Photo Handout from April 10th activity

Tips for Taking Better Photos of Your Family

• When possibly turn off the flash - it creates harsh shadows, glare, alters colors and can wash out the subject.
• Good lighting - facing natural light will brighten eyes and light up the face yielding better photos. If shooting indoors have your subject face toward a window.
• Don't say cheese - we have been trained to showcase a cheesy smile with the word "cheese"
• Make them laugh - have them tell a joke, have someone do a goofy dance behind the camera, or sing the word words to a well-known song, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little COW."
• Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself
• Make taking pictures fun. Getting frustrated for a less than perfect photo doesn't help
• When all else fails, bribe them
• Take candid photos - capture the details of childhood.
• Keep your camera handy so it's there when you want to capture a moment.
• Keep clicking - take lots of photos - they're digital and you can always delete the majority of them. Remember the dreaded "you blinked!" with film.

Tips for Taking Your Own Family Photo

• Hiring a good photographer can be pricey. Perhaps hire a professional every few years and take your own in the years between.
• Time of day - choose a time of day that offers the best lighting, an hour or two after sunrise or before sunset are ideal. Try to void harsh mid-day sun and partially shaded areas. Make sure it's a time when your kids are happy.
• Use a tripod - you can always ask a friend to take the picture but they may not compose the shot the way you want it or may shake the camera yielding a blurry photo. With a tripod you can set up the shot then use the timer, a remote, or have a friend push the button.
• When posing the group get their heads on different levels, make sure no one's face is hidden, use stools or crates, etc. to get people on different levels and/or use a triangle as your guide
• It can be hard to envision where you will fit into the picture. Take a couple shots, go back and look at the composition of the photo and then take some more.
• Since you're not behind the camera to create a pose, go online (Pinterest is a good sourcE) and look for posing ideas.
• Get close to each ... "squish in tighter"
• Try to shoot a few candid family shots, they look the most natural and are fun. Having everyone look at the baby or tickle daddy is good way to get some fun shots. This is easier to do if you're not working with a timer and have someone there to push the shutter button for you.
• Let them be silly - kids will usually cooperate better if you let them loose for a few photos.
• Try to relax & get comfortable - if you're stiff or uncomfortable in front of the camera it will show.
• Always, always, always make sure the pictures flatters mom.

--Tips and booth from Nicole R.

Turn Social Media into a Memory Book Handout from April 10th activity

"God gave us memories, that we may have June Roses in December of our lives." -- James Barrie

Blurb/booksmart: Beautiful quality book, downloads from your blog, freedom of layout, easily includes text as well as photos, several price options, can put in as little or as much time in as you want, saves product online so can repurchase previously printed books.

mypublisher - Beautiful quality book similar to Blub, Freedom of layout, drop photos in, including text is possible but not as simple.

Blogbooker - produces a pdf that you can have printed and bound at a print shop of your choice, super easy and fast (matter of minutes) but no layout freedom.

Other options:
Blog2print

Mysocialbook

Shutterfly

Keepsy

Thebookpatch

Handout and booth by Natalie B. and Rachel B.

Milwaukee Fun Handouts from April 10th activity

Nicki M.'s recommendations:

Elegant farmer - great places for picking apples, or to buy an amazing pie baked in a bag

EAA Airventure Museum (OshKosh) - airplane museum on an airfield, great museum with displays that are interesting enough for adults, yet plenty of interactive exhibits for kids, worth the drive.

John Michael Kohler Arts Center - free art museum with fantastic craft room for kids to make a mess that you don't want in your house

Urban Ecology Center

Sprecher Brewery Tour

Palermos Pizza Tour - see how frozen pizzas are made, ends with lunch

Harley Davidson Museum

Jelly Belly Factory - "factory" is a loose term, you get to ride a kiddie "train" through a warehouse and watch a movie about making jelly beans, kids always love the tour

Kenosha Public Museum - free muse that is kid-friendly, on the lakefront, can purchase trolley ride during the summer in nearby lot

Organ Piper Pizza - a silly, creepy, funny, eclectic Wisconsin experience, not amazing food, but a fun slice of Wisconsin

Possibility Playground (Port Washington) - park the size of a football field, includes pirate ship, tunnels, police car and lighthouse

Fox Brook Beach - paddleboat rental, Fox Brook is a great park with a lovely kid-friendly beach with a playground on the beach

Lapham Peak - beautiful hike to tower that overlooks lake country (western Waukesha county)

Cushing Memorial Park (Delafield) - great park for kids, includes safe walk along pond/river

The Family Farm (Grafton) - has tour of farm animal petting zoo, nature walk, wagon rides

Pike Lake - amazing hike to tower that overlooks Washington County

Holy Hill

Pewaukee Lake - charming lakefront, kid friendly beach across the street from sub and ice cream shop

Strawberry/Raspberry/Pumpkin picking - Basse, Barthel Fruit farm

Cedar Springs Trout farm - fun trout farm, can go fishing or just go feed the fish

Cake and Bake (Menomonee Falls) - excellent source for buying cake making supplies, have excellent classes, love cake decorating clinics at Easter and Christmas, have all the fun of making a messy cake with your kids without the mess in your kitchen

Amy's Candy Kitchen ( Cedarburg) - best caramel apples ever, fun to walk around Cedarburg area


Heather P.'s recommendations:
Living in the great state of Wisconsin presents some amazing opportunities!

-Parks, Playgrounds, Beaches...
A FREE and fun way to spend time together
visit your local municipality's website to find fun places to play in your local community.
The county websites are also great for finding these kinds of places:
www.milwaukeecounty.gov
www.waukeshacounty.gov
Retzer Nature Center is one of the parks on the Waukesha county website. They have a variety of family friendly activities that are nature focused.
Don't be afraid to visit the State of Wisconsin's website and venture a few hours to lovely State Parks such as Devil's Lake, Governor Dodge, Random Lake, etc.

-Mitchell Park Domes
The domes is always a fun idea, especially when they have special attractions in the Show Dome.
Some upcoming events:
Very Fairy Princess Day April 13
Green Living Festival April 26
Dinos Under Glass May 3-Nov. 2
More information can be found on the Milwaukeecounty.gov website in their parks section as noted above.

-Storybook Gardens/Bookworm Gardens
In just a short day-trip, you can visit the Storybook Gardens for FREE in Sheboygan
Bookworm Gardnes is a vibrant, playful children's garden that enhances literature, the natural world, and the imagination. The two acre garden offers the young and the young in heart the opportunity for free, instructed play in a beautiful and secure environment.
www.bookwormgardens.org

-Indoor Playgrounds
Kids in Motion - New Berlin
very reasonably priced
they allow you to bring in your own food
you can stay as long as you want
unstructured playtime

Monkey Joes - Waukesha
About $5 - $10 per child depending on age
inflatable slides
bouncy houses
games
food may be purchased on site

Flabbergast - Sussex
About $5 - $10 per child depending on the ages of your children
inflatable slides
bouncy houses
games
3 yrs and under play room filled with age appropriate toys and books for those little ones who need a break from the noise and sensory overload
food may be purchased on site

-Milwaukee County Zoo
One of the country's finest zoological attractions, will educate, entertain and inspire you! Visit over 2,000 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles in specialized habitats spanning 200 wooded acres. Explore educational wildlife shoes, fun attractions and enticing special events.
They allow you to bring in your own food
www.milwaukeezoo.org

- Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Adults and children over the age of 1 yr. $8
Seniors (55+) $7
Children under the age of 1 are FREE
Great place for hands-on play and learning under grown-up supervision
Snacks available for purchase
www.bbcmkids.org

-Kinder Konzerts by Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Lasts about 1 hr.
A storyteller along with the orchestra, tell beautiful children's stories
They even have an "instrument petting zoo" where children can touch and learn about all the different instruments played by the orchestra

Sharon Lynn Wilson Center
Offers a variety of performances and events that the whole family can enjoy! They strive to provide arts education opportunities and creative experiences for all members of the surrounding communities.
Some events include:
Tales by the Fire Series: kids arrive in their PJs alone with their banks, pillows, stuffed animals, and interact with amazing storytellers by the fireplace in the Grand Hall
Family Films: Create a fun family tradition! Enjoy feature films on the Big Screen in the Harris Theater, complete with concessions
Beyond the Classroom Series: Vividly enriches student's classroom experience with programs by outstanding national and local performing art companies...bringing the textbook to life.
For more information on family Programming, call 262-373-5037 or visit their website

-Libraries
Many libraries are now in the "cafe" system which allows you to check out a book at one library and return it to another.
All libraries have story time and other fun activities to enhance your child's love for reading.

Additional Ideas:
Visit a local farm
See what your local park and rec dept has to offer
garden
jump in leaves
make a craft (walmart has $1.00 craft section with children's projects)
Hike
picnic
swim
paddle boat
camping
bike
botanical gardens
indoor waterparks
take 5 minutes to give your child a ride on the little car or train machine at the grocery store
read books together
go on a rock hunt
find bugs
visit a lighthouse (milwaukee has a couple and there are others within 1 hr)
visit a local festival
attend a local parade
cook together

Alissa Q.'s recommendations:
Brewers games
Admirals games
Miwaukee Bucks games


Other ideas mentioned:
Manitowoc Maritime Museum
House on a Rock - Dodgeville
Prewitt's nest - Devil's Lake

Feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments below. We'd love to add them to our list!

Sunday Lesson: April 13

Today's lesson was taught by Heidi B. and was from the Manual, Lesson #7 

Heidi showed a moving video of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

Thank you, Heidi!

Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip

There were several requests for this dip that we shared last Thursday at our activity so here is the recipe, as promised.

There recipe is from Our Best Bites

Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip

7oz jar roasted red peppers (about 1C diced) buy ‘em or make ‘em.4 C grated pepper jack cheese (3/4 lb)
8oz cream cheese (I use low-fat)
3/4 C mayonnaise
2 T minced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T Dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 350.Remove peppers from jar and blot excess water with paper towels. You want to make sure they are dry so they don’t add moisture to the dip. Then dice ‘em up.

In a bowl, soften cream cheese in microwave so it will be easier to stir. Add in mayo, onion, garlic, and dijon. Stir to combine and then add in grated cheese and the diced peppers. Place in an 8×8-ish dish (pie plate works). At this point you can pop it in the fridge if you’re going to cook it later and you can even make it a couple of days ahead of time. Place in the oven and cook for 30-45 minutes. Baking time depends on the dish. It will start to bubble and brown on the outside edge, and you want it to be bubbly all the way through to the center. It will be nice and golden brown on top, especially around the edges. Mine usually takes 40-45 min.  Serve immediately.

Activity Recap: Making Memories Count (April 10)

We had a wonderful evening at our 'Making Memories Count' activity. We had 6 different "booths", all dealing with ways to make and preserve our memories. A special thank you to the Sisters who prepared displays, handouts, and presented the information to us.

Our booths included:
Milwaukee Fun: Things to do/see in the Milwaukee area
How to take better (family) photos
Using Social Media (specifically blogging) to preserve our history
Family History
Craft: Making a smash book for various uses (i.e. writing funny things your kids say, gratitude journal, gluing pictures or fun, memorable documents, journaling, etc)
Craft: Making a menu board. Great memories can be made at the dinner table!

I will be posting the handouts that were shared that evening. They will also be available Sunday in hard copy form.

Each of you should have gotten the Family History booklet. We as a Presidency would ask that you begin working on this booklet in preparation for another activity. It's a wonderful way to gather stories, facts, and history from your family members. Make it a family activity!

Easter Week

The church is putting up a week-long special "program" starting this Sunday on Mormon.org

Everyday there will be new things to watch and print concerning the life of Jesus.  Also, on Easter Sunday the church has bought the space of the masthead of Youtube's homepage to present more about the Savior's atoning sacrifice.  Quite a big deal so join the push online and share it with your friends!

This is a great missionary tool and opportunity to focus on the Savior with our families as well, in and out of the church.  

Farewell dinner for the Jacobs

Dear Parkway Brothers and Sisters,

This Sunday, April 13th at about 5:30pm (immediately following the Munoz/Fetzer baptism) we will have a potluck style dinner in honor of Kathy and Jim Jacobs.  We love the Jacobs and are sad to say, “Goodbye” but we wish them happiness in their new home in Florida.  I myself have known Brother and Sister Jacobs my whole life, and find it hard to imagine church without them.

We invite you to come and eat and visit in the cultural hall.  Main dishes will be provided, but any other sides/salads/ desserts you would like to bring would be appreciated.  Certainly still come even if you do not have food to bring.

-Elizabeth F.

April 10th Relief Society Activity

**Nursery will be provided**

Sunday Lesson: March 30

It was the 5th Sunday and we were combined with the Priesthood to hear Brother and Sister Rummler share their experiences as missionaries and specifically their experience with the Addiction Recovery Program. You can learn more about the Program here. The Rummlers and Bishop Fuhriman strongly encouraged members to download the manual or access it online and study from it. The same principles can we applied to many, many aspects of the gospel.

Next week is General Conference. You can watch it at lds.org , byutv, time warner cable. Please contact a member of the Bishopric if you need it broadcast at the church. For now, we are not planning on broadcasting to our building.