About Douglas County, NE

Now that the Fourth of July has come and gone, school days rapidly approach as vacation days wine down. Ads are watched for the best deals on school supplies. Moms shop for school clothes, and appointments are made for sports physicals, vaccinations, and dental and eye exams. And, this year add a booster shot for all Nebraska 7^th -graders.

For the first time Nebraska law requires that all 7^th-graders must have booster shots for whooping cough. Since teens are the prime spreaders of whooping cough, giving shots to 7^th-graders will help prevent the spread and incidence. It is an illness that can keep youths out of school for a number of days. Last year there were 276 cases in Nebraska. It is nothing to sneeze at as it can cause serious complications.

As an aside, two years ago my cousin (in his 30's) suffered with a serious cough for days. Getting no sympathy from his wife, he finally went to the doctor only to learn he had whooping cough. Seems his wife, a pediatrician, brought the disease home to him.

Troy Trumm, Trumm Team - 402-943-9494, Omaha NE

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I have 3 little pork chops. My little love bugs ages 8, 5, and 2...And when I am trying to find a place to go, the internet is my favorite place to search for ongoings and tips on the best kid activities to do in Omaha. So here I am with my own list of TOP THINGS TO DO IN OMAHA WITH KIDS:

Here are the givens of things to do with kids, but beyond this I will get further in to less well known venues:

1. Henry Doorly Zoo: This zoo is absolutely amazing. It is spread far and wide with new attractions being built all the time. Omaha prides this city on our top notch zoo. The butterfly exhibit is breathtaking with the fluttering, gorgeous butterflies flitting all around you. The new gorilla complex is outstanding and takes my favorite badge. I particularly like that so many of the exhibits are indoor/ outdoor, since we do live in a climate that has ALL seasons. This zoo has so much to offer year round. You can spend one afternoon just enjoying the aquarium, jungle, or desert dome and barely leave the zoo's entrance.

2. Omaha Children's Musuem: The Omaha Children's Museum has an all new look, revamped by my husband's top notch company, Kiewit Construction (Building Group), gotta give a little shout out to their great work! Oh the hours that can be spent here. You can spend one whole day just doing one little exhibit they have tucked into each little section of this place.

There is the water area (don't worry, they provide raincoats, not that it helps sometimes), a grocery store with realistic foods, boxes, and with true mini carts they can go through the "check-out" that has a working conveyor belt (so cute!)...Or the ball-o-mania that is every kid's favorite. They stuff balls through these tubes that get pushed by air up through all these neat twirls into a giant bin, once it hits a certain mark, an alarm starts sounding, the kids scramble to get beneath it as its mouth opens and drops all the balls onto the kids below. There is a playhouse, a specified infant area half walled off on its own, so you can have an infant playing and watch your older ones run around. They can milk a cow, pick corn, deliver mail, put on a play, have a puppet show, make a video of themselves as news reporters, and there are rotating exhibits that go on upstairs. I highly recommend getting a membership. If you go more than twice a year, it pays for itself in most cases. Ditto on the zoo pass!

3. City of Omaha Splash Parks:Hey this one is free and sooo fun! Find the one nearest you, slap on a swimsuit and splash away

4. Elmwood Park: Here nestled in the heart of Omaha is a great park with a public pool (baby pool fenced in- yippee) a huge green space where you will find on any given day, bands practicing, bag pipes playing, people acting out Mid-Evil Times, a great sandy park in the middle, a cheap public golf course to the rear, ample parking, trails galore weaving through the charming area known as Dundee. I love this park!

5. Fontenelle Forest Nature Center:If you haven't been to fontenelle in a while, its time to go. They have this adorable "Mud Pie" program that is Tues/ Thurs, about $2/child for a few hours of creative play. Indoors is a new craft each time, places to dig and find fake insects, a pet rabbit, a snack, TONS of educational toys and play, a cave with chirping crickets, frogs, and all. OUTDOORS: is this wonderful trail area that has educational spots where you match up leaves or there is a pile of true sticks to build something out of, or musical instruments made out of natural things.

6. Kids Create Their Own Pizza: Old Chicago, California Pizza Kitchen will gladly host a group of kids to give a restaurant tour to where the kids then get to create and bake their own pizza! Gather some friends and set it up.

7. Elkhorn Common Ground: This community center has classes for 2 yr old to 10 yr olds about 30-45 minutes each, some back to back named such cool things as: Lego Mania, kid yoga, tumbling, gym fun, tetherball, arts & crafts.

Be back with more soon...So much to cover, so little time : )

www.ColleenWoodward.com

RE/MAX The Producers

What is it you see, little Dreamer?

A puppy? A firetruck? Daddy coming home?

What caused you to pause and took your thoughts so far away?

Can you remember now, what you saw then?

Will you remember because a photo has recorded the moment?

Dream on, Little one.

Pause to reflect, often.

Stop from time to time.

Enjoy, love, dream.

Stay pure.

My prayer for you. NANA

HOW DOES ONE SO SMALL WRAP TWO BIG PEOPLE AROUND HER TINY FINGER?

SHE JUST WANTS TO JUMP OVER PUDDLES.

SHE WANTS THE NANA AND THE PAPA TO LIFT HER OVER THE PUDDLES.

SHE JUST WANTS TO GIGGLE AND HAVE FUN.

NO WORRIES. TRUST. SECURITY. JOY.

YOU GO GIRL. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Henry Doorly Zoo goers will get a chance to name the new sea lion cub. Participants who wish to enter the naming contest can submit their entries at the entry box located next to the sea lions' pool. Entries can be made until July 19^th. The sea lion's new name will be announced on July 28^th. The person submitting the winning name will receive zoo specific prizes.

While the new baby was born two weeks ago, she was not on display until July 2^nd. Her addition brings the total sea lions at the zoo to six. There are five females and one male.

Troy Trumm, Trumm Team - 402-943-9494, Omaha NE

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