On the Go with NW Kid Chaser - NW Kid Chaser

Little Free Library...

1/26/2014

This past fall, my youngest son and I discovered another
little free library in Salem.
Just east of the intersection of Belmont and Winter -
the joy of reading awaits you.

To the community librarian we say:
"Thank you for sharing your love of books!
We borrowed a few, added a few, and will return again soon."

School Project Jackpot!

12/18/2013

When my oldest son needed to create a diorama for a school science project, we explored the back of every closet and drawer in the house for suitable materials. Once armed with a sizable cardboard box, we found popsicle sticks, scraps of colored construction paper and a handful of cotton balls. Clearly this would not get the job done. So, I asked my son to make a 'wish list' for an afternoon shopping trip. We then headed directly to downtown Salem to visited the #1 place in town for creative kids: DIY Studio.

DIY offers a wide variety of recycled products for every project under the sun. While I knew that my son's finished list (of greenery, yarn, clay, and beads) could be fulfilled at a local big-box craft store, I also knew that DIY's amazing offers would allow him to hand-pick exactly the items he wanted without the need to weigh item-cost against creative-desire.

Pricing at DIY is by the bag. At other stores - I would have paid $5 for just one skein of yarn, but at DIY my son was able to buy three handfuls of yarn - all in different colors - for just a fraction of the $5! Bonus: instead of a predetermined number of buttons, he was able to drop just the four buttons he needed into his bag: Saving us from storing the extra items we don't need in the back of those drawers and closets at home!

While browsing the shelves, my son found treasures that were not on his list, but "vital" to to his project. I thought the act of collecting materials at DIY Studio was a great process of brainstorming and imaging the possibilities which (in the end) led to greater engagement in the school project. In less than 15 minutes, we were back in the car with a happy mom and a happy kid.

Thanks DIY - it wouldn't have been so easy without you!

Peruvian Perfection in Portland...

11/15/2013

My oldest son studied Peru during the past school year. As part of an 'International Festival' he and his classmates chose nations from South America to research. For weeks, my son brought home books and filled pages and page of notes. When the unit was over, he had produced this audio book to share with his peers:

As an extension of this project, I decided we should enjoy a meal at a local Peruvian restaurant. A search of the web led me to Las Primas Peruvian Kitchen. In a bike friendly section of north Portland, this restaurant has a variety of moderately-priced items our family could sink our teeth into. Family friendly and great service - we'll be back to enjoy more soon!

Here are the highlights of our meal:

Purple Corn Juice and Inca Cola (seriously sweet and unique).

Cheese and corn empanadas. Wowza!

Foos ball anyone?

Our son played the 'Sapo Game' he had read about in his research.

The slow roasted chicken elevates fowl to pure heaven. Thumbs up for the golden potatoes too!

Sweet yucca fritters for dessert!

Open, airy, friendly atmosphere.

Portland to Peru, Delicious for everyone, Coming back for more!

Brick a Mania...

10/12/2013

It was ALL LEGO® - ALL day for us this Saturday!

First, we headed to LEGO® KidsFest at the Oregon Convention Center. For those who have 8 year-olds and no plans for Sunday - I recommend it highly.

My boys were looking forward to it for weeks. The event did not disappoint. My youngest even created a 'must see' list.

Here's a few snapshots of the fun activities:

Monochromatic Build

Then, on the way home form the event we stopped at Bricks and Minifigs in Canby. Wowza!

This ALL LEGO store offers buying, selling, and trading of the beloved bricks in all shapes and sizes. As soon as I heard of this store, I knew my boys would want to visit.

After almost an hour of oohing and ahhing around the store, our boys pooled their allowance for a small batch of bulk bricks (that they don't already have at home) and a few StarWars mini-figures

Here's a few of the store's great offerings:

Sets - New & Used!

Mini-figures Galore!

Specialty Mini-figures

Now, we're home and our our LEGO day continues. I'm sleepily sipping a cup of hot cider (with my feet up) while the boys are busy building with their new bricks. With their new purchases, and the 'mini-set' prizes they received at KIDSFEST, I'm not sure when they'll be ready for bed. Our eight year old keep announcing, "This is such a fun day!"

Who ever imagined that such small bricks could bring such joy and contentment to so many?

Straight from New York Pizza...

10/9/2013

Rushing from one event on a busy day, I needed to find a kid friendly place to feed my boys as we passed through downtown Salem. After ticking off all the possibilities in my head, I realized how the term "kid-friendly" dramatically changes as your children grow. Our stop:

Straight from New York Pizza- Downtown Salem

While the high, backless stools might be a danger zone for toddlers; the quick service, yummy pizza and newspapers hanging on the wall were a huge hit with my boys. Good eaters and good readers! As long as the pizza, comics, and sports sections kept coming - they were as happy as could be!

GIVEAWAY – LEGO® KidsFest Tickets!

9/9/2013

Hooray for the kind folks at LEGO ® KidsFest who gave my family free tickets for the Portland 2013 event. Double “Hooray” - because they also gave me a pair of tickets to pass on to another local family who wants to attend this fun event!

Ticket winners will receive two, free admission passes for the Saturday, October 12th, 9am to 1:30pm session.

LEGO KidsFest includes:

LEGO Model Gallery: Dozens of life-sized models made entirely from LEGO bricks.

LEGO Master Builders:
Live demonstrations and activities from the crew who get paid to play.

Monochromatic Builds:
Bricks of a single color to foster group creativity.

LEGO Brick Pile:
A gigantic pile full of LEGO bricks for creative play.

LEGO Games Arena:
Roll the dice to play LEGO board games.

Race Ramps:
Build your own custom car, then race it down the ramp.

To enter the drawing for these two passes--
just leave a comment to this post.

If you’d like additional chances: You can mention this giveaway on your own blog (please provide the link to your post with your comment) or spread the word to your friends and family (as I’ll give you additional chances anytime anyone mentions your name in their own post. Ie..“Jennifer K. told me about this giveaway!”).

The drawing will be held Wednesday, Sept. 18th.
Feel free to email me with questions!
Good Luck!

Salem Weekend Fun...

9/6/2013

Attention Salem!
Two family fun activities are happening this weekend.

#1: Couch Racing at Bush Pasture Park
Cheer on your favorite local team as they hurl themselves (and their former living room furniture) down the soap box derby hill on Saturday, Sept. 7th. The fun begins at “high noon.” Food and drink for sale. Bring your friends. Stay 10 feet back from the track. Enjoy the show!

#2: Sunday Streets Open for Bikes
A two-mile route (closed to motor vehicles) between Wallace Marine Park, Riverfront Park, and the Capitol Mall is the perfect spot for a family bike ride this Sunday, Sept. 8th. Activities and vendors available along the route. This is Salem’s bite-sized version of Portland Parkways. Grab your helmet and support active transportation here in the state capital.

LEGO® KIDS FEST....

9/5/2013

Anyone who knows my boys, knows that LEGO® bricks are hugely popular at our house. They say that children around the world spend
5 billion hours a year playing with LEGO® bricks, and based on how my boys love to build and rebuild their original creations, I'm not surprised. LEGO is a central part of my son's childhood. As a family, we've had the good fortune of visiting several LEGO related places. (Three cheers for LEGOLAND Billund; applause for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago; hoots and hollers for FIRST LEGO League!) Lucky us: Now, I hear that LEGO KidsFest is coming to Oregon!

The LEGO KidsFest is a giant traveling LEGO expo and it's coming to Portland October 11th -13th. Held at the Oregon Convention Center, this LEGO extravaganza promises to be the don't-miss-LEGO event of the year. I understand that the event is made up of three acres of LEGO activities, models, demonstrations, and games. I can already imagining my two happy boys sitting amidst millions of LEGO bricks: Happy boys, indeed!

Here's the official press release for those interested. There are 5 sessions available (4.5 hours in length and each featuring the same exhibits and activities). Tickets are $19 for kids and $21 for adults. All the official information can be found at: www.LEGOKidsFest.com

With 915 million ways to combine six eight-stud LEGO® bricks, this is the perfect opportunity for Oregon boys and girls to continue the fun. Check back here in a few days for more info. and the possibility of FREE tickets for one lucky family!

Welcome Swifts...

8/12/2013

Late last week, near our home, my family spotted a small colony of swifts taking up residence in a nearby chimney. It was great fun to see these little birds gather, circle, and then enter a snug space for the night.

Typically, swifts migrate through Oregon each September on their way to Central and South America. Chapman Elementary School in NW Portland is "one of the largest known roosting sites of migrating Vaux's Swifts." Our family joined the crowds of people there last September to watch the nightly show of wildlife.

Chapman School has a huge chimney with room for thousands of birds. The Audubon Society has volunteers on site to answer questions. Folks gather early and picnic on the hill (just up from the playground). Bonus: If you go early in the season and bring cardboard, the kids can sled down the hill as they wait for the nightly "show".

The night we were there a hawk also came to join the event. Wowza! Migration; food chain; ecosystem; habitat: This end-of-the-summer, Oregon event is perfect for nature lovers both young and old.

Swift

Chapman Elementary

Info at Chapman School

The Art of Bicycle Riding...

7/27/2013

Check out
Cyclepedia
at the
Portland Art Museum
until Sept. 8, 2013.

A folding bicycle built for parachuting behind enemy lines.

Suitcase bicycle for world-traveler riders who are on the go.

A bicycle built for two!

Bumpy race track ahead?

While you are at the Museum, be sure to visit the Discovery Center on the 3rd floor. There are books, exhibits, costumes, art supplies, and furniture all designed with young museum visitors in mind.
After walking through almost all of the exhibits, my boys were ready for action. My youngest loves a good mummy fact. My oldest, began a portrait of a "young Roman guard" for the wall. I tried my hand at tin-foil sculpture.