Lawrence Kids, Summer 2012

Lawrence KidsSummer, 2012

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KANSAS FOOTBALL

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contributing photographers

Casey Wright caseywrightphotography.com Emmalee Schaumburg schaumburgphotography.com

cover photo: Schaumburg Photography Cover Contest Winner, by Jimmy Calderon

Tara Nelson taranelsonphotography.com

Lawrence KidsSummer, 2012

Health 10

Viewpoint 18Season’s Readings 16

5 Easy Tips 25Seasonal Essentials 60

In Every Issue

Features

Home on the Range 32Everything Connects 44

5 Summer Must-Dos 53

[email protected]

Summer (tr)Eats 28

contributing writersMegan Stuke / Jennifer Powers / Rebecca Dunn

Reuse 62

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Car Seats

Summer is here. With the change of season, comes countless family trips to ballparks, the pool and summer road trips. The easiest way to keep your child safe while in the car is to avoid accidents, and always use appropriate safety seats. You can’t control other cars, but you can have the safest seat possible for your children. New data has changed the recommendations for car seat use to keep our children safe. cont.

health

Tips

by Loree Cordova, MD & Tara Zabawa, PA-C

for a

SummerSafe

11

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for young chil-dren. For every child that dies, 18 are hospitalized and more than 400 are treated for injuries. Laws are in place to protect children riding in cars, but it is up to parents to take critical safety measures for your children every time they ride in a car. Data suggests parents have become better in the last decade at restraining infants and babies less than one-year old. In 2008, 99% of infants less than one-year old and 92% of 1-3 year olds were using restraints. Unfortunately, nearly 22% of those infants using car seats were turned facing forward too soon and nearly 80% of car seats were installed into vehicles incorrectly placing infants at increased risk of injury and death. The most recent evidence-based recommendations show com-pelling data that all infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing child safety seat until they are either two-years old or reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their car seat. Larger toddlers who exceed the rear-facing safety seat maximums and children over the age of two should be restrained in a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness until age four or until your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer. Once a child’s height or weight exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat, they should use a seat belt posi-tioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly; typi-cally when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years old. The booster seat allows the seat belt to be positioned over the child’s shoulder and across the middle of their chest in a way that will restrain them most securely in

an accident. Without a booster, the belt crosses the neck or face of smaller passengers and cannot restrain them, increasing the risk of injury. Children should always use both the lap and the shoulder belts for optimal protection, never the lap-belt alone. The lap belt should lie low and snug across your child’s upper thighs, not their abdomen. The shoulder belt should cross the middle of your child’s chest and shoulder. Children should always sit upright while restrained. Do not let children lie down, or “rest” lying down in the seat. It is safest to keep children younger than 13 in the back seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics state that children seated in the rear seats are 62 percent less likely to sustain an injury in an accident. Not only is the overall risk of injury higher in the front seat, but also the severity of injuries is also greater. Airbags can be very dangerous to children, particularly those riding in rear-facing car safety seats. If you must transport your child in the front seat with an airbag, make sure you can turn the air bag off. Even low-speed crashes can inflate the airbag, strike the safety seat or small child, and cause serious injury. Local services provided by Douglas County SAFEKIDS Co-alition, local fire departments and local medical facilities offer free car safety seat checks to ensure you have your seat installed properly. Allow a certified child passenger safety technician to inspect your car seat to be sure it is installed correctly in your vehicle, and keep your child rear-facing according to these latest guidelines for optimum protection. Car seats, booster seats and seat belts save lives. However,

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implementing the new rules and guidelines, especially for older children, may not be easy. Talk with fellow parents and help each other implement new policies for riding in carpools. As a parent or adult in charge of the safety of your child passengers, be vocal about your “car rules” for keeping children safe. Do your part by supervising buckling up and making sure kids are positioned safely.

Poison Ivy

Along with roadtrips, plants and insects are also prevalent this time of year. Though we cannot always prevent interactions with these pests, there are several ways to treat and properly take care of the itch, bumps and rashes. Trees, flowers and plants have been in full bloom for several months now, and although the majority of them are harmless, there are a few plants to be on the look out for. Poison ivy is an oil-producing plant that causes a red, swollen skin rash with blisters 12 to 72 hours after exposure. The blisters eventually break, oozing a clear, yellowish liquid, then proceed to scab over and dry. The rash is typically non-painful, but ex-tremely itchy and uncomfortable, and should go away in 1 to 4 weeks without treatment. The oil from the plant irritates the skin and causes the rash and can “live” on any substance it touches for years if the surface is not cleaned. The biggest misconception regarding poison ivy is that scratching the rash will make it spread.

The blisters that form on the skin do not contain poison ivy oil, and therefore, cannot be spread to other areas of the body if a blister breaks;. However, if you scratch your skin or touch any other substance, like your clothes or shoes, that has not been washed after exposure, it is possible to trap oil underneath fin-gernails and transmit it to other areas of the body. Make sure to wash everything you were wearing when you had the poison ivy exposure, including clothes, shoes, gloves, hats, sunglasses, etc. Even garden tools and lawn mowers should be periodically washed if poison ivy is suspected. A dilute bleach solution can easily clean the oil off any object that cannot go in the washing machine. If contact with poison ivy is suspected, take a cool shower and wash off with soap. Hot water can spread the oil on your skin and open up the pores to allow increased absorption. Once the rash appears, attempt to keep it clean and dry. Hot water and sunlight bring more histamines to the surface of your skin and will increase the redness and itching, so only use lukewarm or cool showers to bathe. Adding a quarter cup cornstarch or baking powder to a bath and doing 10-15 minutes soaks can also help soothe the skin. There are also plenty of OTC lotions and creams, such as calamine lotion, that can help decrease itch. Beginning a daily regimen of oral antihistamines, such as Bena-dryl or Claritin, can also aid in discomfort. Refraining from scratching the rash is difficult, but necessary, as this can open up the already irritated skin and cause a sec-ondary bacterial infection. Signs of infection include increased redness, swelling or streaking to the skin around the rash, or

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Nurturing the intellect and spirit of

ummer time is a super-busy time

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have more time to work around

your schedule for all your medical needs.

More time to answer all of your questions

and health concerns, less time in the

waiting area. Don’t wait until the

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See you soon.

School/Sports/Camp Physicals $35

Free water bottle with your appointment.

Good June-July 2012

4921 West 18th St. • Lawrence, KS 66047

Smart ideas forSummer

Tip #214

From Family Medicine Associates, P.A.

It’s time for sports, campand school physicals.

More time with the doctor

Less time in the waiting room

Easier to get in at a convenient time for you

785-830-0100

spiking a fever. Seek professional medical attention for treat-ment of any suspected skin infection. Topical or oral steroids are often mainstays of treatment, and usually provide relief within 12 to 24 hours.

Ticks & Insects Poison ivy is not alone when it comes to spring and summer-time nuisances as insects provide another source of annoyance, itching and rashes. Tick bites and bee or wasp stings are com-monplace this time of year, and although are typically harmless, can pose serious threats to your health. Ticks are blood-sucking insects that can pass on infection and typically live in areas covered by tall grasses and wooded areas. Most tick bites do not cause illness, however, there are a few spe-cies that can carry serious disease. The blacklegged tick, or deer tick, can be a carrier of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. Symptoms include headache, fever, fatigue and a characteristic “bulls-eye” rash that develops at the site of the bite. If left untreated, infection can spread to other areas of the body, including the heart and nervous system, potentially be-coming fatal. Fortunately, most cases can be successfully treated with oral antibiotics. Removing the tick within 24 hours reduces your risk of infec-tion from Lyme disease (which is very uncommon in Kansas) and any other tick-borne illness and should be done in the fol-lowing manner:

• Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull it straight up and out with tweezers.• Pull gently until the tick lets go. Do not twist or jerk the tick suddenly because this may break off the tick’s head or mouth parts. Try not to leave any parts of the tick in the skin.• Do not crush or squeeze the tick since its body may be infected with germs. Flush the tick down the toilet.• Do not put a hot match, petroleum jelly or fingernail polish on the tick. This does not cause a tick to come off more easily. Doing this may cause the tick to vomit germs into your skin.• After the tick is removed, clean the area of the bite with rub-bing alcohol. Then, wash your hands with soap and water. Ap-plying ice may help reduce redness and swelling and triple anti-biotic ointment can be helpful as well (www.drugs.com). All insect bites cause some degree of irritation to the skin, and it is safe to say that the majority of tick bites, bee or wasp stings cause nothing more than a small red bump with mild dis-comfort or itchiness that typically resolves without treatment in 1-2 weeks. Symptoms such as sudden, significant lip or eyelid swelling, severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and increased heart rate, accompanied by skin redness and swelling, are signs of an anaphylactic allergic reaction to an insect bite, and although relatively uncommon with tick bites, can mani-fest quickly with bee or wasp stings in predisposed individuals. These types of reactions require immediate medical attention in an emergency setting. LK

(785) 312-9494 www.bluedandelionkids.com

ready for sand, sun and fun!

829 Massachusetts (785) 842-8142

ummer time is a super-busy time

Sfor your family. Fortunately we

have more time to work around

your schedule for all your medical needs.

More time to answer all of your questions

and health concerns, less time in the

waiting area. Don’t wait until the

deadline. Get your sports and camp

physicals taken care of now so you can

have some fun with all the rest of them.

See you soon.

School/Sports/Camp Physicals $35

Free water bottle with your appointment.

Good June-July 2012

4921 West 18th St. • Lawrence, KS 66047

Smart ideas forSummer

Tip #214

From Family Medicine Associates, P.A.

It’s time for sports, campand school physicals.

More time with the doctor

Less time in the waiting room

Easier to get in at a convenient time for you

785-830-0100

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ReadingsSeason’s

Preschool Ages

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman One day, a boy and a robot meet in the woods. They play. They have fun. But when Bot gets switched off, Boy thinks he’s sick. The usual remedies—applesauce, reading a story—don’t help, so Boy tucks the sick Bot in, and falls asleep. When he powers on Bot is alarmed to find his friend powered off!

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Li-twin / art by James Dean Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt, the one with the four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry? He just keeps on singing his song. After all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons?

You are a lion! : and other fun yoga poses by Taeeun YooThis is great for introducing young children to some basic yoga moves and modeling a healthy lifestyle. The moves are simple, playful and presented in a fresh way: quick directions and then a few lines of poem to match that pose. Good for mom and dad, too!

Easy Readers

Chicken said “Cluck” by Judyann Ackerman GrantPearl and Earl shoo Chicken out of the garden while they are planting their pumpkins, but they when the grasshoppers arrive they realize how helpful she can be.

Frog and Friends, Best Summer Ever by Eve BuntingFrog enjoys a summer with his friends as he compares himself to a bat, takes a vacation and meets a Starman who helps him to see the night sky in a new way. There are two more of these sweet friendship tales that are great read alouds or read-togethers.

Beginning Chapter Books

Dragonbreath Series by Ursula VernonA combination of text and graphic novel, the Dragonbreath books tell of the adventures of Danny Dragon. Join Danny and his best friend Wendell the Iguana as they travel under the sea outwitting bullies, fending off giant squid, meet giant heron, run from ninjas,and fight were-hotdogs, all the while trying to avoid getting an F in Science!

Mercy Watson to the Rescue Series by Kate DiCamilloMercy is a porcine wonder who lives with Mr and Mrs. Watson, who love her dearly. But she does cause some surprising things to happen! This is the first of several Mercy Watson books.

Middle Grades

The One and Only Ivan by Kathrine ApplegateVery strong story, written from the point of view of Ivan, a gorilla who was captured from the wild as an infant and lives as an at-traction in a roadside mall, along with an elephant and several other animals. A great animal story that will make you laugh.

Fake Mustache by Fred AngleburgerIt all begins when Casper spends money from his granny on a spectacularly convincing fake mustache, the Heidelberg Handle-bar #7. With it he’s able rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president. Is Lenny the only one who can see through his disguise? And will he be able to stop Casper from taking over the world? It’s the latest from the author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christo-pher Healy Ever wondered about what happened after Happily Ever After? Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their cas-tles, princes Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Guztav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other associated terrors to become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Teens

Ripper by Stefan PetruchaAdopted by famous Pinkerton Agency Detective Hawking in 1895 New York, fourteen-year-old Carver Young becomes in-volved in the pursuit of notorious killer Jack the Ripper. Carver discovers that finding the truth can be worse than ignorance. Full of whip-smart dialogue and gadgets, and featuring New York City Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt.

Delirium by Lauren OliverBefore scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love - the deliria - blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the gov-ernment demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena Holoway does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

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The Lawrence Public Library’s Summer Reading Program has become a staple of the season. The great librarians have suggested books they think are best paired with sunshine, beach towels and a glass of lemonade. Here’s to a great season of reading!

17

ELIZAviewpoint

BULLOCK

I am a mother. I am also an artist. Making art is my passion. When you have a passion it’s hard not to share it with each and every person around you. Those around me the most are my kids (boys ages 5 and 7) and, whether they like it or not, they are subject to my many creative whims. After all, my passion should be theirs too, right? cont.

A Lawrence mom andaccomplished artist

explains how she supports the arts... at home.

photos by Casey Wright

19

We are very lucky to have a whole room in our home dedicated to the making of art. That sounds far more romantic than it really is. It isn’t fancy. There are no banks of windows glowing with rays of natu-ral sunlight, no easels perched with blank canvases and a rainbow of paints to chose from, no potter’s wheel with fresh clay at the ready, not even a sink (gasp!). No, this glorified “art room” is a room without fin-ished floors, real walls or even windows and has just one measly over-head light. It’s just an unfinished room in the basement with one table, a couple of chairs and a stretch of plywood shelves that are stocked with everything a kid might need to bring his creative vision to life. What more does one need? My kids aren’t picky about the art supplies we have on hand. Most kids aren’t which makes stocking an art room like this a breeze. Just about any material will do. Our projects are usually constructed from the things you might otherwise throw in the recycling or trash bin or made from the things you can find in your own backyard or at the playground. Things like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, cereal boxes, bottle caps, corks, those styrofoam trays from the meat department, leaves, sticks, flowers, seed pods and whatever else catches their eye. Have a few other supplies on hand (white glue, duct or masking tape, scissors, crayons, colored pencils and/or paint) and watch the magic happen. If you want to give your kids a little more to work with, just wan-der the aisles of your favorite art supply store and pick up whatever you think might be fun. Our supply shelves have seen the likes of col-ored feathers (yes, even boys will use these), beads, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glitter, yarn, watercolors, construction paper and more (luckily a little goes a long way with much of these items). And the beauty of being in an unfinished room is that the kids can make all the mess they like without mommy having to clean right up. Not everyone has the benefit of this kind of vacant space in their home, but, that doesn’t mean you can’t create an environment that fosters creativity and creative freedom. In addition to our art room, we have an art drawer in our kitchen. It’s not a big drawer but it’s a drawer my kids can reach on their own and is stocked with much of what they need to satisfy their creative urges without too much fuss. We have loads of scrap paper, stickers (you know the ones you get in every birthday goody bag), tape, crayons, pencils, a stapler and some rubber stamps. The key is making it easily accessible and relatively mess-free (no paints or non-washable markers in there!). If you want you can even throw in an old sheet or table cloth in the drawer to use as a drop cloth. While I’m making dinner, the kids are busy bringing their next comic book adventure or Star Wars battle scene to life. Ev-eryone is happy. Giving your kids the space to be creative helps build their confi-dence and allows them to explore their creativity while gaining in-dependence and a unique perspective on their world. It helps build their problem solving skills by having to work out their own artistic challenges. By allowing your kids the freedom to explore, you never know what they might discover about themselves and what you might learn about them. Let them get a little messy. You might just end up with a masterpiece or two.

Eliza Bullock is a mother to two boisterous boys, Cooper (7) and Kiefer (5 1/2), and a fine art printmaker. View examples of the work she’s created in her art room

on display around Lawrence. www.elizabullock.com www.facebook.com/pages/Eliza-Bullock-Monotypes

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LawrencePediatrics, p.a.

COMPREHENSIVE PEDIATRICCARE FOR YOUR CHILD

543 Lawrence Ave, Suite D, Lawrence, KS 66049 785-856-9090 www. LawrencePeds.com

Kirsten E. EvansM.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.P.

New Pediatric PracticeLawrence Pediatrics believes in complete preventive care and healing for children from birth to age 21.

Our mission:provide comprehensive pediatric care for your child’s lifelong health.

Dr. Kirsten Evans has lived in Lawrence since 1989. She completed medical school and residency at The University of Kansas Medical Center, and has practiced pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City, and Virginia, treating children of all ages with a wide variety of illnesses. She has worked in private practice, as a faculty member at The University of Kansas Medical Center, and as a pediatric hospitalist at Stormont Vail Health Care. Dr. Evans also serves as adjunct faculty for Saint Louis University and is president of the Kansas Medical Education Foundation.

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Welcome to our new practice. . .open to all!




785-856-9090




Welcome to our new practice. . .open to all!Kirsten Evans

M.D., Ph. D., F.A.A.P.LawrencePediatrics, p.a.



785-856-9090








785-856-9090




Welcome to our new practice. . .open to all!LawrencePediatrics, p.a.



785-856-9090





Dr. Kirsten Evans has lived in Lawrence since 1989. She completed medical school and residency at The University of Kansas Medical Center and has practiced pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City and Virginia, treating children of all ages with a wide variety of illnesses. Dr. Evans has worked in private practice, as faculty at The KU Med Center and as a pediatric hospitalist at Stor-mont Vail Health Care. Dr. Evans serves as adjunct fac-ulty for Saint Louis University and is president of the Kansas Medical Education Foundation.




785-856-9090






When I was a kid in the summer, my friends and I would leave the house and be gone all day, returning only when we were hungry. We would spend our hours playing “alligator” in the sewer drain down by the creek, and I do not recall much bore-dom. Kids today obviously do not have those same freedoms and are therefore more dependent on summertime activities around the house. Here are a few easy ideas to pull out of your back pocket when the kids start to whine that they have “noth-ing” to do! cont.

tips

“I’M BORED”to beat

5LawrencePediatrics, p.a.







We’re Open!




785-856-9090








785-856-9090








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by Jennifer Powers

25

Look around the house for something that could be a trea-sure to a child. If you cannot muster up some old Hal-loween candy from the cabinets or other suitable reward, try making a coupon for a trip to the ice cream shop or some other adventure to be the booty at the end. Ask your kids to hide their eyes outside on the porch - the set up for this will take a minute. Weigh down the loose end of a skein of yarn. Begin walking, leading the yarn all around the house. Go under chairs, over tables, behind the couch. Go from one room to another allowing the yarn to make a crisscrossing “path” through the house. The longer the better and your kids will love the challenge of figuring out

the spider web of tangles to get to the treasure at the end.All you need for this activity is a stamp pad or watercol-or paint and a bit of paper to make cute little fingerprint people. Invite your child to press a finger or thumb into the ink or paint and then press onto a piece of paper. (If your child’s fingers are very small, you might want to use your own.) With a fine marker, add facial features, hair and limbs. Use different fingers to make different sized prints for each member of the family. You can also make animals by turning the fingers different directions before printing. A series of pinky prints can become a caterpil-lar. Fingerprints can also be pressed onto to different sized beans and embellished with yarn for hair and wire for limbs. Little ones over age three will love to play with their little bean people. Fingerprint art is so cute and the per-sonal touches kids give them can be hilarious. Try making birthday cards or note cards to send to the grandparents.

1Ball of YarnTreasure Hunt 2 The Labeling Game

Find some small pieces of scrap paper, a writing utensil and tape. On a small slip of paper, slowly write a word, naming an object in the room or home. For beginning readers, words that can be sounded out using phonetics such as “mop,” “cup,” “box,” “lamp,” “pot,” “sink,” “ten,” and “leg,” are good choices. Kids who are a bit more advanced can be given labels with silent e words or blended sounds, like “fish,” “dish,” “ship,” or “shell.” Kids who are reading well may be given labels identifying shapes, colors, body parts and more difficult words. Ask your child to read the word and then using a small piece of tape, to stick the label on the object. Kids love tape. They love this game and it is good reading practice. To allow a child to play this game independently, write out many labels and stick them to the edge of the table.

3 Fingerprint People

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Allow your child to spread washcloths all around the kitch-en or bathroom sink. Fill the sink with water and add a tiny drop of blue food coloring. Invite your child to take his or her Barbie’s or Transformers to the pool. You can take this game as far as you want and accessorize the pool area with little plants, tiny furniture and small snacks. (Think Cheerio donuts on a bottle cap.) Additionally, kids love to fill and pour, so give your child a small cup or Tupperware with which to dump water over his or her pool guests. A little wet and/or messy, perhaps, but also hours of proven fun. (I actually used to do this all the time with my friend Sara. Thanks, Mom!)

4 Indoor Pool Party

5Indoor

Make a list of items for your children to find around the house. Give your kids a paper asking for specific objects like a magazine with a picture of a child on the front, a wooden spoon, a blue ribbon, something that is square, and something cold, etc. The list can be simple for begin-ning readers and super-complex for big kids. (Think “an object that is cylindrical.”) You could even make a pictorial list for non-readers. Remind the kids to remember where they found things; so all objects make it back to their origi-nal spots. Putting things away can be a game too. Just set a timer and see if they can beat the clock putting the objects away. LK

Scavenger Hunt

Other fun ideas:

Flashlight walkWater balloon fun

Painting the deck or sidewalk with waterPracticing letter writing in shaving cream

Dance party Build a fort with blankets and pillows

Catch firefliesTrust walks

Card games like crazy eights and war

I lamented to my friend Lindsey once that I don’t get to spend near enough time with my two-year old son. I work nine-plus hours a day, and my husband works even longer hours. I was feeling bad that a good portion of our precious weeknight time together was spent with me either cleaning or in the kitchen making dinner while he entertained himself in the living room. “Duh,” Lindsey replied. “Let him help you cook.” I snorted. “Whatever! I am so not letting him in there to slow me down and make messes and screw up my dinner and cut himself with knives and end up in the hospital because he ran the food processor.” But the idea marinated. It took hold, and soon I found myself sitting him up on the bar that I use as my workspace while I prepared dinner, letting him pour in pre-measured ingredients and stir batters and sauces. He loved it. Seriously, even when I was just heating up leftovers, he’d stand by the bar and ask to “Git up? Git up, Mama. I cook Mama.” Regularly, I tried to correct him. “No, you cook WITH Mama.” But it never took hold. Every night now, Johnny gets to “cook Mama” even if it’s in a small way - like pushing microwave but-tons (helps him identify his numbers!) or mixing some choco-late milk. But his skills are advancing, and now at the ripe age of 2 ½, he can practically prepare entire meals on his own. With a bit of assistance, Johnny can make his own dinner. Despite all of my tireless efforts, Johnny is a picky eater. He basically eats carnival food only. So I have to hide vegetables in all sorts of special plac-es, and encourage him to eat healthy things by trying to make them fun. I don’t have time to cut out fruit with cookie cutters every night (though I have done it), and I can’t be making hot dogs that look like cars on black olive wheels on a regular basis, so I have had to come up with a few simple things that he can do and will eat, that are also secretly at least somewhat nutritious. Our favorite, by far, is a smoothie. You can put virtually any-thing in it - even vegetables - and he’ll slurp it down. He loves to drink from a straw and a fun cup, and he loves to eat things that he made. He calls it “Johnny’s Special Juice” and he has it

for breakfast and sometimes with his dinner. I just keep it in the refrigerator and make a new batch every other night or so, so it’s ready to roll with us to day care in the morning. I prepare the ingredients and Johnny throws them into the blender pitcher. Sometimes we count the strawberries, and I think pouring from the bag of blueberries helps his hand-eye coordination. I let him help me push the blender buttons, and he gets to taste the fruits of his labor immediately, which he thinks is so cool. Blender stuff is really great for bigger kids, because they’re not really ready to do simple (and SUPERVISED) knife or stove/oven work until maybe age 8 or 9, but they can easily dump some yogurt, spinach, and frozen fruit into a blender and push go. Totally self sufficient!

Johnny’s Special Smoothie

1 4 oz container of vanilla yogurt4 strawberries, halved1 banana (frozen is best, but not necessary)6 oz (half a regular-sized bag) frozen blueberries2 large handfuls fresh spinach leaves

¼ C cranberry or other fruit juice

Just toss it in the blender and give it a spin on “puree” or a comparable setting. If you want to add volume, a few ice cubes makes a nice texture (though it’s harder for little ones to drink through a straw, so I usually skip this). Try some carrot juice or steamed broccoli. Throw in some protein pow-der if your kid isn’t fond of meat. Go crazy! Makes approximately four 6 ounce smoothies.

Another one of Johnny’s favorite things to make is pigs in blan-kets. I know that’s not exactly health food, but you can now get TURKEY lil smokies. They are delicious and less than half the fat and calories of the “regular” beef ones. I also buy low fat cres-cent rolls which also happen to have reduced sodium. Johnny loves to roll up the pigs in their blankets with their cheese snug-gled up next to them. I also let him help me make a little “dip” that isn’t so bad for him. I hate to give my kid ketchup.

Summer EatsMegan Stuke’s solution for bored hands and empty stomachs.

photos by Tara Nelson

28

(tr)

I don’t want him to be a kid that dips EVERYTHING in ketch-up. So we try new things as often as we can. These are great for kid parties. Kids (and adults) gobble them up and they’re super fast and easy to do - especially when the toddler does the wrapping part.

Turkey Pigs and Cheese in Blankets

1 can reduced fat crescent rolls16 turkey lil smokies4 mozzarella cheese sticks

Open the can of crescent rolls (your kid will love it when it pops open) and lay them out on a baking sheet you’ve prepared with cooking spray. Cut each crescent roll in half, the long way. Cut each cheese stick in the middle to half (making two short sticks) and then cut the short sticks down the middle. Place the cheese stick and the smokie at the wide end of the crescent roll and show your child how to use his or her palm to roll it toward him until it’s a wrap. They may look a little lopsided or crazy, but who cares? Your kid will love to eat something he “made” – no matter how it looks. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Johnny’s Favorite Dipping Sauce

2 Tablespoons light mayonnaise2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard1 Tablespoon parmesan cheeseI measure, he dumps it in and stirs!Serves 4 - 5 toddlers or 2 - 3 bigger kids

This is another great recipe all-around for kids that are a little older. There’s no knife work, and very little possibility for recipe error. Kids up to age 8 can do this by themselves, only needing an adult to do the baking. Older kids can handle this one with only a small amount of oven supervision. So, we’ve covered our fruits and veggies and our main course. But every kid is gonna want dessert. This is a super-simple “cheesecake” that Johnny can help me whip up in no time. I rarely bake – there just isn’t time. But this little creation doesn’t

require precise measuring, or dirtying up a lot of equipment. Heck, it doesn’t even require an oven. Kids of all ages can make this one, with varying degrees of adult assistance.

Icebox Cheesecake

1 block of cream cheese (I usually use Neufchatel – lower fat)¼ C sweetened condensed milk1 teaspoon lemon juice1 teaspoon vanilla extract8 vanilla wafers

Let your little one dump all that into a mixing bowl and stir! Get it as smooth as you can, then drop it into a mini muffin tin. My tins have only 8 spots in each, and this fills one perfectly. If you have a bigger tin, you might want to double the recipe. Let your kids put one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each tin, and then pour the cheesecake mixture into the cups to fill. Johnny is a bit to small yet for this task, but I bet by the time he’s four he’ll handle it perfectly. Pop it in the freezer for an hour to “set up” and then let your little ones top with halved strawberries or a few blueberries or whatever you have on hand. Serves 8 All of this is inexpensive to make, and can be done primarily by little hands. Try them for a little birthday party or an after-noon play group, or just for your own family for a weeknight meal. It’s a great way to kill several birds with one stone! For more information on safety and cooking with kids, visit www.kraftrecipes.com/yourkids. Kids are much more likely to eat things they have helped make. Cooking with your kids gives them opportunities to practice math skills, direction following and dexterity-building. Most importantly, you’re making those precious minutes count, and hopefully building some self-reliance along the way. Just think – maybe the day will come when your kid will make *you* dinner, instead of the other way around. LK

30

Your KidsDeserve The BestGrow ’em happy and healthy with organic food from The Merc

The Merc Community Market & Deli901 Iowa · Lawrence · Kansas 66044 · Open 7am–10pm

785 843 8544 · www.TheMerc.Coop

Home

33

RangetheonWhite Oak Ranch is an unexpected haven for girls, horses and dreams.

photos by Emmalee Schaumburg

O On a sunny evening in early summer, Beau stands still. The mild-man-nered 30 year-old horse is in the center of White Oak Ranch’s open-air riding barn, being circled by three other horses. “Oh, come on boy,” Becky Buchanan, lead instructor at White Oak Ranch, urges with a laugh. With Buchanan’s good-natured encouragement, Beau puts one foot in front of the other and joins the other horses in their circle formation. “There’s just something about horses,” Buchanan says. “The combina-tion of power, grace, beauty and majesty is something that really draws girls in. It certainly did with me.” White Oak Ranch, located in the rolling hills just west of Lawrence, host acreage of riding terrain and boarding stables for dozens of horses. The ranch buzzes with activity. Riders of all ages are cleaning the sta-bles, brushing horses or sweeping the barn. In one area, an instructor helps an older lady saddle her horse. Outside the main boarding stable a teenager sprays her horse with a hose. It was never the intention of the ranch to cater to girls, but more girls have always taken lessons than boys. Buchanan can’t really explain the higher numbers of girls than boys, but she attributes it to the unspoken lure between girls and horses of all kinds. cont.

39

Ages

41

If anyone knows about the lure between young girls and hors-es, it would be Becky Buchanan. Born to “city folk” in New York City, Buchanan longed for the open skies and pastures where horses ran. Childhood took her and her family to Arizona, Cali-fornia and, eventually, Idaho. When she was 13 years-old and living in Idaho Buchanan’s consistent pestering of her mother paid off, and she got her own horse. “It was more than a dream come true,” Buchanan says with the wide smile that is nearly omnipresent when she speaks. “Work-ing with my horse really help me when my parents separated. They’ve taught me to lead and demand responsibility. I under-stand how these girls feel about their horses because I’ve been there. I’ve experienced the joy and nerves of learning to ride and learning to care for a horse. Really, there’s nothing you can compare it to.” Buchanan’s passion lead her to a life around horses. She re-ceived a degree in equine studies at Johnson County Commu-nity College and stayed in the area after graduation. Soon she started giving riding lessons around Lawrence and found her way to White Oak Ranch, where she’s been for 15 years. “This job is a dream come true,” Buchanan says as she shifts forward in her chair. “To be able to spend my time around these beautiful animals and encourage kids, boys, girls and adults ap-preciate horses is just great. I’m so lucky.”

TheTeacher

TheRiders In the open-air riding barn, four girls sit atop prancing horses. The girls range in age from 8 to 15. As the four girls bring their horses to a slow waltz, Buchanan stands in the center, her eyes scanning the posture and foot placement of each girl. When she directs a riding lesson, it’s clear Buchanan is doing what she loves. She accentuates the positive with each rider and offers simple, clear tips for improvement. Her encouragement is in-stantly contagious, and the girls riding begin to echo Buchanan’s tips and compliments to each other. Each of the girls are in complete control of their horse. As the waltz grows to a gallop, the girls rise from their saddles and they focus more on their horses gate. “Very nice, Hazel,” Buchanan says. “Your posture is wonderful. Now pick up your gate a bit.” “I like the power of the horses,” says Hazel, exuding a quiet confidence. She works with Bear, a powerful black horse. “Bear is easy to connect with and he seems to know what I’m think-ing sometimes. He’s smooth when he gallops and lets me know what he wants to do.” Hazel is typical of the girls riding at White Oak Ranch. She is confident in the saddle. She concentrates on each step Bear

makes and her words of encouragement for her horse are inter-rupted with laughter and comments for the other riders. Though laughter and smiles are as common as horseshoes and hay, it is far from only fun and games at the ranch. Each rider, before they ever saddle a horse, must learn the ins and outs of horse care. They saddle and bridle the horses themselves. When the riding lesson is over, it is the girls’ responsibility to make sure the horse and stable are clean and comfortable. Their horse must be feed and watered. The girls’ work is evident: the stable is as clean as most kitchens. “Hey, scooping poop is part of riding,” Buchanan preaches. “We encourage the fantasy of riding, but we balance that with the reality of work related to caring for an animal. Princesses have to clean poop too.”

ForAll It’s not just young girls riding at White Oak Ranch. Michele Longhurst recently rekindled her love affair with the animals. “Since I was a child, I have been mesmerized and in love with horses,” says Longhurst, owner of The Velvet Chair Salon in Lawrence. “My first intimate experience with horses was in Western Kansas, riding and showing an amazing horse in 4H. I owned a Paint Quarter horse when I was in fifth grade.” After childhood, the responsibilities of life took Longhurst away from horses. Years later, her own child indirectly lead her back to the barns. “I had always missed my childhood horse,” Longhurst says. “When my son, my only child, became ill and was very sick, for a few years, I needed help with my sad and heavy heart. Thoughts of my childhood and the love, the joy, the deep mean-ingful experience of being around horses kept popping into my head.” Longhurst found her way to White Oak Ranch and began working with Devin, a six year-old Arabian mix gelding. “The love, support and professionalism at White Oak Ranch has made this last year of horsemanship an amazing and heal-ing experience,” Longhurst says. “The atmosphere at the ranch is calming and supportive. The staff clearly care for each rider and all the horses.” The story warms Buchanan’s heart. She is a strong believer in the healing power of horses and supports the idea of using horses in therapy. “Horses are beautiful, smart animals,” Buchanan says with a wide smile. “I know a lot of folks who will say they have been saved by a horse. We spend our time taking care of them, and we often don’t realize all they are doing for us.” LK

August 31








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June 1

Making your lifeeasier, healthier, happier.

3504 Clinton ParkwayLawrence, Kansas

785-832-0044

4000 West Sixth StreetLawrence, Kansas

785-832-9449

August 31








We’re Open!




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June 1

Making your lifeeasier, healthier, happier.

3504 Clinton ParkwayLawrence, Kansas

785-832-0044

4000 West Sixth StreetLawrence, Kansas

785-832-9449

45

Lawrence mom Dana Hangauer has connected her passion fordiverse food, love of her son and entrepreneurial spirit in Eat Art Club.

photos by Casey Wright

A

47

As Dana Hangauer sits at the table in Lawrence’s hip Bourgeois Pig coffee bar, she shifts restlessly. When she speaks, she leans forward and emphasizes her points with a big smile and raised eyebrows. Her energy and joy are contagious. Hangauer is clearly passionate about a few things and they all seem to connect. She is proud of her son, Dorien (“that kid is just the coolest,” she says). She has built a career around food (“it’s an overwhelming passion”). She is inspired by art and the drive to live a creative life. The petite blonde has found a way to connect all of her passions. Eat Art Club is a creative culinary company producing food terms, apparel, kids t’s, totes, tanks, culinary art, food art, photography, prints, and more. The road that lead Hangauer to Eat Art Club was far from straight. Hangauer was born in California but grew up in Kansas City, playing softball and perfecting a pickle sandwich. “No, seriously,” Hangauer jokes with her broad smile. “I would offer all my friends and family my custom pickle sandwich. It was great, though I’m confident my abilities have progressed past pickles, bread and cheese.” After graduating high school, Hangauer headed west, back to her roots in California. She became enthralled with the San Francisco food scene. She spent countless hours, and countless dollars trying new flavours and dishes. The experience was life chang-ing. “It was absolutely a great learning experience.” Hangauer says. “I jumped head first into the culinary scene in San Francisco. I read everything I could get my hands on about the local food scene and tried as many dishes as I could.” By 1999, Hangauer was working in San Diego and finishing a degree at the Califor-nia Culinary Academy in La Mesa, California in 2000. She worked in various kitchens in Southern California (including The Prado restaurant and Aubergine in San Diego) before relocating to Los Angeles and working as the restaurant manager at Loews Beverly Hills Hotel. By then, however, Hangauer had fallen in love and had her son, Dorien. She loved raising her amid the cultural and culinary diversity on the west coast, but eventually heartstrings pulled her back to the Midwest. “I loved taking Dorien to markets and great cultural restaurants,” Hangauer says. “His palate was developed and challenged almost from birth, so now he isn’t hesitant to try new foods or flavors. But it’s not like he’ll eat anything. The kid decided on his own to be a vegetarian. One of the great things about living in Lawrence is most of that great food he learned to love in California is available here.” Her work in the California kitchens inspired Hangauer to pursue a business degree at Baker University. “I had the kitchen skills and experience,” Hangauer says. “I wanted to learn how to manage the business side of a restaurant. The program at Baker was amazing. It added a whole new scope of experience.” cont.

Dana with Dorien and friend Dave.

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Soon Hangauer found herself back in the kitchen, working as a Sous Chef with Krause Dining. Hangauer’s day job now is a part of Pachamama’s management team, coordinating their catering operations. Though she no longer earns her living in the kitchen, Hangau-er’s life revolves around food and her family. She cooks for Dorien (yes, catering to his vegetarian requirements) and ca-ters small events out of her kitchen. Her entrepreneurial spirit has manifested itself in Eat Art Club. The business is centered around culinary exploration, but doesn’t necessarily involve food. Hangauer designed and produced a series of simple T-shirts, each featuring one culinary word. Eat. Taste. Yum. Amuse Bouche (okay, that’s two words). The shirts are printed on cot-ton so soft you may want to put it over your pillow at night. The trim shirts are available in a variety of colors and combinations and are produced in adult and kid sizes. “Dorien is a pretty cool kid,” Hangauer says with an honest laugh. “I don’t really dictate what he wears. He tells me he likes the shirts, so that’s a win for me. Whenever he wears one to school he says other kids think the shirts are cool.” Pachamama’s pastry chef wears a Eat Art Club shirt almost everyday to work, which Hangauer says is great. “Chef clothes are not comfortable,” she says. “And they cer-tainly aren’t designed or styled with women in mind. A new trend is to do away with the white jackets and wear more relaxes clothes. I think that is a market I can target.” In addition to the shirts, Eat Art Club designs canvas tote

bags (perfect for days at the pool or beach, Hangauer suggests), also adorned with culinary statements. The T-shirts and bags have sold well online and at local art shows and Hangauer is considering expanding both the number and types of products available. “To this point, this has all been very low-key,” she says. “I love my day job, and I love spending time with Dorien. Eat Art Club is a passion, but finding enough time to really invest is challenging.” Want to know when our products are available and how you can have them? Check out Eat Art Club on Facebook or register for updates on their website: www.eatartclub.com LK

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a full line of haircare products

featuring

$5 off haircutsfor new clients

(regularly $40)

$10 off color for new clients (regularly $60 & up)

chair

the

a unique full-service hair salon for both

women and men in an exclusive, downtown location

specializing in european color and progressive

haircuts to suit your personal style

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Sunshine Acres Montessori SchoolSunshine Acres Montessori School 2141 Maple Lane, Lawrence, KS 66046

785-842-2223 www.ssacres.orgwww.ssacres.org

Helping Children Grow into Something Great!

To assist a child we must provide him with an

environment which will enable him to develop freely.

- Maria Montessori

Rich Montessori environment geared to the child’s natural tendencies.

The school operates as a non-profit, private school and participates in the state food program.

Sunshine Acres serves 124 children ages 12 months to 12 years.

Children play and learn on a large, well-equipped playground.

Families can choose from a variety of schedules.

Sunshine Acres is licensed by KDHE as a child care center, License No. 0061926

Four Star Rating Four Star Rating By the Kansas Quality Improvement SystemBy the Kansas Quality Improvement System

Lawrence Kids5 SummerMust-Dos

It is still Summer.Turn the TV off.

Turn the smiles on.

Go.

CLINTONLAKE

1. Take your kids to

what you need:

sunscreen

insect repellent

water

comfortable shoes

map (provided)

appropriate swimming attire

hardy snack

a one-page guide to

LAWRENCEBUSKER FEST

2. Attend the fabulous

what you need:

camera

cash for dinner downtown

willingness to be awed

comfortable shoes

photo courtesy of Pogo Dudes

chalk (for starting and finishing line)

stopwatch

list of events / time sheet

cookie medals for winners

OLYMPICGAMES

3. Create your own family

what you need:

4. Complete the Public Library’s Summer

READINGPROGRAM

what you need:

eyes (or ears - audio also counts)

bookmark

official form

book suggestions (see page 16)

comfortable shoes (cart extra)

clubs

sunscreen

bugspray

4.5 hours

K IDS GOLFFOR FREE

5. Enjoy a round of golf at Alvamar

what you need:

Jennifer Sievers, owner of Arizona Trading Company, loves Summer.

With son Tiger by her side, she’s ready to make the most of the season

with her Seasonal Essentials. photo by Emmalee Schaumburg

1. A hose, preferably with a multi-sprayer attachment. It’s amazing how entertaining a hose can be to an eight-year-old 2. Spray sunblock - a snap to put on, and it’s easier to get all body parts than with cream. 3. A library card. We have a fantastic public library, and the children’s sec- tion as wonderful reading programs and shows for kids all summer long! 4. Bicycles. 5. Grow- ing edible things. I could never be a farmer, and I barely pass as a gardener, but the sa- tisfaction of growing our own food is really exciting. Even if I only get one tomato out of the deal, that is one awesome tomato. Tiger eats the mint in our yard all summer long. 6. As many roads trips as we can manage. This summer we’re going to Washington to visit Spencer’s winery, St. Louis and, once again, the Garden of Eden in Lucas, KS. 7. Keen waterproof sandals for Tiger - they are the perfect kid summer shoe, appropriate everywhere. 8. Homemade popsicle freezers - they can be found anywhere, they’re inexpensive, and Tiger can be in charge of making his own popsicles! 9. Oxy-clean stain remover. 10. A place to sit outside and eat dinner or just relax. We have our outside table in the carport. Yes, it’s a carport, but I try to make it as glamorous as a carport can be. On summer nights, after a day of buying and selling clothes, I will be in the carport with a glass of Spencer’s wine , listening to the tree frogs.

61

ReuseLawrence Kids

Thanks for reading the Summer issue of Lawrence Kids.Now, instead of just putting it down and walking away, use it for a fun art project!

We found this great use of magazine pages on Rebecca Dunn’s blog: www.sturdyforcommonthings.com. Dunn, a “full-time stay-at-home-mom by day, part-time youth librarian by night and on weekends,” has pages and pages of creative ideas for summer (and fall, winter and spring) fun. Almost all of her creations have reading suggestions that complement the topic.

photos by Rebecca Dunn

1. Tear out a bunch of colorful pages. We suggest picking your favorite pictures.

2. Cut into squares about 5×5 inches (or bigger, if you want a bigger butterfly).

3. Fold into thin strips. They don’t have to be perfect, but make sure to get a good crease.

4. Using a full-length pipe cleaner, shape into a “v” shape, and twist the bottom twice.

5. Pinch one or two folded magazine pages in the center and slide into pipe cleaner “v” and twist the pipe cleaner ends together two or three times, securing the wings.

6. Shape antenna. If a butterfly just isn’t gnarly enough, add more pages for volume and more pipe cleaners for legs!

1.

2. 3.

4. 5.

63

Karen Evans, DO

Joy Murphy, MD

John Gravino, DO

W. Greg Stueve, MD

Thomas Marcellino, MD

Sherri Vaughn, MD

You can count on the caring physicians and

staff at Mt. Oread Family Practice to provide

complete medical and diagnostic services for

you and your family. We provide convenient

in-house lab services, patient education and

a full range of services through our affiliation

with Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

For more information, visit us at www.lmh.org/mtoread.

Quality care for the whole family.

LMH South 3510 Clinton Place, Suite 210 Lawrence 66047 (785) 842-5070

Documents

Lawrence Kids, Summer 2012