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‘Get Outside!’ Category

  1. Spring Has Sprung!

    April 20, 2014 by admin

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    Oh!  We are so very, very grateful for sunshine.  Springtime is such a celebration of being able to once again play outside with little effort.  Throw on your shoes and out the door you go!

    IMG_5582This TR Family loves to find ways to bring typical inside activity to the outside.  Recently, we enjoyed sidewalk painting.  This particular medium is created by IMG_5570mixing up ridiculously simple and cheap household ingredients- corn starch (1/4 cup), food coloring (your choice), and cold water (1/4 cup).  We like to dump the paint into an old muffin tin to organize the colors and to ease transportation to the backyard.

    Then let your kids paint anything they desire.  And you can allow them to create their masterpieces on just about any surface.  The paint colors will deepen as they dry.  And clean up is provided by mother nature.  One good rain and the paint washes away.

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  2. Swing Out Sister

    April 13, 2014 by admin

    The greatest joy can come from the simplest things.

    Our backyard has no play equipment.  And the kids really wanted something traditional to play on for those days that a walk to the park just didn’t work IMG_4987out.  A quick survey of our outdoor space revealed that we had two spots that would support swings.  Avery liked a shady spot under a tree limb.  And Jack preferred a spot hanging from a metal structure.

    So we did some quick research on very strong rope.  And TRDad found some long pieces of wood.  After purchasing our Polypropylene rope, we constructed and hung our swings.  Voila!  For about $5, our kids had their very own swings and they have thoroughly enjoyed years of play thus far, no matter sunshine or snow.

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  3. Meet Me At The Farmers Market

    April 11, 2014 by admin

    The Dane County Farmer’s Market (DCFM) is a fun stop for people living in or visiting Madison. IMG_0714

    Frequently rated as one of the best in the nation, the Farmer’s Market is on our short list of things to do on a lazy Saturday, or with out of town visitors- and everyone is always pleased to experience the market.

    With dozens of vendors selling all manner of produce, flowers, and food related products (cheese, honey, breads, etc), along with scattered political advocacy groups and politicians, the DCFM can be a bit overwhelming at first.  Our advice? Don’t panic.  It’s OK if you don’t stop at every booth.   You don’t have to buy everything ( or even anything), or talk to every single purveyor.  Just take your time. Mellow out and go with the flow.

    We like that last bit especially.  We go to the market to have a fun, meandering walk.  Maybe we’ll sample a few things, and pick up a bag of veggies, but mostly we go for the atmosphere, the people watching and the walk in the outdoors.

    IMG_0172Our Farmer’s Market gets crowded very quickly, so we highly recommend that you go early.  (It opens at 6 AM).  Strollers and wagons are difficult to maneuver through the later crowds, so it’s probably best to plan on carrying or backpacking with your little ones.

    For our kids, one of the best treats is to sample the wares of the booths that allow freebies, especially the cheese vendors.  After a single circuit of the market, and many cheesy nibbles, our kids are good for a while before they’ll need another snack.

    If you can’t make it to the DCFM, find a different one near you– it’s good exercise and always beneficial to make friends with a local farmer!

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  4. Cabin Fever

    March 7, 2014 by admin

    We love winter, but we don’t participate in the traditional winter sports, like skiing or ice hockey.  So we need new ways to keep our active and outdoor loving kids happy.

    On a recent cold and snowy day, our Bluey was itching to do something new.  And given his squirrely behavior, we realized that this something new IMG_4898should probably be outside.  But Bluey wasn’t really enthused to climb his favorite mound of snow, or take the dog on a walk.

    And then TRMom had a thought!  Why not snow paint?

    We quickly gathered up some food coloring which we squirted into plastic cups and thinned it out with tap water.  We grabbed some fat paint brushes and headed outside.

    We discovered that snow can be a tricky canvas.  We quickly found out that in order to use our brushes, we had to pack down and smooth out the snow.  Squirt-able water bottles allowed us more freedom in design, but they were harder to handle if we had a specific picture we desired to paint.  Bluey also had fun constructing fairy houses of snow and coloring them with the paint.

    IMG_4915What a fantastic afternoon!  Bring your art outside regardless of the season.

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  5. The Boy Birdwatcher Society

    February 26, 2014 by admin

    Our young Bluey has recently taken up birdwatching.  Or bird and squirrel watching, more accurately.  It’s a plan he came up with entirely on his own- just something he wants to do. IMG_1509

    He’ll come home after dropping his sister at school, or spend his lunch, nestled in a chair on the porch watching the bird feeder to see who might arrive.  He’ll even encourage his friends to join him when they visit.

    His connection to the natural world is strong.  It’s very good to witness, but we can’t say we’re surprised.

    After all, from the time he was a few weeks old, he’s had his ‘Bird of the Day,’ where TRDad reads a page from a bird guidebook describing the many species of birds common in North America.  We’ve gone through several different guidebooks by now.

    And he and his sister used to sit and watch the Nature Channel outside the window, as squirrels, birds and other critters came to our porch for a snack.

    And bird-watching is a major element in one of his favorite books, Pogo, which he reads almost everyday.

    IMG_1090So we are happy to help set him up with his binoculars and a cup of cocoa to settle in to watch the birds.  We hope his love of nature stays with him always.

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  6. Winter Biking

    February 14, 2014 by admin

    It’s the middle of the afternoon on a recent, bitter-cold winter day.  Schools have been cancelled in our area due to the extreme weather.  What does Bluey want to do this afternoon?

    “Let’s go for a bike ride!”

    Our young rider doesn’t let snowy landscapes and subzero temps keep him off his bike.  And why should he?  We see people riding all winter in our town, so he knows it can be done.  And we spend our springs, summers, and falls biking all over- so he knows how much fun biking can be.IMG_1301

    He has heard our winter mantra many times (borrowed from the Norwegians): There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.

    So we saddle up.  Bluey dons his snowsuit, finds his best mittens and a hat.  He wraps a scarf around his neck while I loosen his bike helmet straps enough to fit over his hooded, hatted head.

    We grab the dog and we’re off.

    The trip doesn’t last long- after all it is pretty chilly out.  But Bluey gets a chance to ride and to explore his neighborhood some more on a day when few people are out and about.

    There are some icy patches to remind us that there’s more to winter biking than dressing right—some sections of the sidewalk are a bit treacherous.  But we have a fun jaunt around the neighborhood, and head home for hot cocoa.

    Polar vortex, arctic blast- no matter.  We’re going on a bike ride.

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  7. The Guy Who Came In From The Cold

    January 7, 2014 by admin

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    Winter is upon us and we love to head outdoors for snowy fun.  But eventually those toes are cold, the cheeks are frost-nipped; and it is time to come indoors.  When kids stomp in from the snow, they want to be warmed up quickly.  So here’s what we try to have on hand to swiftly bring the coziness, and restock our energies for the next round of winter fun.

    Hot Cocoa:  Around October 1st, we start buying cocoa every week, whether we needed it or not.  If friends are over, a single box of cocoa won’t last very long.  You can even make cocoa by the pot on the stove (which is what TRGrandma used to do).

    IMG_4619Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese:  Keep the ingredients for this classic warmer at the ready.  The kids will be hungry after playing in the cold.  Pre warm the soup, and preassemble the sandwiches, if you want them to be prepared super quick.  (Remember: don’t leave the stove on while you are out sledding!)

    Warm Dry Clothes: Take a minute before you set out into the cold to get a set of clothes ready for when you return.  Then it’s no muss/no fuss! A quick change and you are already feeling warmed up.

    A Cozy Blanket:  We keep our favorite coziest blankets at the ready for snuddling!

    A Place to put all the wet clothes and shoes:  If your home has a mudroom, you’re in luck!  If not, create a functional space in your house.  We lay a bunch of towels down in the dining room and use a few chairs to hold things to dry (a folding drying rack is great for this- if you have one).  Line up gloves and upside down boots along the radiators to warm up.  Then at the end of the day, clean up is a snap as we toss the towels in the laundry and put away the now dry coats and mittens.

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  8. Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

    January 3, 2014 by admin

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    We acknowledge that it is amazingly cold and your natural instinct might just be to stay indoors.  But you can have some wonderful moments outside, very well dressed, that will allow your family to get some fresh air, have a laugh or two, and learn something as well!

    Experiment #1:   Go outside with boiling water and toss it away from you, into the air. Watch in amazement as a cloud of ice crystals disperse all around.

    Experiment #2:  Turn water into ice with a shake of your hand.  The instructions on the hyper-link page work in the exact same way when you place your bottled water outside to freeze, as opposed to inside your home’s freezer.  We promise that you will be incredulous when you pick up the water bottle, shake it once, and watch it form into ice from the bottom up like magic!

    Experiment #3:  Blow frozen bubbles.  What fun to watch your bubble crystalize like your own little snow globe.  And guaranteed to wow the little ones.  We’re excited to find out what happens if you quickly catch a stack of them.

    There are really many ways to actually enjoy the extreme cold.  We’d love to hear your ideas! And we would like to thank Darren Bush of Rutabaga for this cold weather inspiration.

     

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  9. Picnic Point

    December 18, 2013 by admin

    IMG_0881Recently, we posted on the joy of a holiday walk in the midst of family-gathering chaos.  One of our favorite local destinations is Picnic Point in Madison, WI.

    A peninsula located along the Lake Mendota edge of the University of Wisconsin- Madison, this mile long stretch of land affords lovely views of the Capitol and is a great bird watching destination.

    Tip:  Be sure to smooch your sweetie while exploring Picnic Point, it is tradition!

    The walk is pretty level, so there should be no significant impediment to any age.  There are no restrooms.  Parking is plentiful and leashed dogs are allowed.

    Tip2: There are several fire rings on the Point.  Reserve one by contacting the Wisconsin Union!IMG_8515

    Remember that Babcock Hall is only about 1 mile from Picnic Point.  Ice cream is always a welcome treat after a hearty hike.

    Explore the outdoors, near and far!

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  10. Holiday Walk-about

    December 3, 2013 by admin

    IMG_8486The celebration of any holiday can be stressful. There may be special meals, out-of-town guests and high expectations.  Things can get tense.  And with everyone piled into the house, the instinct might be to flip on a movie to keep the kiddoes happy.  But we find more success taking a different direction.

    We’ve discovered that the best antidote for holiday cabin-fever is to get out of the house.

    Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years- on all these holidays you’ll see our family piling into the car to head out of the house, and into nature.

    Going for a walk on a holiday allows everyone in the family a chance to relax outdoors, center themselves, and get some exercise.  We see if there are any wild animals out and about to celebrate, what plants are still thriving, and what has hunkered down for Winter.

    So few people head outdoors on the holidays, that we frequently have a whole park or nature reserve to ourselves.  The lack of human noise is impressive on these days.  You really get a chance to see why Thoreau moved to the woods, and why that still seems like a good idea.

    After an hour or so of exploring, we head back home.  There’s still plenty of time for movies, games and traditional in-home fun.  But we find our escape into nature a valued re-fueling moment that lets us enjoy our time together even more.

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