Kids Korner December 2012

A unique way to celebrate the season with family and friends. Free and open December 1-29 during regular Museum hours.

Don’t miss out on being a part of this annual Midland tradition!

December2012

Learn more about our special events at MuseumSW.org/Christmas 1705 W. Missouri Ave. | Midland, TX | 432.683.2882

M U S E U MO F T H E

S O U T H W E S T

Hey, Kids! Check out Kirby’s Korner!Lots of learning

and puzzlefun!

December brings adventur-ous hobbits, adorable mon-sters, and Billy Crystal and

Bette Midler on screen together - fun! Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new in theaters and on DVD and blu-ray this month.THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Not yet rated; like PG-13. In theaters 12/14. Ok for kids 12+. Reel Preview: 5 out of 5 Reels. www.thehobbit.comThe first of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy finds Bil-bo Baggins (Martin Freeman) swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their journey will take them into the Wild and through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins, Orcs, deadly Wargs, Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters, Sor-cerers, and of course, the creature named Gol-lum. Bilbo learns what we already know: a simple gold ring is tied to the fate of Middle Earth. MONSTERS, INC. 3DRated G. In theaters 12/19. Ok for kids 6+. Reel Rating: 5 out of 5 Reels. disney.go.com/monstersinc/Like so many other family movies lately, the Os-car-winning Monsters, Inc. is getting a new 3D theatrical release. John Goodman and Billy Crys-

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Continued on page 23

Movie and DVD/Blu-ray reviews for

you and your family

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM

One Reel: Even the Force can’t save it. Two Reels: Coulda been a contenderThree Reels: Something to talk about.Four Reels: You want the truth? Great flick! Five Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

tal star in this classic Pixar movie about a group of monsters who generate their city’s power by scaring children. But they’re not so courageous when it comes to human kids contaminating their world -- which is exactly what happens when little Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs) disrupts things. Clas-sic, brilliant and evergreen, be sure to see this movie on the big screen in 3D. JACK REACHERPG-13 for violence, language and some drug ma-terial. In theaters 12/21. Ok for kids 14+. Reel Preview: 3.5 out of 5 Reels.www.jackreachermovie.comIs it time for Tom Cruise to hang up his action-hero hat? I don’t think so. The star of Mission Impossible and Knight and Day still knows how to kick you know what, and this crime thriller has a great literary tie-in, as it’s based on a book by Lee Child. When five people are shot dead by an expert sniper in a heartland city, the cops quickly identify and arrest the culprit. But the accused man claims he’s innocent and says, “Get Jack Reacher.” Yep, that’s when Tom Cruise shows up to do some whoopin’. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, this movie also stars Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, and Robert Duvall. PARENTAL GUIDANCEPG for some rude humor. In theaters 12/25. Ok for kids 9+. Reel Preview: 4 out of 5 Reels. www.parentalguidancemovie.comAfter the presents are unwrapped and the din-ner consumed, hop out to see this fun movie on Christmas Day. Billy Crystal plays an old school grandpa who’s accustomed to calling the shots. But he meets his match when he and his ea-ger-to-please wife Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandkids when their type-A helicopter parents (Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott) go away for work. You guessed it -- 21st century problems collide with Artie and Diane’s old school methods of tough rules.

To advertise, please contactMichelle [email protected]

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Kids Korner Magazine, The Ultimate Resource For Permian Basin Parents, is now in its fifth year of connecting families with the products and services they need.

Published monthly and distributed in day cares, pre-schools, medical offices, salons, museums, and many other locations where parents will find us.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, reprinted, or redistributed without express written permission from Kids Korner Magazine of the Permian Basin.

PublisherMichelle Martinez

Creative DirectorTherese Shearer

Contributing Writers Terri SchroeterGina G. Hodges

Get your copy of Kids Korner at these locations:All Albertson'sHEBAll Kent KwiksPeapods & PetticoatsTraci's Salon

Dazzling Diva Kids SpaBingham Dance CenterWest Texas Music Academy ...and too many more to mention!

The Ultimate Resource for Permian Basin Parents

inyourkorner

www.kidskornerfamilymag.com

This season, I'd like to say a very special thank you to those that support this publication! If you are an advertiser, distributor, or reader, we appreciate the opportunity to bring you this fun, informational resource guide!

Be sure and check out the great things in this issue. Addy's Hope Adoption Agency is featured on page 10... what a blessing this organization is to these children.

This month we also covered one mom's decision to home school her children. We will be covering more on this in future issues as we believe it is a growing trend in this area.

And finally, this time of year- Laughter is our best medi-cine. So here's a "dose" on us.

Here are a few funnies submitted to us by our readers:

A 4-year-old to her grandma "Grandma you're cleaning! Did PaPaw show you how?"

"Mommy, that's TOO safe!!"....she yelled as I tightened her car seatMegan R, 3 years old

"Can we go up the ALLIGATOR again, please? The ALLIGATOR was SO fun!" Mitchell, 3 years old, talking about the elevator

May you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season!

Join us on Facebook for family friendly event updates! www.facebook.com/kidskorner.permianbasin

4 www.kidskornerfami lymag.com

thisISSue

Reel Life with Jane 2, 23Kids & Money: The Doubling Penny Exercise 6Fun Family Holiday Events 7Boredom Busting 8,9Early Dental Visits: Keep Your Bringing Hope to Children 10How to Talk about Bullying 12, 13Kirby’s Korner 14,17Homeschooling 18,19A Healthy Snack 20Fun Family Events 22

apparel, ShoeS Just Between Friends ............... 6Peapods & Petticoats .............15art ClaSSeSMuseum of the Southwest ......22BIrthday partIeSThe Big Red Game Trailer .......... 9Dazzling Diva’s Kids Spa .......... 9Jumping Party ........................21ChIld therapySpeech, Language, & Learning Services ...................11

ChurChBelievers Way .........................14ConSIgnMentSBaby Bear’s Boutique .............17Just Between Friends ............... 6CredIt ServICeSCredit Firm, Inc. ......................20danCe & gyMnaStICSBingham Center ....................... 8day CareS & eduCatIonNew Horizons ........................... 9Toddler Tech ...........................17dentalKids Dental ............................24dIaper BagSBaby Bear’s Boutique .............17dIaper CakeSBaby Bear’s Boutique .............17eleCtrICCorey Sly ...............................16Fun For the FaMIlyThe Big Red Game Trailer .......... 9Bynum School ......................... 7Jumping Party ........................21Matthews Martial Arts ............10Museum of the Southwest ......22gIFtSPeapods & Petticoats .............15Scentsy ..................................16

health CareMCH Center for Women & Infants ..................... 5ORMC Odessa Regional Medical Center .......................11hoMe BuSIneSS Advocare ................................15Scentsy ..................................16InSuranCeBlakely Insurance ...................19MartIal artSBingham Center .....................19Matthews Martial Arts ............10MuSIC leSSonSWest Texas Music Academy ....15SoMethIng For MoMWake Up with Make-up ..........22SalonS & SpaSDazzling Diva’s Kids Spa .......... 9MaternIty WearBaby Bear’s Boutique .............17Just Between Friends ............... 6Peapods & Petticoats .............15realtorSJeaneen Pruitt ................... 4&22volunteerIngCASA of the Permian Basin Area ................12WeIght loSSV3 Weight ManagementComplex ................................18WellneSS produCtSAdvocare ................................15

FeatureS

5www.kidskornerfami lymag.com


Using the chart below, show your child how a penny eventually grows to more than $5.3 million! Explain to your child what an interest rate is and how compound interest works. You can use the following desciption:

When you save money- that means you don’t spend all of the money you have right now- you put some of the money away to spend later. By sav-ing, over time you can eventually buy things that cost more than you would have been able to buy just from the money you have today. You can save money by putting it in a piggybank or you might have a savings account at your local bank or credit union. When you put money into a savings account

Ask your child whether they would rather have $20 today or one penny today that is doubled in value every day for 30 days?

at a bank or credit union, you will be paid some-thing called interest. Interest is money you earn by letting others use it until you need it. So, not only do you put money away, but it slowly grows larger because you are receiving interest payments. For example, if I have $100 in a savings account and I’m paid 5 percent interest each year, at the end of one year I will have $105. If I keep my money and the interest payment in the savings account for an-other year I will earn another interest payment on both the $100 and the $5 my money has earned. That is called compounding interest. At the end of two years my money will grow to $110.25

Discuss the impor-tance of consistently put-ting money away (saving) and patiently letting it grow. If your child doesn’t already have a savings ac-count, consider opening a small account at a local fi-nancial institution. You could match the money your child places in the account as an added incen-tive to save.

Kids & Money: The doubling Penny exercise



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As a mother of four, there’s never a dull mo-ment for celebrity mom Tori Spelling. But even as a mom on the go, Spelling still hears those dreaded words - “Mom! I’m bored!” - from her kids. So, to beat the boredom blues, she has developed a few tips and activities to keep kids entertained all year long: MonograM art

Kids love things that are personalized, so why not make a crafty monogram? Help your children trace their first initial in block letters on a piece of poster board. Then, use glue to fill in the letter with colorful buttons, crayons or even shells. Create a tIMe CapSule

Preserve some of your favorite family memo-ries with a time capsule. Start with a sealable plastic box and have each child contribute a few items with a note about why those items are spe-cial to them. Don’t forget to include several fam-ily photos. Bury the capsule in the backyard (or a far corner of the basement) and set a date to “uncover” the capsule.paInted glaSS Jar/ penCIl holder

Clean and dry an old glass jar. Add white glue to acrylic or liquid tempera paints so the color sticks to the glass. Help kids paint a design on the jar using brushes or cotton swabs. To erase a mistake, just use a paper towel to wipe off the paint before it hardens. After the paint dries, seal

Boredom Busting Tips for Kid

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Encourage kids to draw a house on a piece of paper and color it in with markers. Next, glue the paper house on a piece of cardboard and cut it to fit the shape. Using a clock kit (available at many local craft stores), cut a hole in the middle of the house and fit the clock-face according to its instructions. Before you know it, you’ll have a working clock that kids created. reCyCled SprInkler

Start with an empty, clean 2-liter soda bottle and use scissors (or a drill if you have one) to poke small holes in the bottoms and sides of the bottle. Next, connect a hose to the bottle us-ing duct tape or pick up a converter at your local hardware store. Turn on the hose and have fun in the yard.SCenIC SnoW gloBeS

Start with a small, empty jar; such as a clean baby food jar. Remove the lid and glue a small figurine to the underside of lid and allow to dry. Fill the jar with water and add some glitter and a little glycerin. Add a drop of food coloring to the water for a more unique globe. Encourage kids to think of fun themes, like under the sea. Screw on the jar lid tightly and turn over the jar to complete the snow globe.

When crafting with children, take care to su-pervise them with sharp objects, and use non-toxic ingredients.never Be Bored agaIn

The Lunchables team wants to make sure all kids can amp up the fun and bust boredom. Now through February 2013, kids can enter the “Nev-er Be Bored Again” Instant Win Game at www.Lunchables.com/fun for a chance to win one of over one million boredom-busting prizes. No pur-chase is necessary to play the Lunchables Never Be Bored Again Instant Win Game. Open to resi-dents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 6-13 years as of 7/9/12. To enter online and see Official Rules, visit www.Lunchables.com/fun. Ends: 2/27/13. Void where prohibited.

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Addy’s Hope Adoption Agency is a 501c3, licensed adoption agency that was started in 2005. Addy’s Hope worked in Liberia West Africa for the first 6 years of existence. After Liberia closed to adoptions, God took Addy’s Hope in a new direction. Founders John and HollyAnn Petree became aware of the crisis in their own backyard after visiting a local emergency shelter that housed foster children ages five and under. John and HollyAnn were foster parents them-selves, but knew after visiting the shelter where over 20 children were living, they had to do more. The Petrees would go on to adopt one of their foster children as well as a teen from the foster system making them a family of 9. However, the problem was bigger than one family could solve obviously, and it was at that time Addy’s Hope pursued a contract with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to place chil-dren in state custody who are legally available for adoption in permanent, forever, adoptive homes. There are over 6,000 children in Texas alone who are legally available for adoption but remain in foster care simply because no adoptive families have been found. It is the goal of Addy’s Hope to empty the Texas foster system of waiting chil-dren! If you have a desire to adopt but do not have the $15,000-$40,000 it sometimes takes to adopt, then this may be the program for you! Some things to know about adopting a waiting child through Addy’s Hope are:• You pay little to no adoption fees. The state

covers the agency’s adoption fees when processing a waiting child adoption• Many of the children qualify for an adoption subsidy that will continue until the child is 18 years old• Many of the children will remain covered by Medicaid• Most of the children will qualify for free college tuition at any state school• Most of the children are ages 6 years and above• In the Permian Basin the majority of the waiting children are Hispanic• Some children are part of sibling groups, but there are individual children as well• All of the children need someone to love them, and • All of the children just want a family to call their own

If you would like more information on this adoption program or our infant domestic adop-tion program, you can go to www.addyshope.org or call or email HollyAnn at 432.897.1503, [email protected]. Addy’s Hope also offers assistance to women in crisis pregnancies who are looking for a life giving option for their child if they feel they cannot parent. Addy’s Hope is a very small, intimate adoption agency dedicated to personal service to all three parts of any adop-tion: the birth family, the adoptive family and the children! Call for more information.

Photo courtesy of LKM Photography

Bringing hope to children❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤



tify it. They can talk about bullying if it happens to them or others. Kids need to know ways to safely stand up to bullying and how to get help.• Encourage kids to speak to a trusted adult if they are bullied or see others being bullied. The adult can give comfort, support, and advice, even if they can’t solve the problem directly. Encour-age the child to report bullying if it happens.• Talk about how to stand up to kids who bully. Give tips, like using humor and saying “stop” di-rectly and confidently. Talk about what to do if those actions don’t work, like walking away• Talk about strategies for staying safe, such as staying near adults or groups of other kids.• Urge them to help kids who are bullied by show-ing kindness or getting help.KeeP THe Lines oF CommUniCaTion oPen

Research tells us that children really do look to parents and caregivers for advice and help on tough decisions. Sometimes spending 15 min-utes a day talking can reassure kids that they can talk to their parents if they have a problem. Start conversations about daily life and feelings with questions like these:• What was one good thing that happened to-day? Any bad things?• What is lunch time like at your school? Who do

They can: • Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help.• Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.• Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activ-ities, interests, and hobbies boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying.• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.HeLP KiDs UnDeRsTanD BULLyinG

Kids who know what bullying is can better iden-

Parents, school staff, and otheradults have a role to play in preventing bullying.

How to tAlK About BullyingRemember, Kids!

Kirby says,“Don’t Be A Bully,

Be A Buddy!”

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I am for the child who’s had seven addresses in a single year. Because she’s in foster care. Because her father abused her. And because her mother couldn’t believe her. That is the child I am for.

And because I am, she will be half as likely to languish in foster care, and that much more likely to find a safe, permanent home. I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. I am you.

I am for the child who no longer comes.


you sit with? What do you talk about?• What is it like to ride the school bus?• What are you good at? What would do you like best about yourself?

Talking about bullying directly is an important step in understanding how the issue might be affecting kids. There are no right or wrong an-swers to these questions, but it is important to encourage kids to answer them honestly. Assure kids that they are not alone in addressing any problems that arise. Start conversations about bullying with questions like these:• What does “bullying” mean to you?• Describe what kids who bully are like. Why do you think people bully?• Who are the adults you trust most when it comes to things like bullying?• Have you ever felt scared to go to school be-cause you were afraid of bullying? What ways have you tried to change it?• What do you think parents can do to help stop bullying?• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?• What do you usually do when you see bullying going on?• Do you ever see kids at your school being bul-lied by other kids? How does it make you feel?• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you

do if it happens again?Get more ideas for talking with children about

life and about bullying. If concerns come up, be sure to respond.

There are simple ways that parents and care-givers can keep up-to-date with kids’ lives. • Read class newsletters and school flyers. Talk about them at home.• Check the school website• Go to school events• Greet the bus driver• Meet teachers and counselors at “Back to School” night or reach out by email• Share phone numbers with other kids’ parentsenCoURaGe KiDs To Do WHaT THey Love

Help kids take part in activities, interests, and hobbies they like. Kids can volunteer, play sports, sing in a chorus, or join a youth group or school club. These activities give kids a chance to have fun and meet others with the same interests. They can build confidence and friendships that help protect kids from bullying.moDeL HoW To TReaT oTHeRs WiTH ResPeCT

Kids learn from adults’ actions. By treating others with kindness and respect, adults show the kids in their lives that there is no place for bullying. Even if it seems like they are not pay-ing attention, kids are watching how adults man-age stress and conflict, as well as how they treat their friends, colleagues, and families.

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We also offer Certified Dyslexia Testing & Tutoring.


Serving Size: Nutrition Facts labels list a serving size, which is an amount of food such as 2 crackers, 1 cup of cereal, 2 cookies, or 5 pretzels. The nutrition label tells you how many nutrients are in that amount of food.

Look for the Nutrition Facts label on the food’s package. It will tell you what is in the food. You know how books have a table of contents that explains what’s inside? Nutrition Facts labels are like that. They tell you what’s inside the food you are eat-ing. The Nutrition Facts label gives you information about the nutrients in the food. The Nutrition Facts label is printed somewhere on the outside of packaged food and you usually don’t have to look hard to find it.

Nutrition Facts labels also tell the percentage provided by that food of the recommended daily amount of a nutrient. The cupcake nutrition label says one serving of these snacks provides 22% of the amount of fat recommended to be eaten in one day.

Most nutrients are measured in grams, also written as g.

Some nutrients are measured in milligrams, or mg. Milligrams are very tiny–there are one thousand milligrams in a gram.

Hey, Kids! Welcome to Kirby’s Korner!Hope you

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fun!Kirby

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ElEctrical SafEty chEckliSt✔Call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you have: • Frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers • A tingling feeling when you touch an appliance • Discolored or warm wall outlets • A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance • Flickering or dimming lights • Sparks from an outlet✔Cords should not be running across doorways or under carpets. If they are, have an electrician install more outlets.✔Check electrical cords to make sure the wiresare not damaged, cracked, or loose.✔Keep kids away from electric cords and outlets. Cords placed in the mouth can cause burns and objects stuck in a receptacle can cause shock, burns or electrocution.✔All receptacle outlets and switches need faceplates.✔Never put more than one plug in each receptacle. ✔Ground-fault circuit interrupters reduce the risk of shock by shutting off a circuit when it could be a shock hazard. Your home should have GFCIs in the kitchen, bathroom(s), laundry, basement, garage, and outdoors.✔Arc-fault circuit interrupters protect against fire by monitoring the electrical current in a circuit and shutting off the circuit when unintended arcingoccurs. AFCIs should be installed in your home. If not, have a professional electrician install them for you.

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By Gina G. Hodges

Homeschool my own children?! But why? I asked myself, obvi-ously insane. Because, I rea-soned, every mother hawk has but one directive: Prepare her fledglings to soar. Enter Home-school 2012.

After researching the highs and lows, purging to my doctor, who endorsed the idea, and interro-gating other freedom-seeking moms in the know, I began to wonder what other answer could pro-vide a more suitable nest in which to help re-

train our near grown hawks to soar when they leave it. In or-der to validate in them those God-

given traits previously suppressed and discour-aged throughout their public educational experi-ence; seems we have much to unlearn.

As a full-time wife, first-time homeschool mom to two wonderfully-made middle school-aged boys, and part-time substitute school nurse, I un-derstand all too well the tug of war between filling other’s needs versus filling mine. When we are newly expectant mom nesters, it seems we sim-ply want our eggs to hatch. When my babies grew into tweens overnight, I was forced to see this new maternal truth, and therefore this new need: Our children are affecting their environment on a much larger scale and at a faster rate than ever before and vice versa.

Therefore, they not only need, but also crave an education worthy of embracing them, their culture, and their yearning for premature takeoff.

As a school nurse, I’ve learned that training children in health is best achieved through mod-eling my own learned healthy behaviors, as much and as often as possible. Love and nurturing cover a multitude of clinic complaints; and many students I observe to be most in need of love rarely know how to seek it directly.

This year of homeschooling brings great peace of mind knowing my boys’ healthy needs for love are not going unacknowledged -a great health benefit for any mother, and therefore her com-munity, and therefore her planet. Ongoing unac-knowledged need, with no intervention to instill healthy support and peace of mind, will create sickness in anyone. At home our boys are learn-ing the freedom to completely and freely express

WHy I DecIDeD to

HomescHool

Call or Text432-238-8527

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Reach your goals for the new year!


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themselves in a consistently free-choice and con-sequence-based, imperfect, forgiving, most of all -loving- environment which government schools cannot recreate. Seeing their confidence and cre-ativity come alive under their newfound freedom is living proof.

Schools claim to be creativity-inducing environ-ments for our children, but their rampant appli-cation of labels, diagnoses, and insistence for more government-run programs to oversee their government-created needs, seems counter to that claim. Medication is a need for many to sus-tain life, no doubt; we also live in one of the most drug addicted nations on the planet, as well. ADD/ADHD diagnoses and medications have af-fected an army of our otherwise free to express, creative, energetic, physical and/or assertive students – a great deal of our nations’ children fit this description in my nursing experience.

As a leader in constant charge of showing her young the flight to take via modeling one, it can be deceptively tempting to give away my right to assess my children’s sense of who they are.

Unwittingly, I have encouraged my impression-able nestlings to be identified and impacted by an institution of “learning” which continually rubber stamps them with an identity not theirs.

While there is precious time left at home to spend around their Daddy and Mama Hawks, we decided to bring our boys home this school year with a goal in mind to help them reinforce who they are through a glimpse at real life beside us -their closest, most trusted carbon copy from which to learn real love and emulate free flight.

It began with intentions of providing a better education for my young birds, yet our adventure has morphed into a flight capable of soaring to even greater heights of freedom achieved togeth-er, thanks in great part to my amazing husband who is willing to work hard to support his family at home. In homeschooling, we aim to dispel false identities binding our children and provide free-dom of choice by consistently modeling a loving reflection mirroring back to them naturally -their God-given label. Continually reiterating their wor-thiness in truth, freedom and love inside their own nest is crucial to impress upon our courageous little hawks while they’re training to soar. As their Mama, it is my job to honor this fleeting privilege.

Gina Hodges is a wife, homeschooling mom of two & registered nurse who enjoys people and dancing. She and her family reside in Dallas, experiencing real life together.


When it comes to snacks, the best options are those that combine great taste with good nutri-tion. With some simple tweaks, it can be easy for parents to provide an enjoyable snack that also delivers the essential nutrients kids need. Here are a few tips for your next snack time:

Get creative. Play with the shapes and texture of fruits and vegetables to make them more ap-pealing to children. Slice apples or other fruits into thin sections and then use a cookie cutter to make animal or flower shapes. Also, try adding vegetables, such as spinach or carrots, to fruit smoothies; this will provide a boost of nutrients without impacting the fruity flavor.

Try a twist on the traditional. Make everyday

fruits exciting by freezing them or pairing them with dipping sauces. Grapes are a perfect warm weather snack when frozen, and both peanut butter and yo-gurt are protein-rich dips for apples and bananas.

Keep it simple. Make it easy to eat healthy foods by keeping convenient options on hand. En-courage children to eat vegetables with all-natural products, such as Dr. Praeger’s Littles. These bite-size veggie pancakes come in fun shapes, are gluten-free, and are available in several varieties. If you are trying to get more protein in your kids’ diets, check out Fishies from Dr. Praeger’s. These bite-size minced fish nuggets can quickly and eas-ily be cooked and served with a dipping sauce.

Let them choose. Make sure you always have a variety of snack choices available, and try to include your kids in the decision-making process. Children are more likely to eat healthy foods if they get to help choose and prepare them.

Lead by example. If your child sees you mak-ing healthy eating decisions and opting for whole-some foods, they are more likely to do the same. Show your kids that you eat the same foods you prepare for them and they’ll be more willing to try those foods as well.

For more kid-friendly snacking tips and recipes like this veggie-filled mac and cheese, visit www.drpraegers.com.

SWeet potato MaC and CheeSeServes: 6 (1¼ cups per serving)½ pound cooked elbow macaroni (about 7 cups); con-sider using whole wheat for an even healthier option2½ cups 2% milk¼ cup flour2 teaspoons mustard powder, divided½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, divided¾ teaspoon salt, divided4 Dr. Praeger’s Sweet Potato Pancakes, defrosted, uncooked and crumbled1½ cupsgrated reduced-fat cheddar cheese¾ cup grated reduced-fat Swiss or Gruyere cheese1 cup whole grain bread crumbs2 tablespoons olive oil

Spray 9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F.

Combine milk, flour, mustard powder, half of cayenne pepper and half of salt in 4-quart sauce-pan; whisk until flour is dissolved.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Whisk, stirring until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.

Add sweet potato pancakes to mixture; whisk until smooth. Add cheese; stir until melted and mixture has thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Add pasta to cheese mixture. Stir to combine; pour into reserved baking dish.

Combine bread crumbs, olive oil and remain-ing salt and cayenne pepper; sprinkle mixture evenly over pasta.

Bake until bread crumbs are browned and pasta is bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes.

a HealtHy and delicious snack

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Jeaneen Pruitt is a Real Es-tate Broker. She has been help-

ing clients with their real estate needs for 13+ years. As one of Midland’s top agents she designed the team approach to better serve her clients. When you hire The Jeaneen Pruitt Team you will experience the full team concept; You will be introduced to each team member and assured that we are all here to work for you!

Think about that… 5 agents plus staff all ready to go to work for you! Our team is designed to help clients with the entire buying/selling process, ensuring that things go as smoothly as possible. Our team style makes sure our clients come first. When you hire one of us you get the whole team!

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FaceBook Shellie to see weekly specials.www.facebook.com/permanentcosmeticsbyshellie

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heritage holiday Christmas paradesaturday, December 1, 2012, 6:30pmLighted floats in several categories. Free admission. Starting at 23rd St. near Odessa College, down Andrews Hwy. to Noel Heritage Plaza on 4th Street.odessa Christmas tree lighting Thursday, December 06, 2012, 6pm Starbright Village-McKinney Park, 625 W. Pool Rd., OdessaStarbright village Thursday, December 06, 2012-January 4, 2013Come See the Lights! McKinney Park, 625 W. Pool Rd., Odessa Feast of SharingFriday, December 07, 2012, 5pm Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Hwy., OdessaSanta Workshop saturday, December 08, 2012, 11am Girl Scouts, 5217 N. Dixie, Odessa elmo Makes Music saturday, December 15, 2012, 10:30am, 2pm & 5:30pm and sunday, December 16, 2012, 1 & 4:30pmEctor County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Hwy., Odessalaura Bush literacy reading programThursday, December 20, 2012, 4:30 pm Call 432-685-1112 to reserve your spot. George W Bush Childhood Home Visitor Center, 1412 West Ohio Ave., Midland harlem globetrottersJanuary 30, 2013, 7pmChapparal CenterStorytime every Wednesday & saturday, 10:30 amWe set aside a special time for all our preschool friends, with stories, crafts and fun. Please join us every week. Everyone is welcome. Barnes and Nobles, 2617 West Loop 250 N., Midland, 432-682-8880


neW on dvd | Blu-ray:

MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC:

ADVENTURES IN THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE Rated G. On DVD 12/4. Ok for kids 3+. Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels.www.hasbro.com/mylittleponyThere’s always some sort of drama taking place in the MLP world, isn’t there? This movie centers on a magical empire that’s suddenly appeared in the arctic north of Equestria. Princess Celestia needs Twilight Sparkle and her friends to find a way to protect it. While her friends try to keep the Crystal Ponies occupied at the Crystal Faire, Twilight Sparkle searches for the hidden Crystal Heart that’s the key to keeping their empire safe from harm. We know it’ll all work out.FINDING NEMO (5 Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition)Rated G. On DVD/blu-ray 12/4. Ok for kids 5+. Reel Rating: 5 out of 5 Reels.disney.go.com/finding-nemo/homeEveryone’s favorite little clownfish surfaced this year when a 3D version of Finding Nemo was released in theaters. Now it gets a Five-Disc Ul-timate Collector’s Edition, including a blu-ray, blu-ray 3D, DVD and digital copy, all in high-definition with cool interactive 3D bonus features. You know the story: In the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, Marlin (Albert Brooks), an overly protective clown-fish, embarks on a daring rescue mission when his beloved son, Nemo, gets scooped up by a diver. With his unforgettable friend Dory (Ellen De-Generes) by his side, Marlin encounters an ocean

By Jane Louise Boursaw

See MORE reviews at www.kidskornerfamilymag.com

Movie and DVD/Blu-ray reviews for

you and your family

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM

One Reel: Even the Force can’t save it. Two Reels: Coulda been a contenderThree Reels: Something to talk about.Four Reels: You want the truth? Great flick! Five Reels: Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

full of characters on his momentous journey to find Nemo. It’s no wonder this fish tale scored an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in 2003. BABES IN TOYLANDRated G. On blu-ray 12/11. Ok for kids 6+. Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. Go retro with this 1961 film, the first true live-ac-tion musical from the Walt Disney Studio, Tommy Sands pairs up with Annette Funicello, along with the famous Ray Bolger and Ed Wynn, and Dis-ney staples Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran. The story takes place in Mother Goose land, where vil-lains shrink our heroes down to toy size, and our heroes must enlist help from the toys in the Toy-maker’s shop to fight back. Great special effects for the time, including stop motion animation that brings the toys to life. Remember, this is 30 years before the computer animation in Toy Story!ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFTPG for mild rude humor and action/peril. On DVD/blu-ray 12/11. Ok for kids 6+. Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels.www.iceagemovie.comThat rag-tag group of Neanderthals are back, and this time, Scrat’s nutty pursuit of that elu-sive acorn has world-changing consequences. Namely, a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and Sid (John Le-guizamo). Wanda Sykes joins the group as Sid’s Granny with an attitude. MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: MICKEY & DONALD HAVE A FARMRated G. On DVD 12/11. Ok for kids 3+. Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. It’s farmtastic! With an oink-oink here, and a moo-moo there, it’s time to sing along, plant the crops, and feed the animals on Mickey’s new clubhouse farm. But when Farmer Pete’s giant windmill blows all the cows, chickens, and pig-gies out of their pens, it’s up to little viewers to help Mickey and Donald find all the animals and bring them home. It’s a bumper crop of fun for little ones.

621 East 7th strEEt | OdEssaCall for an appointment today! 432-580-7220

A trip to the dentist can be scary for children.Let our friendly staff make it a positive experience-Understanding enough for our most timid patients,

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Kids Dental dentists are general dentists limiting their practice to children.

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Kids Korner December 2012