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“Last Chance Ranch”

There are many residential treatment programs for troubled children and teens, ranging from inpatient psychiatric units to wilderness adventures to boot camps. But to my knowledge, there is only one which is specifically focused on international adoptees. The Seattle Times recently ran a story, reported by Bonnie Miller Rubin of the Chicago Tribune, about The Ranch for Kids, a ranch in rural Montana currently housing 24 children who will stay for about six to twelve months. Some of these children have molested other children, stolen, vandalized and set fires. Most of them have fetal alcohol syndrome, a mental illness, or … Continue reading →

What Happened to Going to School on the Last Day?

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Back when I was a kid, the last day of school was always highly anticipated. It was the chance to say our last good-byes. It never occurred to me that some kids today stay home on the last day. Today I found out that many kids do. In fact, many kids stayed home today. I had to decide if I wanted Tyler to go to school tomorrow or not. Sure if he stays home, I get to sleep past 6:30. On the other hand, if he stays home there goes my last day of alone time before summer break. And … Continue reading →

Disney Park Secrets: Disneyland’s Feral Cats

Disneyland really is the happiest place on Earth for all beings, cats included. I’d heard rumors of this but I never thought it was true: Disneyland employs an “army” of feral cats to keep the park rodent-free. Alley Cat Allies, a national organization for the protection/understanding of feral cats, reports on the details. No one knows exactly when the feral cats moved into Disneyland; they weren’t put there intentionally. They’ve definitely been there for at least 25 years, and some think they’ve been there since the park opened in 1955. Perhaps it was built on land on which feral cats … Continue reading →

End of Summer Budget Savers

Labor Day is fast approaching. For many families the holiday weekend is the last chance for them to soak up summer fun before the new school year begins. However, when you are working on a tight budget, it can be challenging to commit to a high-priced weekend getaway. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable end of the summer travel options available across the country for clans to consider, including: Outdoor Adventures: Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to stretch their end of the summer dollar by taking advantage of the Labor Day Overland AdvenTour sale. The deal includes 40% off … Continue reading →

One More Disney Day Leap Year Extravaganza

It’s every kid’s dream: getting locked into Disney World overnight. While other Disney events have come close, notably Senior Trips/Grad Nites and New Year’s Eve parties, no one’s ever been allowed in a Disney Park in the middle of the night before. Or at least, a park has never been open to guests for a full 24 hours before. But now, both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom will be. One More Disney Day is how the Disney Parks have chosen to honor Leap Year. It’s an event that only comes around every four years, so execs wanted to celebrate it … Continue reading →

Be Prepared for Frost

Winter is definitely underway, which means that you need to be prepared for frost, both for your family and for your home. Even if the cold weather has hit your area, you can still be proactive. It is never to late to be prepared. Prepare Your Pipes Frozen pipes are not good thing. If you have ever experienced a burst pipe, you know what I mean. There is water flooding everywhere causing damage to your home, and the fix and cleanup are often expensive. To prepare against a burst pipe, make sure that you know where your water shut off … Continue reading →

Amica Insurance Has Advice About Christmas Trees

Will your family be celebrating Christmas with a real tree this year? Amica Insurance has some excellent advice for finding, and caring for, your Christmas tree. Following this advice is a good way to make your celebration safer, and more pleasant. A beautifully decorated Christmas tree is the centerpiece of the season. You will see them in stores, churches, and in people’s homes at this time of year. Most retail stores will select an easy to care for plastic Christmas tree to put up. Many families, however, have traditions that include selecting a real Christmas tree. Real Christmas trees require … Continue reading →

Adventures by Disney: The Natural North American Continent

My penultimate look at Adventures by Disney remains on the mainland, discovering the natural wonders of The United States and Canada. Those who don’t want to go overseas but want to experience the raw beauty their own continent has to offer should love today’s look at the next three AbD vacations. The first of our stops today, like our last look at AbD, features tours both in America and Canada. It looks at two of the countries’ gigantic national parks: Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. This 8-day, 7-night vacation is all about taking … Continue reading →

A Personal History of Disney Video Gaming

I’ll admit that next to reading, video gaming is one of my primary hobbies. My love for Disney has always been a part of my video gaming experience. In the early 1990s I had single-game bright plastic colored handheld devices. One, bedecked in perfect princess purples and pinks contained a “Beauty and the Beast” game wherein, as Belle, I had to race to Beast’s castle ahead of Gaston in order to warn the Beast of the advancing mob. My other game, in frankly lurid shades of orange and turquoise, tied in with the Disney afternoon kids show “Rescue Rangers.” Disney’s … Continue reading →

Candy Cane Crafts

It’s raining candy canes in our home. We attended a number of St. Nick’s Day parties and events in the last 48 hours where my daughter raked in quite a haul of candy canes. We are now the proud owners of more than two-dozen candy canes in a variety of sizes and flavors. (Who knew Jolly Rancher made candy canes?) Two-dozen seasonal sweet treats is way too much for a 6-year-old to consume, so I talked my daughter into using some of her candy canes to make Christmas crafts. Needless to say, my Martha Stewart wannabe jumped at the chance. … Continue reading →