Showing Up
We did it! After a few weeks of frantic back-to-school shopping, our kids are finally ready to head back to school. The backpack is loaded, and the iPad is charged. Sure, we can get them to the bus stop on time, but our work doesn’t end there. We trust our teachers to deliver an amazing…
Gentle Giants
For many children with disabilities, mental or physical, local equine services offer a golden opportunity to be in the healing presence of horses. Known as “adaptive/therapeutic horsemanship” and “equine assisted therapy,” this novel approach can make a world of difference for young people who need special support. “Horses, by their majestic nature, touch our spirits…
Thifty Threads
Getting ready to send the kids back to school is no small job. There’s the mental preparation as well as the hunter/gatherer work to be done for school supplies and new clothes to fit tiny tykes who shot up over the summer months. Unfortunately, students aren’t the only things that have grown. Inflation is at…
Book Shelf
Merci Suárez Plays It Cool Written by Meg Medina Are you ready for middle school? Friendships are always changing, especially for Merci. Summer has been busy helping out with the twins and spending time with the rest of her family. It’s been forever since she’s seen her friends and now eighth grade is starting. When…
Easy Dinners for busy fall schedules
Once daily routines fall back into place after summer activities, moving dinnertime back indoors, away from picnics and barbeques, can feel overwhelming. Here are some ideas to make suppertime simpler, more easygoing and of course, family-oriented. 1. Meal plan ahead of time. Write down at least a week’s worth of menu ideas in advance. Get…
Editor’s Notes
Growing up, back to school always meant a new pair of shoes. We’d load into the station wagon, hit the mall and return with magnificent new kicks to wear on the first day. That small trip suggested the changing of seasons and prepared us for a new school year. What is your family’s ritual to…
A little help goes a long way
Most parents would agree that raising children is never a piece of cake, but for some, this sentiment crosses into the realm of the impossible. An individual who is ill-equipped for being a parent can create chaos and turmoil in a child’s life, which can then be detrimental to the child’s wellbeing down the road.…
Nest News
Read to Achieve: New Oregon Battle of the Books Titles Released Since 2006, Oregon Battle of the Books has delighted students with its annual tournament-style competitions. Reading pre-selected titles and answering trivia questions, teams who win the battles at their school can advance to regional and state-level competitions. Run primarily by volunteers through the Oregon…
Health Expert Q&A with Jenny Anderson Birth & Postpartum Doula
Q: I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding my son and eventually abandoned nursing for the bottle. I would like things to go differently with the baby I’m presently expecting. Do you have any tips for me this time around? A: Breastfeeding is hard! The best resource is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. There are…
Celebrate the Fall Harvest
The leaves may change color and the kids may be back in school, but it truly feels like fall when pumpkin patch season rolls around! Here in Central Oregon, where we are blessed to live among incredible local farms and ranches, visiting a pumpkin patch—or several!—is a major must-do on every family’s list. Did you…
