Berry Beautiful

Berry College is a delightful place to spend some time with your family, or by yourself. Kindermusik is a great reason to come to Berry, but make time to come and explore more of the campus.



The newest addition is Kilpatrick Commons. This area is located between the Krannert Center and the Cage Center. When you get to the round about (flagpole circle), go south and Krannert is the first building on the left, the Cage is the 2nd building on the left. Find a place to park, and get out and explore this lovely outdoor venue. The kids will love the fountains, the waterfall and the bridge. The adults can enjoy some solitary moments to sit in the rockers on the porch of Krannert that overlooks the area.

So, after Kindermusik class or any other beautiful spring day, check out Kilpatrick Commons.

I would also encourage you to walk across the street to the Science Building...it is directly across from Krannert and has a pendulum in the foyer. This is fascinating, but go upstairs and look at the incredible photos from America's Best Idea - the National Parks! These are not small photos, but humongous photos that will have you ready to pack your bags! Intrigued by the National Parks, then read my other blog.

Summer classes

Our Maymester classes are in full swing, and that means summer is just around the corner. If you plan to register for a summer class I would ask that you email me (knobles@berry.edu) concerning availability.

Here are a few pictures of our musical Maymester!

• Many of the classes for newborns - age 18 months & 18 months - 3 years are full or almost full.


• All the camps for ages 3 and up have space available, but are filling quickly.
  
• Family Time has had a great response, and we are making decisions this week about the choices you will have (look for an email soon).
  
• If you have already registered you will receive a confirmation email this week OR it may be in your inbox now.
  

If Kindermusik isn't in your summer plans, then make sure to register for fall classes before the price increase. The brochure comes out the first of June, but you can get current prices if you have the pre-registration form. If need the form, email me and I'll send it as an attachment. Even if you pay the deposit by May 31, you will get the current prices...so decide on your fall class and send in your registration today.

Dinner's ready

The following recipes are from three Thursday morning Kindermusik moms. They were waiting in the hall while their children were in Imagine That! and the subject was "what to have for dinner." They agreed to bring a few of their favorite recipes to share with one another. Now, I willl share a few of their "easy to make, my kids love these" recipes with you.

Baked Ziti with Sausage - from Susan Lataif

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. Italian sausage, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can (14 1/2 oz) petite diced tomatoes
salt
1 lb. ziti or penne
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. grated parmesan chees
2 T. minced fresh parsley leaves

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush 13 X 9 inch baking dish with 1 T. oil Cook sausage in large skillet over medium heat until browned, 5 - 6 minutes. Transfer sausage to bowl.

2. Drain all but 1 T. fat from skillet, add remaining 1 T. oil and garlic, cook until fragrant but not brown, about 1 minute. Add crushed and diced tomatoes, return sausage to skillet, and simmer until thickened, 15 - 18 minutes. Season with salt to taste.

3. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 T. salt and pasta. Cook until slightly underdone. Reserve 1/2 c. cooking water, drain pasta, and return to pot along with reserved water. Stir in tomato sauce.

4. Pour half of pasta into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of each cheese. pour remaining pasta into dish, sprinkle with remaining cheeses, and sprinkle with parsley. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from over and let rest for 5 minutes and serve.

Chicken Casserole - from Amy Diprima

Cooked chicken - shredded
2 cans veg-all
1 can mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
chicken broth
1 stick butter
1 c. self-rising flour
1 c. milk

Cook chicken and shred into pieces (can cook small hen or buy one already cooked). Put chicken in 9 X 13 casserole dish. Drain two cans of veg-all and place on top of the chicken tin the casserole dish. Mix 1 can mushroom soup and 1 can cream of chicken soup together. Layer on top of the veg-all. Fill soup can with chicken broth and pour on top of casserole. In separate pan, melt 1 stick butter. Mix 1 cup self-rising flour with butter. Add 1 cup milk and mix well. Immediately pour over the casserole.Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes until bubbling and brown all over.

Chicken Enchiladas - from Stephanie Brooks

1 c. sour cream

1 can condensed fat free cream of chicken soup

12 flour tortillas shredded cheese

1 1/2 c. chopped cooked chicken

1 small onion

fajita seasoning mix

Cook 2-3 chicken breasts - cut up. Add chopped onion once the chicken is almost finished cooking. Then add fajita seasoning mix and follow directions for how much water to add. Chop chicken into bite size pieces. Mix sour cream and cream of chicken soup. Spoon about 3 T. of sour cream mixture down center of each tortilla. Add chicken and chees to each tortilla and roll up. Place in a greased casserole dish. Spoon sour cream mixture on top of tortilla. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degress for 25- 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve with rice and re-fried beans.

End your meal with an easy chocolate cake...you make and bake in the same dish and it's so moist!

Wacky Cake - from Kathryn Nobles

4 1/2 T. cocoa

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. water

1/4 c. vegetable oil

1 t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients in a 13 X 9 baking dish. In a 2 cup measuring cup, mix the liquid ingredients, then slowly add to dry mixture in your dish. Stir, whisk or use a hand mixer until smooth. Bake for 25 minutes, cool and cut into squares.

Look for more favorite recipes over the summer, and feel free to share your favorite quick and easy meal.

Day in the Park

Kindermusik families enjoyed a few hours at Ridge Ferry Park Thursday morning.

We had a total of 12 families attend the playdate.

Siblings having fun at Ridge Ferry Park

Matthew, Sarah Beth, Belle & Bo.

All Kindermusik kids!

Sophia came with her grandma. Here she is taking a drive.

Lydia and her mom come down the slide.
After a few times with mom, Lydia was confident and did it on her own!


Avery getting ready to slide.

Lataif children could be found everywhere at the park!

Brock is all smiles on the slide!

Hunter hanging out

Friends - Mattie & Gracie

These girls & their families met through Kindermusik!

Priority Registration for Fall 2010

It's April, you've finished your taxes and you're looking forward to summer. We are still enrolling for Maymester and Summer Kindermusik classes, but you can register for fall classes and SAVE money!

Next time you are at Kindermusik pick up a registration form, fill it out with your class choice for fall, and turn it in. The prices listed are good through May 30. After May there will be a price increase. To get the current prices, you need to pay your deposit ($60) and reserve a space for the fall classes.

There are further savings too! If you pay in full by June 15, you can deduct $15. If you miss that deadline you can still deduct $10 if you pay in full by July 15.

Do you have the curriculum from an older sibling, there's a deduction for that?
Are you enrolling siblings? You can deduct 10% off the total. Here's how that works: add the two classes together, if you can take a deduction for already owning the curriculum, subtract for the new total. NOW, you can take 10% for enrolling siblings. If you pay in full by one of the deadlines, that deduction is after the sibling discount. The early bird discount is per family because you are already getting a reduction for siblings!

Not sure about all these savings? Email me, I'm happy to help you with your Kindermusik math! Remember we also offer payment options for those who find it difficult to pay in one lump sum!

Berry Fun

If you ask people in the Rome community where they like to go for some R & R, the answer is often Berry College. People enjoy driving around and looking at the deer, the cows, the ducks, and the beautiful campus. On a sunny weekend Berry is covered with bikers, hikers, lookers and lovers. Berry has acres & acres to explore.


The week of April 12 - 16 is AG week at Berry. This is a great time to come out and see one of the reasons Berry is unique: agriculture. As you drive on campus you can check out the farm equipment. Children love to look at the tractors! The AG department will also provide hands-on experience during the week. Here are a few of the activities:



Monday - come dressed as a cowgirl, cowboy or farmhand for free burgers. Not dressed up, burgers are $1. This is Berry beef! This event is held in the Clara Bowl from 6 - 8 p.m. The Clara Bowl is across from the Ford Complex....you can see the field from the Kindermusik room.


Wednesday - petting zoo. This is a favorite of all ages! At Krannert Center between 11 - 1, you can pet goats, horses, calves, and other farm animals. Krannert is just south of the circle when you enter campus.



Friday - roping games. Come try your hand at roping, as in steers! This is also on the lawn at Krannert between 11 - 1.


Did you know that Berry has an award winning dairy herd? You are invited to see the state of the art milking parlor & watch the process. Milking begins daily at 3:30 p.m. The dairy is past Ford on Rollins Road. Student workers will be feeding the new baby calves at the same time.


See you at Kindermusik, and maybe at the barn!

Around Town

Here are a few upcoming events that I thought Kindermusik families might enjoy.

April 10 is the Rome High Night of Dreams. This is an adult event, and a very elegant evening of dining and dancing. The Rome High Jazz bands play, the students serve you dinner, dessert & coffee as you enjoy the music. This event will take place at the Forum and begins at 7 p.m. See one of your Kindermusik teachers for tickets. There is a silent auction that offers some very nice items, including a Kindermusik basket!

April 12 - 15 The Scholastic Book Fair will take place in the Cook Building at Berry College. It happens between 3:30 - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday. These is a great opportunity to purchase books at a great discount. Directions to Cook - go around the circle, you are going south; go past the Cage Center (new athletic building) on the left. Turn right onto Martha Berry Circle North...the Cook Building is the 2nd building on the right. Once you pass Cook, you will have to turn right to get to the parking lot. The book fair takes place on the 1st floor.

April 17 is Waterfest sponsored by CRBI, and this year they have a concert featuring
Billy Jonas. (NOT the Jonas brothers from Disney Channel!). This concert is a fund raiser for CRBI, but also a fun family event. Jonas present family oriented, audience participation concerts around the country. We have tickets available for purchase when you come to Kindermusik. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6 - 18 and FREE for under 6!!! The concert will be helded at the Rome City Auditorium. Click here to hear Billy Jonas.