Happy Halloween!

From the pumpkins on my porch to yours, enjoy Halloween! 

Here are some pumpkin seed recipes to try:
Pumpkin Seeds - with sprinkles, cinnamon sugar or salt and oil

Source: asubtlerevelry.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Pumpkin Seeds - Sweet and Salty

Source: realsimple.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Pumpkin Seeds - baked in pumpkin bread

Source: foodnetwork.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Take advantage of this time of year to enjoy pumpkin and its seeds. It doesn't last long.

"Blue Hat, Green Hat"

Book: Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton

Target audience: This is a board book

Topic: Getting dressed

Basic summary: The animals wear clothes of different colors except the turkey who is very confused.

Every baby has books by Sandra Boynton. She's a master-illustrator and creates an excellent rhyme. I like this one more for its simplicity.

It was the first book my son 'read' to us when he was little. The read is in quotes because he really had just memorized the book. You know how that is. It's the first book my daughter is 'reading' right now. With only about seven words per page (and those words simply listing the item of clothing and its color), it's such a boost for young kids to learn a book by heart and share it with other people. Who doesn't want their little kids to say with delight, "I'll read this one to you, Mom"? 

It might seem silly to spend time on a book like this. I disagree. A love of reading starts with books that are simple and fun with illustrations that directly support the text. I encourage you to give Blue Hat, Green Hat a try with your toddlers and older kids who are learning to read for real.

Our other favorites by Sandra Boynton are The Going to Bed Book and Barnyard Dance.

"Stealing Time" - Magazine Review and a Giveaway

I want to be better at this. There I said it.

Parenting in Pdx stemmed from this desire. I wanted to find others like me who knew they could be better parents with time, thought and focus. I am trying to provide them that time, thought, and focus in the group I've organized.

Sometimes I feel really alone in this pursuit but I know I am not. I feel it. I just haven't reached all the parents I need to reach yet. Then I stumbled upon a magazine. It's called Stealing Time. It's published here in Portland by people who know that a parenting magazine can be better. 

I read the first issue, "Genesis", on a plane ride back from visiting my grandmother. I'd had the magazine for a while and wanted to read it without distractions. I thought I might be able to use parts of it in my parenting groups. The editor's essay called "Into it All" by Sarah Gilbert, the first section of writing in the issue, had me hooked, and I did decide to use it in my group. It's a powerful piece of writing.

I chased after something more unreachable than even wind, the backward glint of time, to capture it in my memory. But now, I long for only more of the now, gulp the glimpses of life I am able to record and bring into an art, one that glories in the time lost--no, spent--picking lice out of hair, soaking chili pans in hot water, engaging in silly wars of rhyme and pun and homonym, reading bedtime books whose words I must occasionally change to fit my strict requirements of internal rhythm.

I love this work. 

Or try "Twenty-Seven Ways to Wear Your Baby," by Rebecca Kelley. It's a remarkable essay about real parenting. About a mother overwhelmed by all the advice and other moms who are 'naturals', her voice is the same one we hear in our heads when we are struggling.

Motherhood was like a prison anklet. There was no escaping it, even at night. Especially at night.

Bet you haven't read anything like that in your other parenting magazines.

There are also lighter pieces of writing such as "Calling in Dead" by Vaughn Teegarden, a script about our morning routines.

Vaughn [the father]: Calling in dead [to work] huh? Think that will work?

Storm [the child]: <real matter of fact> Yeah.  

I felt the pull of kindred spirits when I read this magazine. Of spirits who know that more is possible for parents. We can be thinkers, readers, writers and poets. We can be. This magazine represents the 'better' I've been seeking. We, the readers, can be better by engaging in the thought required to read their writers' words. 

Do you want to read more from Stealing Time? In the comments section below, give your name (first and last initial), city, and tell me your favorite place to read. One of you will get a very special super-low subscription rate for the magazine. I know! Lucky you! The giveaway is now closed.
Comments must be entered by Tuesday, November 6. One entry per person.

Apple Pasta Salad

I love a good pasta salad especially one that comes together quickly and utilizes fall flavors like apples and pecans. The amounts in this recipe are also very flexible which makes using what you've got on hand convenient.

RECIPE: Apple Pasta Salad  (adapted from this Parents magazine recipe)

Serves: 4

Time: about 20 minutes

CAN KIDS HELP? Yes. They can help measure and stir.

3 cups cooked pasta, any small shape is fine (I used farfalle here)

1-2 small apples cored and chopped

1/2 a cucumber, seeds removed, and chopped

1/4 cup chopped pecans (I've used walnuts before and they work too)

1/4 cup raisins (I like golden but regular are fine)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Let me introduce you to another work horse in my kitchen. The melon baller! It's great for de-seeding veggies like cucumbers or tomatoes. 

All ingredients except the pasta

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl except the lemon juice which can just be squeezed on top. Sprinkle with cheese.

How did the kids do?

BEFORE:

Left: my daughter's plate. Right: my son's
They got a portion of the completed salad, and also the ingredients on their own (cucumbers, apples, pecans, parsley, cheese, and plain pasta)

AFTER: 

They both did great with the separate components. I got my son to try a bite of the assembled salad and he liked it.

Portland Children's Museum

Rain or shine, the Portland Children's Museum is usually the kids' first request when I ask them where they want to 'go'. How's that for a positive review? 

Outing: Portland Children's Museum

Cost: $9 for adults and children 1 and older (you can buy tickets for $8 online here). Info about membership here. Parking is additional. They have free first Friday afternoons-info here.

Travel time: Located next the Oregon Zoo. Map here. 

Age: Any age, but a child who is mobile will have more fun.

Reason to go: With the rainy season upon us, this is a fun alternative to a park. Plus, the current special Chagall exhibit is excellent (check back next week for more about that, or click here).

First, let me say that the best time to go is at opening or in the late afternoon. The exhibits are much more fun (especially for kids under 5) when they are less crowded.

Now I'll go through the highlights of this museum for my family. 

The Dig Pit is filled with old chopped tires. It's mostly enclosed so a good spot if you have more than one child. Plus there's some tables for parents.

The Pet Clinic lets kids take care of stuffed animals. There's an exam area complete with X-ray films and some artificial grass to take the animals for a 'walk'. My daughter actually loves being a receptionist here.

Kids can 'drive' a bus and ambulance or play with trains in the Vroom Room. The ambulance has working lights and the train area is huge!

Water Works is just awesome.  I shied away from this room for a long time. Big mistake! It's easily my kids' favorite.

The rock climbing wall encloses a play camping station and volcano slide. My son loves all three.

The Baby's Garden is for kids 3 and under. It's enclosed so they can't escape and wonderful for the museum's littlest visitors. This is also a nice spot if you have two kids.

The Zany Maze, found outside the entrance, is a small hedge maze with lookout above. There is a gate to keep the kids inside. I've seen 'The Shining' too many times for me to like it. My kids love it  though! 

Don't miss the Grocery and Butterfly Bistro (very fun when it's less crowded), the Clay Studio (kids can get their pottery creations fired for a small fee), and the Twilight Trail (complete with life sized Lite-Brite). Truly, there's fun around every corner here and we've explored every single one.

Passage of Time

Tick tock. Tick tock. Do you hear it? It's time passing.

When I was in the classroom, it was so easy to recognize the passage of time. A new school year started with fresh supplies and kids. There was a break between terms and I entered my grades to mark the completion of that segment of time. Summer was summer - so unlike the rest of the school year.

Since leaving the classroom, the last five-plus years with my own kids are a blur. Every parent wonders, "Where does the time go?" I do too, but the former teacher and student in me want to recognize the milestones.

This has been easy in only a few ways. My daughter is in the same classroom with the same teacher as my son, just two years later. Or I distinctly remember my kids in a certain phase during a long weekend in Sunriver. I keep the kids' photos from each Halloween in our storage box so I can look through them and remember the years that have passed.

For the most part, though, most of my time as a parent is indistinct. I can't recall what we got our daughter for Christmas when she was one. The pumpkin patch trips with my son blend together. What was it like when they ate purees?

I don't have many photo albums from my own childhood. My mom didn't scrapbook. I'm trying desperately to capture these memories for my kids. 

One way I'm doing this with a personal family blog I've maintained for about four years (sorry--no link to that one). I also create photobooks for my kids each year. It's true that these are a significant amount of work, but they are also something that documents the holidays and milestones in a tangible way. It's a kick to look through them - especially years later. My photobook of choice is through Shutterfly. You can make them as simple or complicated as you want.

Maybe the most important way to mark the passage of time is to stop in the moment. Notice the little things. And be present.

How do you keep track of the passage of time?

"Meet The Cars"

Book: Meet the Cars published by Disney Press

Target audience: 3 and up

Topic: Vehicles from 'Cars' and 'Cars 2'

Basic summary: Want to know about every vehicle in the 'Cars' movies? Here you go.

I'm featuring this book because I love the idea of a reference book for preschoolers and young kids. What a cool idea--an encyclopedia for kids who love 'Cars' and 'Cars 2'. I've seen both movies many times. I knew a decent amount about the main characters thanks to all the other books we've read. This book, though, blows them away in terms of content.

There is no story. Instead, it has a photo of every single vehicle and a paragraph telling the reader more about it. Sure, it's got Mater and Finn McMissile. It's also got Tractor (hello, tractor tipping anyone?), Shu Todoroki (from the World Grand Prix), and Wingo. Think of any car, truck, or plane from either movie, and it's in here. Wow.

The book is organized by type (secret agents, race staff, Radiator Springs, etc.) and even has an alphabetical index at the end.

If you have an enthusiast of 'Cars' (and I bet you do), for about $13 this is a must-buy for your kids' library.

Recommitting to Pinterest

Source: simplystated.realsimple.com via Jessica on Pinterest

When a friend introduced me to Pinterest, I found it as amazing as, well, everyone else did. It struck me as Napster (yes--that shows my age) for crafters! I used it the most late in the evenings, happily pinning away. 

Eggnog French toast? Sure!

A quote about my daughter? Sure!

A place to file my most recently read book? Sure!

Then I stopped. It was pinning fatigue I guess. I just couldn't keep up especially since I never actually made the French toast or put that quote on our wall. I even forgot to pin some of my books and now I'll never remember that I read whatever it is I never pinned.

I follow many blogs, see many great posts, think "Hey that's cool," but never do anything with the ideas. Well, today, I revisited my Pinterest page, did a little re-organizing, and am ready to start pinning again.

My first new pin: "Success is often just an idea away"

What's your favorite Pinterest topic? How do you keep up with all that information?

Thanksgiving Casserole

Have you seen it? Holiday cards and candies have entered the stores weeks before Halloween. It makes me crazy.

Most of the irritation comes from them rushing all the holidays. They also skip right over one of my favorites: Thanksgiving.

So, in honor of Thanksgiving and the smells I'm already craving, I made my own simple version last week. It's full of all parts of the feast like turkey, celery, cranberries and sage. This recipe smells just like Fall. Note that I didn't say 'the holidays'.

RECIPE: Thanksgiving Casserole  (adapted from this Everyday Food recipe)

Serves: 4

Time: about an hour (30 minutes of that is for cooking and cooling)

CAN KIDS HELP? Maybe with the chopping, but this is a stove-heavy recipe.

2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)

1 to 1 1/4 lbs ground turkey

3/4 teaspoon dried sage

1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (divided)

coarse salt and pepper

3/4 yellow onion, diced medium

2 celery stalks, diced medium

about 1/2 loaf crusty french bread, cut in large cubes (5 cups)

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces

My husband calls these (celery and onion) "aromatics".

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add turkey and cook until browned (about 8 minutes). Break up the meat as needed. 

Add sage and flour and stir to coat.

It turns out sage is the secret to a house full of Thanksgiving smells.

Add 3/4 cup broth and cook while stirring occasionally until mixture is thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer mixture to an 8x8 dish coated with cooking spray.

Wipe out skillet with a paper towel. Return to heat and add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and add bread, cranberries and 1 cup broth, toss to combine.

Stir in egg. Transfer mixture to cover the meat in the dish. Dot with pieces of butter.

Bake until juices are bubbling and the bread is golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

How did the kids do?

BEFORE

My kids don't like Thanksgiving. I know! However, I gave them some bits of the ingredients, some whole grain bread, and a sample of the casserole.
Left: my daughter's plate. Right: My son's.

AFTER

I felt victorious that my son had a bite of the casserole...and LIKED it. We compared it to french toast which actually worked!

Commonwealth Lake and Parks

I lived here for years before discovering this lake. I was searching for a flat place to run, and my husband, a local, suggested it as if I'd been there dozens of times.

Well, we've been there dozens of times now. What a place to take the kids! And to run too.

Outing: THPRD Commonwealth Lake Park and Foothills Park

Cost: Free

Travel time: For me about 5 minutes. It's near the junction of Hwy 26 and Hwy 217. See map here.

Age: Any age, but there is easily accessible water at the park on the lake.
Restroom options: One port-a-potty at each park. The one at the lake is wheelchair accessible.

Reason to go: The lake, the birds, and two different parks with play structures.

Commonwealth Lake is man-made with a 3/4 mile paved trail around it. 

Commonwealth Lake Park has swings, a play structure, a large soccer field nearby, and a variety of birds.

You've gotta look out for this resident goose. He might try to nip at you.

Note in the very top picture that there is easy access to the lake. As in fall into the lake access if a child wasn't being careful.

That being said, I've loved this destination with my kids for a long time. The flat, paved trail is ideal for running with a stroller or simply going for a walk. The swings, play structures, and mature trees also make this a real gem.

Foothills Park is on the side of the lake opposite Commonwealth Lake Park, and across the street.

It's smaller with no lake access. It might be a good choice if you are concerned about the water.

There is a large field behind it, and that grove of trees shown in the picture above shelters a trail.

The trail leads you through an updated basketball court and wooded area before coming out on a street about a half mile away. If you follow the map found in the link above, you end up at the Cedar Hills Recreation Center. This little trail is just isolated enough to feel like hiking, but has easy access to the park, rec center, or lake if desired. Plus the two-mile loop described in the link is a great solo running route.

It's hard to find a free, kid-friendly destination with as many options and things to do as Commonwealth Lake.

Trader Joe's

I ventured to Trader Joe's this week and made it into the store during a downpour with both kids along to buy these: Trader Joe's Cinnamon Schoolbook Cookies.

Why? Well, I wondered the same thing while walking in the rain and after seeing the craziness inside.

I overheard a mother offer her kids a sucker just to be good (I guess she hasn't read any Karen le Billon lately). The same mother threatened her kids with a spanking for their behavior. Out loud. In a crowded store. It was enough to make me kiss my kids on the head and be beyond thankful that they were mine. I mean, is spanking even a thing anymore? Apparently at a crowded Trader Joe's it is.

Anyway, we were in search of the alphabet cookies above. And we got them. Now the kids can practice their letters and numbers during snack. Or when they get a treat. Oh, and I got some pumpkin bread mix for our Parenting in Pdx meeting. Grown-ups deserve treats too.

Tell me more: What's your favorite thing to buy at Trader Joe's?

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

Book: Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer

Target audience: 3 and up

Topic: Being true to who you are

Basic summary: Olivia the pig decides she doesn't want to be like everyone else.

Princesses aren't my favorite thing in the world (except Kate but I guess she's technically a duchess so that doesn't count). I feel like it makes me a weird mom but it's true. I know tons of girls who adore them and, hey, that's fine. I'm just trying to buck the trend.

We love the Olivia series by Ian Falconer. I waited for a few weeks for the newest one to become available from our library. I wasn't thrilled about it when I picked it up. After all, look at the title! Oh well, we'd give it a try anyway.

It turns out that it's an anti-princess book! Olivia decides that since everyone else wants to be a princess, being one isn't special anymore. After making that realization (!), she seeks a new life's goal. Her final choice will make you smile. 

This book is one of my favorites of the series. No, not just because of its take on princesses. It's a charming tale, wonderfully illustrated as always. I love the message for my kids that they can be whoever they want to be. And yes, that would include being a princess if my daughter so chooses.

Want another book in this series? Try Olivia Forms a Band. It's a kick in the pants to read because you have to make all the sounds of a marching band. And there's a sweet little picnic with fireworks to make you nostalgic for summer.