Run. Rock. Read! was a fun-filled day celebrating Beverly Cleary’s contribution to children’s literature. The iconic author is known for her captivating books, such as Ribsy, Runaway Ralph, Henry Huggins, Ramona the Pest, and other titles. Her first book was published in 1950, and since then, 91 million copies of her books have sold worldwide.
Beverly was born in Yamhill, Oregon, a small town that played a significant role in her life. Her deep connection to Yamhill helped shape her identity as an author. And now, her remarkable legacy is honored every year by the community. The Yamhill Downtown Association hopes this annual event will inspire a new generation of young readers. The May 13th, 2023, event included the following:
5K Race: The downtown fun started with a family-friendly 5k race that took participants through Yamhill’s charming countryside. Leading the race was the Running Rocker, Jason Moore – he was shredding on an electric guitar while keeping an 8-minute-mile pace and taking song requests along the route! Awards were provided to top runners.
Post-Race Party: The Larson House hosted the event on their back lawn at 190 S Maple Street, where there were local children’s authors (Carole Marie Shelton and Susan Maas) showcasing their books, as well as a community tent featuring Beverly Cleary-themed merchandise. Inside the Larson House, the restaurant offered a Beverly-Cleary-themed brunch.
Children’s Writing and Art Contest Winners: Every April, honoring Beverly Cleary’s birthday, Amy Lamae hosts an online children’s writing and art contest. Children from all over the USA entered this year’s contest, then winners were announced at the post-race party.
Madeline’s Library: All kids were welcome to take home a copy of Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary, courtesy of local nonprofit Madeline’s Library. Families were also encouraged to donate a new or gently used children’s book to Madeline’s Library for a chance to win a prize!
Beverly Cleary Walk: During the event, families took this fun historical walk through downtown Yamhill together, including an outdoor viewing of Beverly’s beautiful childhood home. (You can take this self-guided walking tour anytime throughout the year.) Each plaque on the walking tour displays Yamhill’s rich history and highlights fun, whimsical characters from Beverly’s books.
Dog Friendly: There were many four-legged friends at the event! Treats and waste bags were provided.
Overall, the Run, Rock, Read! event was a fantastic tribute to Beverly Cleary and her contribution to children’s literature. The event provided a fun and engaging way for fans to come together and celebrate her life and work. Beverly’s legacy will continue to touch readers’ lives for years to come.
Most kids love chocolate and would welcome a Chocolate Tasting experience at home! This is an easy and fun activity that can create wonderful memories as well as an opportunity for your family to learn more about chocolate.
Many factors influence the flavor of chocolate, such as its origin. Both the country and region where the cacao is grown has an amazing effect on its taste.
Below is a sample map of Chocolate Tasting Notes Around the World. Of course, there are many other countries around the globe producing chocolate that are not included on the map, but this gives a general view.
Chocolate comes from the seeds of the fruit of cacao trees, which grow near the equator. They thrive in hot, rainy tropical forests. These trees can live for over 200 years! Most cacao trees are grown on small farms in developing countries, where they do the work by hand.
Cacao has a rich history, having been enjoyed for thousands of years. Long ago, Mesoamerican native cultures used cacao in many different recipes. One recipe was a frothy drink, only consumed by the elite, as it was considered sacred. Due to its high value, cacao beans were used as an early form of money. Later, the cacao seeds were brought to Europe, where different technological advances, and adding sugar and milk have created the chocolate we know and love today.
A few fun facts about how cacao grows and is eventually turned into chocolate:
The cacao flowers are tiny. They are pollinated by midges (tiny flies).
Cacao pods are about a foot long and sprout directly from the trunk and branches.
Cacao pods take 5-6 months to grow and ripen. They start as green or red and eventually turn yellow or orange.
Each pod holds 20-50 cacao seeds about the size of almonds. They’ve also been nicknamed chocolate beans.
The seeds are so bitter that animals won’t eat them.
Farmers ferment the seeds, which changes the flavor. The seeds also change in color, from purple to dark brown.
The seeds are dried and then shipped worldwide, ready to be processed for chocolate-making.
Preparing for Your Chocolate Tasting
For this fun activity with your kids you’ll want to prepare ahead of time:
Purchase 5 bars of chocolate. Instead of buying the types of chocolate your kids are used to, find fancy or unique bars for them to try. It will be so much more fun! There are many different flavors and add-ins. Younger kids may enjoy unusually flavored chocolates such as potato chip, peanut butter, pretzel, or confetti. Older kids may enjoy subtle flavors of cashew butter, sea salt, lemon, coconut, firecracker, or honey. If adults would like to participate, they may enjoy experiencing the varying degrees of cacao percentages.
Print the free Tasting Key. Write down which kind of chocolates you’ll be using. Turn the key over, so participants can’t read it.
Print the Chocolate Tasting Mat.
Print one Chocolate Tasting Evaluation for each participant.
Set up Your Chocolate Tasting Activity
Place the Chocolate Tasting Mat into the middle of the table. Break a chocolate bar into pieces and place them on square #1 of the Mat. You won’t need to use the entire chocolate bar – just use enough that each participant can have a taste. Repeat this process for each type of chocolate, placing the pieces into boxes #2, #3, etc. (Ensure they match the Tasting Key).
Provide a Chocolate Tasting Evaluation for each participant, along with a pen.
Time for Chocolate Tasting!
Invite the kids to taste the chocolate from box #1. Ask them to eat it slowly, taking time in their evaluation to engage their senses and enjoy the flavors.
Have them fill out the Evaluation Form and give an overall score.
Before moving on to the next sample, encourage them to cleanse their pallet with fruit, nuts, or pretzels, along with a sip of water.
When you are finished tasting chocolates from each box, discuss which chocolate you enjoyed most.
Show them the Tasting Key to reveal what kind of chocolates they’ve sampled.
Fun questions to ask kids:
What were your favorite flavors and textures?
If you were a chocolatier, what kind of chocolates would you make?
Looking at the Chocolate Tasting Map, where would you want to grow your chocolate and why?
You can also pair this activity with fun read-alouds such as:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase, by Wendy Mass
YourFree Chocolate Tasting Activity packet with the forms below can be downloaded here:
Chocolate Tasting Notes Around the World
Tasting Key
Chocolate Tasting Mat
Chocolate Tasting Evaluation
We hope you enjoy this Chocolate Tasting Activity as much as we have!
Do you want your home to be a place of warmth and good memories? A place to anticipate love and belonging? Consider the five senses – sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell. They all affect your overall feel and memories of a home. The right atmosphere can ease tensions, encourage rest, and lift your mood.
Soothing scents go a long way in creating a peaceful, relaxing, and welcoming atmosphere. But having a home with an inviting aroma takes effort and intention.
When the aroma of baking bread is in the air, I’m immediately taken back to a childhood memory. When I was ten years old, we lived in a house that had a steep hill right behind it. My brothers and I would grab our sleds and race to Lovelock Hill on snowy days. We would sled for hours in the freezing temperatures with neighborhood friends. By the time we returned home, we were exhausted, cold, and very hungry. And when we opened the door, we would be greeted by the scent of homemade bread that my mom would have waiting for us.
We would sit by the crackling fire with a mug of hot chocolate and a huge slice of crusty bread with the soft insides, slathered with butter and honey, warming us up from the inside out.
My mom could have been doing anything while we were gone for hours. Yet, she intentionally chose to take the time and effort to create a welcoming and cozy home for us to return to.
I love having those memories. And I want to create pleasant memories of home like this for my children.
One of my favorite books about creating an environment of love in your home is Family Fragrance, by J. Otis and Gail Ledbetter. This is what they have to say about scent:
The more prominent senses like sight and sound get greater press than the others. But it might surprise you to know that the sense of smell is the vanguard of the senses. Think of it! Whatever we cannot see, taste, touch, or hear is recognized and interpreted through our noses. There are only three genes in each cell that control eyesight, but one thousand genes in each cell control the sense of smell. Experts say that the nose can differentiate between a thousand aromas. As the most direct sense, it can immediately enter the inner core of the brain, which governs emotions.
Fragrance in the home implants memories that our brains return to over and over. Another scent that brings me back to childhood? Fresh linens on the bed. My mom would dry our sheets on a clothesline in the hot sun. I remember snuggling into bed at night as a kid, falling asleep to the sunny scent of summer on the sheets. Ahhh… I smile now, just thinking about it.
There are many ways that aroma can make our homes more pleasant while instilling warmth and a sense of comfort and belonging. If you’d like to create a home so inviting that you and your family can’t wait to get inside when you pull into the driveway, consider these ten scents that can make your home feel more welcoming and impart good memories:
1. Freshly Baked Goods
Cookies – Whenever I’m baking cookies, the kids come running from their rooms with anticipation of a hot, delicious treat. Cookies also make for a quick and easy dessert to serve to guests – both children and adults.
Cinnamon rolls – My mom taught me how to make cinnamon rolls at a young age, and I remember those happy moments in the kitchen with her and the intoxicating scents of yeasty dough mixed with cinnamon and butter.
Bread – Homemade bread is the ultimate comfort food! We never tire of having a variety of scratch-made breads with our meals.
2. Essential Oils
Aromatherapy can naturally reduce stress and anxiety, prompting your brain to engage in a state of calm. My favorite essential oils are lavender, cedarwood, lemon, chamomile, sandalwood, jasmine, and ylang-ylang.
3. Scented Candles
It’s easy to create a relaxed mood and memorable moments by lighting candles. Every Christmas eve, my family dines by candlelight. The soft light adds beauty and warmth, while the scent of vanilla is pleasing. Even a simple meal is more special and memorable when eaten by candlelight.
One of my favorite candles is the wood wick candles in a jar. They produce the soothing sound of a crackling fire and are available in a variety of luscious scents.
4. Bouquets of Fresh Flowers
One of my favorite spring and summer activities is planting seeds and growing a flower garden. It adds to the beauty of the backyard, creates a gorgeous space, and the scent is divine. The most fragrant flowers that I enjoy are jasmine, lavender, lilacs, and daphne. Plant these with colorful, easy-to-care-for flowers like marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers. They are steps away to cut and create a beautiful bouquet for indoors that fills a room with its pleasant aroma.
5. Meals that are Cooking
The scent of your favorite meal cooking can create feelings that make you feel cared for and loved. You eagerly anticipate dining at the table with loved ones to enjoy the mouth-watering taste and experience the comfort of good food together.
6. Fire in the Hearth
A crackling fire is always cozy and welcoming. Especially with wood that smells pleasant while it’s burning. Great-smelling firewoods are birch, apple, pine, cherry, and cedar. (Make sure your wood is fully seasoned.) Some woods burn faster than others (e.g., pine is a softwood that smells wonderful when it’s burning but won’t last long), so you want to combine fast-burning wood with long-burning hardwood like maple or oak to keep the comfy smells and heat going all night.
7. Drinks
Good drinks tantalize the senses.
Hot drinks can comfort the soul. Some favorite aromas come from coffee, hot chocolate, eggnog, hot apple cider, herbal teas, and gourmet coffees.
Cold drinks are refreshing on a hot day, and it’s easy to make them scented with slices of lemon or sprigs of fresh mint.
8. Spices and Herbs
Fresh herbs are amazingly flavorful and add wonderful scents to home-cooked meals, as well as your home garden. Fresh herbs have powerful health benefits, are full of vitamins, can help boost your immune system, and emit an incredible fragrance.
I like adding rosemary sprigs to the bouquets in my home. The rosemary provides an aroma of freshness.
Cinnamon always smells wonderful in foods that are baking in the oven.
My family enjoys adding freshly picked basil to our homemade pizzas for flavor and the pleasing taste.
9. Popcorn
Whenmy kids smell popcorn popping, they know it’s time for a family movie and snuggling on the couch!
10. Citrus
Fresh cut citrus releases a vibrant scent that awakens the senses. Cut oranges for a snack, put lemon slices in water, or squeeze oranges for fresh juice.
As you intentionally ensure your family experiences home through the five senses, you create lasting memories. Having an atmosphere where family members and guests feel at peace, and want to linger and experience the homey delights of comfort, is a place they’ll long to return to time after time.
In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth of England wanted cakes spiced with ginger to be baked in the shapes of her friends. Since then, gingerbread men have been a popular holiday treat for households and as gifts to those we care about.
Early December, we have an annual Christmas tradition of baking gingerbread men – but we make them GIANT! They are about the size of a dinner plate and are so fun to decorate that every year we invite friends over for a party.
Each guest receives their own freshly-baked giant gingerbread man on parchment paper. They are instructed to cover the soft gingerbread with vanilla icing as a base. In the center of the table we provide a plethora of candies to decorate the iced gingerbread men. We listen to Christmas music, turn on the Christmas lights and make it a festive and memorable time for all.
Our favorite decorative toppings are:
Chocolate chips
Licorice/Twizzlers
M&Ms (both with and without peanuts)
Skittles
Gummy worms
Gum drops
Sour Patch Kids
Jelly beans
Caramel bits
Mini marshmallows
Sprinkles
To make your own giant gingerbread men from scratch, use the recipe below. Once the dough is mixed, roll about a 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.
Print this template. Cut out the shape, then place it over the rolled dough. Using a knife, carefully cut the dough around the template. Peel the paper template away (save it for the next gingerbread man), then use a spatula to move your gingerbread figure to a cookie sheet.
Once the gingerbread men are baked, remove them from the cookie sheet. Once cool, stack them between squares of parchment paper until you are ready to decorate them.
It’s always fun to see the final results – we’ve ended up with our gingerbread men looking like celebrities, zombies, fairy tale characters, the president and more. It’s so easy, and it’s a great reason to have lots of friends over to celebrate the Christmas season!
Mix brown sugar, softened butter, molasses and water. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Heat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheet lightly. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Let cool. Decorate.Makes approximately ten giant gingerbread men.
One of our favorite activities to enjoy with guests is to
play a game after enjoying a meal together.
Besides having fun and building connection, there are other great benefits
to board games as well, such as:
Improving memory and cognitive skills
Reducing stress
Child development
Offers opportunities for learning
Sharpens focus
Teaches the value of teamwork
Laughter and memory making!
We’re not competitive when we play, we simply enjoy the process of good gaming together. One of our Christmas traditions is to buy a new game early in December and play it throughout the month. Over the years, we’ve accumulated quite a few games and have identified our favorites.
When we have a large group of people in our home, we’ve found these two games to be the most enjoyable for everyone, young and old, while still allowing for lots of chatter and side conversations:
When we have six to eight players, we’ll pull out these games:
For up to five players, we enjoy:
For up to four players, we enjoy:
As we continue to add more games to our collection each year, I’ll update this list when we discover more games worth mentioning. This Friday night, we’ll be pulling out a game to enjoy together and I’m hoping you’ll do the same!
