Owensboro Parent November/December 2014

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2 OWENSBORO PARENT . November // December 2014 www.OwensboroParent.com

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This holiday season is a little more special for the Sorce family, as we prepare to welcome our second child, a son, into our family of three. I opened up to our readers a few issues ago about our fertility issues and the struggle we faced in trying to grow our family. While making the decision to share our story was difficult, I truly believe it is important to share all sides of parenting: the joyful, the sad, the trying, the happy, the celebration and the sorrow. After sharing our story we received an outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and even strangers, who I now realize are not strangers at all, but our Owensboro Parent family, readers like you that took time to show fellow parents support in a time of struggle. It is this support, along with prayer and wonderful doctors that led to our happy ending. Reed James is due in early March and Jeff, Avery and I could not be more excited to meet him! As you will read in a few pages, we are featuring the story of Emelia, the sweet daughter of Sara and Kyle Aud. While Emelia was born last year into a world that was desperately awaiting her arrival, to parents that loved her before even meeting her, she never took a breath. Owensboro Parent is honored to share the Auds’ story and thankful that this grieving family has found light within darkness. Within these pages you will also find Owensboro Parent suggestions for family fun this holiday season. We encourage you to create, play and explore, making memories with your children as we celebrate two of the year’s most anticipated holidays. We not only share with you holiday crafts, but also tips on making the traditional thank you note more fun, how to de-stress holiday shopping as well as how to teach your kids to value veterans. On behalf of all of us at Owensboro Parent, I wish you happy holidays! Enjoy the season with those you love and we will be back in the New Year with more informative, family-focused articles.

Ashley Sorce, [email protected]

Publisher/Creative Director Jason [email protected]

Editor Ashley [email protected]

Advertising SalesRudy [email protected]

Robert [email protected]

Graphic DesignersTaylor [email protected]

Andrea [email protected]

ContributorsChristina DaltonGail E. KirklandElaine MartinDanny MayDr. Shanna McGinnisMelody Ann WallaceLora Wimsatt

PrintingGreenwell ChisholmOwensboro, Kentucky

Contact InformationOwensboro Parent MagazinePO Box 23237Owensboro, KY 42304(270) 314-5240www.owensboroparent.comfacebook.com/owensboroparenttwitter.com/owensboroparentissuu.com/owensboroparent

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Cover KidLilly Magan, daughter of Jason and Jessica Magan

Photo by Captured Moments

A Jason Tanner Design Group Publication.

from the editor

sept // oct 2014


FAMILY LIFE

let the spirit of the season shine [08]

parental control [10]

good night sleep tight [12]

the dinner plate [15]

fall break photos from facebook [18]

COMMUNITY

light within the darkness [24]

teaching the value of our veterans [30]

DISCOVER

[34] holiday fun guide for families

[40] tips to limit screen time

[44] the write stuff

[46] tips for hassle-free holiday shopping

[48] why should you vaccinate your child?

[50] kids eat free list

[52] november calendar

[10]

[34]

[24][40]

nov // dec 2014

[46]

[18]


My enthusiasm for the holidays went through a dry

spell a few years ago.

Thanksgiving and Christmas – the twin beacons of

celebration – had always been a pleasant, happy season

during my childhood, even though our family festivities

were modest. I was still basking in those memories by

the time my children came along, when I discovered that

experiencing the bountiful feast, the sparkling lights and

the joyous anticipation through their eyes rekindled my

own spark of joy to an even warmer glow.

Then my kids grew up and moved away, and for awhile,

I admit, those occasions became more habit than holiday.

Turkey, dressing, football – check.

Tree, lights, gifts – check.

Ho-ho-hum.

But the embers burst into a blaze of festivity three years

ago with the arrival of my grandgirls, and this Thanksgiving

will be especially meaningful with the birth of my first

grandboy.

The lights reflected in the shining eyes of a child

illuminate even the darkest corners of any home, any heart.

Their cheerful squabbling over the wishbone, the breathless

excitement upon spotting what must surely be a reindeer

hoofprint in the snow, the earnest innocence of their closed

eyes and clasped hands as thanks are offered to the Giver,

their wide-eyed wonder as the star is placed at the very top

of the most beautiful tree in the world ….

And then I visited the home of an elderly man, long

since retired, no children or grandchildren within several

zip codes, a widower puttering around in a house filled with

mementos and memories.

I had entered through the “real” door, the side door,

which was where the driveway took me. This is one of those

houses where the front door is used only to bring in the

mail and the newspaper … not that a lot of people were

knocking anyway.

It was late afternoon as we sat in the living room,

surrounded by Hummel figurines that would have informed

{ b y : l o r a w i m s a t t }

let the spirit

of the season

shine

family life


even the dullest detective that no small children were

expected here. I wasn’t really thinking about it at the time,

but I knew this gentleman’s holidays were distinguished

from all the many just-another-days only because of the

hospitality of a sister-in-law or an occasional special meal at

the nearby senior center.

But as evening fell, a flash of unexpected color caught

my eye, and I glanced out the large window that opened

onto the front porch of his home.

“Oh look!” I exclaimed, and he did, but he seemed

puzzled about what he was supposed to be looking at.

“The lights!” I cried. “Look at all the lights!”

I hadn’t even noticed them before, but the rails and

columns on the front porch had been twined about with

strings of light, with plastic decorations dangled from

shoestrings tied to the underside of the gutter.

“They’re on a timer,” he explained when I asked how the

lights had come on all by themselves. “The kids like it.”

Without thinking, I wondered out loud, “What kids?” If

my question seemed abrupt, he seemed not to notice.

“Just the kids in the neighborhood,” he said. “I decorate

for them on all the holidays.”

I thought about that later as I sat quietly in my own

home, looking out the window at flocks of neighborhood

children riding their bicycles, chasing dogs and one another,

and generally enjoying the final days of autumn before cold

weather drives them indoors until spring.

And I smiled.

As long as there is a child, I promised myself, any child,

anywhere, I would let the spirit and the lights of the season

shine.

Lora Wimsatt is a mother, grandmother and writer. She enjoys the everyday blessings and adventures of life, especially her family.

OP


family life

Q: My 3-year-old

refuses to eat any type

of vegetable other than

a French fry. I don’t want

to be “Mommy Dearest,”

but I don’t know how else

to make him eat well. Any

suggestions?

A: I have a child that also considers

the “French fry” a great vegetable.

It’s very hard when you have a picky

eater. I don’t know what makes

them eat or not eat something. My

child ate plenty of vegetables when

she was little, but won’t touch them

now. She will eat corn, but that’s

where the line is drawn. I have had

her try new vegetables, but I think

she is predisposed to hate them. At

least she will try new things. The

only good suggestion I have is to find

alternative methods to getting him

to eat his vegetables. They make lots

of juices that contain a daily amount

of vegetables and the child won’t

even know it. There are lots of books

about putting vegetables into their

food and they won’t taste it. I just

saw last night that they now have

popsicles that are all vegetables!

Your son will think he’s

getting a treat and you’ll

have peace of mind that

he is getting his veggies. I

don’t however know what

they taste like, so you’ll have

to let me know.

Q: I am just wondering what your

belief is on spanking vs. timeouts

A: This is a loaded question. I

know there are so many different

beliefs when it comes to this topic.

I will just try to stick with my own

personal belief. It’s funny you asked

this question because I was recently

listening to the radio and this same

question was asked of the listeners

and the responses surprised me. Most

of the people that called in were pro-

spanking. Their reasoning being that

was how they were raised. Personally,

I don’t spank my child but I also don’t

judge other people who choose this

form of discipline. I didn’t come to

this decision overnight either. When

my child was young, I would smack

the top of her hand and I would say,

“We don’t hit.” And I thought about

how stupid I sounded. I was hitting

her and saying, “We don’t hit.” I

didn’t do that anymore after that. I

feel that there are things I can take

away or events that she won’t be

able to attend that would feel much

worse than a spanking. I think where

we get off track nowadays is not the

spanking vs. timeouts, but rather a

lack of discipline. We are living in a

world that has a whole lot of “entitled

children.” And it makes us ask the

question what is different now from

twenty years ago?

parentalcontrol

{ Q & A w i t h c h r i s t i n a d a l t o n , M S S W, C S W }


Q: My 11 year-old daughter is asking

if she can have a Facebook account.

She says lots of her friends have them

and I am being unreasonable by saying

no. I just don’t feel comfortable with it.

Am I being too harsh?

A: I do not think you are being too

harsh at all. And it doesn’t matter

because you are the parent and if you

are not comfortable with it then there’s

probably a good reason. I know that lots

of kids have Facebook accounts, but that

doesn’t mean that they should. Facebook

requires that the users are 13 years old.

Even if parents allow their children to

have accounts prior to this age, I would

still monitor the account and make sure

that everything looks all right. I know

that even on my own Facebook account,

I sometimes see inappropriate articles

or just weird stuff that can be in the

newsfeed. I think it goes back to your

rules and how you feel about these kinds

of things. There is no perfect answer to

any of these questions when it comes to

technology. I just know that we have to

be careful as parents when it comes to

the social media world and our children.

I had a friend that showed me an app

called, Snapchat. I wasn’t familiar with

it at all. Basically you can take a picture

and send it to someone and it disappears

in about five seconds. The photograph

is gone. I didn’t really understand the

purpose of it. But it’s kids who are using

this app mostly and that terrified me.

They could send anything and then

there would be nothing to show that it

was ever there. Just the thought of that

I didn’t like at all. I think you have to

be cautious when it comes to technology

and be smart. And I think if you’re not

comfortable with it then that’s your

answer.

Christina Dalton, MSSW, CSW is the Family Resource Center Coordinator for Daviess County Public Schools.

OP


It is vitally important for children of all ages to get

enough sleep each night as it is linked to many health,

behavior, and academic problems. Although I will not

address sleep in infants in this article, I want to remind

parents to always place infants on their backs to sleep in

their own crib or bassinet to decrease the risk of sudden

infant death syndrome (SIDS).

There are a few things that, despite our best efforts, we

cannot make our toddlers and preschoolers do: swallow

food, use the toilet, and go to sleep. (I use the word “we”

here because I am mommy to a 5 year old son and 3 year old

twin girls and am well-versed in the ways of little people

with strong wills.) However, we can set the groundwork to

make all of those things more likely to happen. When it

comes to sleep, establishing a routine is critical to achieving

bedtime success. To borrow from healthychildren.org,

using the 4 Bs of bedtime is a great method – bathing,

brushing (teeth), books, bedtime. It may be fun to create

a bedtime chart with pictures of the 4 Bs so your child will

know what comes next and it will seem more like a game.

Another tool to try is an incentive system where the child

gets a sticker on a chart or a treat from a prize bucket for

staying in bed after lights out. Using a transition object

like a special blanket or teddy bear helps some children

feel more comfortable, particularly after moving from their

crib to their big kid bed. Finally, consistency is crucial. All

caregivers who put the child to bed must be committed to

following the routine, even on weekends and holidays or

when the child is ill.

School-aged children who mastered the bedtime

routine as toddlers and preschoolers typically have less

difficulty, but as they get older, new challenges arise

that can interrupt things. Homework, sports, and other

activities can cut into bedtime. Beware of allowing your

children to be overextended in extracurriculars. Not only

can it be stressful for them to be involved in too many

activities, but daytime sleepiness can affect their academic

performance, behavior, and overall health. Utilize these

times as teachable moments about priorities and time

management. As with younger kids, the 4Bs still apply and

maintaining a similar routine on weekends and holidays is

family life

{ b y : s h a n n a m c g i n n i s , M D }

good nightsleep tight

Good night, sleep tight. “Yeah, right.”

That is the response of many parents

that I speak with in my office. Bedtime

can be very difficult for some families.

Some sleep issues start in infants or

toddlers while others may not arise

until the adolescent years.


important. Finally, avoid beverages with caffeine, especially

in the evenings, and do not allow TV viewing within an hour

of bedtime.

Adolescents can be a particular challenge. They are

usually involved in extracurricular activities, which may

require traveling to other towns for games or competitions.

Many work part-time jobs and then, of course, there is their

social life. All of this must be balanced with early start times

at school, completing homework, and hopefully a few chores.

It is no wonder that a recent poll by the National Sleep

Foundation found that 59% of middle school students and

87% of high school students get less than the recommended

amount of sleep each night. To overcome their drowsiness,

some teenagers reach for caffeinated drinks or attempt to

catch up on weekends, but these are not a good substitute

for regular, adequate sleep. Again, these opportunities can

become teachable moments. Establish guidelines on how

many activities are appropriate for your teenager. It is also

important to set limits on media use, i.e. no TV or cell phones

in bedrooms at night. Along with establishing some rules,

give your kids more autonomy at this age regarding bedtime.

They may not always make the best choices, but sometimes

suffering some mild consequences while they are in your care

will help them avoid bigger mistakes in the future. Finally,

model good habits for them. Most adults do not get adequate

sleep either and our children usually do as we do.

The majority of sleep issues with children can be resolved

by improving their bedtime routine. However, there are some

special considerations. Some medications, particularly ADHD

medications, can affect sleep. Also, sleep apnea can affect

children and may lead to daytime drowsiness. Some young

children who experience night terrors, which are different

than nigthmares, have frequent nighttime awakenings. If you

are concerned about your child’s sleep habits, keep a sleep

journal of all of the factors surrounding their sleep routine and

make an appointment with your doctor. Otherwise, establish

and enforce a healthy bedtime routine so your whole family

can sleep tight.

Dr. Shanna McGinnis is a pediatrician at the Owensboro Health Pediatric Center. She is also the mother of 3 children.

OP

Newborn to 2 months:up to 18 hours per day.

3-11 months:up to 16 hours per day.

1 year – 3 years:12 to 14 hours per day.

3 years – 5 years:11 to 13 hours per day.

5 years to 12 years:10 to 11 hours per day.

Adolescents:8.5 to 9.5 hours per day.

Reference: National Sleep Foundation, this includes nighttime sleep and naps for up to 5 years.

sleepby the numbers


family lifediscover

14 OWENSBORO PARENT . March // April 2014 www.OwensboroParent.com

November // December 2014 . OWENSBORO PARENT 15www.OwensboroParent.comwww.OwensboroParent.comwww.OwensboroParent.com

If I were to create a list entitled “Elaine’s

Favorite Things,” near the top would be

family dinners. Breakfast and lunch would

definitely be in the top 50 because I love

food, so all things that include confectionery

treats are awesome; however, dinnertime has

an entirely different set of emotions for me.

I appreciate the evening gathering for one

very special reason…actually, because of a

very special plate.

Let me backtrack and give you some

history. About ten years ago, I ran across an

article in Family Fun, which is a magazine

I regularly devoured to glean new ideas for

my young family. The author shared an idea

that helped stop her children from fighting, and

it involved a unique dinner guest – a plate. Each

evening, as her family sat eating, one member of the

family would have the honor of eating off a particular plate.

As the meal was consumed, all other family members took

turns telling the plate person why he or she was special. After

all encouraging words were shared, the good news recipient

then had to tell what he or she liked about herself.

I couldn’t close the magazine quickly enough!!! I probably

resembled Roadrunner chasing after Coyote, as I darted into

the kitchen to find my own special plate. I dug in several

cluttered cabinets and dusted off a tiny pink teddy bear plate,

which I declared The Martin Family Plate. Little did I know

that particular chipped piece of dinnerware would add such a

remarkable dynamic to our boring ol’ spaghetti dinners.

The

first few

nights we started,

the words we heard from our girls to one another were

expected: “I like your shirt,” or “You smell good,” and even

“I like that you aren’t sitting next to me.” One of the very

few rules we created was that praises could not be repeated, so

they had to start digging deeper to find richer expressions. We

started hearing: “You have a pretty smile” and “You were kind

{ b y : e l a i n e m a r t i n }

family life

plate

the dinner



when you let me watch the show I wanted.” Dinnertime had

gone from grumbling about being forced to eat green beans to

a time that we actually built each other up.

Please don’t think that this was always a warm and fuzzy,

feel good time. We definitely had our share of “I like that I’m

not you” sort of moments, where the kids just couldn’t find a

silver lining of her sister that day. Those were learning times

as well, as the speaker really had to learn to push the day’s

hormonal events to the side and try to find even a tiny spark of

something to say.

One of my very favorite memories was when one of the girls

was preschool age. It was my husband Greg’s night to eat off

the teddy bear plate. She thought and thought, struggling to

add to the previously spoken words. Finally, her eyes lit up as

she dropped her plastic fork and quipped, “Daddy, you know

when I wake up early in the morning and come into bed to

snuggle with you and Mommy? I love when you turn over and

your back hair tickles my nose.” You can only imagine the

spewed food and laughter we shared after that!

We had an occasional family or guest join us, and their faces

were a bit surprised when I put our beloved pink plate in front

of them. The guest would usually think I’d made a mistake,

but as we started eating and sharing the praises, the confusion

would turn into a big smile. I recall one evening when my aunt

joined us for simple sandwiches. We all took turns, saying why

she was important to each of us. It was just a matter of minutes

before the tears were flowing. She told us that it had been ages

since someone had told her she was special. Our girls’ friends

loved joining us for dinner, because they knew exactly what to

expect. She would see the special plate on the table and race

to her seat, for she wanted the seat of honor. When I saw how

eager one specific friend was, I paused and prayed that our

words would ease her wounded spirit, as I knew her parents

had just recently announced their separation. Her anxious

face turned into a beautiful smile, as she allowed herself to

hear the warmness of our words.

It has been many years since we added this simple but very

meaningful addition to our family meals. The pink plate was

eventually dropped and shattered, but a trip to the Dollar

Store gave us a newer and bigger plate that holds just as much

significance. We learned that dinner time allows us to load up

more than just our bellies. If we take just a few more minutes

to truly see one another, suppertime can be a sacred time to

leave the table with fuller hearts as well.

Martin views each day as an adventure in her roles as wife, mom, owner of Pigtails and Cowlicks, and writing coach at Meadow Lands Elementary School.

OP


fall break photosfrom facebook!



fall break photosfrom facebook!





family lifecommunity

{ b y : g a i l e . k i r k l a n d }

lightwithin thedarknessY

Y


Brilliant sunlight was breaking through the tall

windows within the room, contrasting strongly

against the deep, somber, almost palpable sadness, which

will be part of their lives—forever. Yet, amid the heartache

emerged a determined commitment to break through the

darkness of loss, a loss totally unexpected and contrary to a

religiously healthy lifestyle during her pregnancy.

“I never once thought that we’d come home without a

baby,” Sara Aud said, as she sat alongside husband Kyle,

recalling that tragic day, August 2, 2013. She had chosen

natural childbirth, using the Bradley Method, which

involves a mid-wife, and doula (a woman who assists

during labor and provides support). Her pregnancy had

progressed normally, going full term, and giving birth on

her due date.

She went into labor early August 1, but she urged Kyle

to go on to work, since she was not progressing quickly.

She, too, went to her job at Ohio County Hospital, where

she serves as an occupational therapist. Her co-workers

jokingly said that she was making them nervous by being

there. That evening, the contractions increased. “Her pain

was in her back. We had to press on her hips in her lower

back to relieve her pain,” Kyle said. They had a caravan

en route to the hospital, including Sara’s sister who was

5 months pregnant. They stopped three times to ease

her through the contractions. Kyle passed the hospital

entrance in all the excitement.

The midwife met them at the hospital. With the back

labor, Sara could not lie down for long. Emelia, their

daughter, was up high and so Sara knew she would be

pushing for quite a while—two hours to be exact. Emelia’s

heart rate was still perfect at this point. “I pushed and I

pushed. I chose to deliver on hands and knees. The last

time they checked her heart rate was about 1 ½ minutes

before delivery. At that point she was so low in the cavity

that it (the heart rate) could not be checked again,” Sara

said. Two more pushes. “I knew pretty quickly that

something was wrong because I knew Kyle was supposed

lightdarkness

Z


to cut the umbilical cord . . . so when I heard the midwife say she

was going to cut the cord, I knew something was wrong.” Emelia

was not breathing.

“They were so quick to respond. I can’t tell you how much

it eased our hearts to know that she was so well taken care of.

If there was any way she was going to live, she would have lived

because NIC-U was in there immediately, immediately! The

midwife had started compressions anyway,” Sara said. The

doctors tried five shots of epinephrine and intubation twice.

“She didn’t take a breath once she was out.”

They elected to have an autopsy. If there were answers, they

wanted to know. “She was so perfect. It might have been easier

if something was obviously wrong. Basically, she’s a medical

mystery,” Sara said. The only explanation was a possible vagal

response, which slows the heartbeat.

“The memory of them working on her is so blurry. I was so

out of it because of the pain,” Sara said. The blessing of having

Emelia in the room with them the entire time came in the

assurance that everything medically possible was done to help

her.

Kyle said they chose to share their story for three reasons:

One, they wanted others to understand this was not the result

of natural childbirth gone awry. Two, they had decided they

were not going to let this ruin their lives. Three, they did not

want others to question the hospital staff ’s quality of care. “She

wasn’t meant to be here, and as terrible as that is, that’s a little

easier to swallow than someone did something wrong and she

should be here,” Sara said.

So how do they continue to cope from day to day? “We knew

it wasn’t going to give her any glory to never speak her name,

or act like she was taboo. She’s not taboo. She’s our daughter,”

Sara said. They speak of her daily. They welcome others talking

about her. They treasure the photos taken at the hospital. They

display them prominently. They reach out to help others. They

grieve together.

“I can remember in the delivery room—this always makes

me cry—he grabbed my chin and he said, ‘We’re gonna get

through this. We’re gonna be OK.’ I said, ‘You know what, yeah,

we are. This is our first daughter, but she’s not our last,’” Sara

said, as the tears flowed.

Counseling was helpful. Family, friends, their church and

Sunday school class at First Christian have been enormous,

continual support. The Auds also took advantage of a counseling

suggestion to take a trip; they hopped in the car and went to

community



Asheville and Charleston shortly afterward. They concurred

that it was good to be away, to unwind and to be out of the house

for a while. “It was a tough trip for sure,” Kyle said.

Sara acknowledged that she has a month where she does

well, and then it hits her all over again. Compound that with

her not being able to be pregnant since Emelia’s stillbirth.

“You know it’s stress. Each month when you know you’re not

pregnant, there’s a breakdown and you hit rock bottom again,”

Kyle said.

“Every month I felt like she had died all over again. It was

terrible,” Sara said. A friend who had her third child die of

SIDS told her that a broken heart will do a lot to your fertility.

Sara truly thought she would be pregnant quickly, as she had

no problems being pregnant before. “All my friends are getting

pregnant. They are at that point in their lives. I hated the look

on their faces when they told me . . . it was like they were so

sorry . . . it broke my heart.”

She told Kyle that she needed something to look forward

to and that is when they began looking into adoption. They

had tried three unsuccessful rounds of IUI in Newburgh. The

second round of IUI was the absolute bottom for this couple.

It occurred right before Emelia’s birthday. Neither of them

knew much about adoption, but Sara plunged into it with zeal,

contacting anyone and everyone she knew who had adopted

with questions. “Kyle calls me the research queen,” Sara said.

They chose a domestic consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia,

called Faithful Adoption Consultants who have contacts with


a variety of adoption agencies. They wanted a newborn from

a state that is family-friendly toward adoption. In some states,

including Kentucky, there’s a 20- to 25- day waiting period

where the birth mom can change her mind. Sara knew she could

not handle that type of stress. After all the paperwork, they were

matched within a week.

Their newborn is due January 8 in Gainesville, Florida,

to a birth mom and dad who have other children. She will be

named Ellington Claire, having Emelia’s middle name and her

initials. “What a gift. We left the hospital without a baby. We

know what that feels like and to think that someone is willing

to go through that so that their child will have a better life and

we will have a family is a gift that you really can’t repay and

you can’t really describe. I think I always knew that, but I never

knew how personally it would affect us,” Sara said. “We want

Ellington to know where she came from and that she was loved

long before she was born, by two people, that we wanted her so

badly . . . and that it’s not she wasn’t wanted.” The Auds did not

meet any resistance from family or friends when they learned

they were choosing to adopt, rather they wondered what took

them so long.

Sara questioned God about why all of this has happened,

but the struggles have strengthened rather than weakened her

faith. “I don’t think we would have gotten through it without

our faith,” she said. “Sometimes you feel so alone in it and you

see all those other healthy babies born—and I’m shocked every

time I see a healthy baby born. I don’t know when that feeling

will go away.”

One of Sara’s friends also had a baby stillborn at 25 weeks.

She has been such a good resource since they also adopted.

Although Sara and Kyle are eager to welcome Ellington Claire,

they know it is somewhat bittersweet, “because you have to think

about the little girl you don’t have anymore and you feel guilty

for being so sad for Emelia,” Sara said. “Knowing someone else

has been through it and has lived through it helps.”

Their grief remains. “We’re definitely not trying to replace

Emelia by any means . . . but we’re seeing ourselves healing,

knowing that we’re going to have another child. A piece of our

heart will always be missing . . .” Sara said. “The dark season is

passing.”

Gail recently retired from DCHS, where she taught journalism and English.

She is a mother of twins, a Meme, and sports enthusiast.

OP


With Halloween in the rearview and Veterans Day on the horizon, this is the perfect opportunity to share with our

children the importance of those who serve and have served in the United States military. As we hang up and pack away the ice princess gowns and the superhero costumes, what better time to educate our children about who the real life superheroes are. When preparing to discuss our military heroes with our children, one can’t help but think of Tommy and Cathy Mullins, who not only recognized these heroes in their home, but proudly raised two of their own. When Cathy was asked how she taught their children about pride and patriotism, she said that they just “came by it naturally.” All three children grew up with a father, a grandfather, and an uncle who served in the military. They also grew up across the street from the National Guard Armory in Ashland, Kentucky, where they “saw soldiers every day.” With little boys who were into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Superman, and Spiderman, it was important to Cathy that they teach their boys that those “in the military are our real life superheroes.” Shaun and Brandon Mullins not only learned of these heroes, they transformed into them; while the Mullins’ daughter Bethany married a real life hero of her own. Tommy and Cathy’s oldest son Shaun is currently serving in the Army, their younger son Brandon gave his life in service to his country on August 25, 2011, and Bethany and their son-in-law Steven are currently stationed at Fort Campbell. With a family steeped in red, white, and blue, Cathy knows firsthand what military members and their families need to hear. She had this advice to offer concerning discussing Veterans Day with our children.

Memorial Day vs. Veteran’s Day Most people often confuse these two holidays, or think of them interchangeably. In reality, the two are quite different. Memorial Day is a day that was created to remember the fallen and those who gave their lives for our beloved country. Cathy reminds us that this is a day to “cherish your family” and to be grateful for the sacrifices that others have made on your behalf. This is also a beautiful time of year to visit gravesites of grandparents and family members who have served our country in years past. Place flowers or patriotic decorations at the site together and explain to your child who you are visiting, what war they fought in, and how they continue to hold a special place in your heart. Veterans Day, on the other hand, is a day to recognize all veterans. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, “Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military, in wartime or peacetime…and is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service and to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated.” This is a day that we should acknowledge and show our appreciation to anyone that we know that has ever proudly worn a uniform.

Beginning with the Familiar Our children are usually enamored with the sight of a soldier in uniform. How powerful is it then to show them that there are people in their family, and right next door, that wore that uniform as well. Share with your child what

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teaching the value of ourveterans

community


particular branch of the military their parent or grandparent served in. Take the time to look through old pictures and allow them to call or visit to ask questions. For family members that live nearby, make sure that you are aware of when your child’s school is holding their annual Veterans Day assembly. Invite your veteran family member to accompany your child to school or, at the very least, send in a photo so that their service can be recognized. Even if there are no veterans in your family, make an effort to attend your child’s program, and encourage them to take a leadership role in the activities. Make sure to discuss the events of the program when they get home and answer any questions they might have.

Modeling an Attitude of Gratitude Veterans Day is such a wonderful day to instill in your child a gracious heart and an attitude of servanthood. Cathy says that there are “a lot of different reasons that people join the military, but their primary reason is to serve others. They are volunteering their life” in service to their country. She says that this is the perfect day to say, “thank you,” to neighbors, uncles, and grandparents, or to buy them a cup of coffee in appreciation of their service. Do not underestimate the value of a hand written thank you note. Break out the red, white, and blue paints, markers, and craft supplies and discuss the various pictures and symbols that represent the military and our veterans. Create heartfelt cards for family members, teachers, or neighbors that your child can deliver personally or place in the mail. If you do not have any family members that have served, cards are more than welcome at the Owensboro Veterans Clinic. Just think of how much brighter someone’s day will be when they visit the clinic for a routine or sick appointment and are greeted by a handmade card of appreciation from your child.

Showing Up in Support Cathy Mullins is a proud member of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., a prestigious group of women who share the common bond of having a child who lost their life in service to their country. They are an organization that “turns grief into service…by helping veterans who are still living.” You can support this meaningful organization by participating in the

Kentucky Remembers 5K on Saturday, November 8. Terry Mathis, commander of the Owensboro American Legion, says that the best thing that we can do for our veterans locally is to actually come out to the Veterans Day parade and show our support. Mathis says that, “Just the fact that people know they (the veterans) are there…shows that they haven’t been forgotten.”

Melody Ann Wallace is a teacher at DCMS who finds new blessings each day in her roles as teacher, wife, mom, and step-mom.

OP

If you and your family would like to write notes of thanks to Owensboro veterans, please drop them off at the Owensboro VA Clinic no later than Monday, November 10, 2014.

Veterans Clinic3400 New Hartford RdOwensboro, KY(270) 684-5034 If you would like to support the Gold Star Mothers by signing up for the Kentucky Remembers 5K race please visit http://www.doactivities.com/owensboro5kraces/. The race begins at 8 a.m. at Smothers Park and the cost of registration is $30.

The Veterans Day parade will take place on November 8, at 2 p.m. It will begin at East 2nd and Clay Streets, will travel west on 2nd, and end at Frederica Street. Wear your red, white, and blue and come out and show your support for our community’s heroes.

TOMMY & CATHY MULLINS HOLDING

A PHOTO OF THEIR SON BRANDON.

PHOTO BY DREAM COPY PHOTOGRAPHY.




FUNdiscover

create:fun things to make and do together Deck the Halls with Tabletop Christmas TreesTurn your already read newspapers and magazines into modern holiday art with just a few simple folds. Kids will have fun making something from scratch and picking out fun holiday colors to decorate your family’s home.

What you’ll need:Old magazines or newspapers of any sizeGold, silver, or clear spray paintGlitter in desired colors

Steps:1: Open magazine and bend to break spine.2: Fold individual page from top right

corner to inside seam. Fold same page from bottom right edge to gutter.3: Fold bottom triangle of each additional magazine page up, making the bottom of the tree flat. Then, fold top of all pages down to form tree shape.4: Spray-paint folded tree desired color. Immediately sprinkle glitter over wet paint. Let dry.

Bright Idea – Create a memorable keepsakeThis fun craft will not only help you make a memory with your child while creating it, but preserve a memory using a family photo. This candle votive will be proof your child’s smile can literally light up a room!

Steps: 1. Choose a digital photo that is horizontal, not vertical.2. Print it in black-and-white on an 8 ½ - by 11-inch sheet of plain velum paper, available at craft and office supply stores.

3. Wrap the vellum around a tall,

cylindrical glass vase and adhere the

overlapping edges with double sided

tape. Trim and excess paper.

4. Put a battery-operated tea light inside

the vase.

holiday

guide { b y : a s h l e y s o r c e }

for families


Kids in the Kitchen Rather than buying holiday candy from the store this year, encourage your kids to make their own festive treats. Here is a fun fall idea perfect for your family’s Thanksgiving gathering. They also make great party favors!

What you’ll need:1 bag of Hershey Kisses1 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips1 package Nutter Butter Bites (make sure you get the ‘bites’ size!)

Steps: 1. Melt 1/2 cup (depending on how many you want to make you can up the ante on this!) chocolate morsels in microwave or on stove top.2. Dip flat side of Hershey Kiss in melted morsels and immediately attach to Nutter Butter.3. Dip one non-melted morsel on the flat side into the melted morsels, immediately attach to the other side of the Nutter Butter.


play:simple ways to have more fun this season

Snow DaysIt’s hard to believe fall is coming to an end and snow will soon be falling over Owensboro. If the snow is too cold for your little ones, try this idea for inside snow day fun!

Snowball ScrambleBring the fun of snowy weather indoors with a zany (and energetic!) game fit for the whole family. Clear a large open area for play and lay down a length of string or rope to create a center line. Gather small sponge or Ping-Pong balls (balls used in a child’s ball pit would work perfectly!) and distribute them evenly between two teams, which take positions on either side of the line. Set a timer for two minutes (an iPhone works great!). On “GO,” players start tossing balls into

the opposing team’s side, gathering and returning any balls tossed into their own. When the timer sounds, play stops, and balls are counted. The teams with the fewest balls wins!

Giving ThanksIt can be difficult for kids to understand the tradition behind Thanksgiving and why we celebrate it every year. Rather than talk turkey, why not reinforce to your children

what Thanksgiving really means. Here are three unique ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with your kids:

1. Get Online—Plymouth Plantation has a great website dedicated to the “First” Thanksgiving. Some of the education materials are to prepare the kids for visiting the plantation, but they have a ton of resources for educators and children. Kids may especially enjoy the section that teaches them how to “Talk like a Pilgrim.” Or they may prefer to play the awesome Thanksgiving Interactive, an award-winning online activity that allows children to act as “history detectives” and investigate what actually happened at the first feast between the Wampanoag tribe and the Pilgrims.

2. Make a Thankful Tree—In recent years, creating a Thankful Tree at home has become a very popular idea. The best thing about it? You can make it any way you want! I have collected branches and arranged them in a pot, and even

made a winter tree out of brown mailing paper and taped it to the wall. You can print colored leaves on your computer, or have the kids make their own using colored cardstock or construction paper. Need some ideas? Just search for “Thankful Trees” on Pinterest for inspiration!

3. Sail the Mayflower—Who knew there were so many different ways to build a ship? Dig through your recycling bin if you have one, and ask your kids to create their own mini version of the Mayflower. Your family can study more about the real story behind this famous ship at MayflowerHistory.com.

explore:holiday events around owensboro

Downtown Fall FestSaturday, November 8 | McConnell Plaza, Dowtown OwensboroHosted by Puzzle Pieces, this is sure to be a day of fun for families! All proceeds from the day’s events will benefit Puzzle Pieces, a non-profit activity day center for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The days events include:

Scavenger Hunt – Starts at 11:30 a.m.; $5 per team (2 or more make a team); Will be held in the Plaza; Meet at the Gazebo at 11:00 a.m.Corn-Hole Tournament - $20.00 per team; Must sign up your team by emailing [email protected]; Start time 11 a.m. Games/Booths - 10 tickets for $3.00/Armband for $10.00; Enjoy bowling, face painting, inflatables, cake walk, tattoos, wagon/hay ride, pumpkin painting, train ride and much more.Chili Cook Off –- Owensboro businesses


and schools compete for the title of best chili in Owensboro. You can participate in the taste testing starting at 11:00am; $2 per taste test, up to 4 samples or $8 to taste test all vendors; Begins at 11 a.m. and judging starts at 12p.m. Walk for All - Downtown disAbility Walk in Their Shoes - Puzzle Pieces annual Puzzle Walk to honor those with disabilities! Check in 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Gather a Team in Honor or Memory of someone with a disability. Top three teams who raise the most money will win 1st - 3rd awards. All teams will be recognized! Enjoy apple cider and sundaes, food, live entertainment and more! For more information, visit puzzle-pieces.org. Veterans Day Parade November 8 | Downtown OwensboroCome honor our veterans for the Annual Veterans Day Parade beginning and

ending on Veterans Memorial Blvd. This is the longest running Veterans Day Parade in the country. The parade will begin at East 2nd and Clay Streets, will travel west on 2nd Street, north on Daviess Street, and west on Veterans Memorial Blvd. ending at Frederica Street. 78th Annual Owensboro Christmas ParadeNovember 22 | Downtown OwensboroThe Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade Association, Inc. is presenting the 78th Annual Christmas parade themed “Christmas Miracles.” Each year the parade committee spends countless hours sifting through nominations and suggestions for its Honorary Grand Marshal. This year the committee announced that two of Owensboro’s very own, Bayli Boling and Alexandra Watts have been named Honorary Grand Marshal. Bayli earned

the title of Miss Teen Kentucky United

States and Alexandra earned the title of

Miss Jr. Teen Kentucky United States.

Both are from right here in Owensboro

and will spend their time travelling

and representing our great city very

well. Join us on the Saturday before

Thanksgiving in Downtown Owensboro,

“where Kentucky starts Christmas,” to

congratulate Bayli and Alexandra and

wish them the best in the years to come.

Holiday StrollSaturday, December 6; 4 - 8 p.m.

| Second and Third Streets from

Daviess to St. Ann in Downtown

Owensboro

Stroll the downtown streets to get in

the holiday spirit. Strolling carolers,

storefront decorations, and indoor

performers will make this evening a

reminder of the good old days of being

downtown at Christmas.


calendar



tips to limitscreen time

The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that

children under 2 not watch any television, and that older

children have no more than one or two hours of screen time a

day.

But let’s be real: that takes work! It’s much easier to just

let them plop in front of a TV or device so we can get things

done around the house and not worry about them getting into

anything, right?

Yet, we know that too much screen time is not good.

Common sense tells us that too much TV or video gaming

leads to inactivity and lack of creativity. Therefore, common

sense also tells us that limiting screen time would be the better

option. Kentucky Health News reported that a study by Iowa

State University says reducing the amount of time children

spend on the computer or in front of the TV will help them

discover

56% of children in Kentucky spend more than two hours a day playing video

games, watching television, videos or DVDs, or on the computer, according

to a 2012 survey of parents by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

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discover

sleep more, do better in school, behave better and lower the

risk of obesity. Of course those are all things we want for our

children.

So how do we draw a hard line on screen time without being

so hard-nosed about it?

Step #1 is becoming aware or your family’s screen time

habits. Start by monitoring the screen time in your household

for a day – or even better – a week. Then start backing it down.

A WebMD article on this topic made an excellent point that

it’s okay to make gradual changes. It helps everyone ease into

it. Another interesting thing about this approach is it allows

you to notice the gradual change in attitudes, productivity,

etc. which can be great conversation points when you do start

setting new limits. It’s also important to back up what you’re

trying to accomplish by explaining “why.” Plus, you can use

what you’ve noticed so far to help back up your stance.

A Huffington Post article quoted Rebecca Jackson, author

of The Learning Habit, who suggested a parenting style that

she calls “empowerment parenting,” which uses “thoughtful

rules and effort-based praise to reward desired behavior.” By

creating awareness about device use in the home through

empowerment parenting, parents can set up routines and

consistent guidelines surrounding screen time that are easy for

children to follow, Jackson said.

“It’s just like life,” Jackson explained. “First we work and

then we get paid. First we do our household chores and then we

get the media use. Parents who are waking up in the morning

and letting their children watch TV first thing before school

are really missing the boat here.”

The research I read for this article consistently said it’s very

important for parents to set the example here. By and large,

our children value what we value. So if we limit our own screen

time, that will go a long way in validating our limit setting.

KidsHealth.org makes these suggestions to create good TV/

screen/media habits in your home:

1. Limit TV-watching hours (After the morning chores are

done; after homework; not after 8 p.m.; an “extra hour” on the

weekends)

2. Put other things to do in the TV room: books, kids’

magazines, toys, puzzles, games. (Then play with your kids.


Give them better options. Give them adventure and play.

Stimulate their senses. Again, this takes work, but it’s well

worth it.)

3. Keep TVs and internet connections out of the bedrooms.

(They always need to be monitored, especially on the internet.)

4. Turn the TV off during meals. (Family meal times and car

rides are the best chances for conversation for most families.

Don’t let TV dominate and distract. If you’re starting with

gradual change, start by setting the rule of “no TV the first 10

minutes” and go from there.)

5. Don’t allow kids to watch TV while doing homework.

6. Treat TV as a privilege to be earned. (This helps to reshape

the mindset. TV/media is not a necessity. It’s a bonus.)

7. Establish and enforce family TV viewing rules. (Be the

parent. You are ultimately responsible for what goes on in your

house. As hard as it may be to stick to your plans, the more

work you put in during those younger years, the more long

term reward you see in later years.)

8. Record and watch only the shows you want your kids to

watch. (Again, take control. Set the tone. Gauge what you want

your children to watch.)

With the Holidays approaching, getting screen time under

control is important for several reasons. For one, it might help

in gift buying selection. Also, establishing healthier media

habits and routines now will help keep screen time under

control if your child does receive a new device for Christmas.

Danny May is a husband and father of two boys (4 and 5). He is the Director of Family Life at Lourdes Catholic Church and a regular contributor to Owensboro Parent Magazine.

discoverdiscover

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the write stuff

discover

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With the season of giving quickly

approaching, the more likely your kids will

be receiving gifts from family and friends.

Many parents encounter a battle when it

comes to your child and thank you notes. It

takes a lot for a child to sit still long enough

to come up with something thoughtful to

jot down in a note. And let’s face it… thank

you notes are tedious. Most parents have had

their own experience with thank you notes

after baby or wedding showers. This season

try something different. Here are some

suggestions to make thank you notes more

fun for kids, and therefore easier for parents.

1

32

4

Send a personalized

thank you note

that’s better than

a typical card. Ask

your child to write

a message of thanks

on a chalkboard (or

you can write one if your child is too young) and

have her pose with the board and the present. Take

a photo, and then mail or email it to the gift giver.

Allow your children to use favorite photos of

themselves as thank you cards! They will send

their gratitude along with a special moment for

the gift giver to cherish.

Have your kids paint a piece of art on a large piece

of paper. Cut the paper into note size shapes and

use the back for a thank you note. It still requires

writing, but your kids got to paint the front, which

makes it more fun!

In the age of technology, why not upgrade the

common thank you note? Film a short video, even

on your phone, of your child saying thank you for

the gift he received. Even better, be sure to include

the gift in the shot or allow the child to play with

the gift on the video so the giver can see how much

the gift was appreciated. You can then text or email

the photo. Instant thank you!



family life

Planning ahead and taking steps to protect yourself and your

purchases can relieve a lot of shopping-induced stress, according to

Jeff Unterreiner, a senior vice president with Assurant Solutions.

“While it’s easy to get overwhelmed by holiday shopping, the good

news is that it only takes a few basic steps to make the process easier on

your pocketbook and your peace of mind,” said Unterreiner.

Unterreiner offered these tips to help ensure your shopping this

Christmas season is hassle-free:

Budget planning The easiest way to overspend is to approach your shopping without

a budget. Determine ahead of time what you can afford to spend

overall, and make sure the gifts on your list fit within your means. A

smart strategy: leave yourself a little padding to accommodate potential

budget-busting treasures you discover along the way.

Shop early Start your shopping well ahead of Christmas to spare yourself the headache of unending lines and sold out shelves. Doing so can also help you save money. Starting earlier will give you more time to look for sales and promotions. When it comes to larger purchases, be sure you know the return policy and keep an eye on sales even after you buy. If the item is offered for a lower price within a certain timeframe, you may be able to get the difference refunded.

Reward programs Take advantage of the many reward cards and incentive programs that let you earn cash back, goods and discounts. The holiday season is a great time to sign up, as many retailers offer bonus programs and extra perks for shoppers. In some cases those rewards can be used immediately to trim your shopping budget or find something nice for

yourself as a reward for being a savvy shopper.

tips for hassle-free holiday shopping

discover

Looking to take the stress out of your holiday shopping this season?


Protect purchases Many of the most-wanted gifts this season, like electronics and

jewelry, are also the easiest to break or lose. Ensure your gifts keep

giving long into the future by protecting your purchases with extended

service plans, such as those offered by Assurant Solutions. These plans

offer a range of protection from things like mechanical breakdown,

accidental damage, loss and theft, as well as services such as tech

support. And this protection can last long after the manufacturer’s

warranty expires.

Beat fraud The frenzy of the Christmas season can make you vulnerable to

theft. Be sure you’re using a debit or credit card that offers protection

in the event of unauthorized purchases. If you don’t already, now is

also an ideal time to pay closer attention to your transaction log so you

can quickly address any unfamiliar charges.

For more ideas to help take the stress out of holiday shopping,

visit consumerview.assurantsolutions.com.

3 P’s of Smart Shopping:

A smart shopping plan begins with a budget.

Decide what you’re willing to spend on

all holiday-related items, including travel,

decorations and holiday meals. A budget will

keep you disciplined and ensure you have

enough money to pay your bills come January.

Focus your gift giving on what the

person will like the most, not on the

amount you think you should spend on

that person. The best gift might not be

the most expensive one; it’s truly the

thought that counts.

The most wanted gifts this season — electronics and

jewelry — also are the most vulnerable to breakage and

theft. Including an extended protection plan will ensure

your gift keeps on giving for a long time to come. You

can buy one at the checkout or from a third party like

Assurant Solutions, which offers plans on Amazon.com.

plan purchase protect

Looking to take the stress out of your holiday shopping this season?


Vaccines work in a number of ways, but the basic principle they rely on is the same. Vaccines introduce your body to a disease

without the risks associated with actually contracting the disease. A vaccinated person not only protects themselves, but also those around them. We call this “herd immunity” and it happens when a disease is prevented from traveling because it can’t find anyone who can carry it. People often ask us about the safety of vaccines, and the short answer is that vaccines are safe. Vaccines do carry side effects, but most of these are minor, such as soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site. In extremely rare cases, children can sometimes have “febrile seizures” after getting a vaccine, but febrile seizures don’t result in long-term issues, and are possible with fevers that aren’t connected to receiving a vaccination. For every child that ever experiences a side effect from a vaccination, there are hundreds or thousands more who are spared a great deal of suffering and pain from these diseases. Vaccines are a proven way to prevent the deaths of thousands of children every year. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease compiled a list of nine common diseases and ran the numbers of how many cases there were in a baseline year before a vaccine was available and then again in 2009, after vaccination had taken place. The diseases listed included crippling, debilitating and potentially lethal diseases, such as smallpox, polio, tetanus, the measles and more. Of all nine diseases, every one of them was reduced by at least 98.6 percent. Three of them, diphtheria, smallpox and polio, were completely eradicated in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta estimates that since 1994, more than 732,000 children’s lives have been saved by vaccinations.

At the bare minimum, vaccines prevent a child from getting sick. But it’s also important to remember that even a common disease like the measles is deadly. In 2012, measles killed more than 122,000 children around the world, but there were only 55 cases in the United States and 21 of those were contracted outside the U.S. In 1964, Rubella (commonly known as German measles), killed 2,000 babies and caused another 11,000 miscarriages. In 2012, only nine cases of Rubella were reported in the U.S.

We feel it’s important to lead by example. Dr. McGinnis, mother of three children: “All of our children have received all of the recommended vaccines on the schedule, on-time. They also receive a flu vaccine annually. I have taken care of children with vaccine preventable illnesses in the past and would never want to put my children at risk. These conditions do not discriminate. All children are at risk of becoming infected if exposed and not immunized.” Dr. Griffin: “I do not have children, but I unequivocally recommend that each of my family members gets the recommended vaccines based on his or her age and health conditions. If I had children of my own, I absolutely would vaccinate them. It’s the best way I know of to keep them safe from diseases that I have seen cause great difficulty and harm to people.” We can’t put all of our knowledge into one article, but we have tried to hit the most important points. If you do have further questions, we encourage you to talk to your child’s pediatrician. They can talk you through your concerns and offer you options when it comes to how and when your child receives their shots. We want the same thing that you want for your child: For them to grow up healthy and happy.

It’s a question that parents everywhere are asking doctors like us, and it’s a good question. Vaccination has been under a lot more scrutiny in the past several years. We feel that when it comes to keeping children safe from serious diseases, there is no better method of prevention than vaccination.

For more information about vaccination safety, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm. To schedule an appointment with the Owensboro Health Pediatric Center, call 270-688.4480. To reach Owensboro Health Infectious Disease, call 270-417-7850.

why should you vaccinateyour child?

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the kidseat

free list

MondaysCatfish Willy’s - $1.99 kids meal with the

purchase of adult meal

Grandy’s - 99¢ kids meals with the purchase

of regular adult meal

Mirko Pasta – 2 free kids meals per adult

entrée purchase

Red Lobster – free kids meal with coupon

available on website or Facebook page

Shoney’s – 2 free kids meals per adult

entrée purchase from 3 – 9 p.m. for kids 10

years and younger

TGI Fridays – free kids meal with the

purchase of adult entrée for kids 12 years

and younger

Zaxby’s – 2 kids meals for 99¢ with

purchase of an adult entrée

TuesdaysBeef ‘O’ Brady’s – free kids meal with the

purchase of adult entrée from 4 – 8 p.m. for

kids 12 years and younger

Bob Evans – free kids meals with the

purchase of adult meal for kids 12 and

younger; kids get a special treat of icing

their own cookie

Denny’s – 2 free kids meals per adult meal

purchase

Fazoli’s - 99¢ kids meals with the purchase

of adult meal

Pizza Hut – 1 free child buffet with the

purchase of adult buffet from 5 – 8 p.m. at

the South Frederica location.



discover


Salsarita’s – free kids meal with the purchase

of $5 or more adult entrée; dine in only

WednesdayOle South Barbeque – 2 free kids meals per

adult meal purchase for kids 12 and younger



ThursdayBee Bop’s – free kids meal with the purchase of

adult meal after 5 p.m. for kids 12 and younger

Captain D’s – 2 free kids meals with adult

meal purchase; dine in only



Ryan’s - 99¢ kids buffet for children 11 years

and younger

SaturdayMaloney’s – free kids meals from

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Texas Roadhouse – 2 free kids meals per

adult entrée from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

SundayBriarpatch – 1 free kids meal per adult

entrée for kids 10 and younger

Maloney’s – free kids meals from

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Salsarita’s – free kids meal with the purchase

of $5 or more adult entrée; dine in only

Texas Roadhouse – 2 free kids meals per

adult entrée from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

*The Kids Eat Free list is subject to change. Please contact restaurants to

ensure their participation.


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1PRESERVATION STATION Preservation Station

Market Days are held the first weekend

of every month, Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

and Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. with over 80

vendors of antique, vintage, handcrafted,

and customized items, live music, and food.

Preservation Station Market and Event Center,

9661 Highway 56. Call 270-215-1045, go

to www.visitpreservationstation.com, or find

us on Facebook.

TRUNNELL’S GRAND PUMPKIN SMASH Don’t

trash ‘em, smash ‘em! It’ll be a smash’em,

bash’em kind of day at Trunnell’s! Come assist

in the destruction of any unsold pumpkins or

bring your own! If you’ve always wondered

what to do with your old pumpkins once

Halloween has come and gone, this is the

answer! Join us for our First-Annual Pumpkin

Smash and bring them ol’ pumpkins with

ya! Watch for more details on all the ooey

gooeyfFun we’ll be having with activities

ranging from a Giant Pumpkin Smash,

Pumpkin Bowling, Farm Scene Investigation,

getting lost in the Interactive Corn Maze,

face painting and more “Absolutely Farmtastic

Fun”! Call 270-733-2222 or visit http://

www.trunnellsfarmmarket.com for more

information.

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE!

Visit the library every Saturday morning

from 10:00—12:00 for self guided fun and

educational activities with a focus on literacy

and school readiness; Daviess County Public

Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org

OWENSBORO COLLECTOR CON features over

200 booths and quality dealers from across

the region. The event will feature comics,

movies, posters, toys, action figures, collector

cards, die cast, and much more. Celebrity

guests include Dan Haggerty, Aron Eisenberg,

Joyce DeWitt, Honky Tonk Man, Robert D’Zar,

Jim Cornett, Scott Shaw, and Jim Decker.

There will also be a Witches and Wizards

Celebrity Costume Ball Friday evening with

$1,500 in prizes; For more information, visit

www.collectorcon.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2PRESERVATION STATION See event description

on Saturday, November 1.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3FREE STORYTIME WEE READ for ages 2 and

younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 –

10:30 a.m.; Daviess County Public Library,

2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.org.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must

wear socks; Children 5 and under get in for

$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or

ubouncepartyhouse.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5U-BOUNCE OPEN BOUNCE NIGHT; All must

wear socks; $7 per child, children under 2

are free, unless they are the only child, adults

always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6BLUEGRASS JAM On the first Thursday of

each month, head to the Bluegrass Museum

to jam with other musicians. Jamming is for

musicians of all levels and begins at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Museum

at (270) 926-7891 or visit their their website at

www.bluegrassmuseum.org.

FREE STORYTIME WEE READ for ages 2 and




DOWNTOWN DATE NIGHT Start your weekend

early by heading to Downtown Owensboro

for free live music and events. Visit one of our

great downtown restaurants for dinner and

then enjoy the riverfront.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7KRAFTUCKY ARTS & CRAFTS EXPO Owensboro

has a long history of producing quality craft

shows. Kraftucky Arts & Crafts Expo will

continue this tradition of quality and will

be the premier consumer craft show of

Informing parents about fun, local events is a priority for Owensboro Parent. Our magazine compiles events from across

the city and county. So when your family is looking for something to do, check out the Owensboro Parent calendar,

where you will find information on local events, including event descriptions, locations, dates, times and price.

Want to include your event? Contact the editor at [email protected].

november 2014


the season. Kraftucky will serve as a central

location for arts and crafts enthusiasts and

vendors to collaborate on and purchase the

newest trends and products; $3 for adults

(children 11 and under are free); Owensboro

Convention Center.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8FREE VETERANS DAY PARADE Come honor our

veterans for the Annual Veterans Day Parade

beginning and ending on Veterans Memorial

Blvd. This is the longest running Veterans Day

Parade in the country. The parade will begin

at East 2nd and Clay Streets, will travel west

on 2nd Street, north on Daviess Street, and

west on Veterans Memorial Blvd. ending at

Frederica Street.

KENTUCKY REMEMBERS VETERANS DAY

5K RUN/WALK This race will honor and

remember the sacrifice of thousand of

American soldiers who have paid the

ultimate price for our freedom. Since 9/1l,

Kentucky alone has lost 113 heroes, 7 from

Daviess County including 5 soldiers who

were killed in combat - SGT James Harlan,

PFC Robert Settle, SPC Timothy Fulkerson,

SPC Brandon Scott Mullins and SGT Michael

Cable. Participants are encourage to carry

one of the specially marked flags in memory

of a fallen hero. The race is presented by

the Kentucky Chapter of the American Gold

Star Mothers of which Cathy Mullins, mother

of SPC Brandon Scott Mullins KIA 8-25-11

is the president of the local chapter of this

non-profit organization. Proceeds from

the race will go between two organizations

including the Bluegrass Chapter of the Honor

Flight that provides all expense paid trips for

WWII veterans to go to Washington DC to

visit the national memorials and the Honor

and Remember organization who provide

personalized flags to families of the fallen.







KRAFTUCKY ARTS & CRAFTS EXPO See event

description on Friday, November 7.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9KENTUCKY HOMETOWN VETERANS DAY

Celebration On the Sunday before Veterans

Day, the community’s best and brightest

talents including artists, musicians and guest

speakers will grace the stage for a very special

community wide celebration honoring the

military service and sacrifice of all men and

women in uniform, their families at home, and

those who have made the ultimate sacrifice

for our country. Hosted by the family of

SPC Brandon Scott Mullins; Good Shepherd

Church, 3031 Bittel Road.

KRAFTUCKY ARTS & CRAFTS EXPO See event








$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or


VETERAN’S DAY AT GLENN FUNERAL HOME

Honoring all who served, Glenn Funeral

Home invites all veterans to join them under

calendar


calendar

the tents in the Glenn Funeral Home parking

lot. Lunch will be provided Old Hickory Bar-

B-Q and live music by Cathy and Tommy

Mullins; 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 900 Old Hartford

Road.




always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13FREE STORYTIME WEE READ for ages 2 and









FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14BROADWAY AT RIVERPARK CENTER “A

CHRISTMAS STORY” Based on the classic 1983

movie, A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL!

invites you into the Indiana home of Ralphie

Parker, an 11-year old kid who is desperate

to win the most coveted holiday prize: An

Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot

Range Model Air Rifle. With songs both funny

and sentimental, A Christmas Story paints a

refreshing holiday portrait of a simpler time in

America; RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess Street.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE!












$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or





always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20FREE STORYTIME WEE READ for ages 2 and









CANVAS AND COCKTAILS Come unleash your

inner artist with us!

Canvas & Cocktails is a one-of-a-kind painting

class hosted by Studio Slant. You come in and

get taught step by step the painting for the

night and take home a masterpiece. The Cost

is $45 with all materials and artist instruction

included. We offer a public class once a

month or you can book your own private

party. Visit us on Facebook to see what we

are painting that night; $45; Studio Slant, 624

Emory Drive; For more information, call (270)

684-3570.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21FREE 28TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY IN THE PARK

Begins November 21 at Legion Park. Giant

elves, trees, toys and figures, not to mention

Santa in his sleigh, line Legion’s half-mile

walking path.

CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK Begins

November 21 at Panther Creek Park. An

outdoor driving lighted tour with 400,000+

lights winding through Panther Creek Park.

$3.00 charge per carload. Wagon rides

through the park are also available. 5160

Wayne Bridge Road. Open from 6-9 p.m.

each night.

OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS SHOW The

Owensboro Christmas Show will have 200

booths and some of the best dealers in the

region. Free pictures with Santa for the kids.

Wonderful seasonal lobby displays. All the

sight and sounds of Christmas; $2 admission;

Friday, 2 - 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9- 6 p.m.; Sunday,

10 - 4 p.m.; Owensboro Convention Center,

501 West 2nd Street.

PARTY OF THE SEASON! Colt Ford We have

“The Party of the Season” coming to the

Owensboro Sportscenter Friday, November

21. Colt Ford with special guests Moccasin

Creek will be rocking the Spotscenter all

night!!. The party will be emceed by Dee Jay

Silver – he’ll keep you moving with his unique

style of country remixes. Also performing will

be Jaclyn Graves and The Josh Merritt Band.

Tickets go on sale online today (Wednesday)

at 11:00 AM, and will be available at the

Maloneys Pizza and Wings on Hwy 54 starting

tomorrow; For more information, email

[email protected].

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22FREE 78TH ANNUAL OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS

PARADE The Owensboro-Daviess County

Christmas Parade Association, Inc. is

presenting the 78th Annual Christmas parade

themed “Christmas Miracles.” Each year the

parade committee spends countless hours

sifting through nominations and suggestions

for its Honorary Grand Marshal. We look for

someone who has “put Owensboro on the

map” in a positive way, or someone who has

made a contribution to our great community.

This year we are proud to announce that two

of our very own, Bayli Boling and Alexandra

Watts have been named Honorary Grand

Marshal. Bayli earned the title of Miss Teen

Kentucky United States and Alexandra earned

the title of Miss Jr. Teen Kentucky United

States. Both are from right here in Owensboro

and will spend their time travelling and

representing our great city very well. Join

us on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in

Downtown Owensboro, “where Kentucky

starts Christmas,” to congratulate Bayli and

Alexandra and wish them the best in the years

to come.







OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS SHOW See event


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS SHOW See event





calendar






$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or





always free; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE!






MONDAY, DECEMBER 1FREE STORYTIME WEE READ for ages 2 and




TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2U-BOUNCE TODDLER TUESDAY; All must


$5 all night; 5 – 8 p.m.; (270) 685-1255 or


GIVING TUESDAY On this international day of

giving, remember Wendell Foster’s Campus

for Developmental Disabilities. You can make

donations anytime at www.wfcampus.org/

DONATE.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4BLUEGRASS JAM On the first Thursday of

each month, head to the Bluegrass Museum

to jam with other musicians. Jamming is for

musicians of all levels and begins at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Museum

at (270) 926-7891 or visit their their website at

www.bluegrassmuseum.org.

FREE STORYTIME WEE READ for ages 2 and









FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5OWENSBORO FLEA MARKET The Owensboro

Flea Market features over 200 booths and

dealers from several states. Items to be

found include a wide variety of antiques and

collectibles, jewelry, furniture, arts and crafts,

and 1000’s of other items;

Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m;

Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

; Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Admission

is $1; Owensboro Convention Center.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6FREE HOLIDAY STROLL Stroll the downtown

streets to get in the holiday spirit. Strolling

carolers, storefront decorations, and indoor

performers will make this evening a reminder

of the good old days of being downtown at

Christmas. Second and Third streets from

Daviess to St. Ann. 4-8 pm

PRESERVATION STATION Preservation Station Market Days are held the first weekend


of every month, Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 4

p.m. with over 80 vendors of antique, vintage, handcrafted, and

customized items, live music, and food. Preservation Station Market

and Event Center, 9661 Highway 56. Call 270-215-1045, go to www.

visitpreservationstation.com, or find us on Facebook.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND MRS. CLAUS Join Mesker Park Zoo for a

breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Visit meskerparkzoo.com for details.

THE NUTCRACKER SWEET CHARACTER BRUNCH Come to the RiverPark

Center to enjoy a special brunch opportunity with the characters of The

Nutcracker; 10 – 11:30 a.m. at RiverPark Center.

THE NUTCRACKER Owensboro Dance Theatre is proud to present the

family holiday favorite The Nutcracker Saturday December 7th at 7pm, at

the RiverPark Center. Owensboro Dance Theatre has been performing

The Nutcracker annually since 1992. The Nutcracker has sold out for the

last four consecutive years; RiverPark Center at 7 p.m

FREE SATURDAY MORNING LIVE!Visit the library every Saturday morning from 10:00—12:00 for self

guided fun and educational activities with a focus on literacy and school

readiness; Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.; dcplibrary.

org

OWENSBORO FLEA MARKET See event description on Friday,

December 5.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7OWENSBORO FLEA MARKET See event description on Friday,

September 5.

PRESERVATION STATION See event description on Saturday, November 1.



November // December 2014 . OWENSBORO PARENT 60www.OwensboroParent.com

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Owensboro Parent November/December 2014