Here’s a fun and easy craft you can easily give a July 4th twist: Wind Twirlers! They’re an entertaining and colorful addition to your yard. Hang them on the porch, from a tree, anywhere the wind blows! The kids will enjoy making them and watching them go. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.

Supplies:

• Plastic lids
• Scissors
• String
• Nail
• Marker
• Art supplies (Optional)

Directions:

1. Remove the lip of the plastic lid with scissors so you have a flat, round piece of plastic.

2. Use the nail to punch a hole in the center of the lid.

3. Optional: Decorate the lids. We had three white plastic lids, so we painted one blue and one red (and left one alone) to add some patriotic flair. If you have colored lids, you could easily skip this step.

4. Use the marker to draw a spiral that starts near the hole in the center of lid and gradually extends outward to the rim. The thicker your spiral, the shorter your wind twirler will be.

5. Cut along the spiral line

6. Thread a piece of string through the whole in the center and knot it on the underside.

7. Hang it and watch it spin!

A few tips:

• The age of your child will determine the amount of the drawing and cutting you’ll need to do. My two-year-old painted her lid and I did the rest. My six-year-old was able to complete all the steps with supervision.
• You can use different size lids and cut spirals of varying thicknesses to create wind twirlers of assorted shapes and sizes. The lids we used were approximately 4.5 inches in diameter.
• Don’t have any plastic lids? Try paper plates instead.

Filed under: OH! Kids Grow, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
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Okay, I’m not sure this is technically a recipe since it requires no cooking and has only one required ingredient.  Tom Colicchio would not be pleased.  But we’re all busy moms, so simple is good, right?

My kids’ favorite summertime treat is frozen bananas.  Not real complicated, but we put some fun spins on it.

Let your kids cut the bananas themselves with a butter knife.  Fine motor control!  Spatial awareness!  Other buzz words for making fun things sound like work!

Try handing out toothpicks.  This kept my three year old busy for half an hour.  That’s a long time for a three year old!  When they get tired of bananas, grapes and toothpicks are perfect for building structures- and freeze well too.   My daughter made a banana car and a person with hers.  I made the spider. I know, the car is better.

Give kids a shaker can of unsweetened cocoa.  When combined with the sweet bananas, it tastes like chocolate without the guilt.  And cocoa is good for you!  It is heart healthy, improves memory, and is very high in antioxidants.  So eat up!

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Yum by My OH! Momma
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Last week at WalMart, I was stacking pack after pack of buns on the conveyor belt when the cashier asked, “You puttin’ on a big event?” I excitedly began to tell her about the plans for my soon-to-be-six-year-old’s birthday party on Saturday. The whole family was looking forward to it! I was going on about not knowing how much food to buy because most people seem to think RSVP stands for “really so very pointless” these days when I noticed her roll her eyes! I clammed up quick and she said, “Oh, your daughter’s not spoiled, is she?”

It got me thinking about the birthday parties we throw for our children. OH! wants to know:

Tell us more in the comments! What are your birthday party boundaries? How much is too much? How many kids do you invite? How do you determine who is on the guest list? Do you blow your budget or celebrate within your means?

Filed under: OH! Says, OH! Wants To Know by My OH! Momma
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I hope my children will look back on today
And see a mother who had time to play.
There will be years for cleaning and cooking
But children grow up while we’re not looking.
Dusting and scrubbing can wait ’till tomorrow
For babies grow fast we learn to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

We’ve searched and searched for the author is this poem. You can find varying versions of it from a variety of sources, and in most cases, the author is listed as unknown. The best we can tell you is it’s an adaptation of an original work published in Ladies Home Journal in 1938 by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton entitled Song for a Fifth Child.

Filed under: OH! Says, OHHHmmm! by My OH! Momma
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It’s time for a shOHwdown!!  That’s a “showdown” with the “OH” from myOHmomma in it, get it?  It’s a little hard on the eyes, but we think it’s kind of cute and clever anyhoo.

Our shOHwdown posts are all about figuring out what’s best for local OHmommas.  We pit two similar things head to head in a fierce battle for the winner, determined by… us.  Two moms with an opinion on everything.  But you get to vote, too!  If you don’t like the winner, just say so in the comments.  And if a lot of people don’t like it, the scales of justice may be tipped to overthrow the winner!  It’s all very exciting, I know.  All we need are some Japanese people gripping large knives and octopus tentacles (that’s an Iron Chef reference, in case you have better t.v. viewing habits than me).

Let the battle begin…

ROLLING RIDGE VERSUS THE FARM

Amish Country features two “zoos,” Rolling Ridge and The Farm, which feature wagon rides where you can feed exotic animals.  My 3 year old and 5 year old were kind enough to visit both for your benefit.  They are self-sacrificers. 

ROUND ONE: LOCATION

Yes, they are both in Amish country.  But there is Amish country, and then there is Amish country.  I can handle Route 39 with the Amish who put on a good show for the tourists.  Driving halfway to who knows where on unmarked roads with no way back is another issue entirely.  So, I think you can guess which place is easier to locate by the scores:

THE FARM:  1 point

ROLLING RIDGE: 0 points

ROUND TWO: PRICE

If you’re going to do the wagon ride, which is the whole point in going, Rolling Ridge is slightly cheaper by about a dollar.  Big deal.  But, rules are rules.

THE FARM: 0 POINTS

ROLLING RIDGE: 1 POINT

Oh my, a tie.  What will happen next????

ROUND THREE: SUBSTANCE

We’re here to see animals.  While the wagon rides of both are essentially the same (although at the Farm you can feed them out of your hand, while Rolling Ridge wants you to feed them from a bucket only), the extra animals outside of the wagon ride vary greatly. Rolling Ridge has a petting zoo with some cute little animals- miniature goats and baby cows and that sort of thing, some baby ducks you can hold, some monkeys, and a few parrots.

The Farm has lemur island, giraffes, exotic birds, monkeys, turtles, koi fish, and more.  While Rolling Ridge was more hands on, The Farm had more unusual animals and was beautifully landscaped to boot, with rocks for the children to climb on and a covered bridge to enjoy. 

The Farm also has a very nice play area for children, and a working Amish house to tour (which is really just a house, but still fun to check out).  We spent about 2 hours at Rolling Ridge, and about 4 hours at The Farm, and my kids were not ready to leave The Farm.

THE FARM: 1 POINT

ROLLING RIDGE: 0 POINTS

ROUND FOUR: CUSTOMER SERVICE

They were all super nice.  They’re Amish!  But we do take issue with some facilities:  mainly, port o johns at Rolling Ridge.  Good luck changing the baby on that or finding a place to nurse.  The Farm has a super nice Amish House with a very clean family bathroom, numerous rocking chairs for nursing, heck you can probably take a nap on the bed if you want to.…

THE FARM: 1 POINT

ROLLING RIDGE: 0 POINTS

AND THE WINNER IS…

THE FARM!

(THE FARM: 3 POINTS; ROLLING RIDGE: 1 POINT)

Congrats to The Farm!  Can’t wait to go back!

Filed under: OH! Says, ShOH!down by My OH! Momma
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The Uhrichsville Water Park is ready to open for its third year of operation. The Water Park is a beautiful facility located on a 4 .5 acre setting. We offer an 18,000 sq. ft heated pool with two-story water slides, a deep end and a zero depth entry child play area with a fantastic play unit aimed toward younger children. We also have an amazing pool deck with 250 lounge and lawn chairs, and amazing 12 ft. umbrellas available on a first come-first serve basis. Also in the park we have a 80 person pavilion and a reasonably priced concession stand. Men’s and women’s locker rooms along with a handicap accessible family changing room are available for your convenience. Please call for more information

Recommended Age: Must be 48 inches tall for most rides, and 30 inches to ride with an adult.

Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible:  Yes.

Dining Area: Yes, a concession stand.

Snacks Allowed: Yes.

Diaper Changing Table: Yes.

Family Bathroom:  Yes, and family changing area.

Length of visit:  Enough activities for a day.

Hours: Open weekends beginning Memorial day, and weekdays beginning June 8^th.

Reservations:  Not required, unless you want to rent the whole park (yes, you can rent the whole park!)

Gift shop:  Yes

Admission:

Membership Type	Daily Rate	Season Pass
17 years old and younger	$6.00	$130.00
18 years and older	$9.00	$165.00
Seniors 62 years and older	$5.00	$125.00
Children under the age of 2 years old	Free	Free
$2.00 discount on daily rates after 5:00pm. The 5:00pm discount does NOT apply to Uhrichsville Residents (17 and Under) Daily Discounts Only
Family Memberships
Family of two                                                                       $250.00
$60.00 for each additional Family Member

 

Punch Cards	13 Passes for the Price of 10
17 years old and younger	$60.00
18 years and older	$90.00
Seniors 62 years and older	$40.00

 

Pavilion Rentals available  (11:00am to 2:30pm  or  3:00pmto 6:30pm)

Pavilion Rental Rates

$150 for 3 ½ hours (Includes 15 passes)

$175 for 3 ½ hours (Includes 20 passes)

$200 for 3 ½ hours (Includes 25 passes)

 

Full Water Park rentals are also available.
The entire Water Park is available for rental (businesses or individuals) in the evenings from 7 pm to 9 pm. (1-hour full park rentals begin at 7 pm)

The hourly rental rates are as follows:                                                                                     

$200.00 per hour                   (Up to 100 entry passes included)
$300.00 per hour                   (101 to 250 entry passes included)
$400.00 per hour                   (251-300 entry passes included)
$500.00 per hour                   (301-400 entry passes included)
$600.00 per hour                   (401-600 entry passes included)
$750.00 per hour                   (601-1000 entry passes included)

Above full rental are without concession stands. Add $25/hr for concession stand

Location: 401 East Twelfth Street, Uhrichsville

Phone: (740) 922-1242 

Website: www.cityofuhrichsville.org/waterpark

Notes:  Swim classes are offered.  See website for details.

Filed under: OH! Go, Outdoor Activities by My OH! Momma
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Rolling Ridge Ranch Animal Park open since 1996. Over 500 animals and birds from around the world. Feed animals from our guided horse-drawn wagons. Petting zoo, picnic area, playground, and gift shop.

Recommended Age: All ages

Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible: Yes but not to get up on the wagons.

Dining Area: Picnic tables

Snacks Allowed: Yes

Diaper Changing Table: No

Family Bathroom: Port-o-johns

Length of visit:  Half a day

Hours: Open April-May, Sept-Oct: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-5pm. June-Aug: 9am-5pm.

Reservations:  Required for 15 or more people.

Gift shop:  Yes

Admission:  $15.95 for adults, $10.95 for children and seniors; Free under 2.  Group discount (15 or more) it is $8.95 per person (kids and adults).

Location: 3961 CR 168, Millersburg, OH

Phone: 330-893-3777

Website: www.visitrollingridge.com

My OH! Momma Rating: 

While I thought The Farm had more for your money, Rolling Ridge is better than The Farm in a few respects: more animals in the petting zoo, and safer wagons.  The actual wagon ride with unusual animals is pretty much the same.  However, The Farm has it beat as Rolling Ridge is further out in Amish Country, does not have as large or as nice of a “zoo,” and does not the farmhouse to explore.  Overall, a great place, but if you have to choose just one, we would recommend The Farm. 

Kids say: This is a really, really fun place to go.  My favorite part is the petting zoo.  There is a ton of animals, even a little pony and a baby cow.  I also liked the ride where you get to feed the animals.  There were all these different animals! And you get to feed them!  I got to get an ostrich egg at the gift shop- they are about the size of a soccer ball, all white with teeny tiny colored dots all over, and really cool.

CLICK HERE FOR  $2 OFF EACH ADMISSION COUPON:

http://www.visitrollingridge.com/buck_fever_coupon.pdf

Filed under: OH! Go, Outdoor Activities by My OH! Momma
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Recommended Age: All ages.

Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible: Can pull up and park next to the picnic shelter, the trail next to the picnic shelter

Dining Area: Yes, picnic tables.

Snacks Allowed: Yes

Diaper Changing Table: Yes

Family Bathroom: No

Length of visit:  As long as you care to hike.

Hours: Dawn to dusk.

Reservations:  Not for hiking, but yes to reserve picnic shelter for a function; some programs require a prior reservation, see website or call for details.

Gift shop:  No

Admission: Hiking is free; small charge for some classes.

Location: Conservation Drive, Dover, OH

Phone: (330) 339-7976 

Website: www.normajohnsoncenter.com

My OH! Momma Rating:

Great place for hiking, but even better than that are the programs for kids during the summer.  Quality, inexpensive programming that get the kids outside, learning, exercising, and having fun.  Check them out on the myohmomma calendar.

Filed under: OH! Go, Outdoor Activities by My OH! Momma
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No pets allowed.

Recommended Age:  Depends on the movie.

Dining Area: Concession stand.

Snacks Allowed: You’re in your own car, so I don’t see why not!

Diaper Changing Table: Maybe, but your car is cleaner.

Length of visit:  Double movies, with a short break between.

Hours: Check the website for movies and times; usually movies begin at 8:30.

Admission: Adults $5.00 per person; ages 5-11 in car with parents $2.00; under 5 free.

Location: 9735 US Route 250 NW, Strasburg, Ohio 44680

Phone: (330) 878-5797

Website: www.lynndrivein.com

My OH! Momma Rating:

It’s a great night of fun!

Filed under: OH! Go, Outdoor Activities by My OH! Momma
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The Farm offers visitors the opportunity to be a part of a local farm as well as feed alternative livestock such as giraffe, zebras, buffalo, antelope, and much more from your own vehicle or horse-drawn wagons.

Recommended Age: All ages

Stroller/Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Dining Area: You can bring your own snacks to eat in the covered picnic shelter.

Snacks Allowed: Yes

Diaper Changing Table: There is a flat counter in the bathroom of the house.

Family Bathroom: Regular bathrooms in the house.

Length of visit: Half to full day.

Hours: Open Apr-Nov Mon-Sat 8:30 a.m.-one hour before sunset. Open Dec-Mar by reservation only.

Reservations: Only for the off-season.

Gift shop: Yes

Admission: General Admission: adults $11.75, children 2-12 $8.75, seniors $8.75, group rate (15 or more people, including ages 1 and up) $7.75; Wagon Ride: adults $5.00; children 2-12 $3.00; seniors $3.00, group rate $2.00.

Location: 4147 CR 114, Sugarcreek, OH

Phone: 330-893-4200

Website: www.thefarmatwalnutcreek.com

My OH! Momma Rating:

A very unique, entertaining zoo. The main draw of The Farm is the horse-drawn ride through beautiful scenery, where children can hand-feed unusual wild animals. The wagon can be a little dangerous for young kids, be sure to hold on tight when it gets bumpy. Save time after the wagon ride to explore the rest of the farm. There is a wide variety to see outside of the ride, including lush “lemur island,” an amish home, play sets for the kids, and more! You can plan on packing a lunch and spending a day to really get your money’s worth. Your kids will remember this trip for a long time.

Filed under: OH! Go, Outdoor Activities by My OH! Momma
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