JAK CHAT

A Memory Crisis . . .  Avert Yours in Advance!             Sponsored by Pixologie, Inc.  It happened on December 1, last year . . . nearly two months ago. I lost my iPhone and, even today, I have the sinking feeling of sadness and dread over this. It is not because of the money I paid for the phone, or the frustration of having to figure out how to get a replacement, or the time invested into apps that I may or not even get again. I miss my family photos on it. We had a very unique and special Thanksgiving weekend (just five days before I lost the darn thing.) I was heartsick that I hadn’t uploaded the photos anywhere - including the memories of our family celebrating Thanksgiving in a new place with very special family, spending time together at a Christmas tree farm where my 12 year old daughter was able to take the reins of a four horse wagon ride, the special times working on crafts with family friends and so much more. Read more... I just knew I was going to remember some other

Considering Online Public School? Sponsored by Wisconsin Virtual Academy   A tuition-free, online public school option for grades K-12 Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA), authorized by the McFarland School District, is a full-time, tuition-free, online public school option for students in grades K-12 living anywhere in the state of Wisconsin. We are proud to partner with K 12 – America’s K–12 online education leader. We offer individualized instruction, live online class sessions taught by Wisconsin-licensed teachers, dedicated school staff, advisors, and counselors, face-to-face social outings, parent support, national online clubs, and much more! The key is our individualized approach, which makes the most of each child’s potential. In K–8, students can set the pace to their learning day, guided by highly qualified teachers. In high school, teens have a wealth of academic choices, including AP levels. Plus, there are field trips and clubs all the way to graduation. WIVA uses the awar

Kindness: It's What's For Breakfast [caption id="attachment_2265" align="alignright" width="240"] Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968[/caption] by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann   Nineteen sixty-four marks a year of historical importance. Dare I disclose, it's the year of my birth. If you do the math, you know what milestone birthday I will be celebrating in 2014. But more importantly, 1964 is the year that congress passed the Civil Rights Act . I am not much of a history buff, due in part, to a lack of interest. Yah, slap me! Though it seems the older I get, the more interested I get.  As a resource for you parents, and for myself as a mom, perhaps it's time to put those "what's all the hubbub about MLK day, anyway?" panties on and re-educate myself. I mean, I know I had to have learned about it in elementary school, right? And the fact that this day, the third month of January, is an annual federal holiday must mean

Cabin Fever  Family Activity Survival Guide compiled by Paula Herrmann, Founder Just Add Kids It's Polar Vortex Part Deax.  Once again, we're trapped in our homes due to the subzero temps. So let's tap into some of the ideas posted out there on the social media sites and those activities we have access to and are good fallbacks in good and bad weather.  Although pretty cool, after PVI, I hope not to see another video of water being thrown into the air for awhile! 1) Make Water balloon Ice Marbles. Needed: latex balloons, food coloring, kitchen tap water, snow bank! 2) Blow bubbles into the chilly air. Heated up your bubble solution so that it's warm or even hot to the touch. Blow several bubbles into the frigid, sub-freezing air. Catch with a wand if you can and watch it turn into a crystal fragile ball.  Needed: store bought bubbles or home concoction . 3) Make snow!  Throwing boiling water (away from you/downwind) into the frigid subzero dry air will cause it to ev

Snow Much Fun! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann   Snow much? In my neck of the woods, wowza! Now that we have the holidays behind us, we can't ignore the fact that there are plenty of cold, winter days ahead. Fill those days in with some seasonal fun before that spring sun melts all of the white fluffy stuff. Just Add Kids has put together Snow Much Fun! It's a skating/sledding/skiing destination guide for Racine, Kenosha and surrounding communities. Read more... ICE SKATING Echo Lake, Burlington (595 Milwaukee Avenue) – Stairs to the lake, pavilion, benches, outdoor portable restroom. – Free. Devor Park, Burlington (394 Amanda Street) – Free. Frozen Fairway Skating Rink @ Twin Lakes Country Club (1230 Legion Drive) – Open Friday - Sunday (weather contingent) from 10:00am - 8:00pm.  The cost is $5.00 daily or $20 unlimited. Skate rental is available.  Free skating for all Twin Lakes Country Club Members and Junior Golf Members.  Call 262-877-8500 for more info, or