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September 2007: "When you were a kid, did you look forward to the first day of school or did you dread it? and why?"
"I always loved the first day of school. I missed seeing friends that I didn't get together with over the summer. I remember it was always such a process trying to figure out what to wear on the first day of school and I never slept the night before."
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
Like they said in You've Got Mail, "I love the smell of school supplies in the fall". I always enjoyed going back to school, maybe it was the shopping. I would have my backpack ready for a month in advance and a special outfit picked out for the first day.
-mom of 2 yr old and infant
"I loved the start of school as a kid. I love the new clothes, school supplies and the promise a new school year could bring - anything could happen and I could learn the most amazing things."
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
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August 2007: What is your family's favorite "beat the heat" activity?
"We like to spend time at the air conditioned library, go to the Sutton Town Beach, and eat Popsicles in the shade on our deck."
- mom of 4 yr old & 1 yr old
"We like to go to the air conditioned mall and walk around with the kids in the stroller. We all stay cool and I get a little exercise (and maybe a little shopping too)".
-mom of 2 yr old and infant
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June 2007: What is your favorite local ice cream shoppe and why?
West End Creamery is definitely our favorite around here. It's such a great space for kids. We're looking forward to trying the miniature golf course. Cold Stone Creamery in the Shoppes is nice but I wish they had more seating!
-mom of 3 yr old & baby on the way
West End Creamery! Good variety of flavors, awesome view with lots of grass to run barefoot on, the new mini golf course, farm animals, hayrides, clean air! Like I said, Awesome!
-dad of 4 yr old, 1 yr old & baby on the way
If you are ever in Vermont, a stop at the Ben and Jerry's factory in Waterbury, VT is worth the trip. My family stopped by on the way home from a ski trip in Stowe, VT. The tour is really short and the kids really enjoyed watching how they produced ice cream on the assembly line. The best part is the free samples at the end of the tour. There website is fun too www.benjerry.com
-mom of 4 yr old and 1 yr old
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May 2007: What is your favorite flower and/or plant to grow and why?
I love tulips. They are so unexpected and joyful. They come out just at the moment you are feeling as if you'd burst if you don't see something, anything, growing in the ground. They are also low maintenance. I also have a great fondness for edible flowers like pansies and lavender.
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
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April 2007: How did your family prepare for and adjust to having a new baby?
When Shea was born, she had a gift for Bennett when he came to the hospital. She picked out a huge Tonka vehicle. We wanted to make sure that he associated her with a good feeling right away. She wasn't there to take away, but to bring! Shea didn't mind a bit.
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
These are some of the things we did to prepare Owen for the new baby:
- Reading books and watching videos about welcoming a new baby. I like "Baby on the Way" by Dr. Sears.
- Owen helped prepare for the baby by being involved in setting up the nursery.
- Owen helped pick out some new baby toys that he could give the new baby.
- We bought a "big boy bed" long before the baby was due so he wouldn't think the baby was taking over his crib.
- We had practice sleepovers at Grammy's house as that is where he was going to stay while I was in the hospital
-mom of 4 yr old and 1 yr old
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March 2007: What is your favorite way to include kids in daily household activities? (cooking, laundry, cleaning, etc)
I can't cook dinner, do laundry, or empty/fill the dishwasher without my son trying to "help". In the evening, he almost always stands at the counter with me and "cooks". I give him safe things from the utensil drawer and a few veggies to play with and he's happy. Lately he's preoccupied with the cake decorator (canvas bag with different tips) and likes to put carrots, uncooked rice and noodles through it.
-mom of 3 yr old
We have been watching a show called "Dirty Jobs" about different jobs around the world that are all kinds of dirty. I mentioned that I was going to clean the bathroom the other day and it was a dirty job. I had two volunteers right away that wanted to help with that dirty job. They donned rubber gloves and wiped surfaces, swept, and hauld rugs to the laundry. So now when I need help, I call a job a 'dirty job'!
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
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February 2007: What is your favorite 'date night'?
We like to go out to dinner at any of the Italian restaurants on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. I'd be happy to recommend one as we have been to many. We always save room for dessert at Café Dolce which is located on Shrewsbury St. as well. On less fancy occasions, we enjoy going out for beer, pizza or Thai food and a movie. As we often lack babysitters, we usually end up renting DVDs!
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
We started a Friday Night Family Date Night when Bennett was little. We make pizza or get take out and watch a video together. Then we play a game or just play with blocks as a family.
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
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January 2007: What are your best tips and tricks for traveling with kids?
Owen played with a view master, like the one we had has kids, during a long drive to Vermont. We also traveled at night when the boys were mostly likely to sleep.
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
When flying, we always bring his pillowcase from home and put it on the little travel pillow they give you so that he's got something familiar. We also found an insulated cup that requires a bit of effort to draw the water etc. up through the straw and it's great for relieving pressure in the ears! Finally, a week or so before we travel, we (accidentally) got into the habit of telling "the airplane story" each night before bed . Our story includes every detail from the moment we check in at the gate, to the sounds of the engine starting and stopping, the landing gear coming up or down and the seat belt light which went "ding" at certain times. Because he liked hearing the story so much he was able to identify each little noise as it happened which made the trip even more exciting. One very important part of our story.... when the captain says the seat belt has to go back on... it has to go back on! (And if the steward has to step in as the "captain"... so be it)
-mom of 3 yr old
When we travel six hours (each way) to Maine, I package up small toys or books that we can open on the way. I plan for one every half hour or so. The toys are sometime new or sometimes our special travel-only toys. I wrap them in comics so there is an element of suspense and it takes 3 more seconds! My travel only toys are key. I have magnetic boards, felt boards, travel games, sticker books, and tiny magnets in tins.
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
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December 2006: What is your family's favorite holiday tradition?
I pick out one new ornament a year for my children. I try to pick one that is significant for that year like baby's first Christmas, Elmo, etc. Last year my son and I decorated a gingerbread house together and plan on doing it again this year. I'm hoping on making this a yearly tradition. We also enjoy attending the Chain of Lights, going to church on Christmas eve, leaving cookies for Santa, and taking a family picture.
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
Now that my daughter is old enough, we are introducing some of our favorite traditions from our childhoods. She has her first advent calendar this year and enjoys my favorite movie from when I was little
, "The Christmas Toy". Maybe this year she will also help bake the 15 different kinds of cookies for the family Christmas party!
-mom of 1 yr old
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November 2006: What activities do you and your family enjoy when the weather gets cold? (activities can be indoor or outdoor)
One of the weekend things we love to do this time of year is to take a trip out to Deerfield to go to Magic Wings butterfly sanctuary. It's a bit of a hike but Yankee Village is only a minute down the street so we have lunch and do some Christmas shopping after spending time with the butterflies. It's become an annual event for us. My only tip would be to dress in layers - they keep the sanctuary at a toasty 75 degrees for the butterflies. Here are their links...
MagicWing
Yankee Candle
-mom of 3 yr old
Anything inside which allows the kiddies to run around, such as a Gymboree-type place.
-mom of 2 yr old and 1 yr old
Before we had our daughter, we loved to spend the snowy days either outdoors skiing or indoors playing board games. We can't wait to get her on her first set of skis and to introduce her to family game day!
-mom of infant
We like to stay in under a cozy blanket and watch the snow fall outside. And after an adventure outside, I still enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows!
-mom of 1 yr old
We open the garage and ride bikes and trikes inside on the worse of days.
Generally we still go out and walk. We like to see the seasonal changes by walking the same short path many times over the year.
-mom of 5 yr old and 3 yr old
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October 2006: What is your best advice for trick-or-treating in the Millbury and Sutton area?
The Sutton Fire Department has a Halloween costume contest and party on Halloween night. It's for all ages. The kids parade around the gazebo then go inside the fire station for treats. Owen went at age two and loved it! He just ran around in circles and loved parading around the gazebo with the "big" kids. The Millbury Library also has a little Halloween gathering that we always go to that's lots of fun.
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
Go out at dusk and take your time. Don't rush. Say hi to everyone you pass and play your part (fairy's throw some fairy dust, witches cast spells…)
-dad of 3 yr old and 1 yr old
We go early, before the big kids are out, usually around 6:00-6:30 (as soon as it is dark). We live on a cul-de-sac so the neighborhood is fairly quiet and there is just enough candy to make the kids happy! We actually have hundreds of kids (I usually spend about $60 on candy ugh!) in our circle on Halloween that don't live here but trick-or-treat here - we must have good candy!
-mom of 2 yr old and infant, stepmom of 13 yr old
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October 2006: What tricks do you use to get your kids to eat fruits and vegetables?
We only offered healthy food to begin with, so Owen never knew about things like French Fries, but that's not the case now. I used to hide the veggies in macaroni and cheese or in the pasta sauce. Owen gets very excited to eat the vegetables that we grow in our garden. He never ate a tomato until he helped to grow them.
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
We told her that the doctor said it would keep her from becoming a monster, and we write the new ones down on a board. Trying new things is good, and when she has 10 new ones we go out for ice cream. And we keep reminding her that she can't not like it if she has not yet tried it. Those words will sink in some day.
-dad of 3 yr old and 1 yr old
Fruit have never been a problem, but we add cheese to vegetables to make them taste a little better.
-mom of 2 yr old and infant, stepmom of 13 yr old
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September 2006: What is your favorite local place to hike with the kids?
We like to go hiking at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton. The main trail is a little rocky for little ones but the side trails are fun. Last time we were there, Owen and I collected a big bag of pine cones to make some holiday crafts with our MOMS club friends.
I also like to go to Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston. (free with library pass) www.Towerhillbg.org. There are beautiful gardens, frog pond, fountains, a path thru the woods, etc. and it's very stroller friendly.
-mom of 3 yr old and infant
Our Favorite Place to Hike is West Hartford Res in Connecticut. A Bit far, but well worth it.
-dad of 3 yr old and 1 yr old
Brood Meadow Brook is a great place to hike. Although it's not stroller friendly, it's a beautifully preserved area for more experienced walkers. Check it out!
-mom of 3 yr old
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