Morgan's Wonderland: fully-accessible family fun park

A place where everyone can play.  It sounds like such a great place, but for parents of special needs children it can sometimes only seem like a dream.  It is so hard for parents of children with special needs to find a place that is completely accepting of their child.  


As many of you know our daughter was born with a condition called Rett Syndrome.  We have been blessed with having her in our lives.  She brings a joy to our life that we know we would not have without her (and Rett syndrome).We love to do things together as a family, but  I do have to admit that we have had a hard time finding an amusement park that could understand our unique needs.

Some amusement parks try, but their worker just don't understand what we have to go through day in and day out.  One amusement park gave us a pass so we would not have to wait in line.  That was nice since she would not be able to wait in a long line anyway.  When it came our turn to go on the ride, the operator said she could only take one passenger with her.  That meant that either I could go with her or my son could go with her, but not both of us.  So what is the point of having the pass if one of us still has to wait in line.  They just don't understand how hard it is for us.  We are not trying to "cut" in line to save time, my daughter body is weak and riddled with neurological dysfunction, to say the least.  She also has seizures, cannot sweat effectively and has little purposeful use of her hands (The list can go on and on depending on if she is having a good or bad day).






So we were so excited when someone told us about the world’s first ultra-accessible family fun park, Morgan' s Wonderland located in San Antonio, Texas. Morgan' s Wonderland was built with the idea of total inclusion where people of all ages and abilities can come together and play in an exciting yet safe environment. Morgan' s Wonderland has over 25 acres of rides, attractions and activities for people of all abilities.  Check our their website to find out more.


Morgan' s Wonderland is the perfect fit for our family. We made reservation to visit and took the 2 hours drive to San Antonio, Texas.  (They ask its guest to make reservations prior to each visit by visiting their website, so that the park is never overcrowded.)   

The photo above is me with all three of my kids at the massive butterfly playground.  It is specially designed for individuals with cognitive and physical special needs.  It features include ramps with wide open spaces big enough for two wheelchairs to maneuver around.

   
The Butterfly playground has traditional swings, adaptive swings and wheelchair swings too.  My two youngest enjoyed the adaptive swings that have a back on them.  

Mare Bear's favorite was the Sensory Village's Fix-It Shop were she was able to go for a simulated test drive through San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country.  

 The Sensory Village's Saddle-Up Stable reminded Mare Bear of her favorite activity, riding a horse.

 The Carousel is specially designed for individuals with physical special needs.  It has traditional animals that go up and down (some have back support).  It also has benches and wheelchair chariots that go up and down too. 

All aboard for the Wonderland Express and Depot.  This photo is my whole family enjoying a ride in the caboose.  This little train has multiple cars with specially designed wheelchair-accessible ramps for full access for everyone.  The train runs all the way around Morgan' s Wonderland.  As you are riding you will pass rest areas with the sights and sounds of  the different countries of Africa, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Italy and the Caribbean.

At the Wharf we all took a turn being captain, we controlled mini-ships around a mini-lagoon with our captain's wheel.  The oldest two and dad took their turn at a catch and release fishing, but they did not catch anything. 
   

Another favorite was the Water Works where the kids could all get wet, that is why we saved it for last.  Mare Bear enjoyed all the different sensory activities involving lights and sound but most of all she like the tactile features (like the one shown in the picture above).

You don't have to have special needs to enjoy Morgan' s Wonderland.  The park had many people of all abilities.  The volunteer's that worked there all had different levels of ability too.  It really is a park for people of all ability. 

It truly is "a place where everyone can play".

How to pick a Christmas card that perfect for any family:

 How to pick a Christmas Card that perfect for any family 

Christmas time is almost here and it is time to start picking out the perfect Christmas card.  My favorite cards have photos of my family and friends.  It is so nice to see how everyone has changed from year to year and I love seeing cute matching outfits.  Christmas card photos are kept and treasured, they are not thrown away like the paper cards.  With Tiny Prints Christmas cards collection you can pick a Christmas card with photos you have taken to keep and treasure for years to come .

Here is an example of one of  my favorite Christmas cards.
  Click here to check it out..

For my Christmas card I always like to include scripture or add something to point people to the TRUE reason why we celebrate Christmas but it is hard to find a Christmas card that has both the option for family photos and a message.  The card I picked (above)  already has the symbols of Christ's birth in a manger and a message of "Merry Christmas", that is one reason why I like it.

As many of you know I have 3 children, one of whom is special needs.  Having 3 kids makes it hard to get them all to smile at the same time, so I also like the option of having multiple photo in a Christmas card.  You can take a single photo of each child and then add them to the Christmas card photo (just like in the Christmas cards at Tiny Prints.)

Here is another example of  a Christmas cards I like.  
Click here to see it.

At Tiny Prints you also have so many options that you can add to your photo.  From the color of the card or ink to having the option of the company sending your Christmas cards for you.  They even give you the recommended pixels your photo needs for just the right fit.  

I like this Christmas card too. Click here to see it.

  These are the three Christmas cards that I like best.  Now all I have to do is to choose one.  I think that I will take my photos first and see which one looks best with the photos I like best.

Check out tiny prints to meets all of your Christmas card needs.

Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Cake / cupcake

 Does this look like a nice turkey dinner?

Well than I fooled you.  This is NOT a Turkey dinner, it a cake.  Yes, I said a cake.  So how can you make a cake look like a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner?  Read on to find out.

First bake a cake.  I used a small 8" round baker to bake a cake.  As soon as it cooled I turned it out onto a paper plate (you can use a more decorative plate if you desire).  I took some white frosting (make sure you set aside some white frosting for the "mash potatoes") and I added yellow food coloring to make it yellow frosting.  I frosted the cake with yellow frosting.

To make the "green peas"  I used green fondant and rolled in  my hands to make a ball.  I did this over and over again until I had enough green balls added to the cake to make it look like peas.

To make the cranberries I did the same with red fondant (you could use red hot candies, but I did not have any).  To make the "cranberries" look more realistic I added red food coloring gel (this gave the "cranberries" a glazed look).

I took the left over white frosting and added it to the top of the cake to make it look like "mash potatoes".  Then to make the "mash potatoes" look more realistic I added yellow food coloring gel so it would look like butter running down "mash potatoes".

The turkey was a little bit tricky.  I had white fondant, but not brown and I did have brown food coloring. So I added the brown food coloring to the white fondant.  I had to roll it over and over to get the brown and white to mix together.  I used a serrated bread knife to cut it to look like two pieces of "turkey".  I rolled the two pieces again to get a more uniform look.

Then I added them to the cake, but it did not look right.  So I had to make gravy for the "turkey".  For the "gravy"  I used sugar babies candy and melted it in the microwave.  I poured the melted sugar babies over the "turkey pieces".

Again here is the finished product.  And, Yes, it did taste as good as it looks!





Mini-Turkey Dinner Cookie:

I tried to make a smaller version, but did not like it.  It is done on top of a cookie and then placed on a cupcake.  I took the idea from Disney's Family Fun website.  Check out their website for detailed instructions. The one on the website looks so much better than mine, I needed a better cookie.  I did not want to go to the store to buy the Peek Freans Arrowroot biscuits the recipe called for, but you can try it.    The Disney's family fun's Mini-Turkey Dinner cupcake looks so cute!

Free Beech Nut Coupons

 I am very impressed with the Beech Nut Brand Company.  My son has been eating Beech Nut Brand baby food and cereal from the time he was old enough to eat solid food.  He really likes their baby food, but he is a picky eater.  He is the pickiest eater I know. When it came time for him to move up to toddler food.  I thought that Beech Nut Brand toddler food was a simple choice.  So I went out to our local HEB and bought over $10 in their steamer toddler food.  Well, to my surprise, he did not like them and would not eat any of them.  I was so upset to waste over $10 in baby food.  I am not saying that Beech Nut baby food does not taste good, because he will not eat other brand's toddler food either.

What makes this story so surprising is when I called  Beech Nut Brand Companyto ask them what they recommend, they were so understanding.  They did not try to defend their product.  They understood that even through he was a toddler, maybe he was not ready for toddler food.   They felt so bad that I had to throw away over $10 in their product that they sent me coupons to replace the products that we threw out.  What an awesome company.

So even though they did not ask me too, I wanted to share with you how much I like  Beech Nut Brand Company.

  Did you know if you are a new mom. You can call their number and get a FREE welcome kit with coupons and information.  1-800-BEECH-NUT (1-800-233-2468)

Here is what you get:

• Guide to feeding your baby
• A form for their rewards program
•  2 coupons for $1 off beech nut cereal
• one coupon for $1 off any 8 Beech Nut items
• one coupon for $1 off any 6 stage 3 baby food
• one coupon for $1 off any10  stage 2 baby food
• one coupon for $1 off any stage 4 toddler food
• buy 3 get one free stage 1 baby food

Thank You Beech Nut Brand for being an awesome company!

If you are not a new mother,  but you still like getting free Beechnut products check out their reward program by clicking here.

Easy Kids Christmas Craft

As a girl scout leader for a local browine troop, I am always looking for fun, simple and adorable craft projects that I can do with my brownies girl scouts.  Here is one of the projects we did.

Items you will need:

• Stamp'n up Big show machine
• Stamp'n up Sizzix "Blossom Party" die cut
• Empty cola can
• Votive candle 
• Plain green card stock
• Christmas card stock

First you will need to take your green card stock and cut it out in the shape of a flower petals.  My flower is 3 inches, but  you can make you bigger.  Cut the Christmas card stock  into a 1" strips or a little wider than your votive candle.  You will want to make sure that your strip of card stock are long enough to fit around that candle and leave a little from for a small overlap.  I used tape to secure the Christmas card stock to the candle.    

Now take your cleaned empty cola can and cut it so that it can lay flat.  Using you Big Shot machine, place the aluminium strip (cola can) between the plexiglass and the Stampn' up Sizzix Blossom Party.  Roll it through the machine (I let my Brownies try this step and they had fun.  They loved seeing the pretty flower cut out come out of a used aluminium can).  The Blossom Party" die cut will cut out a flower shape in the aluminium.

Using tape or (stampn' up) dimensional stick the aluminium flower to the green flower.  Place one or two dimensional on the bottom of the votive candle and press it firmly to the aluminium flower.

There you have it a beautiful easy Christmas craft that kids can make.

Giveaway and product review: Seventh Generation and La Creuset

Closed:
The Winner is Deanna of Mommygaga


The power of scent is remarkable.  It can have positive effects on your mood, reduce stress, and even help you sleep better.  But not all scents are created equal.  The fruit, floral and herbal ingredients used to create the scents in Seventh Generation's new natural dish liquid come from fields , not factories.  

• Seventh Generation dish liquid contains only essential oils and botanical extracts, and delivers real cleaning power. Your tableware will be left fresh and ready to serve your next home cooked meal.


• With authentic ingredients like lavender from the fields of Drome in the foothills of the Alps, clementines from sunny Calabria and lemons from the soils of Sicily, Seventh Generation natural dish liquid is free of unnecessary synthetic colors or chemically engineered scents.


• Enter the “Nature Makes Perfect Scents” sweepstakes at seventhgeneration.com/scents and you can have the chance to take a trip for two to visit one of the sourcing sites of Seventh Generation natural dish liquid fragrance ingredients. Visit seventhgeneration.com/scents to learn more about each scent’s origin.

I was inspiration by Seventh Generation's Citrus and Ginger liquid soap to create a new recipe:


Ginger and Sesame Chicken   

Ingredients: 

• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 5-6 small boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 cups white Rice
• 2 cups water

 I mixed the first 5 ingredients together in a bowl.  Grilled the chicken on both sides basting it with the mixture.  After the skin is no longer pink (about 5-10 minutes) placed the chicken on top of uncooked rice and water in your 9 X 12 La Creuset baker. Drizzle over any left over sauce and put it in the oven for about 25 to 30 mins at 350 degrees.

  
The food tasted delicious and the whole family loved it.  But now I was left with clean up. So I grabbed my bottle of Seventh Generation liquid dish soap and my Twist© loofah sponges and was ready to clean.   

This is what the La Creuset baker looked like before we washed it.  I was going to show you photos of what the baker looked like after we washed it with Seventh Generation liquid soap, but nothing will show you better then seeing it with you own eyes.  I video taped me washing it from beginning to end and I was shocked as how fast Seventh Generation liquid soap cut the grease, but don't take my word for it.  See how amazingly easy it is to cleaning dishes with Seventh Generation liquid soap.  

I know you cannot smell it, but the Seventh Generation liquid soap scents smells divine.  I love all Seventh Generation liquid soap scents, but I would say my favorite is lavender.  Seventh Generation liquid soap scents are not man made, but natural accruing scents.  I find myself washing my hands with the Seventh Generation liquid soap all day so my hands smell like lavender.  


Now for what you have been waiting for....The giveaway...

Your giveaway Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid prize pack will contain:

• (4) bottles of Seventh Generation natural dish liquid varieties in Free and Clear, Lavender Floral &; Mint, Fresh Citrus &; Ginger, and Lemongrass &; Clementine Zest scents
• Premium 3 Qt. 12” x 9” Baking Dish from Le Creuset
• (2) Twist© loofah sponges and (2) Twist© scour pads made from 100% post-recycled materials
• Set of 3 organic cotton dish towels.

CLOSED on November 28th 2011
Here is how you enter:   

• Mandatory: Leave a comment stating which of the Seventh Generation  natural dish liquid varieties are you most interested in trying.

Additional entrees:

• Follow me on Google for 2 additional entrees.  You must leave a post stating you are following me for each entree. 
• Share this Giveaway on your facebook page and leave a comment on this post tell me you have shared this giveaway on your facebook page.

Winner was Deanne


RULES: Maximum of 7 entries per person. The giveaway will end on November 28th at midnight.  I will randomly pick a winner at random.org on November 29th.  I will notify the winner by e-mail and posted winners first name or user name on my blog.  The winner with have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be chosen.  You must be 18 years or older and a US resident to enter.   

 “Disclosure: The Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid prize pack, product and information have been provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.” Nowamomof3 cannot be held responsible for sponsor's failure to deliver the product or service as agreed.

How to make a Easy Princess Cake.

How to make a Princess Cake

I was going to make a cake for a cake walk.  You know just an ordinary cake, when I thought I would make it fun and make a princess cake.  I knew my daughter would love it, but could I really do it?  

First we mixed all the ingredients of  a box cake together in a bowl.  Then we greased the inside of a 1 quart glass batter bowl. Make sure that you grease the sides very well so that it does not stick.   We poured the cake batter in the 1 quart batter bowl.  We baked the cake for at least 40 minuets at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Keep an eye on the cake and test it by inserting a toothpick into the cake, when a toothpick come out clean with no batter on it the cake is done.  Let the cake cool completely to insure that the cake will turn out clean and not fall apart when you turn it out onto a frosting surface.  If you want you can even put it in the freezer for a hour to get it cold enough so that the frosting will not stick to the cake. 

To frost the cake, take your favorite frosting (I used store bought frosting to make it easy) and mix food coloring to match the color of the doll. (I used a mini-doll that came in one of the McDonald's happy meals.) Since the dolls dress was blue I mixed some blue food coloring with some white frosting to get the color you see here.  I use a spreader to spread the cake with blue frosting.  I adding a little sparkle by sprinkling the cake with while sugar crystals.        

When you are done frosting the cake make a small whole in the top of the cake so that you can stick the legs inside the cake to make it look like a dress.  Make sure that you save a little frosting to put on the area  where the doll meets the cake.  Frosting this area will help make a smooth transition from the doll to the frosted cake. 

Now you are done.  Your daughter will love this cake and feel so special that you made it just for her.   Sorry I did not get any photos of my daughter with the cake, I thought if I got it close to her she would want to put her hands all over it and eat it!

If you want to make a bigger cake you can also use a 2 quart glass batter bowl and use a bigger doll. Just know that the cake will be more dense.

Happy Baking