December 2019

Kindness and Joy Toys Holiday Event Guide 2019 *Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.

december 2019

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The

Family KIMBERLY ENDERLE Editor-in-Chief editor@peekaboonwa.com | 479-957-0532

JONATHON ENDERLE Creative Director jon@peekaboonwa.com | 479-586-3890

Jonathon and Kim with Grant, Ava, Gwen and Holden PHOTO BY MAIN STREET STUDIOS

DISTRIBUTION/ CIRCULATION Joyce Whitaker Judy Evans Marcedalia Salinas

Jeremy Whitaker Michelle Dodson

FRANCES WILSON Assistant Editor

BEN LACY Dad’s View

Peekaboo Publications

Columnist

PO Box 1036 Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 Please send inquiries to: editor@peekaboonwa.com or call 479-957-0532 www.peekaboonwa.com Peekaboo may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and advertisers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.

PEEKABOO Northwest Arkansas accepts writing contributions

4 December 2019

MEAGAN RUFFING Columnist

DAVID HOVEY Story Design

Celebrating One Year

You can help kids of Care Close tobe Home

BRAVE this holiday season

Our first year was a big one and we're just getting started! Thank you to our donors, patients, families and staff. We're proud to deliver care close to home for the children of Northwest Arkansas.

2,003 Surgeries

30,104 Outpatient Visits

19,133 Emergency Visits

1,978

Inpatient Admissions

Your gift of $25, $50hospital or more will help Why choose a children's for your child?

Get an inside look at archildrens.org/oneyear champion children and the everyday heroes at Arkansas Children’s.

Please give generously!

Visit giving.archildrens.org (479) 725-6800 | 2601 Gene George Blvd., Springdale, AR 72762 Across from Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Don Tyson Pkwy. Exit 70 or call (800) 880-7491 Patient data from March 1, 2018 – February 28, 2019

Inside

DECEMBER 2019

Also 24

The Story Behind Kindness and Joy Toys

26

Dad’s View WITH BEN LACY

10

Moving Forward, but Never Moving On BY: MELISSA MCCRAW-HUMMBER

36

Why Bicycling Matters

16

Holiday Gift Guide

BY: JANNINE FITZGERALD

You’re never fully dressed without a bunny suit!

52

Non-Traditional Gifts BY: FRANCES WILSON

58

The Snowman

60

Children First BY: MEAGAN RUFFING

62

30

The Sugar Shack BY: JENN JACOBS

40

Holiday Event Guide Dec. 10-15 • 8 shows!

Broadway Series Sponsor:

Show Sponsor:

Media Support:

Twins Born 135 Days Apart at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital WITH NORTHWEST HEALTH Kablocks Blast $40.99

ON THE COVER: Lindsay Ramsey with sons Drew Ramsey, 11, Brooks Ramsey, 8, and Barrett Ramsey, 6 Photos by: Maura Dawn Photography

w

Celebrating the kindness of the giver and the joy of the receipient.

*Northwest Health Physicians’ Specialty Hospital is owned, in part, by physicians.

6 December 2019

Cover Sponsored by: Northwest Health www.northwesthealth.com

High quality child care looks like

MATH

In quality child care facilities, there are no worksheets or flash cards. Today’s early childhood educators introduce math concepts through a hands-on approach.

Children learn about math through blocks and puzzles. They learn to count with songs and rhymes. They learn about amounts and quantity when they pretend to grocery shop and cook. They learn gradually, by experience and through play.

Visit our website to find child care providers that create a place for mathematical discovery.

ARBetterBeginnings.com 1-800-445-3316

MAKE MATH

MATTER Help your toddler learn math with these fun hands-on activities.

Use recycled cardboard from cereal, cracker or shipping boxes, crayons and playdough to give meaning to math.

Teach your child to make playdough “worms.”

Then get busy making shapes, picking apples or putting petals on a flower. Talk about the shapes and colors.

Count out loud as you decorate the cookies.

recycled cardboard

The important thing is to play and have fun. The more you play with math, the sooner your child will be doing the counting.

These activities help your child recognize and name numerals, shapes, colors and patterns

Visit our Family Resource Library for more math learning activities.

Click here to visit our Resource Library. You’ll find activities and tips to help you prepare your child for life.

ARBetterBeginnings.com • 1-800-445-3316

Visit our Family Resource Library for activities that help make learning math fun at bit.ly/pkmathit Also en Español

From the Editor photo by: Lazer Lee Photography

S

ince becoming an adult I have said, multiple times, that “I wish I could go back in time when things were simpler” and “It was so much easier to be a kid.”

Last month, however, I had the privilege of chaperoning my oldest daughter’s junior high homecoming dance. It was special because I got to spend the evening with her as she had fun with her friends.

It was also a privilege due to the fact that I got to come to the important conclusion that I actually do not want to go back in time anywhere near my middle school/ junior high days. I watched as girls cried because their crush danced with a different girl, and boys were wandering around with the most daunting task that had ever been assigned -- asking a girl to dance. Emotions run really high during those awkward teen years, and figuring out your place in the world while a lot of other people are trying to do the same thing is really, really hard. I tried to offer advice to each sad, worried, or anxious face that passed me, but they all looked at me like I knew absolutely nothing about anything that was going on.

W

hich then got me thinking... why is it so easy to give advice -- I mean, like, really, really good, life-altering advice -- to others, but, when the time comes to help ourselves, we just can’t seem to get out of our own heads?

Over the past few months, I have had a few friends go through some difficult times.

Each time, I felt that I instantly had a plethora of advice and uplifting anecdotes to share. In that same vein, any time I have gone to those same friends or family with a struggle, they have always had the best advice that helped put everything in a new light. So, why can we never 8 December 2019

share that same wonderful advice with ourselves? We have advice readily available for others, but find ourselves unable to use that exact same advice when we’re in need. I think it’s because it’s not just the words that make things better -- it’s knowing that someone cares enough about us to share their experiences. That sense of community and “been there, done that” confidence is the same reason Peekaboo has been the go-to for moms and dads for almost twelve years! There’s such comfort in knowing that the author sharing advice and their story has been through what we have, and come out on the other side even better than before.

F

inishing out a year is like having the opportunity to wrap up a special present and top it with a bow. Each year really is a gift, despite its occasional ups and downs and days that seem a bit... sideways. I love taking the time to reflect on the year that is coming to an end and begin to prepare for the year ahead.

Each new year is a chance to mold and shape the little hearts and minds of our children. I have a very specific vision for their future, and it doesn’t include them living in a large house, driving expensive cars, or making a lot of money -- even though all of those things would be great perks. My wish for them is that they have giving hearts and a drive to help others.

Compassion, love, understanding, caring and a kind nature are all qualities that I hope I can successfully instill in my four little people that I get to spend my days with. This time of

year, these traits are more evident than at any other time.

‘Tis the season for making countless memories you will cherish forever! The hours leading up to those photogenic moments are just as important as the moments themselves, though. You see, every photo on our mantle and every picture in the albums sitting on our coffee table has a story behind it. Not just the who, what, where, or when, but the, “What bribes were made to get those smiles?” and “How much arguing between the kids occurred before they finally sat still long enough to take the picture?”

‘Tis the season for overbooking weekends, RSVP-ing “yes” to every invite and e-vite, and the promise of making homemade gifts for friends and teachers when you really only have time to order something online with express shipping. All of these things we try to do are, in theory, great and admirable. The problem is, they often come equipped with intense feelings of stress. The worst part about these over-committed days, though, is that they have a trickle-down effect. That

stress, anxiety, and rushing around have the greatest and most lasting impact on our children -- the little people we are doing all of these activities for in the first place. So, this year I have resolved to taking a much more relaxed approach to the beautiful chaos. I want to attempt to make each part of the experience into a happy memory. If I have dishes to do and laundry to put away before guests arrive, but the kids want a Christmas story read instead, then I will take the opportunity to turn that into a special memory for them and me.

This year, I want to look back on all the photos taken and not shudder remembering how stressful the moments leading up to, or following, them were.

Speaking of photos, make sure to follow us on Instagram: @peekaboo_magazine to keep up with all of the exciting new events, features, and giveaways coming in 2020!

If you have a story to share, or an idea for a story, email editor@peekaboonwa.com and become a part of the Peekaboo family!

See you in 2020!!!

Kim Enderle

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2020 from HerHealth Clinic!

479.463.5500 wregional.com/herhealth

Moving Forward, but Ne v e r Mov in g O n

by: Melissa McCraw-Hummer

“How many kids do you have?” sister is older. How can my second child be older “Is she your first?”

When I first began this journey, I thought those would be the difficult questions. But they aren’t.

Those are easy.

My standard reply: “She is my second.”

Simple and true, natural and honest. I have experimented with lying and passing Evie off as my first child, but ignoring Maisy’s existence has never felt right to me. This is an answer I am comfortable with. I don’t hesitate. I can even say it with a smile. The hard part is the question that always follows:

“How old is your first?”

Sometimes I respond, “Eight months.”

Maisy Lane is forever eight months old. But that just raises more questions, because now, her little 10 December 2019

than my first?

Other times, I respond “She’s two and a half.”

That’s how old she should be. It accurately reflects the spacing between my daughters. It keeps the snarky “first-time mom” comments, which I often receive due to my over-protective behavior with Evie, at bay. Still, this answer encourages tougher questions, like “Does she love having a little sister?” to which I don’t have an easy answer.

Other times, this response solicits unintentionally hurtful comments like “Wow! I bet you have your hands full.” You see, my hands aren’t full. They’ll forever be half empty. There is a gaping hole in my arms, and heart, where my daughter, Maisy, should be.

When a child’s parents die, he or she becomes an orphan. When a person loses a spouse, the person becomes a widow or widower.

When a parent loses a child, there isn’t a word for that. It’s an out-of-order death.

This kind of loss is incomprehensible for most people. It shouldn’t happen. The pain is so unimaginably excruciating that

FEED MORE THAN Maisy Lane Hummer

8 months old

Just Your Family.

society doesn’t even a word to describe a person that survives it. Yet somehow, I, and others like me, have survived. We are here, every day, living in a world without our children.

My daughter Maisy was a happy, healthy, 8-monthold little girl. She loved animals. Her laugh was contagious. Maisy was curious and social. She enjoyed nature and being outside. Maisy had bright hazel eyes, eight teeth, and ears that stuck out just past her headband. She was loved, oh so very loved. Maisy had never been left to cry. She still nursed throughout the night. Many of her waking hours were spent in a baby carrier strapped to her mommy or daddy.

“How old is your first?”

It should be a simple question, but it isn’t. The stranger presenting this question will either be the recipient of a lie or a gut-wrenching sob story. It’s hard on me. When I talk about it, I can feel my body experience every emotion all over again. It’s like picking at a scab; the wound is constantly reopened and raw. It’s exhausting. But it’s hard for the innocent strangers, too, to handle such a tough conversation when all they really wanted was small talk. People don’t want to have conversations like that. It’s uncomfortable. Still, they experience this discomfort for only a few minutes. As for me? I live there.

It’s been just over two years since our babysitter called me to tell me that Maisy wasn’t breathing.

It’s been two years since I held her lifeless body at the hospital. It’s been two years since I held her close to me, begging her to nurse, begging her to take a breath. It’s been 2 years since our loved and trusted babysitter was arrested for causing her death. Time has changed things, and the pain isn’t the same as it used to be.

In the beginning, it was physical. During the first few weeks following Maisy’s sudden death, I couldn’t breathe. There was a

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heavy pain in my chest and stomach.

I hurt so much that I found myself screaming. With time, the pain has become less physical. I struggle to breathe less often. It has evolved into a dull ache, not as sharp as it once was. It is more manageable, but it never goes away. How could it go away?

and soon, a first birthday. Each moment that I experience with Evie presents as a joyous one while simultaneously serving as a reminder of the joy we have lost.

Despite the immeasurable pain we have endured, we have also been the recipients of support and grace.

I once read that grief is love with My co-workers, my students, nowhere to go. I agree with and my students’ families that statement. The love a rallied around me in love. parent feels for a child is like At an age where children nothing else in the world. are known to be selfish and She isn’t here, but that not particularly sensitive, doesn’t lessen the strong I found the opposite to be bond I feel for her. Would true. I will never forget the I have stopped loving her if letters and emails I received she were still alive? Of course from students over the Maisy Lane Hummer not. Her death doesn’t change months that followed Maisy’s the love in my heart. It just has death. I found a wonderful nowhere to go. I will always love support group at Rolling Hills her; therefore, I will always grieve.

Baptist Church in Fayetteville. The relationships I made there allowed me Many things are forever changed after to feel understood by the only other losing Maisy. I have two nieces that people in the world that could were very close to her in age. relate - other bereaved parents.

They were supposed to grow up together. When Maisy first I believe Maisy would met her cousins, I imagined have wanted our love years of matching outfits for her to be redirected and holiday get-togethers in into something good for her future. I was overjoyed another child, so each year that she would grow up with since her death, we have cousins so close in age. Yet, honored her memory by somehow, her cousins have buying Christmas gifts for a Evie Mae Hummer gotten older while Maisy has not. child that is close to Maisy’s I grieve more for my daughter with adjusted age. This year, we are each milestone they meet without her. buying for an almost 3-year-old. As we shop for a play kitchen, toy shopping Now that Evie has surpassed Maisy in age, cart, and a baby doll, the painful reminder that we everything is bittersweet. Each skill that Evie learns should be buying for her is tough. But the pain is a skill that Maisy didn’t get to master. and anger intermingle and coexist with the giving Each day that she experiences is a spirit that Maisy would have wanted us to have. day that Maisy didn’t get to see. Evie And that’s how life is now: incredibly sad, yet full dressed up in a Halloween costume, of goodness when we choose to see it. while Maisy’s will exist only as a dream on an unvisited Pinterest board. Evie Without Maisy, I keep moving forward, but I will will experience Thanksgiving, Christmas, never, ever move on.

2017

2019

If you are interested in following my grief journey, I have recently started a blog called Missing Maisy. https://missingmaisy.wixsite.com/blog If you have lost a child or know someone who has that is in need of support, reach out to Parents Left Behind, an organization in NWA for bereaved parents. There is strength in community, and you are not alone. https://www.facebook.com/parentsleftbehindar/

Neighbors, teachers and loved ones you’ve missed, we have a gift for all on your list.

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14 December 2019

Personal generosity.

Natural beauty.

Real community.

And new growth.

Mercy now cares for kids on our new Springdale campus.

With Mercy’s pediatric care close to home, it doesn’t matter whether you’re dealing with scrapes, sniffles, school or sports physicals, or annual check-ups.

You’re covered in Springdale.

Find your child’s Mercy pediatrician at mercy.net/SpringdaleKids

Mercy Clinic Pediatrics 4600 Mercy Lane l Springdale, AR 72762 (Intersection of Elm Springs Road and 48th Street)

Your life is our life’s work.

– this — ­

Holiday Season The elves at Peekaboo have been busy this Christmas season! Their mission? To find the perfect gift ideas for children, moms, and dads in stores and shops right here in Northwest Arkansas.

Label shopatlabel.com/brands/think-royln/

Little Feminist Collection. These little colorfully illustrated board books showcase portraits of real women with huge historical impact.

Each book showcases four women pioneers, artists, leaders, and activists.

Freckled Hen Farmhouse www.freckledhenfarmhouse.com

Think Royln Bags: the perfect tote bags.

Everyone needs a BFF by their side to keep life on track, and these are ours.

The horizontal quilted fabric is extra cozy, while still being edgy and effortless, and there are pockets a-plenty (but not too many) for organizing all your essentials.

116 W. Central Avenue . Bentonville

Mother’s Rings at David Adams Fine Jewelry www.davidadams.com

A must-have for any mother or grandmother. This unique piece of jewelry is engraved by hand with your child’s name to make it look as though your child wrote their name themselves. One ring per child, and designed to be stackable.

Custom Tee Rex www.customteerex.com Cy Fi Cycling Club is the watercolor illustration series for nerdy, nostalgic bike lovers by local artist Jayme Brandt.

Each signed, limited edition print includes a sticker sheet and button. Available online or in-store at our Eureka Springs and Bentonville locations.

16 December 2019

Holiday Gift Guide 2019 - Shop Local Dream Big Tents

www.dreambigtents.com; Facebook and Instagram: @dreambigtents.com jennifer@dreambigtents.com A Dream Big Tents sleepover provides a dreamy experience for your child and their friends. Each child will have a personal tent which includes a soft mattress and sheet, breakfast tray with glowing lantern, fun decorative pillows, plush blanket, fairy lights, bunting, and more. You choose the date and theme option and we deliver, setup and style, and return the next day to take it all away. We can’t wait to create a sleepover experience for you!

Bentonville Mercantile

www.bentonvillemercantile.com Where are the Bentonville Housewives? Bentonville Mercantile has several great items for you. Husbands take note for Christmas!

103 SE 2nd St, Bentonville, AR

Gifts for the aspiring musician or singer.

Piano, rainbow🌈piano, code🥁drum, live drum, bongos, new xylophones, and Carpool Karaoke mic.

Dilly Dally’s Toy Store 3301 Market St, Ste 103, Rogers www.dillydallys.com

Imagine Studios

www.imaginestudiosnwa.com (479) 619-6085 Custom Gifts: Create a holiday memory at Imagine Studios! We offer walk-in painting, gift cards, custom gift orders and more!

Merry Christmas

The perfect stocking stuffers for anyone with a sweet tooth!

The Mustache Goods and Wears www.shopthemustache.com 15 S Block Ave, Ste 105, Fayetteville

Bella Jack’s Children’s Boutique 3660 N Front St, Ste 1 Fayetteville

Holiday Gift Guide 2019 - Shop Local

Bella Jack’s Children’s Boutique 3660 N Front St, Ste 1 Fayetteville

Kate Austin Gifts shopkateaustin.com 3406 SE J Street, Suite 6 Bentonville

Kindness and Joy Toys Learn to Ride Classes

buddypegs.com/nwa

Kindness and Joy Toys kindnessandjoytoys.com 2852 N College Ave, Fayetteville

Give the gift of confidence to your kiddo this holiday season!

We believe bicycles build confident kids and connected families. Our programs help connect your family and teach your children critical life skills through a love of two-wheeled adventure. Learn more about our winter learn-to-ride classes at Bentonville Parks & Rec starting in January! www.buddypegs.com/nwa

BluTaylor Turbans are one of our favorite accessories for newborns, toddlers, and adults alike! Available online at www.blutaylor.com or at Oh Baby Boutique in Bentonville.

Perfect for indoor energy burning fun ... put the inflatable rocker under the tree!

Merry Christmas

Label

www.shopatlabel.com/brands/spanx Spanx leggings: When we’re getting ready for a night out, these fan-favorites are our new go-to! These faux leather leggings with Spanx’s signature Power Waistband keep you comfortable and confident all night or day. Available in several fun patterns, great basics + fun moto and quilted styles.

116 W. Central Avenue . Bentonville 479.224.9295 18 December 2019

davidadams.com

100 West Center, Ste 101 Fayetteville 479-444-7778

Holiday Gift Guide 2019 - Shop Local B is For Bentonville Children’s Picture Book Go to www.buddypeg.com and search under ‘SHOP’

This holiday season, bring the LOVE of cycling to a child’s bedtime story! Fall in love with these two dogs and their animal friends as they explore Bentonville, AR, the alphabet, and learn what makes the bicycle (and local bike shops) so amazing.

Chic Gypsy 89 W Main Street, suite 4 Farmington and 115 N Commerce Ave, Russellville (479) 267-2442

We’d love to help with your Christmas shopping! We have all the accessories to keep you warm this winter. This adorable warm, soft, and fluffy sweater would be a great gift. Top off the outfit or get some stocking stuffers with a Pom-Pom beanie, fringe earrings or key ring. We have a large selection of shoes to complete your style!

KIIPIX. KiiPix Smartphone Picture Printer is the easy and portable way to let the fun last forever.

Kindness and Joy Toys kindnessandjoytoys.com 2852 N College Ave, Fayetteville

Know Purpose

www.knowpurpose.com Our mantra is “you had a purpose before you had a name” (doesn’t have to necessarily be included blog + tees from the heart to the heart Free Shipping through Christmas

Freckled Hen Farmhouse

www.freckledhenfarmhouse.com Play Greenhouse Stir up everyones imagination with this beautiful indoor play greenhouse! Featuring climbing plants on the exterior design complete with potted plants, shuttered windows and outdoor creature friends and a classic striped roof and door.

Creature Crew Subscription Box thecreaturecrew.com The Creature Crew is a new monthly subscription service for kids 5 years and up that brings the wonders of the animal world directly home to them. Each month we introduce two animals, one kids may recognize and one less familiar, and their habitat. Members receive a box in the mail full of fun-to-read information pages, activities, puzzles, kid-friendly recipes, and a keepsake or scientific item or two—all focused on that month’s creatures.

NOW ENROLLING On-site speech-language, occupational, physical & behavioral health therapies for children Therapeutic preschool serving children 12 months - 5 years old Arkansas Better Chance classrooms Parents As Teachers training program Preschool Enrichment Program Nutrition - Nursing - Transportation After School Care - First Connections

THERAPY

EDUCATION 479-636-3190 3400 Woods Lane, Rogers, AR 72756 nwaSunshineSchool.org

SUPPORT

Amber J. Sills, MD | Amy Sarver, MD | Lisa Bearden, MD

500 SE Plaza Avenue Bentonville, Arkansas

y e s m a R y a s d n i L Meet

Photos by: Maura Dawn Photography

I was born and raised in Northwest Arkansas, but, due to my husband’s job, ended up living in numerous places throughout the Southeastern US before moving back to NWA three years ago. The desire to own and manage a toy store--though not necessarily a brick-and-mortar place--was born during of the early days of my parenthood, when I first realized that I wanted to find quality things for my kids to play with that would last, hold their attention, and that weren’t always tied to the ‘latest character’ or fad. I felt like I needed to be taught how to teach my kids to play! What did those building blocks and milestones for creative play look like, I wondered, and what was the best way to help my kids get there? In this age, technology will be a part of our children’s lives, for better and for worse, so it’s all the more important to provide 24 December 2019

opportunities for creative play, and to help them grow in their ability to play. As my kids grow, this desire only grows stronger!

Today, I’m happy to say that my dream came true, and we own a retail toy store called Kindness & Joy Toys. When brainstorming a name for our business, I wanted it to reflect both aspects of gift-giving and the JOY that play can bring. Thus, at Kindness & Joy Toys, we like to say that we celebrate the “kindness” of the giver and the “joy” of the recipient. I started my business in 2016, in Fayetteville, as a pop-up-style/online business, with $400 in toys from a social media marketing client in Houston. I had done some marketing work for her, and she offered to pay me in toys, so I accepted. I thought I might try the pop-up model because, at least at first, our toy store was going to

Bounce Battle They won’t just wander the aisles trying to$25.99 find something their kids will play with. In our store, we will help them find age-appropriate toys that will bring great joy!

Whether you shop online or in the store, Kindness & Joy Toys I love when I hear kids saying, “That was the best store ever... Mom, can we come back?” can help you find a unique, In the community, I want to be a source of joy. We age appropriate gift also support local schools and in particular two for every child organizations in Fayetteville that are giving back to children: 99 Balloons and Potter’s House. on your list this year!

This holiday season, we are looking forward to

be a side hustle--something fun to play with when we moved to NWA. I held my first pop-up shop at Rick’s Bakery during tax-free weekend, which was pretty stressful, but successful. We just loaded up the minivan and created our shop! Another amazing experience that I’ll never forget was the the very first time we did the NWA Boutique Show.

This annual show, held each November, was crazy busy for us, and we nearly sold out! It was at that point that I realized that I definitely wasn’t the only momma interested in unique, high quality toys that bring great joy.

Our community-minded personal approach is what makes us different. Honestly, connecting with moms is my jam! Motherhood can be a lonely place, and I love that Kindness & Joy Toys is purposefully a place of community and refuge.

Friday mornings in the shop may be my favorite, as it’s not uncommon to have as many as twenty kids in the shop with their moms, often who have never met before, connecting meaningfully within our four walls. It’s amazing that we got here, because I always joke that I never intended to Rainbow Overnight own an actual retail toy store! We started with Bag $49.99 little successes, and just kept transforming along the way, snowballing to where we are now. I have loved getting to use my marketing skill set toFoldable promote and grow a$65.99 Primo Scooter business from the ground up.

helping families be intentional with the gifts that they give. After all, we never have anyone walk in our store that doesn’t want to give the perfect gift! My staff and I look forward to working with each customer who walks through the door to help bring JOY to the little ones who open these gifts.

I so wish I could be in each home on Christmas morning to experience all the joy. Enjoy the holiday season, and stop by Kindness & Joy Toys to see what creative play and mindful community looks like for yourself!

When families come into our store I want them Air Fort $49.99 to experience play and I want them to experience community. In a world where everything is at our fingertips, I know that more than ever as I parent, I want to be intentional with my time with kids and with the gifts that I give. When parents come in our store, we are going to help them with that intentionality.

479-387-0565 store 2852 N College Ave website kindnessandjoytoys.com

Hiding Hedgehogs $25.99

Craft-tastic DIY Puffy Charms $17.99

phone

@kindnessjoytoys @kindnessandjoytoys

We will wrap it for you!

M

Last Lights

y daughter can’t comprehend why Christmas lights and decorations aren’t put up immediately following Labor Day, though if she truly had her way, the ideal date would be more like July 5th. She can tell you, with stunning accuracy, the number of days until Christmas–at any time of the year. Her current playlist, no matter what month, mood, or mix, includes Christmas music. It’s kind of jarring to listen with her and hear Post Malone, Juice WRLD, and Travis Scott, followed by Burl Ives, but it’s also a source of high-level dad pride. Why? Because she craves the Christmas vibe, the Christmas groove, the Christmas spirit, no matter the time of year or temperature. She loves the feeling of Christmas: the baking, the parties, the candlelight services, the family time, and the way everyone calls timeout on all the pettiness--turns it down a notch, refocuses, gives back and gives in to the spirit.

Each fall she enters full-on Garfield mode (you know, the old-school plush toys with suction cups that stick against the car window) looking for the first glimpse of a Christmas tree, twinkling lights or a blow-up Santa, since she can then form a convincing argument that our own decorations should now be up. Her goal is to be the first house on the block to be, pardon the pun, “lit.”

And as eager as she is to put up the decorations, she is equally stubborn when it comes time to take them down. Once we finally do, there is a good bit of sulking as the home-made ornaments and reindeer plates are packed up until next year. My feeling is she’s sad because she knows the Christmas spirit is often packed away with the decorations.

And lord help me if she spies any house that has their lights up longer than ours, as she will then immediately place me on the ‘naughty list.’ The simple truth is, she just really doesn’t want to let go of Christmas. Sure, to some degree it’s about presents, but as I’ve stated here before, it also has 26 December 2019

a lot to do with presence (being around her friends and family).

So, last year, we channeled out inner Griswald and had lights put on our house. Could I have done it myself? Perhaps. Would I have fallen off the roof, broken both arms, wrists, elbows, all fingers, and been unable to type this article? Most definitely.

Instead, I asked my former Walmart Product Development Manager’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend to put them up (I know, that’s random, but that’s who he is). Before you ask, no, he didn’t fall and he did a spectacular job scaling the roof in a cat-like manner that would have made Spiderman blush.

He truly did exceptional work installing dozens of strands of lights… but, like Santa, he disappeared after December 25th and could not be found to remove said lights. Since my fear of death by close contact with cement outweighed by fear of our POA, I decided to leave them up and hoped the POA police wouldn’t notice.

Then, last spring break, some friends watched over our house and fed our spoiled-rotten-pooch-thatcan’t-be-boarded while we were out of town. On one particular morning, they had their son come over to maintain the mutt. Having never been to our house before, he turned the garage light on, or so he thought, to find the dog food. And like every sixteen-year-old boy on planet Earth, he didn’t turn the light off when he left. Well, the switch he turned on wasn’t the garage light--it the exterior Christmas lights, still up, in late March.

When our friends came back that night to check on the canine, they found our house lit up in full Christmas splendor. They called us laughing hysterically and said they considered singing carols, but knew the neighbors may not have the same spirit (and that definitely would have landed me in POA jail). Instead they turned them off, but listened to Christmas music on their way home.

Thus, my daughter got her wish. We were the last ones with our lights up and the Christmas spirit continued.

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Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Paul Haas, Music Director SoNA & Walton Arts Center present

The Snowman: A Family Concert

SUNDAY DEC. 22, 2019 – 2PM $ 10 Walton Arts Center SoNA musicians bring to life the magical score from the award-winning film The Snowman during this unforgettable performance for children of all ages!

Sponsored by the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation Image © Snowman Enterprises Limited (thesnowman.com)

Tickets On Sale Now! / sonamusic.org / 479.443.5600

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CHILDREN CAN DEVELOP THE SAME MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AS ADULTS, BUT SYMPTOMS MAY BE DIFFERENT. Children can develop all of the same mental health conditions as adults, but may express them differently. This can make them more difficult to identify.

If you believe that your child may be struggling with a mental health condition, a research study could be an option. Children ages 12 and older that qualify and participate receive care from doctors and other medical staff and no cost. Compensation for time and travel expense may also be available.

Consider a research study for your child.

To learn more call:

479.231.3051

WHAT SHOULD YOU WATCH FOR IN YOUR CHILD FOR SIGNS OF A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION? Drastic changes in behavior or personality like frequent fighting, out-of control-behavior, and overwhelming fear can be warning signs.

Feelings of withdrawal and sadness lasting 2 weeks or more or severe mood changes that affect home or school life.

Headaches and stomachaches may develop over sadness and anxiety.

Trouble sitting still or focusing at school leading to poor grades could be a warning sign.

At Pediatric Dental Associates and Orthodontics you’ll discover that we go the extra mile for our patients! From the moment you see our office, you’ll know what we mean. We have a fully themed environment that is comforting and fun for your children.

We offer preventive, restorative, and orthodontic services for kids ages 0-18.

We also specialize in dental care for children with special needs.

1607 E. Rainforest Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703

801 SW Regional Airport Blvd.

Bentonville, AR 72712

Fayetteville: 479-582-0600

Bentonville: 479-268-5000

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We accept all insurances and we are in-network with Delta Dental, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, ARKids, Delta Dental Smiles, and MCNA. peekaboonwa.com 29

The Sugar Shack

LOVING PEOPLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

by: Jenn Jacobs When I think about the Sugar Shack, I smile; however, it has not always been a smile. There were a lot of tears... so many tears.

Growing up, I didn’t have the picture-perfect fairy tale life. I am a daughter of two incredible people whose young love did not stand the test of time through the trials of life. They divorced when I was around four years old. They were both so young, and Mom kept us girls afloat by working long shifts at multiple jobs. Daddy was young, and it wasn’t until he and I were much older that he was consistent in our lives. My grandparents filled the gaps with weekends spent at their house on the lake and vacations–-simple things, but such big things. My grandpa was truly my father figure-I watched the way he loved my granny. He was a big ol’ teddy bear; however, if you didn’t know him, you might think he was gruff. He didn’t speak much, but when he did, you listened.

Fast-forward to January 2011. Scott and I had been married nine-and-a-half years, and we had just welcomed our second child. My granny called 30 December 2019

me, and I knew something was wrong because she wanted to talk to me before they came to see us and the baby. She informed me that my Pa had cancer. I am a fighter, so this was just a bump in the road. We were going to fight this and win. The days and weeks turned into months. There was really no improvement. I realized quickly that we might not be able to beat this--that the big C-word might actually win. Every chance I had, I sat at his bedside between being a mother and working fulltime. The last weekend he was here on this earth, Scott asked me Friday before I left, “How long will you be gone?” I looked back at him and said, “I’m not sure!” I was gone all weekend. Finally, on Sunday evening Pa gained enough strength to look at me and said “Go home, go be with your boys and Scott, sugarbump.” I reluctantly grabbed my bags and left. On my trek up I-40, I called Daddy, as he was living in Tennessee, and told him that would be the last time I saw Pa this side of heaven.

That was a stormy night in May, the night of the Joplin tornado, in the wee hours of the morning, I received a phone call, my daddy on the other end: “He’s gone.” I can tell you everything about that

moment. Time stood still. All our family made our way to that house on the lake to grieve together, to reminisce and to lay Pa to rest. Over the next few months, I started spending time in the kitchen. I would turn on worship music, bake, and cook. I found peace in being in the kitchen.

In late 2012, Daddy moved his family back to Arkansas to be closer to the family and to be able to help Granny when needed. We were ecstatic that they would be so close again. They would be able to be present in our lives.

We spent a lot of time again on I-40 during the spring of 2013. My older sister was having some struggles of her own, and I would take her back and forth to our dad’s house. She was always closer to my dad than I was. She needed him. She needed his stability. She needed his convictions.

She needed everything he was and then some. In April 2013, I received a call from my little sister, who was 12 at the time. Our dad had collapsed and had a massive heart attack while at her softball tournament in Southaven, MS. I immediately left my event, picked up my older sister and rushed to Southaven. As I was leaving town, I called Scott and told him of the events. He asked, “How long will you be gone?” I replied, just like before, “I’m

The Sugar Shack

not sure.” Our family spent ten excruciating days in the ICU waiting room. I found myself again sitting at the bedside, watching someone fight for their life. Ultimately, his body gave out and he went to be with Jesus.

After the dust settled, I found myself baking in the kitchen with worship music playing. Baking not only is my therapy, it’s my love language. I feel that if you cook for someone, you are loving them from the inside out. I made it through the grief of losing my Pa and daddy by loving people from the inside out.

STORY CO NTINUED O N NEXT PAG E

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In the early part of 2016, we made the choice to answer the call the Lord had placed on my life when I was 18 to adopt a child. We made it through the mounds of paperwork and meetings, and in the fall of 2016 we met a boy: our boy. Yet again, we spent our weekends on I-40 going to visit him in Little Rock. Everything was going great, until it wasn’t. Mother’s Day weekend of 2017, our adoption failed. This picture of what we thought God wanted for our family failed. In the midst of my grief and loss of a failed adoption, I was back in the kitchen, baking. We took a break that summer from everything, no talk of adoption--we were just seeking the Lord’s plan for our family. In October of 2017, I received a call from our worker with a possible match: a little girl under two. Not our plan at all. The phone call itself sparked joy in our hearts. A breath of fresh air, so to speak. As with everything, we saw this as God’s timing. We spent the winter with great expectations of possibly a baby girl joining our family. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. For this reason, or that reason, everything kept getting delayed.

Early in February of 2018, I received a phone call from my momma. My older sister was in the hospital and not doing well. The trauma we had experienced as children and into adulthood had taken its toll on her. Our relationship had become filled with turmoil over the years and her struggles had placed a wedge between us. As soon as the call was made, we went. Scott and I visited with her for a few minutes, I told her how much I loved her, and she did the same. Then she drifted off to sleep. The next few days we spent at her bedside while she fought for her life. Ultimately, her body was tired, and she went to be with Jesus. As expected, I was back in the kitchen, loving people from the inside out. Just a couple of days after we laid her to rest, we received a call from our adoption worker. We had officially been matched with our little girl. We spent the majority of the summer 2018 engulfed with all things adoption and our little girl. Our This holiday season, you will find The Sugar Shack and our family at the Wonderland Christmas Tree Farm in Pea Ridge AR, loving each person who visits from the inside out. http://thesugarshackandmore.com/ FB and Instagram @thesugarshacknwa Phone: 479-841-0507 Email: thesugarshackorders1@gmail.com 32 December 2019

schedule was based on visits and meetings. Even though everything seemed to be falling into place, I was still hesitant, as I was still working through the grief of the death of my sister. I perfected my cinnamon roll recipe and kept loving people from the inside out.

My right hand man at The Sugar Shack (our oldest son) was planning a mission trip to Haiti for early January 2019. He needed to raise funds for the trip, so we thought we could sell a few pans of cinnamon rolls to help with his trip. To our surprise, we made almost 100 pans of cinnamon rolls and completely paid for his trip. Several people during the fundraiser spoke into my dream of having a bakery. Each time, I would jokingly say, “When the kids get older,” though it wasn’t until our adoption specialist pushed back.

Why? Why wait until the kids are grown? Why not do it now? I honestly never thought about actually opening The Sugar Shack in this season of our life, in the midst of raising kids ages 14, 8, and 3, with both of us working full-time jobs.

Through the holidays, I made several batches of pies, cookies, and anything that was requested.

Still loving people from the inside out. My honest thought was, “This will die down after the holidays.” Much to my surprise, it did not. This past summer we actually purchased “The Shack.”

She is a 1978 Argosy, and Scott, the kiddos, and I spent two weeks refurbishing her and creating her in all her glory. People often ask me, “What is your plan with The Sugar Shack?” I tell them I have no plan... this is God’s plan. As He opens doors, we will be obedient and walk through them, saying.

“Yes, Lord.” It was never my plan to have trauma in my childhood, lose precious members of our family so early in life, or have a failed adoption... but through all of this, God’s plan has given us the beauty of The Sugar Shack, the beauty of loving people from the inside out from all the ashes of my grief. I see pieces of each season of grief in The Shack.

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LO O K A N D F E E L

YO U R B E S T At Women’s Health Associates, we want you to feel confident about every aspect of your life, including how you look. That’s why we offer a number of aesthetic services designed to help you be your best self at every stage of your life.

FA C I A L S Designed to help you put your best face forward, let us help you discover a more beautiful and youthful-looking you. All facials include an in-depth skin analysis, cleansing and exfoliation of the neck, face, and décolleté.

Also Offering: Dermaplaning | Microneedling | Chemical Peels | Microdermabrasion

I N J E C TA B L E S A N D D E R M A L F I L L E R S As we age, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat and the “plump” look of our youth. Injectables and dermal fillers can be used to help diminish facial lines and restore volume and fullness in the face. Plump thin lips, enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of recessed scars.

Offering: BOTOX® Cosmetic | JUVEDERM®

I N T I M AT E W E L L N E S S CO2RE Intima vaginal treatments help restore your vaginal health… and help you rediscover what you’ve lost. The procedure only takes a few minutes and many women report symptom relief after the very first treatment. The treatments use laser energy to stimulate healing and renewed collagen that results in increased elasticity and natural lubrication, decreased urine leakage, and more pleasurable sex.

B O DY C O N T O U R I N G Love the idea of reshaping your body, but not the reality of incisions or scars? Our non-invasive procedures don’t require any incisions and deliver noticeable results. The treatments work to improve the appearance of cellulite, reduce dimpled skin, and tighten skin on the abdomen, love handles, hips, thighs and other areas that require fat reduction. BodyFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in larger body areas such as the abdomen, back (flanks), and thighs. MiniFX addresses problematic fatty tissue in smaller areas like the neck, arms, and knees. Forma tightens the skin on the face, neck and hands.

Also offering: Photo facials with Lumecca | Laser Hair Removal | Waxing Spider Vein Treatment

500 SE PLAZA AVENUE BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS

479-876-8111 www.whanwa.com 34 December 2019

Holidays It’s been an honor and pleasure to care for your family this year.

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year!

3730 S. Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Suite 3 Rogers | (479) 464-5597 Monday-Friday, 8am-5:30pm

3383 N. MANA Ct., Suite 101 Fayetteville | (479) 443-3471 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

nwapediatrics.com

3380 N. Futrall Drive Fayetteville | (479) 442-7322 Monday-Friday, 8am-7:30pm Saturday, 8am-11am

WHY BICYCLING MATTERS

by: Jannine Fitzgerald, Founder, Buddy Pegs Media and Buddy Pegs Learn To Ride There’s no going back, you’re in the holiday season now… go! Scramble to another holiday party, add a few more decorations to the house, blast out the holiday cards, and check off a few more presents on your shopping list. Our family loves the holidays but sometimes all the celebrating can feel a bit… overwhelming.

Whether or not you feel overwhelmed, or how you celebrate the holiday season as a family with young children, it’s likely you share three things in common with the rest of today’s parents: 1) You feel busier than you really want to be, 2) You incorporate a lot of gift-giving, especially to your kids, 3) And… a bicycle is not on the list of things your kids asked for this year.

1 and 2 are somewhat obvious, but why include #3? Well, in the last generation, the number of kids

36 December 2019

riding bikes in the US dropped by 43%. Since we’re often seen as experts in early childhood cycling, a lot of people ask us how this happened. Sure, digital technology can easily be seen as the culprit -- especially since the average US child now has over 7 hours of screen time EACH DAY -- but we believe there’s a bigger reason for the steep decline in what used to be the most iconic marker of childhood.

As parents of a young child ourselves, we can relate to current research that says modern parents’ top concern for their children is protection. So of course, the thought of our kids heading out the door to free-range the neighborhood on bikes is simply out of the question. What was once a normal part of the American childhood, kids riding bikes out of our sight, is now a thing of the past.

Without the motivation of unknown adventures away from the safety net of home, combined with the pull of digital technology, how can we expect kids to get excited about mastering the bike? And more importantly, why does it even matter? As former owners of a Top 50 US Bike Shop (20022014), we spent a lot of time thinking about both those questions before we had an epiphany that led to our answers.

It began in our living room one evening, watching our pre-schooler zoom his Thomas train around the living room as my wife and I flipped open the laptop. Swimming registration was about to go live and we were ready to pounce! You probably know how crushing it is to miss a popular sign up.

That’s when it hit us… what if there were fun children’s media characters (like Thomas) that inspire kids to ride bikes, plus a framework of classes (like swimming) that taught them how?

From that point on, we sold our bike shop and devoted our lives to developing Buddy Pegs, a “Family Adventure Media” company that helps parents introduce their children to bikes.

How does it work? To start with, you need to meet our lovable animal characters who ride bikes and live in the fictional town of Spokesville. These bike-riding dogs and cats (who work at a bike shop called Buddy Pegs) come alive in our beautifully illustrated children’s picture books and original storytelling podcasts for kids... fun tools that help you introduce biking to kids 2 to 7 years old. Try it out - our new picture book, B Is For Bentonville, is perfect for a bedtime story!

real magic continues when that family adventure carries into middle school and high school.

Because, here’s the thing: the shocking statistics about screen time and technology-fueled anxiety, depression, and suicide present themselves during the older years of childhood... but you have to prepare for it now, when your kids are young. Take the time in early childhood to build a framework of shared family bike adventures and you’ll really be building up the strongest defense you can against the realities that lie ahead. Remember, it’s pretty hard to hold a phone when you’re holding the handlebars.

After traveling coast to coast for 8 months last year, we fell in love with NW Arkansas and decided to move our family here so we could launch a national model for early childhood/family cycling.

Together, let’s collectively raise strong kids by raising riders. Visit www.buddypegs.com to learn more.

Next, build upon that initial curiosity by enrolling your future bikers in one of our Buddy Pegs Learn To Ride classes (held all around NW Arkansas).

Our classes are led by fun and dynamic coaches trained in social-emotional learning techniques that help your child become twice as excited to ride! And yes… it’s totally okay to have someone else teach your child to ride a bike. You’ll probably all be happier for it!

Now hold on, the title of this article is “Why Bicycling Matters”. To us, bicycling matters for many reasons but it matters most because of the life skills it helps young children develop. When a child learns how to ride a bike, they also learn how to develop resilience, self-confidence, and a deeper connection to the world around them. Developing emotionally durable kids should be the top priority of all of us, especially given the staggering year over year rise of childhood anxiety, depression, and suicide. When a child learns to balance on a bike, it translates into balance in life.

But wait, there’s more! Riding a bike is not just an individual pastime, it’s a shared family experience that begins at 2 years old thanks to the new pedalless ‘balance bikes’. What other sport allows you to head out on a family adventure with your child propelling themselves independently? This very

This holiday season, give the gift of freedom, self-confidence and shared family adventure to the kids in your life. All of us at Buddy Pegs are here to help! Thanks for adding our books and classes to your holiday list this year. You can also purchase high-quality kids bikes from woom, Prevelo and Trailcraft directly through us and get a free book.

(Orders in by 12/11 - sales@buddypegs.com) www.buddypegs.com Happy Holidays and we hope to see you and your family at one of our upcoming classes or events.

BUDDYPEGS.COM/NWA

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38 December 2019

Dr. Averitt, Megan, Staci & and the staff of Best Start Pediatric Clinic would like to welcome our new Nurse Practitioner, Bessie Smith, APRN.

5 2 25+ "must do's" in

december Santa at the Mall Pinnacle Hills Promenade

Custom Tee Rex T-shirt Painting Party Custom Tee Rex www.customteerex.com All Month Long Become a maker by creating and printing your own design with a Custom Tee Rex Design + Digital Painting Party. Have your party at the most fun place to make t-shirts! Every participant is involved in creating and printing their own design for their own individual party favor. Options for a behind0-the-scenes look at digital printing or screen printing are available.

Each party includes: -two hours in our print shop -design time for creating individual designs -digital printing for individual designs on tees or totes -button-making Each person will come away with a tee or tote with their personal design and a button ($29.00 retail value).

Geared for ages 5 and up.

40 December 2019

‘Tis the season! If you’re looking for a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday season, look no further—we’re offering photos with Santa!

Create magical memories, make the holidays special, and take care of those wish lists—all in one place.

Through Christmas Eve.

Santa Arrives for Photos Northwest Arkansas Mall, Fayetteville In the Center Court, including Pet Nights with Santa on December 3rd and 10th from 6-8pm.

Santa’s Wonderland Bass Pro Shops on the Promenade Families are invited to enjoy this enchanting Christmas village offering FREE 4x6 studio-quality photos with Santa and free family holiday activities, including fun crafts and games. Features include rustic Christmas cabins, holiday characters, and live elves set among a dazzling backdrop of snow-covered hills and illuminated Christmas trees. The Santa’s Wonderland Christmas village offers remote control trucks and a laser/foam toy arcade, Lincoln Logs building area and much more. Kids can also enjoy free crafts, coloring stations, and writing a letter to Santa.

Lights Of The Ozarks Through December 31 5pm -1am nightly Downtown Fayetteville Square www.experiencefayetteville.com Enjoy the amazing winter wonderland of lights on the Downtown Square.

Nightly holiday activities, hot chocolate, and festive music make the Lights of the Ozarks an event that cannot be missed. Each year Fayetteville Parks and Recreation workers spend over 3,300 hours decorating the Downtown Square with over 400,000 lights.

Pony and Carriage Rides Pony rides and carriages rides Pony Rides: $6 per person Carriage Rides: $25 for the first two people, $10 for each additional adult and $5 for each additional child.

Santa Claus will be available during the following dates at the Fayetteville Town Center: December 1 from 6-9 pm December 5-8 from 6-9 pm December 12-15 from 6-9 pm December 19-23 from 6 - 9 pm

Grinchmas Musical // How the Grinch Stole the Light December 8 at 9am The Neighborhood Church, Bentonville Join us as we see the Grinch come from Mt. Crumpit to take the star over where Christ was born, and then watch as the Grinch meets all those guided by that star: the angels and shepherds and wisemen.

Join us on December 8th with the whole family. There will be a Grinch photo booth, snacks, and a great morning of hearing about Jesus Christ!

Gravette Christmas Parade December 7 at 4:30pm Main Street, Gravette

Jingle Jam: Unboxed

Christmas Parade on Main Street.

Before the parade begins, enjoy hot cider and crafts and the library’s open house. After the parade, the museum will have hot chocolate, cookies, hot dogs, and visits with Santa at the historic Kindley House. Plus, cast a vote in the annual police vs. fire chili cook-off!

Laugh and play together as you enjoy an interactive Christmas Experience.

Be ready for hot cocoa, cookie decorating, and even pictures with SANTA!! This event is FREE and no registration is required

Grace Point Church, Bentonville

December 13 at 6:30pm

Library Story Times: Fayetteville Public Library: faylib.org Rogers Public Library: rogerspubliclibrary.org

Caroling on the Creek December 6 and 13 at 5:30pm Shiloh Square, Springdale Tis the season for the Springdale Public Schools Caroling on the Creek! Mark your calendars for TWO magical nights of singing, celebrating, and Santa Claus! Hear holiday classics from elementaries, middle schools, junior highs, and high schools! Bring the whole family and celebrate the Seasons with your community.

Meet the Gymbacks December 8 at 2pm Barnhill Arena, Fayetteville Arkansas gymnastics will host its annual Meet the Gymbacks intrasquad. The meet will be free to the public, with doors opening at 1 p.m. Fans can bring a new, unwrapped toy for children of any age with proceeds benefiting those in need during the holiday season within Northwest Arkansas.

Bentonville Public Library: bentonvillelibrary.org Springdale Public Library: springdalelibrary.org Siloam Springs Library: siloamsprings.com

Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale

December 13 at 7:30pm and December 15 at 5pm

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever –This show follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.

A crowd favorite comes back.

Christmas in Camp December 7-8 Praire Grove Battle Field Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park will host a living history event that portrays the typical lives of soldiers in a winter encampment, while also highlighting some of the Civil War Christmas traditions. The Christmas camp will be open and free to the public on Saturday, December 7th from 8am to 5 pm and on Sunday, December 8th from 8am to 10am

pre-primary (2-4 years)

primary (5-12 years)

secondary

Engaging & Individualized

(12-21 years)

childrensABAteam.com peekaboonwa.com

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AYearWith

JAN. 25 ✹ FEB. 1 ✹ FEB. 8 8 SHOWS ✹ TICKETS $14 ✹ AGES 5+ Kids Series sponsor:

42 December 2019

Todd Hannah MD Lawrence Schmitz MD Brandi Alexander APN Lorie Oswalt APN

Bentonville Christmas Parade December 14 6-9pm Bentonville Square

A Christmas Story: The Musical December 10-15 Walton Arts Center

The Little Craft Show December 7 from 10am-4pm The Record, Bentonville

This year the theme is Let Your Light Shine, because it’s finally time for Bentonville to get a Night Parade again! Woo-hoo! Thousands of people line Main Street for the annual Christmas Parade! Enter a float or just enjoy the show - either way this is a wonderful tradition to share with family & friends. Of course it’s even better at night.

From the songwriting team behind the smash hit Tony Award®-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen and the You’re never fully dressed without a bunny suit!

Academy Award®-winning film La La Land, A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL brings the classic 1983 movie to hilarious life on stage!

Join us for our third annual Little Craft Show Bentonville! In true LCS style, we’ll have dozens of the best indie makers from around the region, a handful of great local food trucks, holiday drinks, and more.

It’s the best place to pick up a truly unique handmade gift for yourself or someone else!

Grinch Cake Class - Kid-Friendly December 12 at 6pm Rick’s Bakery · Fayetteville

Dec. 10-15 • 8 shows!

Springdale to Rogers “Christmas Parade” Train in Springdale December 6 at 6pm Arkansas & Missouri Railroad 306 E Emma Ave, Springdale Enjoy a ride to the Rogers Christmas Parade with a layover for two hours.

Departs out of Rogers at 9pm.

Rogers Christmas Parade 2019 December 6th at 7pm Downtown Rogers Broadway Series Sponsor:

Show Sponsor:

Media Support:

Beginning at 6pm, we will have some pre-parade festivities at the Frisco Stage. There will be a welcome from the Mayor along with a few announcements. The Parade will begin at 7:00pm.

Christmas Display Bentonville Heart Lites 5:30-10:30pm 3505 NW Edgewood Ave Bentonville We love putting on a Christmas show to help bring the focus of Christ in Christmas to families through our lighting display. We have run our show for four years and love doing it!

44 December 2019

Free Ornament Painting and Pics with Santa December 7 from 12pm-3pm James + James, Springdale

Buttercream cake decorating! Learn and decorate your own Grinch cake with our buttercream icing on a 4”x6” mini Tiered Cake! Learn techniques using icing tips and tools! Create one all your own or team up with a friend or family member and share it together! All supplies and instructions provided. Option of white or chocolate cake. This is a kid-friendly class. Recommended for children 5 years old and up

The Polar Express December 23 at 7pm Walton Arts Center Put on your PJs and join us for some hot chocolate, a photo with Santa and a special screening of the family-favorite Christmas movie about a young boy on a ride to the North Pole!

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO REACH THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE EMAIL: EDITOR@PEEKABOONWA.COM

MULTIPLE SIZES OF ADS TO FEATURE YOUR BUSINESS, IN NWA’S PREMIER FAMILY MAGAZINE!

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The Grinch December 7 at 1pm Arkansas Public Theatre

Sweets with Santa (ages 4-8) December 14 at 10am Fayetteville Public Library Fayetteville Public Library Celebrate the holidays with sweet treats, crafts, and everyone’s favorite - SANTA! This event is for ages 4 through 8.

Registration is required.

The Nutcracker presented

by The Conservatory December 8 at 2pm Arend Arts Center, Bentonville

Jingle Bell Jog 5K and Children’s Fun Run December 7 Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Join us for a festive morning of fun, fitness and holiday magic on Saturday, December 7th at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.

This is a great event for folks of all ages and fitness levels. Proceeds support the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks’ mission to provide education, entertainment and recreation for the over 80,000 guests who visit the garden each year.

The 2019 performance of The Nutcracker presented by The Conservatory will feature Guest Artists from NWA Ballet Theatre and Principal Guest Artists from New York’s American Ballet Theatre.

Miracle on 34th Street December 14 from 2:30-4pm Fayetteville Public Library The Northwest Arkansas Audio Theater (NWAAT) will present the audio play Miracle on 34th Street under the direction of Laurie Anderson. NWAAT presents theatrical productions in the style of radio theater as performed during the 1940s, complete with actors, music, and sound effects. As the studio audience, you will get to participate in the story. Come join us and be reminded that Christmas miracles can certainly happen!

48 December 2019

A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville. This screening is general admission at $5 per person. Tickets may be purchased on the APT website at www. arkansaspublictheatre.org or at the APT Office at 479-631-8988 (Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm).

The screening will be held at the Historic Victory Theater, 116 S 2nd St, Rogers, AR 72756.

Cookies for Heroes December 25 at 6am Let’s bring cookies and other goodies to the fine men and women who protect and serve us all year round and have to work Christmas Day!

© Snowman Enterprises Limited (thesnowman.com)

The Snowman: A Family Concert presented by Walton Arts Center and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas Baum Walker Hall December 22nd Returning by popular demand an NWA holiday tradition perfect for all ages! Join us for the 3rd annual screening of the 1982 Academy Award®-nominated film The Snowman. Once more, SoNA musicians will bring to life the film’s extraordinary score along with other holiday favorites in an afternoon that is sure to enchant your whole family.

How it works: Bring cookies (or breakfast, snacks, presents - really anything that will brighten their day!) to your local police department, fire department, or hospital!

Springdale Fire Department Christmas Open House December 7 from 12-2pm We will be opening our doors to the public to share some holiday cheer, display our equipment, and play some games. Snacks and drinks will be provided and Firefighter Santa will be sitting to hear Christmas wishes from the kids and take family pictures.

Consider bringing an unwrapped toy for our toy drive. All toys donated and any money from photos will go to provide presents for the kids at EOA Children’s House.

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Themed Tours of the Hawkins House Rogers Historical Museum rogershistoricalmuseum.org December 7 - January 4 Santa Claus hasn’t always been the jolly man in a red suit, nor has his name always been Santa. Come learn the history of Santa Claus while taking a tour of the Hawkins House.

Gingerbread House Workshop December 20th at 4pm Young Chefs Academy, Rogers Imagine you’ve happened upon a magical cottage of sweetest proportions… where rooftops are sugared with frosted shingles and chocolate doors are adorned with fruity wreaths. Licorice-lined windows entice you to peek inside while the salty bark of a tree stands at attention alongside sugary gumdrop bushes.

It’s not a fantasy! Join the holiday fun with Young Chefs Academy as we share decorating tips and tricks to bring your one-of-a-kind, sugar-coated gingerbread house to life! Cost: $40. Ages: 5 and up

Pizza Party with Santa December 20th at 6pm Art and Soul Studios NWA, Rogers Join us for our 2nd annual holiday event with Santa Claus! This year, the kiddos will enjoy a pizza party with the Big Guy! They will also be making a 9x12 fluid art painting, munching on sweet holiday treats and mingling with Santa himself! This event is $25.00 per child. All supplies and holiday cheer are included. We will also have someone on hand to takes pictures with Santa!

Breakfast with Santa December 7 from 9-12pm Praire Grove Senior Center Join Prairie Grove Senior Center on Saturday, December 7th for the 9th annual Breakfast with Santa! This year, we will be offering something very special as we’re having a meet and greet with your favorite superheroes! Visit with Santa, take a photo with a superhero, and stay for the ALL YOU CAN EAT pancake bar for only $3.00! All proceeds go to Prairie Grove Meals on Wheels.

Wonderland Christmas Tree Farm wonderlandtreefarm.com A real working tree farm environment with a hayride out to the fields, great atmosphere, and the service you want to begin your holiday decorating and season. Don’t forget to have the kids bring their letters to Santa, when you visit the farm. All letters with return addresses will receive an answer from Santa! Also, get a family photo in front of the 53’ Chevy truck on display during normal business hours, all decked out with a tree in the back and a wreath on the front!

50 December 2019

Bethlehem Revisited: A Drive Thru Nativity Lakeview Baptist Church Of NWA December 7 – December 10 6-8pm 1351 E Lowell Ave, Cave Springs This will be a six-scene display of all the events leading up to the birth of Christ! There will be live animals, CD narration in your vehicle, and a cast of 100+ people from Lakeview Baptist Church!

Come see this FREE event for all ages as we tell the gospel story that begins with the birth of Christ!

Cookies with Santa: Wrap and Paint December 7 Grace Point Church of NWA During the event, families are engaged in festive holiday activities, including pictures with Santa Claus, holiday crafts, kid created paintings, Elf Hip-Hop Dancing, reindeer rides, holiday treats and most importantly, cookie decorating!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town Santa at the Walmart Museum Dec.4: 5-9pm Dec. 15: 5-9pm Dec. 21: 9am-1pm Bring your camera and meet by Santa’s sleigh outside the 5 and 10 for pictures with St. Nick. Be sure to bring your camera!

Non-Traditional Christmas Gifts by: Frances Wilson ‘Minimalism,’ ‘mindful consumption,’ ‘decluttering,’ and even good old fashioned ‘tidying’ have been top buzzwords of 2019. If you’re one of the millions of folks worldwide who tuned in when Netflix dropped their hit “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” series earlier this year, or one of the millions that read the book version, “The LifeChanging Magic of Tidying Up,” the imminent arrival of the holidays and its requisite gift-giving bonanza may present a particular challenge to your ‘declutter’ mindset. After all, the holiday season isn’t known as ‘the Superbowl of retail’ for nothing.

Commercials are ramping up, wish lists are being drafted, and the Elf on the Shelf is stirring in the closet, ready to keep your kids in line with the promise of goodies on Christmas morning. Even if you aren’t a Kondo fan in search of inner peace via outward organization, this time of year can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. A thought: instead of buying the entire set of Paw Patrol cars from Costco to add to your toddler’s already impressive pile of merchandise, avoid the lines, the parking, and the other harried families altogether, and give gifts that aren’t necessarily material.

Of course, it might seem counterintuitive to purchase something that your littles can’t rip open with satisfied abandon, but gifting them with experiences, human connection, and their own generosity can be just as satisfying, ‘sparking joy’ in a different way. If your kids haven’t received gifts of this type, they’re likely to greet you with skepticism -- similar to how they were less than impressed with your Kondo purging, if you went down that road with them. We’ve pulled together a list of ideas, both local and worldwide, that may sway your family in the direction of a slightly less homogenous group of gifts this year. Hey, if nothing else, you’ve saved yourself a trip to the 52 December 2019

store, where you’d otherwise have to fight through traffic and desperate shoppers to find that extra Paw Patrol car. Take that extra hour and a half to hang out with your kids instead -- put on some fuzzy slippers, make hot cocoa, and throw on that claymation “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” special. Your family’s peace of mind is just as much a part of Peace on Earth as anything else this holiday season.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Eureka Springs, AR www.turpentinecreek.org | (479) 253-5841 The enduring popularity of Zootopia, Madagascar, and all things ‘talking Disney creatures’ point to a common theme among youngsters--fascination with the adventures of animals, the more exotic the better. If your kids (and you!) fall into the animal-loving camp, consider including a purchase benefitting Northwest Arkansas’ own Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in your holiday gift lineup. Drop by to visit the rescued big cats (think lions, tigers, and Napoleon Dynamite’s favorite... ligers!) and join P. A. W. Club, just for kids, which encourages advocacy for saving wildlife everywhere via fun educational events, a membership certificate, a subscription to Big Cats Newsletter, and a birthday gift! Not only that, but if you feel a connection to a certain animal, you can ‘e-adopt’ him or her, where you’ll get an adoption certificate and a photo of ‘your’ animal, with their biography. If you’d like to show your pride in being a Turpentine Creek supporter (and you just can’t shake your little one’s desire for a book on white tigers), the gift shop at Turpentine Creek is purrfectly wonderful, with gift cards and merchandise available. Lastly, there are gift cards available for

lodging at Turpentine Creek, where you can top off your weekend visiting the big cats by staying at the family-friendly ‘tree house bungalow’ or safari tents!

In that vein, any parent with a zoo-lover wild child can pick from a host of zoos worldwide to ‘e-adopt’ a favorite animal, supporting wildlife conservation and animal protection in the process.

Pick a zoo that you’ve been to--or perhaps one in a city where you have family, or visit often--find their sponsorship program, and allow your child to browse through the available animals to pick which animal they feel a connection with. The next time you’re in town, you and your kiddo can visit ‘their’ animal to say hello and see how your sponsorship dollars are going to work!

Kansas City: www.kansascityzoo.org/donations/adopt-a-wild-child/ Houston: www.houstonzoo.org/support/adopt-an-animal/ St. Louis: www.stlzoo.org/give/zooparentsprogram/animaladoptionlist

these aren’t donations--they’re microloans, and 96.7% of loans are repaid in full by those who borrow on the site. This means that, once you’re repaid, you can send that same money to someone else in need further down the line. It’s incredibly heartwarming to see how a few dollars go such a long way for people looking to improve their way of life in other, often destitute, parts of the world.

National Park Foundation Every Kid in a Park Program www.nationalparks.org/our-work/programs/npf-kids https://everykidoutdoors.gov/

Do you have a fourth grader who loves the outdoors--or is at least mildly curious about life outside of Minecraft and their Nintendo Switch?

The National Park Foundation has created the

THE MOST ADVANCED PERINATAL CARE

NOW IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Dallas: my.dallaszoo.com/donate/contribute2 San Francisco: www.sfzoo.org/support/donate/adopt-an-animal.html

Kiva

www.kiva.org Kiva is an internationally-minded nonprofit and online lending marketplace, founded in 2005 with the aim of addressing financial inequality worldwide via microloans. If your kids are learning about investing and charity work, this can be an excellent--and fairly low-cost, as loans start at $25--introduction to how these systems can work. You can scroll through the thousands of hopeful entrepreneurs and choose who to lend to, organizing your search by location, amount needed, type of business, single parents, and/ or eco-friendly, etc.. The most impressive part is,

We specialize in providing health care services for high-risk pregnancies.

Our staff includes obstetricians with expertise in maternal-fetal medicine, specially trained sonographers, skilled obstetrical nurses, registered dieticians with expertise in diabetes and genetics counselors.

Now taking appointments at 5414 Pinnacle Point Drive, Suite 300 Rogers, AR

Every Kid in a Park Program, which allows fourth graders to visit a US national park of their choosing for free. Your family doesn’t have to be enrolled in a traditional school to qualify, as the NPF allows for homeschool equivalencies to the fourth grade. The NPF even has a downloadable free activity map online, to color and keep track of which states and parks you’ve visited. Check out the rules and fun tips online, print out your pass, and start planning when you’ll be seeing a national park under the stars in 2020!

Jump Altitude Fayetteville and DEFY Rogers jumpaltitude.com/fayetteville/ defy.com/locations/defy-rogers/

For parents whose kids seem to have that unstoppable bouncing ‘Tigger energy,’ weekly playtime at NWA’s premiere trampoline parks is a must-do. Jump Altitude Fayetteville boasts activities as varied as extreme dodgeball, the trapeze, gymnastics tumble tracks, trampoline basketball, and a rock wall, as well as battle beam, performance trampolines, and a foam pit. Their location caters to a variety of ages and abilities, from ‘Toddler Time’ weekday mornings to ‘Sensory Sunday,’ held the first Sunday of each month, where jumping is more quiet and toned down.

While one hour is usually $15, you can pick up a pack of six or eleven Jump Passes for $60 or $110,

respectively. DEFY Rogers, another trampoline park, offers memberships for $17/month, which is a bouncin’ good deal. DEFY also has a special deal on a stocking stuffer--buy a $25 gift card, get a pair of special grip socks (essential for maximum safety and fun on the trampolines) for free!

NWA Fab Lab nwafablab.com

Maker Faires, which serve as a marketplace and venue for crafty, creative folks to ‘do their thing,’ have been popping up all over the place recently, so much so that ‘Mini Maker Faires’ have followed in kind almost as quickly. Kids, unsurprisingly, love to make things! The NWA Fab Lab is a community resource and makers’ hub for all ages 6 and up, with opportunities to learn and make on high-tech equipment, from woodworking and photography to 3D modeling and web design.

The emphasis on STEM is particularly timely, emphasizing the creative side of computer sciences and engineering. Membership rates for students 6 and up are $20 a month, though family rates are available. A membership at the NWA Fab Lab includes free or discounted rates on their classes, use of the art room and materials, use of computers and software, and more! Both your little budding artists and robot creators will find a spot here to learn and gain confidence in new mediums.

NWA Compassionate Gifts for Kids and Families No article about non-material holiday cheer is complete without mentioning the many wonderful organizations in Northwest Arkansas putting together gifts and opportunities for children who may otherwise go without. Allowing your child to be involved in the process of carefully choosing something for another child, whether a toy, a small donation amount, or a set of toiletries and clothes, can be a great opportunity to initiate eye-opening discussions about the world around us, and the importance of generosity when we’ve been given so much already. Here’s a brief and non-exhaustive list: The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Gifts: salvationarmyaok.org/nwarkansas/adopt/

Seven Hills Homeless Shelter Donations: 7hillscenter.org

Benton County’s Sharing and Caring Donation: sharingandcaringkids.com

Potter’s House Christmas: www.pottershousekids.com/phchristmas

Northwest Arkansas Toys for Tots: rogers-ar.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites /lco-sites/Default.aspx Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter Donations: nwacs.org 54 December 2019

Arkansas Children’s Hospital Festival of Stars Toy & Donation Drive: https://www.archildrens.org/support-us/volunteer-engagement/ festival-of-stars-toy-drive

C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

otlight p S s s e n i Bus Sweet Freedom Cheese sweetfreedomcheese.com The holiday season is upon us and entertaining and family parties fill our calendars!

Platters make the perfect addition to your next office party, family gathering, or any other festive occasion. This time of year the to do lists get longer than there is time for, so take making a beautiful charcuterie and cheese board off your list and let the experts handle it.

Email us at info@sweetfreedomcheese.com, visit our website for order forms, or call us at (479) 268-5867 to get started!

Photo by Sorella Photography

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The Symphony of NWA and Walton Arts Center Present

“T he Snowman: A Family Concert”

© Snowman Enterprises Limited (thesnowman.com)

B

ack by popular demand for a sixth season, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) and Walton Arts Center present the return of a very special holiday concert especially for children and families.

Under the baton of SoNA Music Director Paul Haas, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas will perform The Snowman: A Family Concert on Sunday, Dec. 22, at Walton Arts Center. The concert starts at 2 p.m. in Baum Walker Hall. Tickets are $10 and are on sale now.

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SoNA Presents “The Snowman: A Family Story” at Walton Arts Center on Dec. 22 Heartwarming Holiday Film Comes to Life In Big-Screen Orchestral Production Plus, Annual Christmas Pops Concert Youth Tickets are Free with Purchase of Adult’s

The Snowman is a special live production of the Academy Award-nominated, holiday hit film “The Snowman,” complete with an orchestral soundtrack that SoNA performs live. The film “The Snowman” is based on Raymond Briggs’ classic picture book of the same name, about a boy whose snowman magically comes to life.

After a heavy snowfall, a young boy spends a winter day making a snowman. The child can’t believe his eyes when his creation comes to life. Together, the boy and his snowman go on an enchanted adventure, soaring through the sky, making friends and meeting Santa Claus himself.

“All of us remember what it was like as a child to wish that our favorite toys or stuffed animals would come to life, in fact to believe they would!” Maestro Haas said. “This silent film, accompanied by an extraordinary score for virtuosic orchestra, brings that thought alive.”

58 December 2019

SoNA fans won’t want to miss the annual Christmas Pops concert that has become one of Northwest Arkansas’ favorite yuletide traditions. Under the baton of Haas, the symphony will perform A Very SoNA Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 21, with two show times – a 2 p.m. afternoon matinee and 7:30 p.m. evening concert. Both performances are in Baum Walker Hall.

A Very SoNA Christmas will delight audiences with a mix of holiday classics and new works celebrating the magic and beauty of Christmas.

Guest artists are the SoNA Singers, under the direction of Terry Hicks; the University of Arkansas Schola Cantorum, under the direction of Dr. Stephen Caldwell; and the Bentonville High School Chamber Choir, also under the direction of Hicks.

“Our Christmas concert is a showcase for the orchestra and some exceptional talent from Northwest Arkansas,” said SoNA Executive Director Matthew Herren. “It’s also a moving experience which is reflective of this time of year.

We’ll be playing both secular and sacred music, and, of course, there will be surprises.”

“It’s also a perfect concert for families, and we hope to welcome many patrons age 18 and under, who receive free admission this season,” Herren said.

SoNA is offering a limited number of free tickets for youth age 18 and under to any of the season’s mainstage concerts (all except The Snowman) with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Parents – secure your best seats now and bring the family!

Tickets for A Very SoNA Christmas and The Snowman: A Family Concert are going fast!

To purchase tickets, call Walton Arts Center’s box office at (479) 4435600 or visit sonamusic.org

by: Meagan Ruffing This past October marked the third year that “Children First” made its debut at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Bentonville. The K-6th grade program which is led by FUMC’s children’s pastor, Sadie Wohlfahrt, is the church’s most-attended service each month. This childrenled program is the only one in the country where the church service is completely led by youth.

“It will be a little more fun for the December one,” says Sadie. “We’re gearing up for Christmas.”

Sadie had a vision for FUMC and that vision included continual acceptance of everyone who walked through their doors; including kids. “The idea that children are not the future of the church [but that] they have something fully valuable to offer right now,” explains Sadie, is what prompted her to have kids lead the service once a month.

“They don’t need to reach a certain age to have a theology of God. Anything we do in church can be done by a child.”

The program began, as many dreamt up visions do, with just a handful of people. The first informal rendition of Children First started in a Sunday school classroom in the fall of 2016. “We had to prove ourselves over and over,” recalls Sadie. “It was a really cool thing and it’s the first time this has ever been done.”

Sadie is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 60 December 2019

a sixth-generation Methodist whose grandfather was Reverend Ray Stratton. You might consider him to be somewhat of an icon in the town where he preached, paving the way for equal rights with his trail-blazing attitude. Not only did he baptize Sadie, but he left an impression on her for the rest of his life that has proved to serve her well in the ministry-world.

Once a special education teacher for 10 years in Northwest Arkansas, Sadie says she felt the pull to do something else. She knew nothing about being a children’s minister when she was contacted by someone who had asked her to step into the ministry world. She felt God telling her that she needed to go and do this ‘thing’ for His kids at the church. Being obedient to that calling, Sadie accepted the role. “I wanted to do things differently,” she says. “We’re Bentonville people. This is our community and I believe that Children First has a role in reflecting that. This is an interactive, intergenerational worship.”

On average, the program has about 40 kids in the choir, sometimes more. The preschool choir, called Sprouts, has about 20 more children. Sadie tailored the church handouts to have picture symbols on them, so no matter what the age of the person who is worshipping, they can follow along either by looking at the pictures or reading the words.

With three kids of her own (two of them being twins), Sadie has included everyone. Her husband helps lead the worship and her children perform

in the program. There are a lot of families in the congregation attending worship and Sadie believes one of the beauties of church is getting to know and love other people as if they were your extended family.

Her favorite thing about the Children First program is the ownership she sees the kids taking and their lack of hesitation to lead. “I often ask kids to do things that are really scary,” says Sadie.

“But there’s first a relationship there. I never have to assign parts. The kids are always volunteering.”

Each Children First service is centered around a theme. Sadie says she picks each month’s theme based on current events or something the kids are concerned about. December’s theme will be ‘hope’ and she will do lessons and carols. She wants to take the Christmas story and relate it to our experience of God right now. “How do we not have it be this routine thing we do every year?” she asks. “How do we make it alive? How do we use this to think about the people around us? This is truly them [the kids] leading and presenting their thoughts about the scripture.”

Sadie looks at me and smiles. “I get to do my dream job,” she says. “I didn’t even think this existed.”

Want to Attend?

Who: Everyone What: Children First Service Where: FUMC When: Sunday, December 1, 2019 (and every First Sunday of every month at 9:45am in the sanctuary) *The Children First service runs 35 minutes.

TWINS BORN 135 DAYS APART at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital Having just turned three months old, Graham Shawver doesn’t know yet about the extraordinary circumstances of his birth.

save Graham. At just 9 ounces, Ethan was not able to survive. But the steps Dr. Canzoneri took next saved Graham’s life.

He is unaware of his twin brother, Ethan, born at just 18 weeks and too little to survive.

He gave Erin medications to stop her labor, performed a procedure called an amniocentesis to rule out infection, and quickly placed a cervical cerclage, stitching up Erin’s cervix to help slow or prevent the premature birth of Graham. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens to the vagina. Because Ethan and Graham were fraternal rather than identical twins, they were in separate amniotic sacs with separate placentas.

Although Ethan had delivered, Ethan’s placenta remained in Erin’s body.

He has no idea what a cervical cerclage procedure is – nor do most people for that matter – or that it saved his life.

But he’ll soon learn that what his mom and her physicians achieved – when he was born a phenomenal 135 days after his younger brother – is among the top world records. In fact, it was just short of the world record for asynchronous delivery of twins (meaning born at different times).

When Erin Burrell-Shawver got pregnant with her twin boys, she suffered hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness that causes severe nausea and vomiting. It caused her to lose 15% of her body weight. Because of the severe illness and higher risk that multiple births pose, her obstetrician Dr. Michael Clouatre referred her to Dr. Bernard Canzoneri, the region’s only boardcertified Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist.

But at just 18 weeks into her pregnancy, Erin’s water broke with “Baby A,” already named Ethan by Erin and her husband Chase. Dr. Canzoneri rushed to Willow Creek Women’s Hospital near midnight to very carefully deliver Ethan while attempting to 62 December 2019

“Typically, this type of cervical cerclage intervention only lasts for about 7-14 days on average,” Dr. Canzoneri explained. “But Erin delivered the second twin an unbelievable 135 days later.”

“When Erin delivered Ethan so early she was obviously devastated and scared. However, she was determined to keep Graham inside until he could survive. Few people can appreciate how sick she was, needing daily IV fluids due to her extreme nausea and vomiting. The required strict bed rest also took its toll but every time she came in she was smiling,” said Dr Clouatre. “We saw her much more frequently to make sure we were doing everything possible to help keep Graham inside. With the support of her family she was

able to accomplish this life-\saving feat. Erin truly is an amazing person. Hopefully Graham will appreciate all it took to get him here.”

After the procedure, Erin asked Dr. Canzoneri what the stats were for a good outcome for Graham. “He said there weren’t any good stats because this was so rare. He said the procedure might delay Graham’s birth by a couple of weeks.

But we defied the odds.”

After the procedure was performed, and Erin went home from the hospital, she went on complete bedrest to minimize the risk of another premature delivery. “At 36 weeks, I was able to get up and move around some. At 36-37 weeks, the cervical cerclage was removed. At 38 weeks my water broke.

We went to the hospital right away and Graham was born in 17 minutes.” Dr. Michael Clouatre’s partner Dr. Kent Mason delivered Graham.

Graham came home to a three-year-old sister, Bradlee, who is quite smitten with him, according to mom. The Burrells live in Gentry where Erin runs Marcy’s Grooming and Boarding.

“Despite loss of one of the twins, this is an absolutely amazing pregnancy outcome,” Dr. Canzoneri said.

“The world record for asynchronous delivery of twins is 154 days so we think this may one of the top 5 longest recorded time periods in the world between delivery of twins.”

Dr. Michael Clouatre

Dr. Bernard Canzoneri

Dr. Michael Clouatre and Dr. Kent Mason, independent members of the Willow Creek medical staff, are affiliated with Creekside Center for Women. Dr. Bernard Canzoneri, a member of the medical staff at Willow Creek, is affiliated with Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center of Northwest Arkansas.

Glance At a

ARTS and MUSIC

Amazeum (Pg. 13) (479) 696-9280 SoNA Music (Pg. 27) sonamusic.org Trike Theatre (Pg. 42) triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 42) waltonartscenter.org

BANKS

First National Bank (Pg. 38) (479) 621-6800 fnbnwa.com First Security (Pg. 11) www.fsbank.com; www.onlyinark.com

CAMPS

Amazeum (Pg. 13) (479) 696-9280 Camp War Eagle (Pg. 27) CampWarEagle.org Super Science (Pg. 55) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com

CHILDCARE/NANNY SERVICES

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 61) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Better Beginnings (Pg. 7) ARBetterBeginnings.com Goddard School (Pg. 2) (479) 696-9280

Clothing

Oh Baby Boutique (Pg. 63) (479) 254-2911

DENTIST

Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics (479) 582-0600 (Pg. 29) The Smile Shoppe (Pg. 14) www.smile-shoppe.com

DERMATOLOGY / SKIN CARE

Women’s Health Associates (Pg. 34) (479) 876-8111 whanwa.com

Dog Training / Boarding Joint Forces K9 Group (Pg. 66) JFK9.us

64 December 2019

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

EDUCATION

Crowder College (Pg. 49) crowder.edu Goddard School (Pg. 2) (479) 696-9280 NWA Sunshine School (Pg. 21) nwasunshineschool.org Providence Academy (Pg. 47) providence-academy.com Super Science (Pg. 55) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com

FAMILY FUN / ENTERTAINMENT

Amazeum (Pg. 13) (479) 696-9280 Arkansas Gymnastics (Pg. 31) arkansasrazorbacks.com Let’s Imagine Indoor Playground (Pg. 3) letsimagineplayground.com Malco Theaters (Pg. 59) malco.com Rogers Historical Museum (Pg. 65) RogersHistoricalMuseum.org SoNA Music (Pg. 27) sonamusic.org Starlight Skatium (Pg. 49) (479) 444-STAR Super Science (Pg. 55) (479) 444-0303 www.super-sci.com Trike Theatre (Pg. 42) triketheatre.org Walton Arts Center (Pg. 42) waltonartscenter.org

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Arkansas Children's Northwest (Pg. 5) ARchildrens.org Collier Drug Stores (Pg. 13) collierdrug.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 23) fccare.org NWA Health Solutions (Pg. 46) (479) 636-1324 Northwest (Pg. 68) mynorthwestphysicians.com

JEWELRY AND GIFTS

David Adams (Pg. 19) (479) 444-7778 davidadams.com Kindness & Joy Toys (Pgs. 24-25) KindnessandJoyToys.com

To advertise email: editor@peekaboonwa.com

Sweet Freedom Cheese (Pg. 55) sweetfreedomcheese.com

Ozark Pediatrics (Pg. 51) (479) 544-9432

LEARNING CENTER/THERAPY

Real Estate / Moving

ABC Happy Kids Learning Academy (Pg. 61) (479) 202-5691 abchappykids.com Academic Math and Language Therapy (Pg. 56) (479) 253-3256 www.amltherapy.com Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 23) (479) 524-2456 The Grace School (Pg. 41) (479) 871-7994 Posh Tot Learning Academy (Pg. 50) (479) 268-6609

PEDIATRICIAN

Best Start (Pg. 39) (479) 575-9359 Friendship Pediatric Services (Pg. 23) fccare.org Mercy Clinic Pediatrics (Pg. 15) mercy.net/springdalekids Northwest Arkansas Pediatrics (Pg. 35) (479) 442-7322

Midtown Real Estate Associates (Pg. 19) (479) 268-5170

Research

Woodland Research Group Northwest (Pg. 28) (479) 231-3051

WOMEN'S HEALTH

HerHealth Clinic-Washington Regional (Pg. 9) (479) 463-5500 Lifespring Women’s Health (Pg. 43) (479) 271-0005 Parkhill (Pg. 44) (479) 521-4433 The Perinatal Center (Pg. 53) (479) 268-4979 Siloam Springs Women's Center (Pg. 57) (479) 524-9312 Women's Health Associates (Pg. 22) whanwa.com

19th Annual Holiday Open House Saturday, Dec 7th 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. * Design a Santa ornament * Make a stocking ornament * Refreshments * Visit with Santa * Tours of “Here Comes Santa”

322 S. Second Street Downtown Rogers

REAL.

TRUE.

FUN.

479-621-1154 * rogershistoricalmuseum.org

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Find these and more Peppa Pig items online or at your local retailer.

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies Ltd /Entertainment One UK Ltd 2003. All Rights Reserved. peppapig.com

Dr. Katie Beal and Dr. AmyitFry have Northwest Northwest Physicians makes easier to joined see a primary care Women’s provider –Specialty quickly. Just Group, a part of Northwest Physicians.

They are accepting new patients, and call 479-255-2420. Most calls will result in a same-day appointment with a physician welcoming all former patients. If you’ve been a patient of Dr. Beal or Dr. Fry, call or nurse practitioner at one of our 20 primary care locations. Flu shots also available. us today for assistance in transferring your medical records.

Extended hours offered, and lab and X-ray facilities on-site at select locations.

479-255-2359 or go to Callanytime, To schedule an appointment online, go to MyNorthwestPhysicians.com NorthwestHealthOBGYN.com

for more information.

Katie Beal, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

Amy Fry, M.D. Board-Certified OB/GYN

2900 Medical Center Pkwy., Suite 240A Bentonville, AR 72712

20 PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS.

SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS. SAME GREAT CARE. 479-255-2420 NEW

ADDRESS.

Bentonville • Centerton • Eureka Springs • Fayetteville • Centerton Fayetteville Johnson • Bentonville Johnson • Lowell • Rogers ••Siloam Springs •• Springdale

Lowellof •theRogers • Siloam Springs • Springdale Members Medical Staff of Northwest Medical Center - Bentonville, Northwest Medical Center - Springdale and Northwest Medical Center Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.

68 December 2019