Mom-Daughter Trip to LEGOLAND

My, what big Lego teeth you have! My daughter is still talking about the trip we took to LEGOLAND Florida last year. My four-year-old daughter and I were invited to attended the grand opening of LEGOLAND and explored the park on a sunny, summery day. Our first stop at the new theme park was Duplo Village, an…

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Recycled Crayon Molds Using Broken Crayons

This isn’t my usual muffin recipe. The ingredients are decidedly different — and more colorful. My kids love those multi-colored crayons at the store and their playgoup; my husband I don’t love the price of them. We also don’t love the scads of broken crayons in the kitchen. What’s a parent to do? This thrifty…

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Constructing a Birthday Cake

It’s birthday season here at Chez Mom. From November through February we celebrate a batch of birthdays, with another series of births in the spring. While I’m constantly trying to find the balance between work and being a mom, one thing I’ve decided that’s important to me is to make my kids’ (and sometimes husband’s) birthday cakes….

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Thrift Store Shopping

You’ve got babies? They’ve got clothes. Living in a college town has all sorts of benefits. A revolving-door population means quick turnaround on a number of things — including used goods. And with two young-ish kids, we frequently have a quick turnaround on things as well, especially clothes. A pair of pants or sweater that fits one…

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Family Visit to the Michigan Science Center

I’m all about mixing and combining and multi-tasking; what mom isn’t? The Michigan Science Center knows this — and knows that providing an interactive approach to science helps kids young and not-so-young to engage and participate. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Michigan Science Center, located on John R. Street in Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center,…

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Visiting Michigan Railroad History in Tecumseh

Look! A train! Kids love trains. It’s no secret that mine do — whether it’s a Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine, catching a train ride at an amusement park, or admiring a painted sign (above), they’ve never met a train they didn’t want to ride. So when I saw that the Southern Michigan Railroad Society was having a…

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Spending the Day at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor

Nichols Arboretum and the Huron River in Ann Arbor. Summertime means spending time outdoors; without a huge backyard for the kids to run around, my husband and I often take the kids to local parks or the botanical gardens. We recently spent a warm Saturday afternoon cooling off at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, where I was able…

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Business Travel When a Kid Is Sick

Zzzzzzz. It never fails — you’re getting ready to leave on a trip (be it business or fun) and suddenly the throat gets scratchy. Maybe there’s a cough or two, or sneeze. But it’s not you who’s getting sick — it’s your child. What’s a parent to do when a kid get sick — and…

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