Hello friends!
Well, are we having fun yet? I’ll tell you what, this whole schooling from home while being isolated from people we love while also having our favorite resources (museums, libraries, etc) shut down is NOT my favorite. 

But, we’re figuring it out, aren’t we? And I can tell you right now - you’re doing a good job! You’re exactly the right grown up for your kiddos, and you’re rocking it, even if you feel more like life is kicking your tailfeathers. 
One way my family is surviving is by keeping a close eye/ear on our local current events/happenings. I get the Eugene Public Library’s emailed newsletters and that is where I discovered this little gem that I’m going to tell you about today.

Where: Petersen Barn Park, 870 Berntzen Rd, Eugene, over in the Bethel area of Eugene
When: Any daylight hours, until the end of October
Who: Anyone at all!
What: To quote the Eugene Public Library, “The beautifully illustrated pages are displayed on a series of signs arranged in order along the path to read as you stroll.”

Head on over to Petersen Barn and follow the numbered signs around the half mile loop to read this delightfully fun and just-the-right-amount of spooky tale. Strollers and wheelchairs will be able to navigate the bark chip path, and it’s nowhere near traffic, so kiddos can just run freely. There’s plenty of room to social distance, so we were able to keep our masks in our pockets most of the time. There’s a portable toilet and water fountains, as well as a playground and picnic tables. Pack a snack and go enjoy the story and the outdoors! Have fun!

It's pumpkin patch time, friends!
Are you looking for a picturesque place to pick your perfect pumpkin?
I've got a new spot to share with you. 

This farm is owned by a pair of sisters, and one of them is a US veteran. I love supporting these particular populations, and we had such a fun time out at Hollyaire. To get there, head up River Road going North. Continue past the PACKED (but lovely!) Thistledown Farm as well as the old Lone Pine Farm. Just past where Lone Pine used to be is Lone Pine Drive. Take a right and you'll see Hollyaire pumpkins just a bit down on the left. 

We were there on a Friday or Saturday and we only saw one other group of people, and it was really nice to get to leave our masks in our pockets while we were poking around amongst the pumpkins. Even though it sprinkled while we were out there, it wasn't super muddy, and they let us pull our van right up to the edge of the patch so we could load our pumpkins up easily without having to lug them across a big parking lot.

They don't have any wheelbarrows or wagons, so you would need to bring your own if that was something you wanted. There aren't activities besides the pumpkin patch, so it was a pretty quick trip for us since it was sprinkling while we were there. But the owners were super nice and encouraged lingering and taking photos - they even stressed that there was no pressure to buy anything and just to enjoy being there. They have a tent where they sell kettle corn and jams and other homemade treats, so prepare yourself for begging children after the pumpkins have been picked. Maybe that's just my children? Doubt it. The kettle corn was excellent, by the way. They take cards, cash, and farm direct checks.

Besides it being a really lovely patch, the prices were amazing!! They're selling the pumpkins at wholesale prices, so you can't get them cheaper anywhere else in town. And again, the lack of crowds made the entire experience way less stressful. We give Hollyaire two enthusiastic thumbs up, and thank them for the great memories! 

What: Hollyaire Farms' pumpkin patch
Where: 30747 Lone Pine Drive off River Road
When: Thursday through Sunday from 10-6

​Well folks, our kids have been stuck at home for approximately 842 days now. Are your offspring bored yet? Mine are. Thankfully, we have a new and fantastic resource here in town to buy you a morning or afternoon of happy and contented children creating artwork that is beautiful and even a bit educational! 

​Eco Kids Village has put together themed kits full of super fun activities, and Stacy deliverd an Ocean Kit for my boys and me to check out. My kiddos are nine, five and a half, and three, and each of them enjoyed at least one of the activities included in our kit.  

​My eldest kiddo was immediately drawn to the cork raft craft. He was excited to follow the instructions and try floating his raft in the sink, and thrilled when it actually floated!

​My middle kiddo was pumped about the salt-dough starfish. When I mentioned that someone had made the starfish just for him to paint, he about fell off his chair. Ha!

​And my youngest (with a lot of my help) tackled the 'under the sea' scene.

​After my two big kids were finished with their first choice, they moved on to the jellyfish activity and then to the matching game.

​On top of being complete and ready to go (which is SO convenient), all of the activities were packaged so beautifully! The materials are all of a nice quality and oh so organized. Everything was so pretty and beach-y that it just made me want to throw everyone in the car and head for the coast. I think the best part of this Ocean Kit is how the activities could be stretched out or condensed to suit each individual kiddo.

​We did most of the activities in one afternoon, but you could totally do one per day and stretch the fun waaaaay out. And, bonus! We found two projects that we didn't even notice until after the excitement of the crafts died down - a coloring sheet about the ocean zones as well as a simple, one page science experiment. What really impressed me about this whole kit is how intentional, cohesive, and well planned each of the projects was. She picked the best of the million ideas on Pinterest, prepped them for me, and dropped them on my porch. Eco Kids Village has found a forever fan and customer in my family! 

+++++++++++++++++++++
Awesome!
Thanks Megan!

Check out all of Eco Kids Village Kits here!
Free at home delivery in Eugene & Springfield!

Eco Kids Village At Home Activity Kits
Featuring:
Rainforest Activity Kit
Ocean Activity Kit
Rainbow Busy Bag
Calm Down Kit

***giveaway***
Win 2 tickets to The SpongeBob Musical

To enter
Right now:
Comment here with your favorite Spongebob character & why you love them!
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Friday
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Winner will be drawn Sunday March 1 at 9pm

Get ready for a super fun night out at The Hult Center!

For the first time ever, Bachelor Nation will have a say in the rose ceremony. From the first impression rose to group date challenges and coveted one-on-ones, watch it all unfold live on stage. Audience members and hosts will guide the Bachelor in his journey to find love. If the leading lady accepts the final rose, the night could end with the start of a beautiful romance.

The Bachelor Live on Stage
Silva Concert Hall
The Hult Center
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:30 pm

Click here for more details & ticket info

***giveaway***
Win 2 tickets to The Bachelor Live On Stage Official Tour

To enter
Right now:
Comment here with what your profession would be listed as if you were a contestant on The Bachelor or Bachelorette (actual example: Dolphin Enthusiast)
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Saturday
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Winner will be drawn Monday March 2 at 9pm

In a special Oregon premiere presentation, internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley’s own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen.

Manual Cinema - Frankenstein
Soreng Theater
The Hult Center

Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Friday, February 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 2 pm

Click here for more details & ticket info

***giveaway***
Win 2 tickets to Manual Cinema - Frankenstein

To enter
Right now:
Comment here with your favorite scary story, movie or book
(Be sure that your settings are set to accept replies so that you know if you are drawn as the winner)

Wednesday:
Enter on Facebook
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Winner will be drawn Thursday February 27 at 9pm

***giveaway***
Win 2 tickets to NatGeo: Rhinos, Rickshaws and Revolutions!

To enter:
Comment here with your favorite thing to take pictures of
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Later in the week:
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Winner will be drawn Friday February 28 at 9pm

“With all their hands-on activities, interactive lessons, and an emphasis on working with kids’ individual learning styles, I really feel this school bridges the gap between homeschool and a classroom in environment in a way no other school can.” – Gwendy Darling

"Christian schools offer a refreshing, biblical alternative.  Not only is the Bible taught for what it is – the inspired Word of God – but it forms the foundation of all other texts.  In math, in social studies, in biology, all academic roads lead to God, in whom all knowledge has its origin."

From the Nature Discovery Christian School website

"Nature Discovery Christian School is a private school in North Eugene providing education for Preschool through 12th grade.  In addition to teaching through a Biblical worldview, we emphasize learning through science and technology, hands-on activities , frequent field trips, experiencing God's creation, and making learning fun."

From the Nature Discovery Christian School website