The Grand Rapids Ballet is preparing for something special this Spring Break!

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If your kids are staying home alone during Spring Break, make sure you talk with them first about staying safe.

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This week I had the pleasure of hanging out with a special group of preschoolers and their moms at Ada Township Park.  As part of their Discovery Days program, the park held a workshop for area three to five year olds.  The class began with a hands-on nature inspired craft and then kids hit the trails to hear, see and smell the signs of spring. 

As a kid I remember those times where you’d head outside in the morning and fill an entire day with exploring your backyard or playing at the local park.  Today I feel like so many kids would rather stay inside and watch television or play video games.  What ever happened to good old fashion outdoor fun? 

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I personally don’t sew.  The last time I did (9th grade Home Ec class), I sewed the dress I was working on to the shirt I was wearing.  When I stood up at the end of class…well, you can imagine.

But I admire people who do sew, creating beautiful things with incredibly high tech sewing machines, or pulling needles and thread out of cleverly shaped little baskets and getting busy with their hands.  For those of you who were born with this talent (or who were taught by someone older and wiser), there is a perfect event taking place in the Community Roon (off the lobby) at the David D. Hunting YMCA (475 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids) on Sunday, March 21 from 1-4p. 

Fifth Third River Bank Run Road Warrior, Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood (CraftSanity writer and podcaster, and runner-in-apron) is hosting an Apron Sew-In to support Safe Haven Ministries upcoming Apron Design contest.  Jennifer asks those who want to participate Sunday to bring their sewing machine, fabric of choice, favorite apron pattern and men’s neckties for the apron sash, if you have them.  She’ll bring the pile of neckties she has been collecting as well, and is happy to share (using men’s neckties in apron construction cleverly symbolizes male support for ending domestic violence!).

Once you have completed your apron on Sunday, you can keep it to wear or submit it in Safe Haven Ministries free Apron Design Contest which begins April 19.  All the aprons will be displayed for public viewing from April 20 to May 6 at the David D. Hunting YMCA and winning entries will become part of a traveling show to promote Safe Haven Ministries’ mission (providing shelter and services to abused women, and partnering with the faith community to respond appropriately to families affected by domestic violence).  Aprons will then be sold to raise money for this deserving charitable organization.

For more information and to read Jennifer’s blog about her project (and find out why in the world she is training — most of the time in an apron — for the Fifth Third River Bank Run on May 8), please go to http://53riverbankrun.com/blog/roadwarriors/category/jennifer/.  See you at the Sew-In!

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Research shows that writing a letter is a powerful way to make a difference in the life of a child.  Take time on Thursday, March 18th to write letters to the incredible kids in your life!  It’s Camp Fire USA’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day and we’re asking adults to write letters of love and support to the kids in their lives.  For the past several years I’ve had the honor of serving as the spokesperson for this amazing event.  I’ve seen first hand the power a simple letter can have on a child.  So take time to write a letter and make a difference!  Find out more at www.campfireusawmc.org/aikd.

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This weekend we celebrated our 100th episode with some special friends from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

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We are celebrating our 100th episode of “Where You Live” this weekend!!  Isn’t that amazing!?   It’s a really fun show from party central-Craig’s Cruisers!  Several kids and their families joined us from the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.  We taped the show, played arcade games, did unlimited activities and enjoyed the pizza/pasta/salad buffet and a special cake!  Cruiser and the gang at Craig’s really took care of us!  Be sure to watch this weekend as we look at some of our favorite stories about families, kids, community organizations and expert insights on family life!  We’ll also be giving away 100 prizes during the show and offering you the chance to win a party for eight at Craig’s Cruisers!!!  Get all the info. this weekend on “Where You Live” Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and p.m. on WOTV 4 and 6:30 p.m. on WOOD TV 8.

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For the past few weeks mornings and bedtime have become more and more difficult in my house.  In previous years I don’t remember Sophia really being affected by daylight savings, but for some reason this year it’s painful!  Each morning around 6:30am I hear a faint voice coming from down the hall, “Mom, is it wake-up time yet?”  Suddenly the days of getting ready without the three year old are over.  Then comes bedtime and the battle begins, “Mom, it’s not dark out yet and I’m not sleepy.”

I emailed my friends over at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital who connected me with Dr. John Schuen, who board certified doctor who specializes in sleep medicine.  Here are some words of advice he gave me and any parent who is dreading springing forward this year.

• It’s natural for kids to impacted by the light outside. We are impacted by light. Light enters the brain and effect hormones that influence wakefulness or tiredness.

• Children can typically adjust to one hour difference fairly easy. It does take preparation.

• Parents should try to get their little one to bed a little earlier on Saturday night. Start by backing up. Could start a day or two before.  Depends on how well your child deals with change, do it earlier and smaller increments of ½ hour at a time.

• The time change backs up everything you ordinarily do to get ready for bed, including bathtime, reading books, etc.  So, playing the Wii isn’t a good idea.

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My good friend Bill Steffen said Winter is over.  I sure hope he is right.  Almost all the snow on the field has melted.  There is a little snow on the warning track, but if I have to stand there with a heater to melt it, I will.
 
The warmer weather and all of this talk about Spring can only mean one thing: BASEBALL IS ALMOST HERE!

A lot of people ask me what my favorite thing about the season is, but I love so much about the summer that it is hard for me to answer.  I decided to make a Top 5 list of my favorite things about the baseball season.  They are not in a certain order because it is too hard to choose my favorite.  After reading my list, you should tell me yours!

Here is the list:

1. The promotions.  Crash Dash is fun even though Franky always finds a way to distract me, and the dizzy bat races are so funny because the people never run straight.  Plus, on the really hot days, sometimes the crew surprises me by spraying the hose!
2. The fans.  The fans are the best.  I love how loud they cheer and how excited they are. 
3. The game.  Sometimes the Whitecaps lose and sometimes they win.  Either way, it is fun to hear the crack of the bat.  It is such a cool sound.
4. The team.  The players always make me feel part of the team.  I know I am their number one fan, and it is fun to make special handshakes and high-five them when they do a good job.
5. The food.  Our ballpark does a good job at feeding me.  We have a new food item being revealed at the end of March, and I cannot wait to find out what it is.  I am sure I will love it, and I cannot wait for my first hot dog of the season!

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