Power's Out/ Rainy Day/ Snowy Day Ideas

While I am not a professional teacher today, the of the most important thing I learned from my student teaching experience applies everyday with my own kids: change the stimulus every 15 minutes or you'll lose them. All day I've been struggling to figure out what to do after the current 15 minutes is up. With both school and the YMCA closed, and the threat of the storm rekindling this afternoon, we've been keeping busy indoors today.

Thankfully, we have power and there is no flooding in this area. I know many who were not so lucky. To everyone who lost power, suffered water damage, or was forced to relocate thanks to Hurricane Sandy, we hope your family is safe and warm and that your lives are restored to normalcy as soon as possible.

Now, what to do with those kiddos?!? Of course there are books, board games, and puzzles. But those will only last so long. I poured over Pinterest today, took out the craft supplies, and hoped for the best. By the way, these don't require electricity...so keep them handy for the next power outage, too.

RELEASING THEIR INNER PICASSO

• Read some books, then try acting them out or ask the kids to think of craft projects that could go with the books. For inspiration, check out these ideas to go along with Laura Numeroff's "If You Give A..." series
• Play Doh + cookie cutters = always a favorite!
• Coloring books + crayons
• Random art supplies: stickers, feathers, pom poms, glue sticks, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, etc.
• Make a Paper Chain to count down to a birthday, the next holiday, or another special occasion
• Special Watercolor Paintings: try drawing a picture with white crayon on white paper, then brush over with watercolors to reveal the image. OR paint with watercolors, then sprinkle table salt on the wet paint, and/or use clear or white craft glue to drizzle additional designs on top. Watch what happens!

• Build with dominoes, LEGOs, and blocks

• Make sock puppets, paper-bag puppets, or paper-plate puppets, then put on a puppet show. Or decorate the house.

GETTING THE SILLIES OUT
When they're stuck indoors, kids still need to move around and get some physical activity. Here are some fun ways to make that happen:

• Go Fish! Place alphabet magnets in a bowl, then grab a pole (toy sword, wrapping paper tube, etc. We used the pole from our marble run set.), string or ribbon, a paper clip, and masking tape. Tie one end of the string to the pole and secure with tape; tie the other end to the paper clip and "fish" for letters. 

• Obstacle Courses - arrange furniture, toys, plastic cups, you name it and have kids go under, over, around, or through. Sometimes we also add in a toss element: set up an empty mixing bowl and a basket full of soft toys such as stuffed animals, and require one to land in the bowl before proceeding
• Crepe Paper Laser Beams - you'll need crepe paper/party streamers (or toilet paper) and masking tape or painter's tape; this could be part of an obstacle course, or its own game; kids take turns going under and over without touching the "laser beams."

And sometimes they end up all wrapped up in the lasers...

• Cards n' Motion - take a regular deck of 52 cards and spread them out on the floor. Assign a motion to each suit (e.g., hearts = jumping jacks, diamonds = twist side to side, spades = march around the room, clubs = windmill your arms). Each player takes turns flipping a card and performing the motion for the number on the card. For example, a player who turns over the 8 of hearts does 8 jumping jacks. You could assign special activities for Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Aces: Jacks pass the activity to the next player, all the girls do the activity for Queens, all the boys do the activity for Kings, and Aces are all-play. Depending on the age of the children, you could create more or fewer rules. (e.g., collect two Aces during the game and you can change a motion such as change march around the room to crawl around the room; collect a pair and do the activity backwards; etc.)
• Wild Things - each player takes turns calling out an animal; everyone else must walk like that animal & make the sound of that animal.
• Play Simon Says
• Fashion Show - use Halloween costumes, dress-up clothes, or even some of your clothes. Let the kids dress up and then strut their stuff down the "runway". Don't forget the camera. (Boys like to dress up as much as girls! Especially when they get to try on dad's shoes, clothes, and baseball caps.)
• Hop Scotch - use masking tape or painter's tape on your floor to make the hop scotch board, and use a balled-up sock to throw. You can recreate any game subbing masking tape for the chalk you would normally use outdoors: bullseye bowling, tic tac toe, etc. For a Halloween twist, check out the Spiderweb Game.
• Toy Hunt - all but one player leaves the room, and this person is It; the player who is It must hide objects around the room (toy cars, Barbie dolls, large blocks, etc.). Be sure to count the objects before hiding so you know how many to find. Once everything is hidden, the person who is It calls everyone back to start the hunt. The person who finds the most objects is the next to be It.
• Play Balloon Volleyball 
• Play Catch with a balled-up sock, a silk scarf, small stuffed animal, or a Koosh-type ball 

I hope this list helps you stay sane during the hurricane this week. Or that it comes in handy on the next snow day or rainy day. Stay safe! As always, thanks for reading.

The Deliciousness of Autumn (a.k.a. What to Make for Dinner in the Fall)

If you are a fan of winter squash, then autumn is your season. Walk through the grocery store or farmers' market, stop by a local farm or farm stand, or check a backyard garden and you might find squash in every size and shape imaginable! Just yesterday at our final Mud Creek Farm CSA pick up (Community Supported Agriculture), we were treated to butternut, buttercup, and red kuri squash. Don't they look wonderfully delicious?!?

If you love the taste but are afraid to actually prepare winter squash, fear not. If I can do it, you can do it!

1. Grab a sharp, sturdy knife, large soup spoon or ice cream scoop, and a large cutting board. You may also want to have a garbage bowl or small bag handy for the stem, seeds, etc.
2. Carefully but firmly, cut the squash in half lengthwise. You may trim off the stem and bottom, or leave them intact. If you are roasting the squash halves, you may want to leave the stem for aesthetic purposes.
3. Using your soup spoon or ice cream scoop, scrape out the seeds and strings. Discard.
4. If you plan on mashing the squash, place the two halves, cut-side down, into a baking dish prepared with cooking spray. Bake at 375 F for 45 - 60 minutes; pierce with a fork after 45 minutes to check for doneness and adjust remaining time accordingly. When squash is done, remove from oven and let cool slightly. Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to remove the squash from the skin and into a bowl; discard skin. Use a potato masher to mash the squash with any desired ingredients (e.g., broth, milk, butter, spices, honey).
5. If you plan on roasting the squash, cut into large pieces and trim the skin away (optional on some squash, such as butternut and delicate which have edible skin). Next, cut the large pieces to uniform chunks and add to a baking pan prepared with cooking spray, along with additional ingredients (e.g., sliced onion or garlic, herbs, spices, olive oil). Roast at 400 F for 35+ minutes, stirring halfway through. When squash is tender, broil on high for 5 minutes to brown the squash a bit.

So easy! Well, maybe not easy...but definitely manageable. Give it a try.

Now what are we going to make with our lovely fall veggies? Well, in addition to the squash, we received potatoes, onions, garlic, spinach, arugula, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, kohlrabi, and leeks. Then we went into the pick-your-own garden where there were still some items to pick. My farm-hands collected parsley, thyme, sage, and scallions.

"What am I going to eat for dinner?" seems to be the inevitable, daily, pesky question. Whether you do the cooking, or your significant other, or your kids, or your hired help...you probably want meals that are fresh, delicious, and appropriate for the season. Thanks to our CSA share and some recipe search engines, we've been enjoying meals like that for months. Now for this week's game plan. Okay, it's more like a week and a half. Bonus!

First, I'm going to roast and freeze one butternut squash, and chop and freeze the herbs and three-quaters of the scallions. Need tips for freezing produce? Click here. The greens will be the first to turn, so I plan to use the arugula and spinach as soon as possible. So, here's the plan for the rest of this week:

• Ricotta Pasta (adapted from The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet by Nava Atlas; recipe at the end of this post) with Italian sausage (we use Tofurky's meatless Italian Sausage)
• Twice-Baked Butternut Squash, plus quinoa (prepared according to package directions) mixed with peas, sautéed mushrooms & onions, and sage 
• Spinach Artichoke Alfredo Pizza and Tomato Basil Soup

Next week we'll have:

• Winter Squash Soup with Fried Sage Leaves - using the red kuri squash, plus Roasted Potato Stacks
• Kohlrabi Gratin (with Quorn Chik'n Tenders to replace the ham), plus brown rice (prepared according to package directions) mixed with parsley and sautéed carrots and onions
• Huevos Rancheros in Tortilla Cups (I plan on adding some scallions from the farm), plus a garden salad
• Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese Pasta - using the buttercup squash instead
• Chicken (we like Quorn Naked Cutlets; they're meatless) with mushroom gravy (we have some leftover in the freezer), plus Broccoli Cheese Patties

I hope these meal ideas have been helpful, and have inspired you to make some delicious dishes with fresh autumn veggies. What's your favorite autumn meal? Be sure to Post a Comment and let us know. As always, thanks for reading.


Ricotta Pasta
- adapted from The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet by Nava Atlas
Serves 4.

12 oz. your favorite pasta
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
2 roasted red peppers (jarred is fine), chopped
1 c. part-skim ricotta cheese
1/3 c. Parmesan cheese, grated; plus additional for serving
6-8 c. arugula, washed and stemmed
Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Transfer the pasta to a serving container, toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the margarine and the chopped peppers, and cover.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta with the reserved pasta cooking water and stir until well blended. Add Parmesan and mix well; set aside.
3. Cover and steam the arugula using just the water clinging to the leaves in the same pot used to cook the pasta (about 1-2 minutes). Drain and chop the arugula; add to the cheese mixture.
4. Stir cheese and arugula mixture into the pasta, and season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve with additional Parmesan and crushed red pepper (optional).

Enjoy!

Trolleys, Trains, and Trucks, Oh My!

If you or your kids happen to like trains, you need to visit the New York Museum of Transportation. Step onto train cars, sit in antique vehicles, and take a ride on a trolley. What more could you ask for?

The New York Museum of Transportation is a volunteer-run organization that specializes in bringing the history of transportation to life. It is located at 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY. The museum is open year-round on Sundays from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., although the ride season is from mid-May through October with additional Holly Trolley rides in November and December.

When you arrive at the museum, stop by the ticket counter to purchase your tickets. The tickets will show the departure time for your trolley ride. You'll likely have some time before departure to check out the restored train cars. Inside you'll see some of the original seats, old ads hanging up, the old window shades...elements of the antique trains that will help you imagine what they looked like in their heyday. Climb onto the track sweeper, steam engine, dining car, and more.

Both the sweeper car and the steam engine have bells to ring; just look for the string and pull.

After exploring the train cars, be sure to see the model trains. The attention to detail within the layout is incredible. There are tiny birds atop buildings, pumpkins on the farm, and rescue helicopters hovering over a "burning" house. Each time we visit, I notice something I hadn't seen before. If you're lucky - or if you ask one of the volunteers in the model train room - you might get to see the trains "at night." When the room lights are off, the entire layout twinkles and glows.

Upon exiting the model train room, turn left to see the antique cars (or to stop at the restroom). There is a 1926 farm truck, a 1941 Chevy sedan, and a 1951 Mack fire truck. Kids can sit in each of these vehicles, and even ring the bell on the fire truck.

Once it's close to your trolley ride departure time, head back toward the full-size train cars and follow the signs directing you outside. Board the trolley and enjoy your half-mile ride to Midway Station. At this transfer station, you'll exit the trolley and board a diesel train that will take you to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Once you're there, volunteers will provide a guided tour of the restored country train depot, the two train cars (that you can board), and the other train equipment found there.

Finally, board the diesel train once more - and if it's a caboose, be sure to climb up to the cupola for a great view. Then at Midway Station, transfer back to a trolley that will bring you back to the Museum of Transportation.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Parking is free. Check the web site for admission prices (usually between $5-$8).
• Plan to eat before or after your visit; there really is not a good spot to eat at the museum. Although birthday parties make use of the dining car for snacks and cake!
• The trolley ride will take at least one hour round trip (more likely, it will be an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half).
• Use the restroom before your trolley ride; there are no restrooms en route and no restrooms at either Midway Station or the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Also, there is only one restroom at the Museum of Transportation and there will likely be a line just before each departure and just after each arrival of the trolley.
• There is no diaper changing table in the restroom.
• Both museums are stroller-friendly, however you won't want to bring a stroller aboard the trolley. Also, leave the stroller outside the model train room - it's a tight squeeze inside with lots of fragile trains and equipment all around.

I hope you enjoy a visit to the New York Museum of Transportation soon. If you go, be sure to Post a Comment and let us know about your experience. As always, thanks for reading.

Get the Most Use Out of Your Kids' Halloween Costumes

On my mom's side of the family, Halloween costumes are a point of pride. My mom, aunts, and/or uncles - there are nine siblings all together - would likely be up past midnight on October 30th sewing, gluing, and stapling together some genius concoction. Even before it was trendy to repurpose items and "be green," they were adamant about using found items rather than purchasing new ones. I've seen pictures of my mom dressed as a sandwich, thanks to one of her siblings procuring some giant pieces of foam. There was the Cowardly Lion made from curtains. Anything in the house was fair game.

The best part was that the costumes would be passed around each year so that others could use them. About ten years ago, one of my uncles made an amazing pair of costumes for Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. Over the summer, my family was invited to a Harry Potter birthday party (future blog post to come, with pictures and details) and we were able to borrow his creations. Here is my husband as Dumbledore, on the right:

I'll admit, I did not inherit a talent for sewing and I have been taking the easy way out by purchasing costumes for my kids. Just look how cute this one is; there's no way I could have made it:

This is the first year I'm actually attempting to make one - and it's with a hot glue gun and fabric glue. My youngest son wants to be Geo from Team Umizoomi, and thanks to the good people at Nick Junior for being so gracious and wonderful as to provide costume templates on their web site since none exist to purchase. Yay!

Whether you are the crafty sort or a quick-draw with a credit card, chances are you want to get more than a few hours' use of your child's costume. If you are a fellow ROCmomma or ROCpoppa, read on for some local events over the next few weeks where children can don their Halloween costumes over and over again.

And after the final festivities on October 31, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of those costumes:

1. Start, or add to, a dress-up trunk for the kids. We have a box with old costumes, plus random items such as old maps, goggles, trinkets from goodie bags, etc. My boys will put together some crazy creations such as a fire-helmet wearing pirate with a construction worker's tool belt. Outstanding.
2. Hand the costume down to younger siblings, cousins, or friends with younger children for future use.
3. Donate the costume to a local women and children's shelter before next Halloween.
4. Donate the costume to a local day care center, Kindergarten class, or YMCA; they often have dress-up trunks for the children. 
5. Donate the costume to a local theatre, children's theatre, or high school drama department.
6. Find a costume swap near you (usually in mid-October) to trade last year's costume for a new one. 
7. Consign it at a local consignment shop or consignment event (Once Upon a Child has locations throughout the U.S. and Canada).
8. Save the costume and repurpose the parts for future costumes. Keep a "Halloween Costume" box in your attic, basement, or closet. Pull it out when you need some inspiration next fall and see what you can piece together.
9. Start a Halloween in April tradition among your children's friends (along the lines of Christmas in July). Put up the Halloween decorations and whip up some Halloween treats, then invite everyone to come over with an old Halloween costume and let the kids mix and match to their hearts' content. Weather permitting, go outside for a Halloween Parade, take photos, play Halloween games, and of course give treats.
10. If it still fits next year, just let your kid wear the costume again. I was Cyndi Lauper at least two years in a row, and I loved it.

How do you reuse or repurpose your kids' costumes? Be sure to Post A Comment and let us know.

For those ROCmommas and ROCpoppas, here are a few Halloween Events in the area your kids won't want to miss...in their Halloween costumes, of course:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18

10:15 - 11 a.m.: Baby Boogie Halloween Party, Fairport Public Library, 1 Village Landing, Fairport, NY. Babies 3-18 months plus an adult are invited to come in Halloween costumes to dance, clap, and sing along with silly Halloween songs. Pre-registration is required: (585) 223-9091.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Zoo Boo, Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY. Trick or treat through the zoo for candy, trinkets, and healthy snacks; a special gift and take-home craft for each child; live entertainment and costumed characters throughout the zoo. In addition to general admission, the Zoo Boo is $7 per trick-or-treater.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Zoo Boo, Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY. (see 10/20)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26

5:30 - 9 p.m.: Free Family Night, Southeast YMCA, 111 East Jefferson Road, Pittsford, NY. Indoor trick-or-treating, swimming, crafts, pizza ($1/slice), Adventure Center (bring socks), bounce house, and more.

6 p.m.: Midnite Madness in Brockport, Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main Street, Brockport, NY. Costume parade at 6 p.m. on Main & Market Street; followed by Halloween Party with games, crafts, and goodies. Parade and party are free.

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Family Halloween Party, Rush Henrietta High School, 1799 Lehigh Station Road, Rochester, NY. For preschoolers to 3rd graders and their families. Indoor trick-or-treating, crafts, cider, doughnuts, and entertainment. Free admission; donations of non-perishable food items accepted for the Henrietta Food Cupboard. Call to register: 359-2540.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Zoo Boo, Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY. (see 10/20)

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Family Halloween Party at Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY. Trick-or-treat, dance, and play games; included with general admission.

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Trick-or-Treat at Eastview Mall, 7979 Pittsford Victor Road, Victor, NY. This free event starts at the soon-to-be Von Maur Wing with cider, doughnuts, live entertainment, and trick or treat bags; children trick-or-treat at participating stores.

11 a.m. - 8 p.m.: Kango Halloween Party at Kango Play Center, 1565 Jefferson Road, Suite 180 at Eagles Landing, Rochester, NY. Costume contests, games, arts and crafts, roller skating, bounce house, and more; admission is $8 per child and free for adults.

12 - 5 p.m.: Trick or Treating in the Village, Genesee Country Village & Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford, NY. Trick or treat in the Village, plus games, activities, stories, scavenger hunt, and more; $5 per child and adults with trick-or-treaters are free.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Zoo Boo, Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY. (see 10/20)

1 - 4 p.m.: Family Halloween Party at Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY. Trick-or-treat, dance, and play games; included with general admission.

2 - 5 p.m.: Family Halloween Fest, St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. Indoor trick-or-treating, games, crafts, activities, hay rides, live entertainment, and a costume parade at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free; please bring one canned good per person for the Pittsford Food Cupboard.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Toddler Halloween Party at Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY. Halloween activities, goodies, games, and dance to Halloween tunes; included with general admission.

Just a side note, if you find that there is an abundance of candy in your house after two weeks of trick-or-treating activities, check out this site for Halloween Candy Buy Back to locate a dentist near you who will be "buying" Halloween candy from kids in exchange for trinkets or prizes; these dentists will be sending the candy to our troops overseas.

Enjoy extending the mileage of your children's costumes, and have a spooktacular time! As always, thanks for reading.

Family Fun This Weekend

Looks like Saturday is our sunny day this weekend...unfortunately Sunday is supposed to be warm (71!) but with thunderstorms. Be sure to take advantage of tomorrow's sunshine, then stay in to make apple pie or pumpkin cookies on Sunday.


ONGOING

Mary Poppins
Friday, October 12 at 8 p.m., Sat. Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sun. Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
Auditorium Theatre, 885 East Main Street, Rochester, NY
This stage musical features the story and songs from the Disney film, plus new dance numbers .  Best for ages 6+ due to length: 160 minutes. Tickets may be purchased online.


15th Annual Apple Tasting Tour
Daily through Wednesday, October 31
Various Locations in Wayne County, NY
Visit fourteen markets to taste the different varieties of apples and collect stamps at each market you visit. Take the Apple Taste Test, enjoy other food samples, enter door prize drawings, and more.



Exhibit Opening: A T. Rex Named Sue
Daily through January 6, 2013; Mon-Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
See the largest, most complete, and best-preserved T. Rex! Touch casts of Sue's bones, complete a 3-D puzzle with bones, move models of Sue's jaws, and more. Included with general admission.


FRIDAY

Story Time & More

Friday, October 12, 2012

1. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main Street, Brockport, NY - story time at 10:30 a.m. for toddlers ages 1-4, with songs and games
2. Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY - come for the story at 11 a.m., stay for the farm animal fun!

Free Family Night
Friday, October 12, 2012 from 5:30 - 9 p.m.
YMCA-Southeast, 111 East Jefferson Road, Pittsford, NY
Enjoy swimming, crafts, the Adventure Center, pizza ($1/slice), and roller skating ($4/person) for a fun family night. Bring socks for the Adventure Center, plus your swim suit and towel for the pool.

Fun Fridays
Friday, October 12, 2012 from 6 - 8 p.m.
YMCA-Westside, 920 Elmgrove Road, Rochester, NY
Family gym games, inflatables, obstacle course, crafts, and family swimming. There is no fee for members; $10 per family for the community.

SATURDAY

Scarecrow Festival 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 11 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Kennelley Park Gazebo, North Main Street, and the Box Factory Parking Lot, Fairport, NY
Live music, kid's crafts, food vendors, face painting, kids activity tent, guess-the-pumpkin's-weight contest, pony rides, bounce house, flea market, farmers market, side walk sale, Fairport tours, and a scarecrow contest.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY 

ZooBoo
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (weekends through October 28)
Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY
Enjoy 15 trick-or-treat stations with a mixture of candy, healthy snacks, and trinkets. Every participating child receives a gift and take-home craft as they exit. There will be live performers and costumed characters, plus the zoo animals will be enjoying their own treats. General admission applies (zoo members enter for free); additional $7 per trick-or-treater.

Corn Maze & Fall Festival
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (weekends throughout October)
Genesee Country Village & Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford, NY
Check out the awesome corn maze, plus enjoy a barrel race, bean bag tic-tac-toe, horseshoes, and hay bale maze ($7/person for maze and activities). There is an additional fee for the bounce house/slide ($1), wagon rides ($4), plus food and beverages. Please see web site for additional information.

Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Fest
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (weekends through October 28)
Stokoe Farms, 656 South Road, Scottsville, NY
Pick your own pumpkins and enjoy over 30 fun activities, including animal attractions. General admission is $9.

Holiday Hollow Halloween & Pirate Festival
Saturday, October 13 - Monday, October 14 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (continues Saturdays and Sundays through October 28)
Holiday Hollow, 1410 Main Road, Corfu, NY
Happy, family-friendly Renaissance Fair-like entertainment including 8 live stage shows, a Haunted Parlor, Hook's Hideout Maze, teacup search, caricature artist, face painting, games, and food. In case of inclement weather, shows move indoors. Admission is $11 for ages 11 and up; $10 for ages 3-10; ages 2 and under are free. Discount coupon available on web site.

Pumpkin Hollow
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14; Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m./Sat-Sun: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Gro-Moore Farms, 2811 East Henrietta Road, Henrietta, NY
A wide variety of games, crafts and other activities. Daily activities for up-to-3rd-graders are free; some weekend activities have an extra fee (pay for individual activities or pay One Price Ticket for $10 per person). Mazes, slides, haunted house, fun house, pumpkins, apples, homemade candy and caramel apples, pies, fry cakes, cider, apples, and more await!

Fall Harvest Celebration
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (weekends through October 28)
Brown's Berry Patch, 14264 Roosevelt Highway, Waterport, NY
Pick your own apples, pumpkins, and raspberries. Face painting, pony rides, hayrides, dinosaur corn maze, lots of pumpkin and apple treats made at Brown's, Barnyard Adventure, Barnyard Express, pedal cars, rope maze, giant slide, playground, and more. Fees apply for activities; please check web site for details.

You Pick Apples, Raspberries, and More
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
G and S Orchards, 825 Atlantic Avenue (Route 286), Walworth, NY
From now through the end of October, enjoy an afternoon of family fun while picking apples, berries, pumpkins, and more.

Pumpkin Harvest Festival Weekends
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (weekends thru October 31)
Long Acre Farms, 1342 Eddy Road, Macedon, NY
Celebrate autumn with the Maize Maze, Back 40, hayrides, and cow train rides. Check out nursery rhymes made entirely of pumpkins and gourds, fun picture cut-outs, and a funny graveyard. Admission is $10.50/ages 5+ and $6.50/ ages 2-4.

"Pumpkintown" & Pick-Your-Own Apples
Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (weekends thru October 28)
Lagoner Farms, 6985 Lake Avenue, Williamson, NY
Pick your own apples and pumpkins, enjoy wagon rides, ride the Cider Barrel Express, explore the Mini Maze, Ring the Corn Cob, Knock the Apple Off the Tree, Bowl Over the Cider Jugs, play Farmer's Fastball, and more. Activities are 1-2 tickets each (tickets are $1 each) or pay one price: $10 each or $35 for a family of 4. Lunch menu is available.

SUNDAY

Trolley Rides

Sunday, October 14 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

New York Museum of Transportation, 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY

Purchase your tickets, then explore the train cars, antique cars, fire truck, and the model trains in the museum. At your departure time, board the trolley and enjoy the 1-mile ride to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Explore the second museum before boarding for a ride back to the Museum of Transportation.

Stay warm, stay dry, and have fun this weekend! As always, thanks for reading.

Let Them Eat Pumpkin!

One of the best things about fall is that it provides a wonderful excuse to consume all things pumpkin. Lately, I keep finding myself pinning TONS of pumpkin recipes on Pinterest. Sometimes I pin them to my Halloween board, sometimes to my Thanksgiving board. I just can't wait to try them all! There goes all the weight I lost during half-marathon training...

Of course you could make pumpkin fluff dip, pumpkin brownies, pumpkin cake, pull-apart pumpkin spice bread, pumpkin pie white hot chocolate...but pumpkin is wonderful, beyond dessert. If you are a pumpkin enthusiast - a pumpkaholic, even - you can incorporate pumpkin into any meal. Yum!

Did you know that one-half cup of canned pure pumpkin contains only 40 calories, one-half gram of fat, no cholesterol, very low sodium, five grams of dietary fiber, 300% of your daily requirement of Vitamin A, as well as some Vitamin E, Vitamin C, iron, potassium, and calcium. What's not to love about these rotund, orange, garden treasures?

Open a can of pumpkin and transfer to an air-tight storage container; keep it in the fridge and you'll have easy access to pumpkin puree throughout the week (or day) to make these wonderful meals.

BREAKFAST: Pumpkin-Bread Oatmeal

My mom makes amazing pumpkin bread every fall - the kind that bakes in tin coffee cans. Mmmm...I love it (and just realized, I have never asked her for the recipe because she always just makes it. Mental note: get the recipe.). This oatmeal is inspired by mom's pumpkin bread:

Pumpkin Bread Oatmeal

1/2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. water or milk/milk alternative
1/8 - 1/4 c. pumpkin puree (depending on how strong you like the taste)
1/8 c. raisins
1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts (optional)
1 tsp. brown sugar (optional)

In microwave-safe bowl, combine all ingredients except the walnuts and brown sugar. Cook according to directions on the oatmeal container. Top with walnuts and brown sugar, if desired. Enjoy and have a great morning!

This serves one, but could easily be increased and cooked on the stove top, according to package directions.

LUNCH: Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

I'm a big fan of all things creamy. And I already mentioned my love for all things pumpkin. So why not put them together for a protein- and fiber-packed, delicious lunch?!

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

1 c. nonfat vanilla yogurt or Greek yogurt
1/4 c. pumpkin puree
1 tsp. maple syrup
1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Combine all ingredients in a serving bowl. Enjoy as is, or add your favorite yogurt toppings (i.e., granola, chopped nuts, flaxseeds, dried fruit). You could even make a Pumpkin Pie Yogurt Parfait by alternating layers of Pumpkin Pie Yogurt with layers of your favorite granola, nuts, and/or dried fruit in a tall, clear glass.

This could serve one or two, depending on what else you may or may not be eating for lunch. I usually eat the whole thing (one cup of nonfat yogurt has 130 calories, so the whole recipe is about 175 calories total) and then have an apple and some almonds later in the afternoon as a snack.

DINNER: Sassy Salsa Pumpkin Soup

I found this recipe on the Hungry Girl web site years ago, and have been making it often throughout the fall and winter seasons ever since. This is also my go-to recipe for Halloween because you can put it together earlier in the day, then leave it in the crock pot on low or warm while trick-or-treating. When you return with your loot, piping hot PUMPKIN soup is waiting for your dinner.

Sassy Salsa Pumpkin Soup

Non-stick cooking spray
1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
4 c. fat-free vegetable broth
15 oz. can pure pumpkin
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. frozen or fresh corn
3/4 c. your favorite salsa
Optional toppings: shredded reduced-fat cheese, reduced-fat sour cream, additional salsa, chopped scallions, guacamole, finely chopped & seeded tomatoes

Spray a large pot with cooking spray and heat on medium. Add garlic, chili powder, and cumin; stir for one minute. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Add pumpkin; mix well. Add remaining ingredients (except optional toppings) and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Enjoy with a "topping bar" of your favorite toppings. Serves 4.

Crock Pot Variation: In a skillet with non-stick cooking spray, saute garlic for about 30 seconds. Add chili powder and cumin; heat for another 30 seconds. Transfer to a crock pot with all other ingredients; mix well and set on low for 6 hours, or high 3 hours.


I hope you enjoy indulging in a day (or week...or month) of pumpkin. These really are delicious! If you are a fellow pumpkin enthusiast, please Post A Comment and share your favorite way to eat (or drink) pumpkin. As always, thanks for reading.

Family Fun This Weekend

All right, so who is in charge of this weather, anyway? Why are all of these beautiful fall weekends filled with rain? I know we need the rain, but this is putting a severe damper in my plan to visit a different pumpkin farm each weekend day in October. Thankfully, Monday should be dry...and most of the pumpkin patches are open in full fall-festival glory for Columbus Day. In the soggy interim, there are pirates, dinosaurs, and trains to entertain us!

FRIDAY

Story Time & More

Friday, October 5, 2012

1. Lift Bridge Book Shop, 45 Main Street, Brockport, NY - story time at 10:30 a.m. for toddlers ages 1-4, with songs and games
2. Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY - come for the story at 11 a.m., stay for the farm animal fun!

Fall Harvest Festival
Friday, October 5 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Strike It Up Artistic Center, 2045 Route 104, Ontario, NY
Bounce house, face painting, games, pumpkin painting, raffles, and more. There will be a prize for the best costume. Admission is $5 per child (includes all attractions; raffle tickets and baked goods sold separately); parents pay $1 per attraction they wish to individually participate in.

FRIDAY - MONDAY


Lego Education Masterclass or Fashion Day-Camp
Friday, October 5 OR Monday, October 8 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
ArtsROC School of Art, Music & Language, 3462 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford, NY
Lego Masterclass: Build a major Lego set, participate in building challenges and games, and make a Lego stop-motion video to post on YouTube. Also includes a custom mini-set to take home.
Fashion Day-Camp: Participate in workshops and team challenges, and end the day with a fashion shoot down the runway. The camp focuses on basic sewing skills and fashion illustration.
Registration for each class is $50 and includes a morning snack and a pizza party lunch; click here to register online.


15th Annual Apple Tasting Tour
Friday, October 5 - Wednesday, October 31
Various Locations in Wayne County, NY
Visit fourteen markets to taste the different varieties of apples and collect stamps at each market you visit. Take the Apple Taste Test, enjoy other food samples, enter door prize drawings, and more.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY (& MORE)


Exhibit Opening: A T. Rex Named Sue
Saturday, October 6, 2012 through January 6, 2013; Mon-Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
See the largest, most complete, and best-preserved T. Rex! Touch casts of Sue's bones, complete a 3-D puzzle with bones, move models of Sue's jaws, and more. Included with general admission.

Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Fest
Saturday, October 6 - Sunday, October 7 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (weekends through October 28, plus Columbus Day)
Stokoe Farms, 656 South Road, Scottsville, NY
Pick your own pumpkins and enjoy over 30 fun activities, including animal attractions. General admission is $9.

Holiday Hollow Halloween & Pirate Festival
Saturday, October 6 - Monday, October 8 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (continues Saturdays and Sundays through October 28)
Holiday Hollow, 1410 Main Road, Corfu, NY
Happy, family-friendly Renaissance Fair-like entertainment including 8 live stage shows, a Haunted Parlor, Hook's Hideout Maze, teacup search, caricature artist, face painting, games, and food. In case of inclement weather, shows move indoors. Admission is $11 for ages 11 and up; $10 for ages 3-10; ages 2 and under are free. Discount coupon available on web site.

Pumpkin Hollow
Saturday, October 6 - Sunday, October 28; Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m./Sat-Sun: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Gro-Moore Farms, 2811 East Henrietta Road, Henrietta, NY
A wide variety of games, crafts and other activities. Daily activities for up-to-3rd-graders are free; some weekend activities have an extra fee (pay for individual activities or pay One Price Ticket for $10 per person). Mazes, slides, haunted house, fun house, pumpkins, apples, homemade candy and caramel apples, pies, fry cakes, cider, apples, and more await!

Fall Harvest Celebration
Saturday, October 6 - Sunday, October 7 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (weekends through October 28 plus Columbus Day)
Brown's Berry Patch, 14264 Roosevelt Highway, Waterport, NY
Pick your own apples, pumpkins, and raspberries. Face painting, pony rides, hayrides, dinosaur corn maze, lots of pumpkin and apple treats made at Brown's, Barnyard Adventure, Barnyard Express, pedal cars, rope maze, giant slide, playground, and more. Fees apply for activities; please check web site for details.

You Pick Apples, Raspberries, and More
Saturday, October 6 - Sunday, October 7 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
G and S Orchards, 825 Atlantic Avenue (Route 286), Walworth, NY
From now through the end of October, enjoy an afternoon of family fun while picking apples, berries, pumpkins, and more.

Pumpkin Harvest Festival Weekends
Saturday, October 6 - Sunday, October 7 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (weekends thru October 31)
Long Acre Farms, 1342 Eddy Road, Macedon, NY
Celebrate autumn with the Maize Maze, Back 40, hayrides, and cow train rides. Check out nursery rhymes made entirely of pumpkins and gourds, fun picture cut-outs, and a funny graveyard. Admission is $10.50/ages 5+ and $6.50/ ages 2-4.

"Pumpkintown" & Pick-Your-Own Apples
Saturday, October 6 - Sunday, October 7 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (weekends thru October 28)
Lagoner Farms, 6985 Lake Avenue, Williamson, NY
Pick your own apples and pumpkins, enjoy wagon rides, ride the Cider Barrel Express, explore the Mini Maze, Ring the Corn Cob, Knock the Apple Off the Tree, Bowl Over the Cider Jugs, play Farmer's Fastball, and more. Activities are 1-2 tickets each (tickets are $1 each) or pay one price: $10 each or $35 for a family of 4. Lunch menu is available.

SUNDAY

Trolley Rides

Sunday, October 7 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

New York Museum of Transportation, 6393 East River Road, West Henrietta, NY

Purchase your tickets, then explore the train cars, antique cars, fire truck, and the model trains in the museum. At your departure time, board the trolley and enjoy the 1-mile ride to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Explore the second museum before boarding for a ride back to the Museum of Transportation.

Stay warm, stay dry, and have fun this holiday weekend! As always, thanks for reading.

Make Your Own "Scare Case"

Welcome to our Scare Case...our Flight of Scares...our Fright of Stares! Whichever name you prefer, this simple Halloween craft looks spooky and awesome. You can make it with items you already have at home, and a Martha-level of creativity is not required. My five-year-old helped cut out the black circles for the pupils, and both he and my two-year-old glued the eyes together and helped hang them. It's a fun after-school project!

Here's what you'll need:

• construction paper - 2 sheets of same color, per pair of eyes; plus white and black
• scissors
• glue sticks
• masking tape or painters tape to hang them up

1. First, cut out your eyes. I placed two sheets of the same color together, so it's less cutting, and to get two matching eyes. You can make them fancy, if you'd like.

Or make simple ovals (loosely fold the paper in quarters before cutting).

Or, just about any shaped eyes you can imagine.

2. Next, fold a sheet of white paper in thirds, widthwise, and then in half, lengthwise, to get six rectangles. I planned on using ovals for two of the sets of eyes, and a unique shape for the third set. So, I cut away two of the rectangles.

Using the section with four, fold them again and cut the ovals. Take the section with two, fold again and cut the unique shapes.

3. Fold a sheet of black paper into quarters, widthwise, and cut along the center fold. Take one half of the black paper, fold along the crease, and then fold into thirds. You should have six squares. Keep the squares folded and cut out circles for the pupils.

4. Match up your pieces: 2 colored eyes, 2 whites, 2 black pupils.

5. Create a work station for each child with their paper pieces and a glue stick.

6. Get gluing!

7. Attach masking tape or painters tape to the back and create your Scare Case! (or Flight of Scares, or Fright of Stares...which name do you like best? Post a Comment and let us know.)

My kids had a blast making these yesterday, and I've already been informed by my five-year-old that we will be making more after school today.

Have fun decorating your home, classroom, or cubicle with these fun, spooky eyes! As always, thanks for reading.

How Do I Love Thee, Autumn? Let Me Count the Ways

There are times - particularly in the winter, walking outside and feeling like someone is rubbing ice on your face - when I think it would be nice to live in a warmer place. San Francisco, perhaps. But I really don't think I could live someplace that didn't have autumn.

I'm pretty sure I started calling autumn my favorite season because it happens to hold my birthday. But it is, hands down, the best season for so many other reasons. Here are just the top ten.

Top Ten Things to Love About Autumn

1. Opening all the windows to let that perfectly comfortable weather into your home. The air is crisp, the humidity is gone, and the cross-breeze is wonderful.

2. Football. Personally, I do not care about football. However, my ROCpoppa is a Buffalo Bills season-ticket holder and a member of two fantasy leagues. Football makes him giddy and happy in an adorably childlike way. So, football makes me happy in a very roundabout way. Go Bills.

3. Halloween decorations. As a kid, there was nothing better than Halloween at my Grandma's house. She had nine kids - some of my aunts and uncles are only a few years older than me - and they would go all out to decorate the house. There would be life-sized coffins and tombs made of painted cardboard boxes and filled with vampires and mummies, respectively, made from old clothes and paper mache. They would bring fallen leaves inside and scatter them all over the floor. They would take old curtains and tablecloths to make crazy costumes, a little a la Sister Maria and the Von Trapps. They were notorious for movie-inspired costumes: Wizard of Oz, Arsenic & Old Lace, Rocky Horror Picture Show to name a few. 

Then there was the Witch's Parts game. Everyone would sit in a circle and my Grandma would turn off the lights. She told a story about a town where kids disappeared in the woods...eventually the parents found a witch's cottage in the woods with the bones of all the kids who had disappeared...they killed the witch and this is what remains: her eyeballs (we'd pass around two peeled grapes), her hair (a mess of yarn), her teeth (unpopped popcorn), her stomach (cooked and cooled spaghetti with a few cleaned chicken bones stuck in), and on and on. We would squirm and squeal as we passed the witch's parts in the dark, and we loved every minute of it. Looking back, I can't believe we weren't all traumatized by that story! Hmmm. 

But now when my five-year-old wants to decorate early in September, I don't really mind. I love putting up Halloween decorations, and making new ones each year. I've even been collecting some new ideas on Pinterest!

4. Hayrides into a pumpkin patch. It's worth all the hay stuck to your bottom to go out into a field and pick your own pumpkin. There's a sense of ownership you just don't get when you pick your pumpkin from a table or bin.

5. The fall TV season. We don't watch as much television during the summer. Maybe it's because there isn't much on; maybe it's because we're so busy. But now that fall is here, I'm looking forward to curling up on the couch for Fringe Fridays, Once Upon a Time, New Girl, Happy Endings, and Modern Family. Fingers crossed that Elementary remains as fun as the pilot episode, too.

6. Watching the kids jump into a pile of freshly raked leaves.

7. Filling the closet with sweaters, and packing away the swim suits. Sweaters are so cozy, and much more forgiving during the lost battles of will power that occur around Halloween candy, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, and Christmas cookies.

8. Apple picking! We start 'em young in the ROCmomma household; my older son went apple picking for the first time when he was just shy of four months old.

9. Warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Yum!

10. A home that smells like fresh apple crisp is baking in the oven at all times. Thanks to Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser in Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice, this is possible. The diffuser is cute, with the cut-out leaves, and it really does smell like something wonderful is baking.

What is your favorite thing about autumn? Post A Comment below to share. As always, thanks for reading.

<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/gladeExpressions.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=9365102339&Campaign=5855213675&Uid=1356141&token=626ca890acbb6f850cc0977c1b32c40a" alt=""/>

Disclaimer: I am a BzzAgent and received Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser to try at home. However, I did not receive compensation and all opinions contained in this blog post are my personal opinions.

Spooky Hayrides, Giant Teepees, and Colorful Chickens...oh my!

A few days ago, when my Kindergartener got home from school, we decided to head out for a little Halloween-inspired fun. We had driven by Powers Farm Market the day before, and the boys were excited to go see the giant teepees. Since I've reviewed Powers Farm Market already, let's just take a look at the fall festivities.

First, the boys had fun looking at all of the pumpkins. They walked up and down the rows, pointing out the exceptionally large ones, the deformed ones, and especially the smashed ones with the insides spilling out. The white pumpkins are also fun to look at; we call them ghost pumpkins!

Next stop: the giant teepees.

 I mean, these things are huge.

Inside, it's dark and a little spooky...but not too scary. The first teepee has a bajillion jack-o-lanterns. They are hand-carved and absolutely spectacular. Walk in and absorb the creativity and diligence and glow of a room full of jack-o-lanterns.

Then follow the string of lights through the tunnel and into the second teepee. Look up as glowing eyes eerily peer down at you. Clap your hands, and see what happens next! When you've had enough of the spookiness, just make your way out of the teepee.

After the teepees, we highly recommend the haunted hayride. You can purchase tickets inside the farm market. Be sure to sit on an angle so you can face forward; the sights are on either side of the path. The tractor will pull you into Witches' Hollow for a ghoulishly fun ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Okay, it's not that crazy but I was impressed with the mechanical figures, the moving trees, and all the scarecrows and witches. And the sounds, too. They really did a fantastic job decorating the woods and bringing in a tremendous amount of detail. It's not really a scary ride, but it is definitely entertaining for the pre-schoolers, Kindergarteners, and (I would guess...) even kids a few years older.

Just beware of giant creepy crawlies that might jump out at you!

After the hayride, we used up some quarters to feed the animals. Be sure to see the new rescue chickens there! They look like walking fluffs of cotton candy, and were rescued from the New York State Fair.

If you need a snack after your Halloweenish adventures, stop inside for some apples, doughnuts, or cookies. We are big fans of the giant Powers Farm Market cookies. My Kindergartener loves the snickerdoodles, my two-year-old is partial to chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin - depending on his mood,  and my personal fave is the Heath bar cookie. Mmmm...now I want one.

I hope your family is having fun celebrating fall! There are certainly tons of farms in the Rochester area with activities just for the kids. As long as the weather cooperates, we'll be visiting as many of those farms as we can.

As always, thanks for reading.