Do your kids like to sing? Are they missing out because their school doesn’t offer an organized choral program? Do they want to continue their current choral involvement over the summer? Now there is an opportunity for vocally inclined students to receive professional vocal training in a fun, interactive choral environment.

Laura McCaulley, former Director of Music (K-12) at Rivermont Collegiate, will be directing the new Quad City Community Children’s Choir this summer. The choir targets students who will be entering grades 2-5.

The QC Community Children’s Choir will be rehearsing on the second floor of River Music Experience (129 Main Street in Davenport) on Thursday and Saturday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm beginning June 13 for a total of 12 rehearsals. A concert will conclude the summer choir on Thursday, August 1 at 7:00pm at the River Music Experience. The program goal is to have the choir meet year-round.

Tuition is $240 per student by May 24^th. After May 24^th, the cost increases to $300. Scholarships are available. Please click here for more information and to access the online registration form.

I received an email from an old friend about a month ago. It was out of the blue and took me completely by surprise  In the email, she told me that I had inspired her to train for a marathon. She had never thought it was possible to do something outside of being a mom . You see in this moment of my life, I was struggling to finish up my internship hours along with my classes. I felt as though I was failing in every aspect of my life. My house was a mess, my children never saw me, and my family hadn’t heard  from me in ages. The only people who saw me, where my clients, school mates, and fellow co-workers. I can laugh now, being graduated  (Mother’s day, I graduated!) But in this moment, I didn’t feel inspired or didn’t know that I could or would inspire anyone else.

This post is for all the mother’s out there, who need to be inspired.  I am not going to inspire you about telling  you about myself, but about other women in my life who have inspired me.

The first woman is my mom. Not everyone can say that their mother inspires them to reach their goals. My mother went back to school to  reach her goal of a bachelor’s degree in education. I was in high school at the time. She would struggle her way and pave her way through school. After she finished and graduated. She went on to gain a master’s degree.  This was all in her late thirties, early forties. My mother is now a teacher and touches the young minds of the Quad Cities. She has also taught me everything I know about being a mother. I am the mother I am today from her example. She showed unconditional love and support to me during my life.

My sister is the next woman that inspires me. I am a twin and very lucky that my two best friends are my mom and sister. I am so blessed because they both do incredible things. My sister is a nurse that reaches women that need help at the women’s clinic at the health department. I mean how amazing is that! She is a full time working mom, with two boys, and reaches out to women in need in the Quad Cities! Amazing! My sister also inspires me by helping the community by doing drives every year to help local meal sites.

I am inspired by many women.  I first met, Angela, in one of my classes in grad school. I am not sure which one. She was  quiet, but when she spoke, it was always meaningful. (Which if you know me, I need someone like that in my life!). This woman had three kids at the time that I met her and was pregnant with her fourth. She was rocking out grad school, with honors. Angela’s  husband was also in school. Angela had many struggles during our course of grad school that many of us did not, but she rose to the occasion   She graduated with me on Mother’s Day with honors. I watched her four kids in the stands and loved seeing the joy on their faces. She is one of the most amazing counselors I know, but most importantly people, I know. She is nice to everyone she meets and has wisdom, that I hope to have one day. When I would feel down about school, I would think of Angela, which helped me in moments that I needed some extra strength.

Each of these women have inspired me to become a better person or reach for the impossible. Each of us can look around our lives and be inspired, we just have to have our eyes wide open.

“Today is your day!  Your Mountain is waiting, So….get on your way.” –Dr. Seuss 

Except for this year… Really, the only thing I need to get it going is DIRT. I have been obsessed with dirt. I have been dreaming of dirt. I have been trying to get some bags of dirt forever. Such an easy task but so hard to get accomplished. We did have a set back with a little one in the hospital with respiratory problems (she is doing much better) and our outdoor plans got delayed for a week, which is fine, I’m just glad she’s better. When I was staying in the hospital with her I would lay my head down next to hers on the crisp white pillow and dream about my garden and what flowers and vegetables I would plant where.

But then the other day when I finally got to Lowe’s to get my bags of dirt I realized I didn’t have room in the cart because it was filled with children, who I was definitely not letting lose in a store. No way! I would never get out of there. I have two-year old twins, they split and run. Plus, there would be no room in the car for the dirt AND the kids. So I picked up a four pack of petunias to help relieve my gardening addiction since I couldn’t leave the kids at the store and bring home the dirt.

When I was finally able to go get my dirt with only two kids in tow and plenty of room in the car I was jumping for joy. Sometimes it’s the little things that can make you happy, even if it is only the dirt that I have been obsessed with.

But oh…life can never be that easy. I had the boys with me and they kept bickering and arguing as we were walking through the rows of rose bushes. They were pinching and shoving by the perennials. They were just horrible at the store. After two warnings I got down to them at eye level and pretty much told them to knock it off or we were leaving. Halfway to the dirt aisle and they kept at it. It was horrible.  My goal, dirt, was in sight! So close! But no, no dirt today. Why can’t a momma just go to the darn store for some dirt?! Geesh! It’s not that complicated.

But obviously it was that complicated because I did not get my dirt. Right by the hostas and hydrangeas I left the cart and walked out with a screaming three-year old in my arms and a pouting seven-year old in tow. It was so embarrassing. Really, it was more embarrassing how they were acting in the store (they know better) than having to leave with screaming and crying kids. But we had to go. It was quite a scene.

I was bummed I didn’t get my dirt. I didn’t mind all the people staring at me. I chuckled to myself when the old man in the parking lot laughed at us. It was kind of a relief to hear his laugh. It made me feel better because I’m sure he has been through it.

But you know what, after three weeks of trying to get some dirt, I finally got it that night after I dropped the kids off. I lectured the kids the whole way home about appropriate behavior in stores. I dropped them off at home with their dad and took off back to the garden store.

I’m a mom on a mission. A mission for dirt.

Finally…mission accomplished.

Can’t wait to plant my pretty flowers. Can’t wait to sink my hands in the dirt and plant my pansies.

Next mission…getting the vegetables for the garden. I am definitely going alone for a peaceful trip. They can help in the yard…not at the store. This mom needs a break.

Let’s hear your dirt! Tell me times when you have had to leave a store with a crying kid.

Look #1

Polka Dot Look #1

Show off those arms in a red and white polka dot blouse! This look is perfect for just about anything. Pair with black skinny jeans, white shorts, or jeans depending on what you are comfortable with. The red gives you a pop of color and the polka dots are just so fun!

Red polka dot shirt: Kohls

Black skinny jeans: Old Navy

Look #2

Polka Dot Look #2

Need something to wear on a date or a girl’s night out? A polka dot dress with red heels is a great choice! Fun, classy, and full of POLKA DOTS!

Black polka dot dress: Forever 21

Red heels: Charlotte Rouse

Look #3

Polka dot look #3

This is the easiest and most comfortable outfit! Black leggings paired with a teal and black polka dot blouse can be worn running errands, going to lunch, or even just lounging around the house.

Teal and Black polka dot blouse: Ross

Black leggings: Burlington

Look #4

Polka Dot Look #4

These dress with a polka dot embellishment at the bottom is a wonderful wear to work look. Professional and cute at the same time! The polka dots are a perfect little touch that makes this dress go from simple to sassy! Add a cute baby in polka dot leggings to complete the look.

Polka dot dress: Target clearance rack

Sandals: Dots

Polka Dots Everywhere!

Polk Dot accessories

Add polka dots not only with a shirt or dress. They are everywhere and it is so easy to add a pair of earrings, a purse, or shoes to put some polka dots in your wardrobe. The polka dot heels are my favorite!

What are your thoughts about polka dots, yay or nay? Which is your favorite polka dot item in this post?

Want to be apart of fashion friday?? Email me pictures of you in your “go-to” summer dress (and where you got it from) and/or favorite maxi skirt. Email to jennkappes@gmail.com

]]> http://www.quadcitymomsblog.com/2013/05/17/fashion-friday-polka-dots/feed/ 0 http://www.quadcitymomsblog.com/2013/05/17/kid-diy-outdoor-adventure-projects/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kid-diy-outdoor-adventure-projects http://www.quadcitymomsblog.com/2013/05/17/kid-diy-outdoor-adventure-projects/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:24 +0000 Marie http://www.quadcitymomsblog.com/?p=9382 Spring’s warm weather is finally here!  It feels so good to able to spend our days outside, letting our kiddos burn off all their stored up energy after a long winter.  My son loves going on ‘nature adventures’ around our yard, finding leaves and flowers, catching bugs and adding rocks to his ‘rock collection.’  We spend so much time on these walks that I wanted to incorporate a couple projects to make them even more fun for my little explorer.

Bird Feeder (AKA ‘Bird Sandwich’)

This project is one I remember doing with my mom many times growing up.  The best part about this bird feeder (or ‘bird sandwich’ as my son calls it) is that you most likely have everything you need right at home.  There’s no better project than a free one!

What You Need:
Slice of Bread
Peanut Butter
Cookie or Sandwhich Cutter
String
Bird Seed

Directions:
1. Use cookie cutter to cut the bread into a fun shape.
2. Poke a hole in the bread and run string through the hole.
3. Spread peanut butter on one (or both) sides.
4. Press birdseed on peanut butter.
5. Hang in a tree where birds can enjoy.

My son enjoyed this project and the bird watching.  I loved listening to him call out to the birds to come eat their food.  ”Come eat your sandwich birds!  It’s yummy for your tummy!”

Nature Adventure Shirt

I had the idea for this project after one of my son’s many ‘nature adventures,’ where we collect leaves, rocks, and sticks around our yard.  You can buy a shirt or use one with a stain that you can’t get out…a fun way to recycle!

What You Need:
Leaves, Sticks, Feathers, Etc
T-Shirt
Fabric Paint
Paint/Sponge Brush

Directions:
1. Wash t-shirt.
2. Go on a nature walk with your kiddo and let him/her collect leaves, sticks, etc.
3. Optional: Insert a book or piece of cardboard inside the t-shirt to create a hard surface for your child to paint/stamp on.
4. Use brush to apply fabric paint to one side of the leaves and sticks.
5. Have your child place the leaves and sticks, paint side down, on the t-shirt.
6. Help your child press the pieces firmly on the t-shirt.
7. Have your child peel off the leaves and sticks.
8. Let dry.

Your little explorer will be so proud of his/her nature adventure project!  My son was very proud of his “beautiful” shirt!

Start small – It is easy to get overwhelmed if you start out with too many plants and a large garden area.  I suggest starting small and letting the garden evolve over time.  I started out with tomato plants in pots then graduated to a raised garden bed my husband and children made me for mother’s day.  Now I have a nice size garden which is always growing.

Plan Ahead– Find a nice spot to put your garden that gets plenty of sunlight for your peppers and squash to grow.  Using the labels on the seed packets or plants, make sure you have enough room in the garden for everything to develop too.  I can’t emphasis this enough.  It is hard to visualize, but those plants grow and if there isn’t enough room for each plant to grow to its full potential your plants might not be the healthiest.

Let your kids help – My kids are just dying to help in the garden.  They love starting seeds in the house and watching them grow.  They love getting their hands dirty and planting the plants and seeds in the garden.  Using their little trowels and hoes, they make not so straight lines and lay the seeds in just so.  Even my two year old gets involved, she is old enough to fill the watering can and water all the plants in the garden herself.  I will have to watch that my plants don’t get too loved this summer with water!

Make it fun –  Don’t make gardening a chore, make it fun!!  While the kids and I prepared the garden this spring, we made it into a dance party.  I blared some tunes while we pulled weeds, loosened up the soil, added compost and manure, then planted the plants and seeds.  The time went so fast.  Don’t be afraid to get dirty either.  The kids and I may have had a dirt throwing fight.

Use the garden as a learning tool – Gardening is like playing 20 questions with kids.  They are constantly asking me “what’s this” or “is this a weed” or “why do worms live in the dirt?”  Sometimes I know the answer but other times you will find us inside looking up a particular bug on Google trying to find out what it is.  They have learned all the important things plants need to survive like soil, sun, and water.  I also teach them that plants need love and they can sing songs to them to make the flowers grow.  They love this and you can find my kindergartner whispering to my tulips often.  Also a great teaching moment is at harvesting time.  Kids can learn what vegetables look like when they are ripe and ready to pick.  They can help bring in their harvest right to the dinner table.  Make it fun, even the weeding!!!

For more information on gardening here in the quad cities visit Iowa State University for some free yard and garden publications.

After being married for a couple of years I had the opportunity to travel with my husband to Copenhagen, Denmark for a week while he was working there.  This was before we had kids so it was easy for us to pack up and leave without much prep and planning.  It was in Europe that I acquired my scarf obsession.  Almost every woman I saw was wearing one.  While my husband was busy working I was out wondering the streets of Copenhagen trying to find the perfect scarf.

I ended up finding several to bring back home with me.  Over the years I have added a few more to my collection.  Stripes, floral, patterned, silk, etc.  I am always on the lookout for a new fun scarf to try.  I wear heavier material scarves in the fall/winter and lighter scarves in the spring/summer.

Here is a picture of my sister Lindsay with a warm pink scarf that she wears in the winter.

I usually only wear my scarves three different ways.  I like to wear it like my sister Lindsay is wearing it in this photo.  With the scarf looped once around the neck with the ends hanging down in front.    By the way I love that my dad is wearing a scarf in this photo.

I also like to wear my scarf just hanging around my neck like my sister Lana in this photo below.

I also like to wear my scarf knotted once around my neck like my sister Lana in this picture.

Determined to find some new ways to wear my scarves I googled how to wear a scarf and came across this YouTube video. The lady in the video shows 25 different ways how to wear a scarf.  It was impressive! I can’t wait to try out these new ways!

I have also used my scarf as a shawl at a wedding or a blanket on the plane.  It has also come in handy many times for a make shift nursing cover when I have forgotten my cover and wanted some privacy when out and about.  Here is a picture of my mom and dad at my sister’s wedding.  My mom used her scarf as a shawl that night.

Do you wear scarves?  How do you wear them? Do you wear them year round or just when it is cold out?

Maybe that’s too harsh. In some aspects, I think I’m a pretty decent person to live next to. For example,

I don’t:

• mow my lawn when people are trying to sleep in on a Saturday morning
• let my dog do his business in someone else’s yard. Okay, I don’t actually HAVE a dog, but if I did, I wouldn’t do that.
• park on the street and block the mail carrier’s access to anyone’s mailbox
• let my kids cut across other yards and if they’re fighting while outside, I make them come in. I’m sure my neighbors don’t want to listen to that noise.

But…

• I don’t make eye contact when I see people outside
• I don’t know anyone’s name and
• When new people moved in, I never made an effort to introduce myself. In short…

I have not been friendly. I have not been a good neighbor.

I’m really sorry about that. I have lived in this neighborhood for six years now and I didn’t want to be that kind of neighbor. When we first moved in, this house needed a lot of work to make it liveable. No exaggeration. This house was a foreclosure and it appears that the former owners left in mid remodel and in mid filth. Plus we had a baby. The goal was to get our new home clean and then I’d meet the neighbors.

I’m not sure what happened but the years rolled by and I never made good on this. Two years ago, brand new neighbors moved in next door and I was going to start off on the right foot with them. But then I broke my leg and was indoors all summer. Basically, I could list six years of excuses as to why I didn’t make an effort to meet and get to know my neighbors.

Now I don’t know what to do. It’s too late, right? I mean, it’s not like I can go over to someone’s house the next time I see them and say, “Hi, my name is Vikki. I should have introduced myself to you a long time ago and I didn’t. I’m very sorry about that. Here’s some toffee I made. What’s your name?”

That’s weird, right?

QC Moms, I’m turning to you. I’m an introvert who’s generally a pleasant person who’d like to get to know her neighbors.

Is it too late?

How do I get started?

This scares me like you wouldn’t believe but I don’t want to be like this any longer. I want to be friendly and talk to my neighbors. I just need your help in getting started.

What are your suggestions in getting to know your neighbors without coming off as odd?

Here are some important lessons I have learned from this book:

1.  I would love to keep you little, so I could rock you in my arms and sing you my favorite song, but I would miss the opportunity to hear YOU singing the song you’ve made up about butterflies and fairies, or dinosaurs and bugs (both with a matching dance).  Check out this video to see what we are blessed with.
   
2. I would love to keep you little, protected in strollers and baby swings, but I would miss seeing you ride your bike for the first time, helmet buckled and the look of pride beaming across your face.
3. I would love to keep you little so I could pick out every outfit and make sure it looked just right, but the reality is you are beautiful, unique, creative and independent no matter what clothes you choose to wear.
4. I would love to keep you little so I could pick your friends for you, but the truth is you’ve already found friends who love you just for you.

This book made me life, cry and begin to dream new dreams as I am reminded the memories we’ve created have been wonderful, but the memories to come may be even better. Here are some ways I have documented the years that have seemed to move too quickly.

1. I hung newborn pictures of each baby and a clock with the time they were born as a reminder of the moment our lives changed.
2. I take a picture of them on the first day of school and the last day of school to see how much they have grown, changed and developed.  I love looking back on those first days and remembering how little they looked and seeing them now, bigger, faster, smarter.
3. I take a picture of them the night before their birthday.  Again, just a reminder every year, of their last day as a ?? year old.
4. I (try) to make a scrapbook of their past year.  Including pictures of their friends, activities, birthdays, accomplishments and trips.  It helps me to remember how far we’ve come over the year and they LOVE looking through them.  Here is a page from Mia’s 2012 book.

They are growing up fast, and I can’t freeze time, although there are times I wish I could.  But I can document and embrace the memories that we are making and continue dreaming for the future.

What is the one area where you wish you could freeze time with your kids?