Support the decisions that are made by your wife.  A stepfather is not simply one’s mother’s husband. He is in fact an adult and an authority figure in the home.

2. Don’t ask them to call you “Dad”. Don’t be selfish and demand it.

3. Don’t ever bad mouth their dad, no matter what kind of person he is. Usually they’ll side with dad, but even if they don’t, you have no right to interfere in that relationship.

4. Act responsibly, be there for the kids when they need you, share their joys and sorrows with them, build them up as much as you can, help them with their homework, offer advice, explain how things work, organize their day, and so on — all the things you’d do if you were their actual father,  remembering that relationships take time to build.

5. Listen to the children.

6. Take cues from mom. Deal with major disagreements out of earshot of the kids; in everything else, follow mom’s lead.

7. Don’t try to win them over with gifts, trips to the amusement park, or whatever.

8. Share. Be open about your life, career, likes and dislikes, and interests — and make an effort to learn about theirs. Take part in their activities and involve them in yours. Not only will you find some common ground to connect on, but you’ll be able to take part in their development as people, which is what this is all about.

9. Forgive. Forgive them for being difficult, forgive mom for not always lending you a hand when you’re lost, forgive their friends for not understanding your new place in your kids’ home, and most of all, forgive yourself. You are going to make a lot of mistakes

These are just  nine tips for being a great step father. I am sure there are more.

“The key is to remember that the children are passengers on this train. They didn’t get an opportunity to choose whether they wanted a new family member, so great care and patience should be taken to help them adapt to the situation.” Dr. Phil

Kash  is a native to Colorado  and currently lives in Grand Junctionwith his wife and four children (Aubrey 11, Ashley 9, Lizzy 7, and Parker 3) They are  expecting their first child together to be born in Janurary. Kash grew up in a family of 6 children. He is the fourth child just like his wife Marie. He was raised by his mother with the help of his grandfather and two of his grandmothers. Kash teaches the men class in church and enjoys it very much. One of his hobbies is reading. He loves to read all kind of books.

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