Squeezing in some nature time

I came across some quick excursions here in Oxford that I thought I'd share. These are bite-sized little trips, great for an afternoon when you have an extra 20 minutes to hold your kid's hand and wonder at nature for a little while.
The first is the Black (Pugh's Mill) covered bridge (LINK), which is on Corso Rd. off 732. It's a very short drive from the Doctor's Park, the pediatrician, and the dentist and vet offices near there (look for a sign on the left), so I've taken my kids there as a treat sometimes after an appointment. The bridge itself is fun to walk across, and at the end, there's a small but rather steep path down to a little creek where my boys love to throw rocks and pebbles. There's also a lovely flower garden and a picnic bench.
I also recently discovered the sculptures on the back lawn of the art museum on campus (LINK). SS and I found some well-groomed trails to walk along and stumbled across one exhibit we like to call the Hobbit Hole. It was hot, though, so bring water, or a hat, or a parasol... Also, note that the indoor galleries are closed for renovations until Sept. 15, according to their web site.
Finally, if you haven't been to the Miami's formal gardens, on Patterson Ave. across from the Miami Inn (LINK), summer is a great time to check it out. Lots of pretty flowers were in bloom the last time we went there for a picnic lunch -- great spot for photos. Enjoy!

Shademakers Gardening in Oxford

We made our annual trip out to Shademakers yesterday. It's one of the few times I actually plan around bringing my kids with me to shop. Shademakers is basically a farm with a greenhouse out on Fairfield Rd. (not far from the Community Park). Besides the kids gardening items they usually carry in their store, and the cool selection of plants and organic seeds. They also have farm animals for kids to see and pet. When we have gone, the workers have been great about offering to show my kids the animals. Our first time there, she actually walked the kids over to see the donkey while I picked out our flowers.

Yesterday we discovered 5-6 baby chicks had been born, and SC even got to hold one! Thomas, the big goat, loves to be petted. And Claribel, their minature donkey, is SC's favorite. The worker said there is a possibility that Claribell might be pregnant. SC got the biggest kick hearing about the "love affair" between Cocoa and Claribell--the worker said that Cocoa, a miniture donkey from a nearby farm, and Claribell spent some time together. She said that Claribell sometimes calls to Cocoa because she misses him (sweet!).

Directions: Take Fairfield Ave. out of town, past Oxford Community Park. Shademakers will be on your left (after Riggs Rd.).

Keep your kids busy this summer

Who knew that a town with a summertime population of less than 10,000 would have such a wealth of summertime activities for kids? I spent one afternoon trying to map out my 5-year-old's summer schedule and ended up with a calendar stuffed with everything from swimming to ice skating. Here's a rough guide to some of the things your kid can venture forth and do when school gets out.

Tots and Babies

Baby Time LINK
Songs, rhymes and stories for really wee ones will be available Mondays at the Lane Public Library, July 7, 14, 21 and 28. Babies from 12 to 23 months can attend from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Babies from 0 to 12 months attend from 11 to 11:45 a.m. It's free!

Toddler Story Time LINK
There are two sessions for toddler story time at the Lane Public Library, both from 11 to 11:30 a.m. One runs on Tuesdays, from June 3 to July 22; the other runs on Wednesdays, from June 4 to July 23. Registration began May 27. It's free. Best of all, Mr. Perky Bird will be there. Don't forget family story time at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays from June 5 to Aug. 15. All ages are welcome, and you don't need to register.

Summer Snoopers LINK
Three- to five-year-olds can learn about sports, dinosaurs, cooking and a bunch of other fun stuff at a day camp run through Oxford's Parks and Recreation Department. Children attend from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday for $57 a week. They also get a daily swim. The first session starts June 9; the last one starts July 28.

Ice Skating PDF BROCHURE
LINK
Tots ages 3 to 5 can learn to skate at the Goggin Ice Center through three sessions: Fridays, June 13, 20, 27 and July 11; Monday through Thursday, July 14-17; or Monday through Thursday, July 21-24. Classes take place in the evenings -- check the online brochure for what level your child may qualify for, and what times classes are held for those levels. The first registation deadline is on June 6.

Swim lessons LINK
Children as young as 6 months can start splashing away at the town pool at the Tri Community Center, starting June 16. Prices start at $32 for a two-week session (Monday through Friday). Lessons are 30 to 50 minutes, depending on your child's level. Check the web site for times, dates, and level information.

Ages 5 and up

Art class LINK
The Oxford Community Arts Center has a "Fun with Art" class for kids ages 5-6. It runs on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays for two weeks, from June 16-27. The class takes place from 10:45 a.m. to noon at the arts center and is taught by studio artist Chrissy Collopy, who also used to teach young children at the Oxford Early Education Center. Last I heard, there were a few spots left. It's $40 per child.

Gardeneering Camp LINK
Kids ages 6 to 12 can help cultivate a children's garden at the Oxford Community Arts Center on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. There are three sessions, each consisting of three consecutive Saturdays. Session I starts June 14; session II starts July 12; and session III starts Aug. 2. The cost is $30 per session.

Kids in College LINK
Miami University offers several educational camps on campus. Most are for older kids, but there are a couple for ages 6 to 11. "Can You Dig It? Fossil Hunt!" runs from 12:30-3:30 p.m. from July 14 through 18 and costs $145. "Make and Take It Home," where kids make their own toys, runs from 9 a.m. to noon that same week and costs the same. Older kids can take Spanish, self-defense and even a Bollywood class.

Story Time LINK
Kids ages 4-6 get their own story time at the Lane Public Library at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesdays, from June 3 to July 22. Registration began on May 20. Don't forget family story time at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays from June 5 to Aug. 15. All ages are welcome, and you don't need to register.

Picture Your World LINK
Kids ages 6 to 9 receive a disposable camera to document their own experiences in this workshop, which runs from 4 to 5 p.m. Fridays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Registration began May 30.

REC Kids Camp LINK
Kids ages 6 to 12 spend a week at a time swimming in the Rec Center pool on campus, playing dodgeball, bowling and going on fabulous field trips, including to the Cincinnati Museum Center and to the Beach Water Park. Each week-long session costs $125 or $150, depending on your membership status at the gym. Sessions begin June 9; the last session begins July 28. Camp runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional supervised hours available.

Camp Invention LINK
Kids entering grades one through six can sign up for Camp Invention at Bogan Elementary. It runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the week of June 16-20. Local teachers present hands-on learning activities in physics, engineering and problem solving. Cost: $205.

Great Outdoors Adventure Camp PDF LINK
The Oxford Parks and Recreation Department's camp for children entering kindergarten through the sixth grade takes place from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from June 9 to Aug. 15. Daily fees start at $25 for residents, while weekly fees start at $81.

Beyond Oxford

Safety Town LINK
The boys and I were at McDonald's when I picked up a flyer about "Safety Town," a safety class for kids ages 4 and 5. It's held during five week-long sessions from 10 a.m. to noon at Power House Park in Hamilton (E. River Rd. and Williams Ave.) The first session starts June 9; the last one starts July 14. In a classroom and through a simulated "Safety Town Village," kids learn about pedestrian, vehicle, school bus and fire safety, and they learn how to deal with strangers. It's free. For more information, call the Greater Hamilton Safety Council at 896-5333.

If you're willing to drive, there are also some interesting camps at the Cincinnati Zoo (LINK), the Cincinnati Museum Center (LINK), and the Cincinnati Art Museum. (LINK)

This is not an exhaustive list -- feel free to post other ideas you might have!

Cake Decorating Ideas: Bear Cupcakes

I am definitely not an expert cake decorator. My mom always made our cakes, so I do my best with my boys:) I thought it would be fun to share ideas on the blog. Comments and additions are welcome! You can also e-mail me cake pictures (if you know who I am;) and I'd be happy to post them on the blog.

I made these bear cupcakes for my elementary group to eat during our games, after watching "Prince Caspian" this weekend. In the book they eat bear meat, although in the movie they just kill the bear. Gross, I know. Anyway, they were so easy my 6 year old actually did most of the decorating. My afterschool kids at church loved them! Start with any cupcake recipe. I made mine from scratch only because I didn't have a mix on hand and couldn't run to the store.

For decorating I used: white chocolate mini reese's cups, mini nutterbutter cookies, white chocolate chips, and chocolate icing.

It probably would have looked more authentic with regular mini reese's, but I didn't want to make or buy white icing in addition to the chocolate (was short on time) and chocolate icing would not have shown up. Also could use mini oreo's for ears and a mini nilla wafer for mouth if you don't like peanut butter.

1. Ice cupcakes

2. Put Reese's bottom-side up for nose/mouth.

2. Put two choc. chips for eyes

3. Cut cookie in half and put in icing for ears

4. Use contrasting icing to decorate mouth, nose, and eye dots.

5. Enjoy!

Diaper Cake (you don't eat it!)

I thought, since our playgroup has had so many babies being born lately, I'd post this great babyshower/baby gift idea. I've seen much more elaborate ones online, but this "cake" I put together for my college roommate babyshower last year still turned out cool. It looks like a cake, but it's made out of diapers with baby essentials shuved in.

Here's how I did mine:

You will need-- 1 pkg of newborn diapers, a one or two inch pretty ribbon, rubber bands, a paper towel tube, and something for on top (a toy, stuffed animal or something).

1. Roll the diapers up one at a time and secure with rubberband around middle. I didn't have to use the entire package (don't remember how many it took).

2. Put three rows of rolled diapers around the paper towel tube to look like the bottom layer.

3. Tie the ribbon around the outter layer to hold the whole bottom in place (and hide rubberbands)

3. Put two rows on top of that, then one row on the top. Secure each row with a ribbon that you tie in a pretty fashion. It will look like a tiered cake when done.

4. You can tuck socks, hats, rattles, etc into the ribbon or between the diaper layers. I bought a whole bunch of hats and socks at the Gap outlet.

5. Put the cute animal or toy on top to cover the paper towel hole. Since I had to get mine to Indy, I secured the monkey with a few straight pins (do this carefully, making sure to let the person you are giving it to so they know where those are--no one wants any prickly surprises).

Voila! Makes a great babyshower centerpiece.

A swimming pool you wouldn't think of....

Most people don't know that you can buy a pass to swim at the Baymont Inn on 27. We have friends who go to the Baymont Inn (formerly Amerihost Inn) to swim every morning. The monthly family passes are an exceptionally great value. Baymont Inn's indoor pool isn't huge, but Sullivan and Theo have liked it the times we've been there. It's not normally crowded, especially mid-week. There isn't a lifeguard (like most hotel pools), so parents have to be in with their kids.

An individual monthly pass is $20, but a Family pass (which includes everyone in your immediate family) is $25 for the month.

I think that makes this a great option -- especially during the "cabin-fever inducing" winter months.

Directions: Take 27 North out of Oxford. It will be on your right following Wendy's a bit (before Walmart).

Phone: 523-2733

Violin Lessons in Oxford

After attending a "Peter and the Wolf Concert" my 5 year old, SC, decided he wanted to learn violin. A year later he was still asking, so we did some research and found a really great program that is run out of Miami. It came highly recommended, and its cost is pretty competitive with what I hear other instrument lessons, like piano, are going for now. We are hoping it will be an investment. Even if he doesn't keep up with violin, he's working on developing his musical abilities.

He's only been taking lessons for a month, but he loves his teacher and he still doesn't complain about practicing. Violin is a difficult instrument, and most of their first lessons are spent working on how to hold it properly with good form. He was allowed to use the bow for the first time this week. I was afraid SC would get bored with this beginning, tedious part, but SC's teacher has made it fun with cute rhymes and easy to practice assignments. She keeps saying "quality over quantity" concerning practice time.

Virginia Glick Young Musicians Program
http://www.fna.muohio.edu/musweb/programs/special/YoungMusiciansProgram.html
Cost: $20/30 minute lesson. 3 Saturday group lessons are included free.
Follows Miami's schedule, one private lesson per week (15 total)
All students are encouraged to perform in the recital following each semester. Recitals are open to public, in Souers Hall at Miami.

AGE? 4 years old and up.

Violin Rental is $16/month from Baroque Violin Shop https://baroqueviolinshop.ppcserver.net/rentalform.php