32
February 2015 THE 402 Rocking it for Parents & Children HONEST ABE TURNS 205 In Memory of Sean Jenny Sexton Volunteers to Pay Tribute MEET THE ORANDS Kids at Heart

February 2015 HerFamily

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

 

Citation preview

Page 1: February 2015 HerFamily

February 2015

THE402Rocking it

for Parentsamp Children

HONESTABETURNS 205

In Memory of Sean

Jenny Sexton Volunteers to

Pay Tribute

MEET THE ORANDSKids at Heart

Visit ChildrensOmahaorg for more information on how we can help your child For a pediatrician family physician or pediatric specialist call 18008333100

Ella age 6Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS

HERFamilyAdFNLDec2014indd 1 112514 221 PM

On the CoverMiles Tapp 2

features6 Toddler Tchaikovskys Baby Maestro is music to the youngest of ears12 The 402 Rocking it for Parents and Children20 Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaha

departments5 health Cutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards8 meet the family Kids at Heart at the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum10 lifestyle The Death of Cursive14 diy V-Day Photobooth16 young hero In Memory of Sean18 activity Breaking the Ice22 mind amp body ldquoIn life above all be kindrdquo 24 food Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes26 mom on the rocks Valentinersquos Day is for the dogs27 fitness Bridge Pose28 calendar of events30 the grandpa chronicles The Role of Ritual

4emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Volume 2 bull Issue 9PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

EDITORIAL INTERN

Claire Martin

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

John Gawley

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY amp INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Bill Sitzmann

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER amp WEB CONTENT MANAGER

Kristen Hoffman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Joy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson bull Anna Hensel bull Allison Janda Lisa Lukecart bull Claire Martin bull Leslie Murrell

Kara Schweiss bull Kara Wesely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Lisa Lukecart

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke bull Greg Bruns bull Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer Angie bull Hall bull George Idelman

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Sandy Besch Matson

ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS

Alicia Smith Hollins bull Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis bull Sydney Stander

OPERATIONS

Tyler Lemke

ACCOUNTING

Jim Heitz

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Mike Brewer

Printed by Omaha Print

For a one-year subscription

(12 issues) send $995 to

PO Box 461208 Papillion NE 68046-1208

wwwomahamagazinecom

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publi-cations Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned

The information contained within HerFamily is for infor-mational purposes only It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice

counsel or assistance Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein If you have concerns or questions

related to your health consult with your physician HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part without written permission

of Omaha Publications 4028842000

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine LTD

february 2015on the inside

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

20

12

h

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp5

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannhealth

olly Martens struggle may sound all too common After the birth of her children she experienced a variety

of symptoms She had low energy she experienced moodiness and mood swings felt generally crabby and could not lose weight around her mid-section Martens knew her struggle was not unique but also knew she had to do something about it

ldquoWith both pregnancies I gained so much weight and really had trouble with my mid-section I finally figured out what to do about it and was so happy I made the decision to be healthier overallrdquo Martens says

Martens with the help of Vice Cross Fit gym went on what she calls a sugar detox Once she was educated about sugar and added sugars she was shocked at how much of it she had been consuming

ldquoThey really taught me how much sugar I was eating and what all that sugar was doing to be body The sugar in our diet really has a bad affect on our bodiesrdquo

Martens was in for even more of a shock After 21 days she was amazed at how different she felt ldquoI felt awesome I was not so tired I didnrsquot get headaches anymore My skin cleared up and my stomach was much flatterrdquo

What was even more refreshing was that Martens never felt deprived She says she truly felt she could maintain healthy or ldquocleanrdquo eating

ldquoI ate so much food especially meat I never did feel deprived The cravings were not thererdquo Martens says

It was that lack of deprivation that Martens felt was the key to her success After the 21 day sugar detox Martens continued to maintain sugar-free eating during the week and would indulge a little on weekends

Shannon Muhs a dietician with Hy-Vee was able to shed some light on how our bodies react when we have too much sugar in our diet

ldquoWhen we eat more sugar our bodies experience a brief high followed by a sort of crash which is why we feel more sluggish Our bodies will also produce excess insulin which will cause the body to want to eat more and eventually our bodies run out of places to store that excess sugar and it starts to store itself as fatrdquo Muhs says

As Martens experienced once sugar is eliminated it doesnrsquot take long for our bodies to recover ldquoWithin a couple of days you should have more sustained energy and a more balanced energy load You should not experience as many highs and lows and should be craving less sweetsrdquo she says

Martens plans on maintaining her healthier lifestyle and even convinced her husband to join her on her journey who after limiting sugar lost close to 40 pounds

ldquoWe both feel so much better Itrsquos really amazing I was never really big on diets but this is something I donrsquot feel is necessarily a diet Itrsquos a lifestyle and I am very passionate about itrdquoemsp

Sugar LowCutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards

f or some local Omaha business owners work doesnrsquot necessarily mean no play

Take entrepreneur Deborah Shimokawa for examplemdashcreator and owner of the studio Baby Maestro and single mom extraordinaire ldquoI love to sing and I love childrenrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoThose are my two passions I thought lsquoIf I can do something with both of those Irsquoll be a very happy personrsquordquo

Baby Maestro created in 2004 is an early childhood music education program that offers various music dance and instrumental classes for parents to bond with their babies and young children The concept isnrsquot exclusive to Omaha though Shimokawa actually picked up the idea after falling in love with a similar studio in Atlanta after the birth of her first child Quinn

ldquoIt was a two-fold benefitrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI could socialize with other moms about being new parents and it was also a great bonding activity for Quinn and me When I moved back to Omaha I kind of looked around for a similar music program but never found one that had that same happy feeling so I said lsquoWell Irsquoll start itrsquordquo

In addition to running her own business Shimokawa a single mom also juggles raising three kids aged 6 to 11 and navigating their endless

Toddler TchaikovskysBABY MAESTRO is Music to the Youngest of Ears

repertoire of activities which include but arenrsquot limited to soccer baseball basketball flag football and taekwondo lessons

However Baby Maestro has never been a burden that interferes with parent life according to Shimokawa

ldquoThe beauty of it is that I can still take my kids to school every day and help them with their homework or take them to their activitiesrdquo she says ldquoI get to go out and work with passion and then come home and be with my kids and raise them Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Shimokawa adds that Baby Maestro is the perfect blend of work and play where she can witness the relationships between parent and child that strengthen each day Her highest reward is hearing the impact that her music classes have on her pint-sized studentsrsquo lives whether that be babies bouncing to familiar tunes in the car or toddlers conducting their own dance classes for their parents

ldquoThere are so many rewarding parts of my jobrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI signed a lease when my youngest was two weeks old and I havenrsquot looked back It was the best decision I couldrsquove possibly maderdquoemsp

6emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

story by Claire Martin photography by Dede Zimmermanfeature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp7

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 2: February 2015 HerFamily

Visit ChildrensOmahaorg for more information on how we can help your child For a pediatrician family physician or pediatric specialist call 18008333100

Ella age 6Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS

HERFamilyAdFNLDec2014indd 1 112514 221 PM

On the CoverMiles Tapp 2

features6 Toddler Tchaikovskys Baby Maestro is music to the youngest of ears12 The 402 Rocking it for Parents and Children20 Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaha

departments5 health Cutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards8 meet the family Kids at Heart at the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum10 lifestyle The Death of Cursive14 diy V-Day Photobooth16 young hero In Memory of Sean18 activity Breaking the Ice22 mind amp body ldquoIn life above all be kindrdquo 24 food Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes26 mom on the rocks Valentinersquos Day is for the dogs27 fitness Bridge Pose28 calendar of events30 the grandpa chronicles The Role of Ritual

4emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Volume 2 bull Issue 9PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

EDITORIAL INTERN

Claire Martin

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

John Gawley

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY amp INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Bill Sitzmann

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER amp WEB CONTENT MANAGER

Kristen Hoffman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Joy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson bull Anna Hensel bull Allison Janda Lisa Lukecart bull Claire Martin bull Leslie Murrell

Kara Schweiss bull Kara Wesely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Lisa Lukecart

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke bull Greg Bruns bull Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer Angie bull Hall bull George Idelman

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Sandy Besch Matson

ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS

Alicia Smith Hollins bull Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis bull Sydney Stander

OPERATIONS

Tyler Lemke

ACCOUNTING

Jim Heitz

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Mike Brewer

Printed by Omaha Print

For a one-year subscription

(12 issues) send $995 to

PO Box 461208 Papillion NE 68046-1208

wwwomahamagazinecom

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publi-cations Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned

The information contained within HerFamily is for infor-mational purposes only It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice

counsel or assistance Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein If you have concerns or questions

related to your health consult with your physician HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part without written permission

of Omaha Publications 4028842000

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine LTD

february 2015on the inside

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

20

12

h

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp5

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannhealth

olly Martens struggle may sound all too common After the birth of her children she experienced a variety

of symptoms She had low energy she experienced moodiness and mood swings felt generally crabby and could not lose weight around her mid-section Martens knew her struggle was not unique but also knew she had to do something about it

ldquoWith both pregnancies I gained so much weight and really had trouble with my mid-section I finally figured out what to do about it and was so happy I made the decision to be healthier overallrdquo Martens says

Martens with the help of Vice Cross Fit gym went on what she calls a sugar detox Once she was educated about sugar and added sugars she was shocked at how much of it she had been consuming

ldquoThey really taught me how much sugar I was eating and what all that sugar was doing to be body The sugar in our diet really has a bad affect on our bodiesrdquo

Martens was in for even more of a shock After 21 days she was amazed at how different she felt ldquoI felt awesome I was not so tired I didnrsquot get headaches anymore My skin cleared up and my stomach was much flatterrdquo

What was even more refreshing was that Martens never felt deprived She says she truly felt she could maintain healthy or ldquocleanrdquo eating

ldquoI ate so much food especially meat I never did feel deprived The cravings were not thererdquo Martens says

It was that lack of deprivation that Martens felt was the key to her success After the 21 day sugar detox Martens continued to maintain sugar-free eating during the week and would indulge a little on weekends

Shannon Muhs a dietician with Hy-Vee was able to shed some light on how our bodies react when we have too much sugar in our diet

ldquoWhen we eat more sugar our bodies experience a brief high followed by a sort of crash which is why we feel more sluggish Our bodies will also produce excess insulin which will cause the body to want to eat more and eventually our bodies run out of places to store that excess sugar and it starts to store itself as fatrdquo Muhs says

As Martens experienced once sugar is eliminated it doesnrsquot take long for our bodies to recover ldquoWithin a couple of days you should have more sustained energy and a more balanced energy load You should not experience as many highs and lows and should be craving less sweetsrdquo she says

Martens plans on maintaining her healthier lifestyle and even convinced her husband to join her on her journey who after limiting sugar lost close to 40 pounds

ldquoWe both feel so much better Itrsquos really amazing I was never really big on diets but this is something I donrsquot feel is necessarily a diet Itrsquos a lifestyle and I am very passionate about itrdquoemsp

Sugar LowCutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards

f or some local Omaha business owners work doesnrsquot necessarily mean no play

Take entrepreneur Deborah Shimokawa for examplemdashcreator and owner of the studio Baby Maestro and single mom extraordinaire ldquoI love to sing and I love childrenrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoThose are my two passions I thought lsquoIf I can do something with both of those Irsquoll be a very happy personrsquordquo

Baby Maestro created in 2004 is an early childhood music education program that offers various music dance and instrumental classes for parents to bond with their babies and young children The concept isnrsquot exclusive to Omaha though Shimokawa actually picked up the idea after falling in love with a similar studio in Atlanta after the birth of her first child Quinn

ldquoIt was a two-fold benefitrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI could socialize with other moms about being new parents and it was also a great bonding activity for Quinn and me When I moved back to Omaha I kind of looked around for a similar music program but never found one that had that same happy feeling so I said lsquoWell Irsquoll start itrsquordquo

In addition to running her own business Shimokawa a single mom also juggles raising three kids aged 6 to 11 and navigating their endless

Toddler TchaikovskysBABY MAESTRO is Music to the Youngest of Ears

repertoire of activities which include but arenrsquot limited to soccer baseball basketball flag football and taekwondo lessons

However Baby Maestro has never been a burden that interferes with parent life according to Shimokawa

ldquoThe beauty of it is that I can still take my kids to school every day and help them with their homework or take them to their activitiesrdquo she says ldquoI get to go out and work with passion and then come home and be with my kids and raise them Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Shimokawa adds that Baby Maestro is the perfect blend of work and play where she can witness the relationships between parent and child that strengthen each day Her highest reward is hearing the impact that her music classes have on her pint-sized studentsrsquo lives whether that be babies bouncing to familiar tunes in the car or toddlers conducting their own dance classes for their parents

ldquoThere are so many rewarding parts of my jobrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI signed a lease when my youngest was two weeks old and I havenrsquot looked back It was the best decision I couldrsquove possibly maderdquoemsp

6emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

story by Claire Martin photography by Dede Zimmermanfeature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp7

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 3: February 2015 HerFamily

On the CoverMiles Tapp 2

features6 Toddler Tchaikovskys Baby Maestro is music to the youngest of ears12 The 402 Rocking it for Parents and Children20 Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaha

departments5 health Cutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards8 meet the family Kids at Heart at the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum10 lifestyle The Death of Cursive14 diy V-Day Photobooth16 young hero In Memory of Sean18 activity Breaking the Ice22 mind amp body ldquoIn life above all be kindrdquo 24 food Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes26 mom on the rocks Valentinersquos Day is for the dogs27 fitness Bridge Pose28 calendar of events30 the grandpa chronicles The Role of Ritual

4emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Volume 2 bull Issue 9PUBLISHER

Todd Lemke

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

David Williams

MANAGING EDITOR

Robert Nelson

EDITORIAL INTERN

Claire Martin

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

John Gawley

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY amp INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Bill Sitzmann

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER amp WEB CONTENT MANAGER

Kristen Hoffman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Rachel Joy

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bev Carlson bull Anna Hensel bull Allison Janda Lisa Lukecart bull Claire Martin bull Leslie Murrell

Kara Schweiss bull Kara Wesely

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Lisa Lukecart

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke bull Greg Bruns bull Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer Angie bull Hall bull George Idelman

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

Sandy Besch Matson

ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS

Alicia Smith Hollins bull Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis bull Sydney Stander

OPERATIONS

Tyler Lemke

ACCOUNTING

Jim Heitz

WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Mike Brewer

Printed by Omaha Print

For a one-year subscription

(12 issues) send $995 to

PO Box 461208 Papillion NE 68046-1208

wwwomahamagazinecom

Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publi-cations Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned

The information contained within HerFamily is for infor-mational purposes only It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice

counsel or assistance Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein If you have concerns or questions

related to your health consult with your physician HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be re-produced in whole or in part without written permission

of Omaha Publications 4028842000

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine LTD

february 2015on the inside

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

omahamagazine

20

12

h

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp5

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannhealth

olly Martens struggle may sound all too common After the birth of her children she experienced a variety

of symptoms She had low energy she experienced moodiness and mood swings felt generally crabby and could not lose weight around her mid-section Martens knew her struggle was not unique but also knew she had to do something about it

ldquoWith both pregnancies I gained so much weight and really had trouble with my mid-section I finally figured out what to do about it and was so happy I made the decision to be healthier overallrdquo Martens says

Martens with the help of Vice Cross Fit gym went on what she calls a sugar detox Once she was educated about sugar and added sugars she was shocked at how much of it she had been consuming

ldquoThey really taught me how much sugar I was eating and what all that sugar was doing to be body The sugar in our diet really has a bad affect on our bodiesrdquo

Martens was in for even more of a shock After 21 days she was amazed at how different she felt ldquoI felt awesome I was not so tired I didnrsquot get headaches anymore My skin cleared up and my stomach was much flatterrdquo

What was even more refreshing was that Martens never felt deprived She says she truly felt she could maintain healthy or ldquocleanrdquo eating

ldquoI ate so much food especially meat I never did feel deprived The cravings were not thererdquo Martens says

It was that lack of deprivation that Martens felt was the key to her success After the 21 day sugar detox Martens continued to maintain sugar-free eating during the week and would indulge a little on weekends

Shannon Muhs a dietician with Hy-Vee was able to shed some light on how our bodies react when we have too much sugar in our diet

ldquoWhen we eat more sugar our bodies experience a brief high followed by a sort of crash which is why we feel more sluggish Our bodies will also produce excess insulin which will cause the body to want to eat more and eventually our bodies run out of places to store that excess sugar and it starts to store itself as fatrdquo Muhs says

As Martens experienced once sugar is eliminated it doesnrsquot take long for our bodies to recover ldquoWithin a couple of days you should have more sustained energy and a more balanced energy load You should not experience as many highs and lows and should be craving less sweetsrdquo she says

Martens plans on maintaining her healthier lifestyle and even convinced her husband to join her on her journey who after limiting sugar lost close to 40 pounds

ldquoWe both feel so much better Itrsquos really amazing I was never really big on diets but this is something I donrsquot feel is necessarily a diet Itrsquos a lifestyle and I am very passionate about itrdquoemsp

Sugar LowCutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards

f or some local Omaha business owners work doesnrsquot necessarily mean no play

Take entrepreneur Deborah Shimokawa for examplemdashcreator and owner of the studio Baby Maestro and single mom extraordinaire ldquoI love to sing and I love childrenrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoThose are my two passions I thought lsquoIf I can do something with both of those Irsquoll be a very happy personrsquordquo

Baby Maestro created in 2004 is an early childhood music education program that offers various music dance and instrumental classes for parents to bond with their babies and young children The concept isnrsquot exclusive to Omaha though Shimokawa actually picked up the idea after falling in love with a similar studio in Atlanta after the birth of her first child Quinn

ldquoIt was a two-fold benefitrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI could socialize with other moms about being new parents and it was also a great bonding activity for Quinn and me When I moved back to Omaha I kind of looked around for a similar music program but never found one that had that same happy feeling so I said lsquoWell Irsquoll start itrsquordquo

In addition to running her own business Shimokawa a single mom also juggles raising three kids aged 6 to 11 and navigating their endless

Toddler TchaikovskysBABY MAESTRO is Music to the Youngest of Ears

repertoire of activities which include but arenrsquot limited to soccer baseball basketball flag football and taekwondo lessons

However Baby Maestro has never been a burden that interferes with parent life according to Shimokawa

ldquoThe beauty of it is that I can still take my kids to school every day and help them with their homework or take them to their activitiesrdquo she says ldquoI get to go out and work with passion and then come home and be with my kids and raise them Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Shimokawa adds that Baby Maestro is the perfect blend of work and play where she can witness the relationships between parent and child that strengthen each day Her highest reward is hearing the impact that her music classes have on her pint-sized studentsrsquo lives whether that be babies bouncing to familiar tunes in the car or toddlers conducting their own dance classes for their parents

ldquoThere are so many rewarding parts of my jobrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI signed a lease when my youngest was two weeks old and I havenrsquot looked back It was the best decision I couldrsquove possibly maderdquoemsp

6emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

story by Claire Martin photography by Dede Zimmermanfeature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp7

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 4: February 2015 HerFamily

h

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp5

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannhealth

olly Martens struggle may sound all too common After the birth of her children she experienced a variety

of symptoms She had low energy she experienced moodiness and mood swings felt generally crabby and could not lose weight around her mid-section Martens knew her struggle was not unique but also knew she had to do something about it

ldquoWith both pregnancies I gained so much weight and really had trouble with my mid-section I finally figured out what to do about it and was so happy I made the decision to be healthier overallrdquo Martens says

Martens with the help of Vice Cross Fit gym went on what she calls a sugar detox Once she was educated about sugar and added sugars she was shocked at how much of it she had been consuming

ldquoThey really taught me how much sugar I was eating and what all that sugar was doing to be body The sugar in our diet really has a bad affect on our bodiesrdquo

Martens was in for even more of a shock After 21 days she was amazed at how different she felt ldquoI felt awesome I was not so tired I didnrsquot get headaches anymore My skin cleared up and my stomach was much flatterrdquo

What was even more refreshing was that Martens never felt deprived She says she truly felt she could maintain healthy or ldquocleanrdquo eating

ldquoI ate so much food especially meat I never did feel deprived The cravings were not thererdquo Martens says

It was that lack of deprivation that Martens felt was the key to her success After the 21 day sugar detox Martens continued to maintain sugar-free eating during the week and would indulge a little on weekends

Shannon Muhs a dietician with Hy-Vee was able to shed some light on how our bodies react when we have too much sugar in our diet

ldquoWhen we eat more sugar our bodies experience a brief high followed by a sort of crash which is why we feel more sluggish Our bodies will also produce excess insulin which will cause the body to want to eat more and eventually our bodies run out of places to store that excess sugar and it starts to store itself as fatrdquo Muhs says

As Martens experienced once sugar is eliminated it doesnrsquot take long for our bodies to recover ldquoWithin a couple of days you should have more sustained energy and a more balanced energy load You should not experience as many highs and lows and should be craving less sweetsrdquo she says

Martens plans on maintaining her healthier lifestyle and even convinced her husband to join her on her journey who after limiting sugar lost close to 40 pounds

ldquoWe both feel so much better Itrsquos really amazing I was never really big on diets but this is something I donrsquot feel is necessarily a diet Itrsquos a lifestyle and I am very passionate about itrdquoemsp

Sugar LowCutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards

f or some local Omaha business owners work doesnrsquot necessarily mean no play

Take entrepreneur Deborah Shimokawa for examplemdashcreator and owner of the studio Baby Maestro and single mom extraordinaire ldquoI love to sing and I love childrenrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoThose are my two passions I thought lsquoIf I can do something with both of those Irsquoll be a very happy personrsquordquo

Baby Maestro created in 2004 is an early childhood music education program that offers various music dance and instrumental classes for parents to bond with their babies and young children The concept isnrsquot exclusive to Omaha though Shimokawa actually picked up the idea after falling in love with a similar studio in Atlanta after the birth of her first child Quinn

ldquoIt was a two-fold benefitrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI could socialize with other moms about being new parents and it was also a great bonding activity for Quinn and me When I moved back to Omaha I kind of looked around for a similar music program but never found one that had that same happy feeling so I said lsquoWell Irsquoll start itrsquordquo

In addition to running her own business Shimokawa a single mom also juggles raising three kids aged 6 to 11 and navigating their endless

Toddler TchaikovskysBABY MAESTRO is Music to the Youngest of Ears

repertoire of activities which include but arenrsquot limited to soccer baseball basketball flag football and taekwondo lessons

However Baby Maestro has never been a burden that interferes with parent life according to Shimokawa

ldquoThe beauty of it is that I can still take my kids to school every day and help them with their homework or take them to their activitiesrdquo she says ldquoI get to go out and work with passion and then come home and be with my kids and raise them Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Shimokawa adds that Baby Maestro is the perfect blend of work and play where she can witness the relationships between parent and child that strengthen each day Her highest reward is hearing the impact that her music classes have on her pint-sized studentsrsquo lives whether that be babies bouncing to familiar tunes in the car or toddlers conducting their own dance classes for their parents

ldquoThere are so many rewarding parts of my jobrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI signed a lease when my youngest was two weeks old and I havenrsquot looked back It was the best decision I couldrsquove possibly maderdquoemsp

6emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

story by Claire Martin photography by Dede Zimmermanfeature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp7

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 5: February 2015 HerFamily

f or some local Omaha business owners work doesnrsquot necessarily mean no play

Take entrepreneur Deborah Shimokawa for examplemdashcreator and owner of the studio Baby Maestro and single mom extraordinaire ldquoI love to sing and I love childrenrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoThose are my two passions I thought lsquoIf I can do something with both of those Irsquoll be a very happy personrsquordquo

Baby Maestro created in 2004 is an early childhood music education program that offers various music dance and instrumental classes for parents to bond with their babies and young children The concept isnrsquot exclusive to Omaha though Shimokawa actually picked up the idea after falling in love with a similar studio in Atlanta after the birth of her first child Quinn

ldquoIt was a two-fold benefitrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI could socialize with other moms about being new parents and it was also a great bonding activity for Quinn and me When I moved back to Omaha I kind of looked around for a similar music program but never found one that had that same happy feeling so I said lsquoWell Irsquoll start itrsquordquo

In addition to running her own business Shimokawa a single mom also juggles raising three kids aged 6 to 11 and navigating their endless

Toddler TchaikovskysBABY MAESTRO is Music to the Youngest of Ears

repertoire of activities which include but arenrsquot limited to soccer baseball basketball flag football and taekwondo lessons

However Baby Maestro has never been a burden that interferes with parent life according to Shimokawa

ldquoThe beauty of it is that I can still take my kids to school every day and help them with their homework or take them to their activitiesrdquo she says ldquoI get to go out and work with passion and then come home and be with my kids and raise them Itrsquos the best of both worldsrdquo

Shimokawa adds that Baby Maestro is the perfect blend of work and play where she can witness the relationships between parent and child that strengthen each day Her highest reward is hearing the impact that her music classes have on her pint-sized studentsrsquo lives whether that be babies bouncing to familiar tunes in the car or toddlers conducting their own dance classes for their parents

ldquoThere are so many rewarding parts of my jobrdquo Shimokawa says ldquoI signed a lease when my youngest was two weeks old and I havenrsquot looked back It was the best decision I couldrsquove possibly maderdquoemsp

6emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

story by Claire Martin photography by Dede Zimmermanfeature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp7

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 6: February 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp7

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 7: February 2015 HerFamily

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon Lily Milo

8emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmannmeet the family

Meet the OrandsKids at Heart

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 8: February 2015 HerFamily

f or Matt Orand a day at the office is childrsquos playmdashor at least figuring out what children want to play with

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Childrenrsquos Museum Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps creating interactive apps or making sure that the fake food found in the museumrsquos play grocery store isnrsquot so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it

Luckily he can rely on some of the museumrsquos biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about his children Lily (7) Simon (5) Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Childrenrsquos Museum focus

Orand started at the Childrenrsquos Museum eight years ago when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha there werenrsquot many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Childrenrsquos Museum

ldquoHersquos just a kid at heartrdquo explains Amy OrandWhile the Childrenrsquos Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid

like Orand it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit

As a result the Childrenrsquos Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family Itrsquos where Lily stood on her own for the first time thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up Itrsquos where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant colorful zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures

ldquoI think for me itrsquos just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenesrdquo says Orand ldquoI can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progressrdquo

But itrsquos not all just fun and games for the Orand family Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching what games they like to play with their friends or what toys they gravitate toward

ldquoDadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo-Amy Orand

ldquoIrsquoll just gauge like lsquowhat sounds more fun a superhero or a pirate exhibitrsquo says Orand And theyrsquoll ask questions like lsquoWhatrsquos going to be in the exhibit Dad If itrsquos superheroes is it going to have this Can I put on a capersquordquo

Itrsquos all a necessary part of Orandrsquos job being able to see the world from a kidrsquos perspective He recalls the frustration many kids including his own experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube the tube would blast the balls in the air When the tube did no such thing they became frustrated The museum took the contraption off the floor and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it re-launching it as a ldquoBall-istic Blasterrdquo

ldquoYou think yoursquove got everything figured out and you know exactly how theyrsquore going to use it and yoursquore totally blown away or something unexpected happensrdquo says Orand

Following in their dadrsquos footsteps the Orand kids relish creativity The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily who is adamant that she doesnrsquot want to have a ldquoboringrdquo career when she grows up Amy an insurance agent laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Mattrsquos

ldquoMomrsquos got the boring insurance job and dadrsquos got about the coolest job on the face of the planetrdquo says Amy ldquoI think they kind of take it for granted because they havenrsquot known it any other wayrdquo

But for now Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayersmdasha token of thanks to God for ldquomaking my dad good at making robot dinosaursrdquo

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museumrsquos traveling exhibits one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Mattrsquos jurisdiction But Matt says with a chuckle ldquoI just donrsquot really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didnrsquot make itrdquoemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp9

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 9: February 2015 HerFamily

l ook closely Bet you canrsquot even read it The strong curvaceous loops of the ldquoLrdquo intersect just a little too closely

with hellipis that an ldquoordquo It hooks right up with hellip ldquozrdquohellipsomething In it though there is a sense of beauty in the slants the graceful curves

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing On a recent day at Millard West High School he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh I canrsquot read thisrdquo he said ldquoWhy notrdquo ldquoBecause itrsquos in cursiverdquo Gomes responded

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center She used to write nothing but cursive on the board and it was a deep part of the curriculum ldquoNow I canrsquot because they [students] canrsquot read itrdquo Eubanks says ldquoIt really did surprise me I do understand it but it is kind of sadrdquo

She believes that out of her 200 or so students only 10 can read and write cursive

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development Nebraska along with Texas Alaska and Virginia has not adopted the standards Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding

Unlike Omaha Public Schools which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus

Kim Abts a teacherrsquos assistant at St Roberts Bellarmine was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade ldquoI think Irsquove taken it for grantedrdquo Abts says ldquoI thought that was just a normal natural thingrdquo

Abts says after third grade students are not allowed to print For example Unlike Eubanks teachers at St Roberts still write cursive on the board as well

10emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmannlifestyle

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 10: February 2015 HerFamily

Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting In addition most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer ldquoTechnology has made us somewhat brain-deadrdquo Gomes says

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale but now he uses it to sign only his name He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation ldquoWe donrsquot want to take the time to make the loopy-doopsrdquo he explains

Wyatt Spethman a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna disagrees He believes cursive is faster plus it looks ldquofancierrdquo Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write ldquoI love donutsrdquo When he tries though he pauses He explains he does not know how to make a capital ldquoIrdquo

ldquoI just forgot about itrdquo he says shrugging Reminiscing about her 26 years of

teaching Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students ldquoIt is a lost art reallyrdquo she says sighing

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursiversquos tombstone In print emsp

WHAT DID

YOURCHILD

LEARN TODAY

Call (402)932-4978or visit omahacmorgto begin your childrsquos

LEARNING

Largest childrenrsquos frame selection in Omaha

(We have adults covered too)

cool^

12660 Q Street Omaha | Tel (402) 896-3300 wwwmillardfamilyeyecarecom

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp11

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 11: February 2015 HerFamily

a band takes the stage awash in colorful lighting Below them an audience murmurs and sips their

drinks sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band but that couldnrsquot be further from the truth In fact all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aromarsquos Coffee shop Plus one third of the audience is under 21 ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo says Ben Shafer executive director of the space

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time Itrsquos a place to not only expose your children to music and culture but also itrsquos a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents canrsquot find a sitter

The 402 isnrsquot just a musical venue They offer music lessons too Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and Shafer adds some not so popular ones as well While most students are under 18 Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well Granted it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns ldquoPeople come

to Benson and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latterdquo Shafer shares Worried your kid is too young Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old Additional offerings such as ldquoRock Academyrdquo can be found online at 402artscollectiveorg

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking ldquolessonsrdquo Parents can see musical and artistic offerings as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor The 402 also offers scholarships to in-need families

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekendmdashFriday night and Saturday night

Perhaps The 402rsquos most noticeable asset is its location Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music but also to a variety of people ldquoThe culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavorsrdquo Shafer says ldquoI think some of Omaharsquos greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given dayrdquoemsp

ldquoWe really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatnessrdquo-Ben Shafer

12emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmannfeature

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 12: February 2015 HerFamily

Ben Shafer

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp13

The 402ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 13: February 2015 HerFamily

14emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

diyby Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 14: February 2015 HerFamily

v alentinersquos Day has always felt backwards to me My idea of romance looks more like hiking

through the woods rather than a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that Irsquoll ever turn down chocolate) So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentinersquos Day DIY projects earlier this month After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper I didnrsquot see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment

V-Day Photobooth

SUPPLIESbull Colored paperbull Scissors Bladebull Cutting boardbull Large cardboard boxbull Spray adhesivebull Glitterbull Hole Punchbull String

DIRECTIONS1 Choose your colors Since Irsquom not one

for red and pink I picked out three large pieces of paper in white beige and brown

2 If you are doing this with kids you can draw hearts and cut them out with scissors If it is just you do what I did and draw the hearts with a blade With this many hearts to cut out it will save you a lot of time

3 Lay out a few of the hearts on a large cardboard box or something to protect your floors I would recommend doing this step in your garage or in an area that has ventilation Apply spray adhesive and sprinkle glitter on each heart Let dry flip and repeat on other side The spray adhesive evenly coats the paper and keeps it from warping while drying

4 Punch holes in all the hearts Holes donrsquot have to be in one place Punching holes in different places on the hearts will cause them to hang in whimsical ways

5 Cut about 4-5 feet of string and tie a few hearts to each string

6 Hang strings from the ceiling in front of a blank surface and yoursquove got yourself a perfect photobooth for your Valentinersquos Day party

TIP Be very careful when transporting these

bad boys They tangle easily and we all know tangles lead to profanities You donrsquot want to look up to see every other mom in the room with their jaws on the floor covering their childrsquos ears Keep cool and keep organizedemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp15

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

Molly Maidrsquos private label cleaningproducts are environmentally safe biodegradable and non-toxic

Itrsquos healthier for my family the products are all natural cleaners and disin-fectants I donrsquot worry about fumes residue or build up

Irsquom doing my part to help the environmentEven the smallest contributions can make a big difference over time

Molly Maidrsquos ldquoSmall Efforts Big Resultsrdquo brochure provide additional informa-tion about creating a more green friendlyhome

People always notice how clean and fresh my home is now Irsquom proud totell them itrsquos also a Molly Maid Green Home

1

2

3

4

5

Molly Maid clean is now green

5

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly people are guaranteed to notice

Each franchise independently owned and operated

Reasons why it makes sense

For a Cleaning Plan designed aroundyour home and your lifestyle

Call your Local

MOLLY MAID OF CENTRAL OMAHACOUNCIL BLUFFS

402932MAID (6243)A clean you can

trust

cathytichymollymaidcom

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 15: February 2015 HerFamily

j enny Sexton always looked up to brother Sean This time she was looking down at him

LiterallyldquoI bet you canrsquotrdquo Sean yelled He had just

jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground ldquoI bet you I canrdquo Jenny taunted back Their bantering continued ending with a canrsquot-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean Even at five Jenny knew she had to make the leap It was a double-dog-dare after all

Unlike Sean Jenny hit the landingmdashhard ldquoDonrsquot tell momrdquo Sean said after seeing Jennyrsquos blue eyes well up with tears

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm but she also realized something important She would follow her brother anywhere even off the ledge of a deck

Jenny now a junior at Millard West High School laughs at the memory She is stylish in her UGG boots black tights and turquoise sweater She smacks her gum looks up thoughtfully and laughs again ldquoIlikehellipwanted to do everything he didrdquo Jenny says

Jenny followed in her big brotherrsquos footsteps including copying his cool teenage lingo ldquoyou know like gangstarsquordquo Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister

Four years older than Jenny Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took Hospital Volunteer Health Academy Exemplary Student ldquoBut now I donrsquot know what to dordquo Jenny says Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jennyrsquos four years of high school remains unfinished Near the end of his senior year Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jennyrsquos life forever Jenny was crushed but tried to stay strong and ldquoplay it offrdquo

In one snapshot of his graduation Sean

In Memory of SeanJenny Sexton helps others as a

living tribute to her departed brother

is pale from chemotherapy bald his green robe too big for his thin body His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister and a huge proud smile is on his face Two years later Sean lost his battle to cancer ldquoI really looked up to himrdquo Jenny says

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital just like Sean did during her sophomore year Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient ldquoIt was a chance for him to see teens people his own agerdquo Jenny explains She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him

Her first day during orientation she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life She had one last chance to see him to say her good-byes and exchange a few ldquoI love yoursquosrdquo before her parentsrsquo car rolled away

At the hospital Sean entered a comatose-like state His once healthy skinhellipnow a pale sickly yellow

16emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

young heroby Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 16: February 2015 HerFamily

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Young Hero proudly sponsored by

Jenny broke down ldquoIrsquom just glad he wasnrsquot awake to see me like thatrdquo Jenny says

Even in this moment Jenny is selfless It is something others have noticed

including Kassidy Arena Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too

sugary sweet Jennyrsquos fiery red hair doesnrsquot match her personality Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times especially with children

And yet Kassidy cannot help but admire Jennyrsquos dedication to others

ldquoWhenever Irsquom venting about my dumb personal life shersquos helping actual peoplerdquo Kassidy says with a loud laugh ldquoI got into volunteering because of herrdquo

At Lakeside every Tuesday Jenny works behind a desk She is hoping to work more directly with the patients At Childrenrsquos Hospital and Medical Center Jenny cleans toys or run errands The best part of her night though is when she can play with the kids

Jenny looks down clasps her hands together and smiles shyly A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just canrsquot forget him His dark skin puffy hair and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon He never said anything but Jenny felt she made him happy ldquoI just knew I was making a differencerdquo Jenny says To her the hospital is no longer a place of heartache but instead one filled with laughter

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time ldquoSMS-2012rdquo is deeply embedded into it It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed ldquoHe (Sean) would be proud of memdashmaking a differencerdquo Jenny saysemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp17

Visit us today12965 W Center Rd 4027780650

HoursMon-Thu 10-6Fri-Sat 10-5Sun 12-4

LFSneborg middot infoLFSneborg

Friday Feb 20 2015

dinner amp auction

Honorary cHair

nancy K JoHnson

il Palazzo bull 5110 nortH 132nd street bull omaHa ne cmurraylFsneborg

LFS Her Family ad 12-08-14indd 1 1282014 123544 PM

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 17: February 2015 HerFamily

18emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmannactivity

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 18: February 2015 HerFamily

f

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp19

or many area families summer doesnrsquot really begin until Omaharsquos 15 outdoor public pools open for

the season and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year But even on the coldest of winter days families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the cityrsquos indoor pool facilities

ldquoThey are open public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use themrdquo says Tracy Stratman recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department ldquoThose indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short I think theyrsquore like hidden gems in the cityrdquo

Full-size 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S 135th Avenue Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed but it is a membership-based facility

ldquoMontclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground so you do not have to be a member itrsquos a pay-as-you go We do have punch cards and seasonal passes which obviously drop the (per visit) costrdquo Stratman explains

ldquoSwimming really is a life skillrdquo Stratman says ldquoSwimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities Even if yoursquore recovering from an injury or are an older adult therersquos always something you can do in the pool But therersquos also a level of competition if yoursquore a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmerrdquo

Krista Andress an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11 says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaharsquos recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago

ldquoWersquore a recreational family We like to take advantage of community rec centersrdquo she says adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo

The former lifeguard adds ldquoIrsquom a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swimrdquo

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth Stratman says Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction

ldquoAs a parent I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because therersquos not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season startsrdquo Stratman says

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors and kids under age 2 are admitted free Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hoursmdashas well as lap swimming hours exercise classes and lessonsmdashare posted on the City of Omaha website at wwwcityofomahaorgparksemsp

Breaking the IceOmaharsquos ldquohidden gemsrdquo offer inexpensive

swimming through the rough Nebraska winters

ldquoSwimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activityrdquo-Krista Andress

Posh PeacockConsignment Gallery

Furniture amp Home Decor

4029339666 - poshpeacocknet

Bel Air Plaza 704 12100 W Center Rd

A Treasure Troveof Delightful amp Valuable Things

JULYAUGUST bull 2014

war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past

OmaharsquostopDentiststrade

Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories

trade

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

omamagcomsave

Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 19: February 2015 HerFamily

Paige ReitzProgram Coordinator

a

Art School A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaharsquos Union for Contemporary Art

20emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Allison Janda photography by Bill Sitzmann

re those balloonsrdquo the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple

sweatshirt The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing

No itrsquos not a school day Itrsquos Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art but the youth program is in full swingmdashjust as it is every Saturday

Established in 2011 The Union for Contemporary Art located just south of 24th and Lake streets was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists but to bridge gaps in the community

Ending up here on a whim in 2001 McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after Having come to Omaha after living in New York City she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her But eventually she moved back ldquoI realized running away from that issue wasnrsquot the right thing to do Thatrsquos something you fight against it isnrsquot something you let drive you awayrdquo she says

A journalist McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits However after she returned she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community She decided to start an arts organization not only one for

local artists but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship access to materials and space connections with professional artists and programs designed for both them and their parents

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibilitymdashespecially through the Studio Fellowship Programmdashbut itrsquos greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the arearsquos young people Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics McQueen Shew notes Perhaps too many ldquoIrsquove had parents tell me lsquoMy kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they canrsquot get a scholarship with artrsquordquo McQueen Shew says ldquoI really wanted to address thatrdquo

She says that while she doesnrsquot expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist it still matters she says to immerse North Omaha youth in art ldquoItrsquos part of our everydaymdashfrom graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselvesrdquo she says ldquoTo know art is to better know the world around yourdquoemsp

feature

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 20: February 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp21

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 21: February 2015 HerFamily

In life ldquoAbove all be kindrdquo

22emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

mind amp bodyby Bev Carlson Lutheran Family Services

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 22: February 2015 HerFamily

a s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me That in itself was unusual My caffeine

supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day Order rush to pay rush to grab a cup rush to work Hour after hour Car after car Irsquom sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through

But this morning felt different It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky I was feeling good I had the drive-thru to myself I felt talkative ldquoGood morning How are you doing Is your day going wellrdquo I asked

The shocked look on the clerkrsquos face was priceless She smiled and said ldquoUm itrsquos good How are yourdquo

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasnrsquot holding up progress and I answered her Then we actually chatted for a minute or two About the weather About the upcoming holidays Nothing earth-shattering Just quick small-talk As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order I smiled and said ldquoI really appreciate the good service I get here Have a great dayrdquo

The whole exchange lasted two minutes MaybeI noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on

her face then she turned back to help the next customer Although the exchange was spontaneous it was also uplifting

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day I could have paid the tab for the next customer That would have been easy but anonymous I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win at least for me She was charming sweet and interesting How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer Hours Days

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare Wersquove become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that wersquove forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human To be kind

Irsquom one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar although I enjoyed the special effects There was one line that really stood out to me in that script The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying ldquoI love yourdquo said ldquoI see yourdquo

ldquoI see yourdquo ldquoI acknowledge yourdquo ldquoI value yourdquo ldquoI appreciate yourdquo

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person Rather than looking past them through them around themhellip you actually look at them You see them and you recognize that they like you have their own struggles challenges or worries to deal with Just like you Every single day

Canrsquot we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you or you are doing business with Or sitting beside And justhellipbe kind Not only will you leave the room better than you found it you will be better too The gift of kindness as is the case with most gifts can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient emsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp23

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 23: February 2015 HerFamily

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes

ingredientsbull 8 oz bittersweet

chocolate coarsely chopped (or 1 12 cups semisweet chocolate chips)

bull 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

bull 6 large eggs separated at room temperature

bull 12 cup granulated sugar

bull 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation1 Preheat oven to 275deg Line 18 cups of two

12-cup muffin pans with paper liners2 In a microwave-safe bowl combine

chocolate and margarine Microwave on high for 30 seconds stir and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted

3 Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine Set aside

4 With an electric mixer whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form Gradually add granulated sugar beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat) Whisk one-third of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture

5 Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites

6 With an ice-cream scoop divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups filling each three-quarters full Bake rotating pans halfway through until cupcakes are just set in centers about 25 minutes Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink) Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

Yield 18 cupcakes

Nutrition Facts Calories 134 Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 62mg

Sodium 54mg Carbohydrates 12g

Fiber 1g Protein 2g

y ou can be gluten free and have your cupcakes too with this easy gluten-free chocolate cupcakes recipe emsp

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKidscom The Healthy Kohlrsquos Kids program is a partnership between Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center and Kohlrsquos Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness

24emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

sponsored content by Childrenrsquos Hospital amp Medical Center food

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 24: February 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2014emsp25

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to

your home Remember Valentinersquos Day

February 14th84th and 1st St

Downtown Papillion402-331-9136

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study foradults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symp-toms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must bull Be between 18 and 80 years of age bull Have a fever of at least 1004 F (if over 65 years of age at least 1000 F) bull Have two or more of the following symptoms - Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

Do you have symptoms of the flu

Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the flu They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational flu medication called favipiravir

People who participate in the FAVOR study will receive the study drug for five days and will visit the study clinic each day during dosing as well as two times after dosing ends If you believe you are experiencing flu symptoms now or you begin to experience flu symptoms later this season we hope that you will consider participating in this study

To pre-qualify for this study you must

- Cough sore throat headache nasal congestion body aches and pains or fatigue

All study-related care is provided at no cost and payment for your time and travel will be provided

07242013

To learn more about FAVOR please visit wwwfavorflustudycom or contact

All sbe

Do you have symptoms of the flu

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

Favipiravir research

FAV R

To Learn More Contact Quality Clinical Research At 402-934-0044

The FAVOR study is evaluating an investigational flu medication

0724

2013

18 flavorsBaked daily Birthdays Weddings GraduationsOn-site party room

buy one get one

FREEExpires February 28 2015

HoursMonday-Saturday raquo11am-8pm

Located at Midlands Placeoff 84th Street and Highway 370

Maybe a Cupcake Will Help

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 25: February 2015 HerFamily

Valentinersquos Dayis for the Dogs

n ow that our kids are in junior high they donrsquot have those Valentinersquos Day class parties For Chris and I romance has

digressed into the form of a nap In lieu of all the typical celebrations we make Valentinersquos Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog

I love all dogs and their furry souls A dog walks by me and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog the breed its age and its personality Irsquom always curious about a dogrsquos connection to their human

Before kids or even marriage we had Farley the Wonderdog a 125 pound loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper Once the babies arrived our Farley became our personal service dog He cleaned up anything on the floor He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board

When the kids learned to crawl hersquod keep them corralled And when theyrsquod get too close hersquod lick them until they toddled away When they learned to walk hersquod keep an eye on them and then get out of their way lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures On occasion hersquod knock them down with a whap of his tail just to remind them whorsquos really in charge

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down They grew up with him Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate

And that is true love Itrsquos a give of everything you havemdashregardless if you have thumbs or not Farley also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high and hide all shoes But mostly he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog

So thatrsquos when we rescued Maybee The word ldquomayberdquo initiates hope to a child Our furry family member Maybee is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family Maybee is a herding dog and for the first year we had her she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside I love this dog

As it stands now Irsquom trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us Either way wersquoll celebrate Valentinersquos Day with our sweet smart and beautiful dog Instead of chocolate and

Sweethearts wersquoll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her

doggy treats and a rawhide Thank you Maybee We

love youemsp

26emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

by Leslie Murrell mom on the rocks

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 26: February 2015 HerFamily

Bridge PoseSanskrit name Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

t he Bridge Pose stretches the spine chest and neck while stimulating the abdominal organs lungs and thyroid This pose is particularly good for improving

your digestion of foodemsp

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp27

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmannfitness

1 Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down

2 Take one deep inhale and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor and lift the hips up towards the ceiling

3 Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders

4 Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands

5 Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest Lift chin slightly away from sternum

6 Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths

7 Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor

Beginners Tip

if necessary place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck

Exercise

We are the most experienced full-service family owned real estate company in America

npdodgecom

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 27: February 2015 HerFamily

FOR THE KIDS

BAM ITrsquoS A PICTURE BOOK THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELSTHROUGH MARCH 29 2015 JOSLYN ART MUSEUM ndash

2200 DODGE ST Popular among young readers

graphic novels are known for their comic

format They are generally described as

ldquosequential artrdquo where a series of illustrations

tell the story but unlike newspaper comics

they are the length of a novel and include

narrative development This exhibition features

the work of Jarrett J Krosoczka Mark Crilley

Matt Holm Raina Telgemeier and Lincoln

Peirce Tuesday - Wednesday amp Friday - Sunday

10am- 4pm Thursday 10am- 8pm Free

admission 402-342-3300

- JOSLYNORG

SESAME STREET LIVETHROUGH FEBRUARY 25 CENTURYLINK CENTER

OMAHA ndash 455 N 10TH ST Cher D2K Tour with

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

Tickets available through Ticketmaster 8pm

$21-$117 402-341-1500

-- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHACOM

JOHN TARGALIArsquoS IMAGINOCEANFEBRUARY 19 ORPHEUM THEATERndash 409 S 16TH ST A

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show John

Tartagliarsquos ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

adventure for kids of all ages Jam-packed

with music ranging from swing to RampB to Big

Band John Tartagliarsquos ImaginOcean is a blast

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye

700pm Tickets starting at $22 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

FOR THE FAMILY

EXTREME PLANETFEBRUARY 10 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Take an electrifying

journey into some of our planetrsquos most extreme

environments with Carsten Peter The German

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic

never-before-seen images of places few

humans have dared ever go 730pm $22

402-345-0606

-TICKETOMAHACOM

PIXAR IN CONCERTFEBRUARY 14 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST Treat your family

to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films

including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash

all with the scores played live while visually

stunning clips from the movies play on the

big screen 730pm Tickets starting at $22

402-345-0606

ndash OMAHASYMPHONYORG

LITTLE WOMENTHROUGH FEBRUARY 22 OMAHA COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSEmdash6915 CASS ST Jo Meg Beth and

Amy guided by their beloved Marmee are

more different than any sisters could be With

their father off to war the women find strength

in themselves and each other to endure

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

accomplishments Experience this timeless

beloved literary classic as an exhilarating

musical with stunning production elements and

a powerful score Share laughter and tears with

your entire family in this canrsquot-miss production

402-553-0800

ndash OMAHAPLAYHOUSECOM

FOR MOM amp DAD

AMERICAN MODERNS FROM OrsquoKEEFFE TO ROCKWELLFEBRUARY 8-MAY 17 JOSLYN ART MUSEUMmdash2200

DODGE ST This exhibition explores the ways

American artists including Georgia OrsquoKeeffe

Marsden Hartley Stuart Davis Rockwell Kent

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

world This exhibition will have a ticket fee Free

for members youth ages 17 and younger amp

college students with ID 402-342-3300

-JOSLYNORG

SWAN LAKE THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLETFEBRUARY 14 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS

301 N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE A performance of

Balanchinersquos Swan Lake headlines the evening

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

the original Tchaikovsky score The program

also includes Balanchinersquos Allegro Brillante and

Agon 730pm Starting at $29 402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

HOT SARDINESFEBRUARY 17 HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

CENTERmdash1200 DOUGLAS ST What better way to

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans

gypsy jazz party band The Hot Sardinesrsquo

soundmdashwartime Paris via New Orleansmdashis

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano 7pm

Tickets starting at $2625 402-345-0606

- TICKETOMAHACOM

THE SECOND CITYFEBRUARY 26 LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 301

N 12TH ST LINCOLN NE The worldrsquos top sketch

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

line of former Second City performers who

have gone on to super-star status including

John Belushi Bill Murray Steve Carell Tina Fey

and Stephen Colbert 730pm Starting at $20

402-472-4700

ndash LIEDCENTERORG

Second CityExtreme PlanetImaginocean

28emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

Calendar of Events

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 28: February 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp29

Sunday Feb 22 bull Holland CenterJoin Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun straight into the heart and soul of music

Tickets Adults amp Kids $12

Saturday Feb 14 Holland CenterTreat your family to favorite scenes from DisneyPixar films including Toy Story Wall-E Up and Brave ndash all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen

Tickets Start at $19

Movie Music Series Sponsor

4023450606 | OMAHASYMPHONYORG

Thomas Wilkins conductor

MAKEA SPLASHSwim lessons arenrsquot just for the summer - you can swim year-round at the Y

We have classesfor swimmersof all ages and

abilities

Call your local YMCA for more

info

Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11 2015Registration begins - Member February 2 Non member February 6

Looking for holiday gift ideas YMCA has swim lessons for all ages

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA

wwwmetroymcaorg

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 29: February 2015 HerFamily

t

Duct Tape DreamsThe Role of Ritual

he first years of a childrsquos life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable ldquofirstsrdquo The rite of passage that is climbing into your first ldquobig boy bedrdquo ranks right up there with such landmark moments

as sitting up unassisted for the first time learning to walk or uttering your first words

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife Julie and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren Easton (5) and Barrett (3) into new more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when hersquos over at our place Barrett who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago still sleeps in a crib when hersquos with us Now itrsquos time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brotherrsquos place on the air mattress

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home Compounding matters Easton wonrsquot budge from his air mattress

The point is that habits rituals and traditions are organic They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances ones that may be nullified when the scenery people or time changes Ritual exists to bring order among chaos Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they arehellipwell ours They are our way Our tradition

Easton associates his mattress with camping Hersquos not merely on the floor at his grandparentrsquos house hersquos on a wilderness adventure The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us but wersquore confident nonetheless that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just ldquodifferentrdquo at grandma and grandparsquos place

All of which is to me an informative lesson in early childhood development It seems counterintuitive on many levels but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (ldquoItrsquos bedtimerdquo) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways

ldquoDifferentrdquo is okay in this case so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a childrsquos need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents

Funny thing is I managed to puncture Eastonrsquos air mattress the last time we babysat which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed But he still wouldnrsquot budge Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of securityhellipso it was time to get out the duct tapeemsp

30emspHerFamily bull February 2015 omahamagazinecom

the grandpa chroniclesby David Williams

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 30: February 2015 HerFamily

bestofomahacom HerFamily bull February 2015emsp31

Raising kids is hard Itrsquos OK to ask for advice

Thirteen years from now shersquoll start an Internet relationship with an older man

This is Addie

PROvIded by bOys TOwnregA seRvIce Of The nebRAsKA dePARTmenT Of heAlTh amp humAn seRvIces

nebraskafamilyhelplinenegov

888-866-8660

1206-3400 HelplineHerFamilyAddieAd7625x4917indd 1 103014 312 PM

Erin Cox Event Director

402-884-2038 | erinomahamagazinecom

EVENTS by OMAHA MAGAZINE

Events by Omaha Magazine is a full service event production company specializing in trade shows corporate events product launches and social gatherings From concept to delivery our goal is to provide an exceptional event experience for the host and their guests

Your Vision Our Innovation Event Solutions

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Page 31: February 2015 HerFamily

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes

Omaha Magazine5921 S 118th CirOmaha NE 68137

Professional Dance Education For All Ages Jazz bull Hip-Hop bull Lyrical bull Tap bull Ballet bull Pointe bull Modern bull Contemporary bull Dance Theater

We allow students to develop skills to their optimum potential while challenging them to achieve higher levels of dance education

4024935671 bull onpointedancecentrecom 1812 N 120th Street Omaha Nebraska 68154

We were proud to participate in both the 2011 Macyrsquos Thanksgiving Day Parade and

2014 Capital One Bowl Halftime Show

Award Winning Competition Team

Register now for summer and fall classes