Kara P.

  • A Bus Reads Goodbye

    I had every intention of bringing Bus Reads back once I was in building after maternity leave, but you know, it’s a lot harder to find time to read when you are a new mom – who would have thought?! And while I still had my commute, it was really hard to focus…mom brain really… Continue reading

  • Cooking with Toddlers

    Cooking with Toddlers

    Our kiddo is knocking on the door of becoming a two-year-old and with that I’ve started to see this independent, thoughtful, and inquisitive mind blossom in front of my eyes. Dinner has always been hard since becoming parents, but I’m starting to see the role that he can play in this process so that we… Continue reading

  • Craft for a Cause

    I used to volunteer every year for a cause and it used to be my balm when things felt like too much. I rebuilt houses, fed the insecurely housed, and cared for children who had experienced trauma, abuse and neglect. The pandemic and my kiddo put all that on hold. Now more than ever though… Continue reading

  • Growing Wild!

    We recently took our son to visit his grandparents in rural Oregon. Surrounded by acreage and farms, he got to visit goats, sheep, a llama, chickens, and a handful of dogs and cats. He was delighted! On top of that there was running down rolling hills barefoot, digging in dirt, and climbing rock piles. Each… Continue reading

  • For the Dads

    For the Dads

    There are lots of feelings for people around Father’s Day – for me having lost my dad six years ago I can find it a little hard emotionally, but there is also a new way for me to celebrate this day and that’s for my husband and son. Rather then focus too much on dad… Continue reading

  • Gardening with Toddlers

    We made a small garden space for my kiddo to play in to get him involved in the growing of things. It’s still mostly dirt play and mud making, which is a delight, but by planting that seed I hope his love for gardening grows as he gets older. Here are a few books in our… Continue reading

  • Rockabye Ocean: Picture Books for Bedtime

    Water seems a well loved thing amongst little ones – splashing in the bath, stomping through puddles, and touching waves. With our own kiddo we often see him gravitate towards marine life like the dolphin screensaver on our tv or the marine animal bath toys that shoot water. That got me thinking about themed reads… Continue reading

  • Tinkering Toddlers: Activities for At Home Play

    A wicked cold, snow, and a closed daycare was making me a stir-crazed mama. I needed ideas to keep my kiddo’s brain learning and his body moving. I found a wonderful collection of books from the Library that gave me the boost and inspiration I needed to be the fun mom!  Continue reading

  • Yarn Is All You Need

    ‘Tis the season to break out your yarn stash and start making some knots! My mom taught me to crochet at a very young age, though I mainly stuck to anything square shaped like scarfs and blankets. I finally started to branch out this year, and I’m finally making a hat, which inspired me to… Continue reading

  • Montessori at Home

    Growing up I remember hearing about Montessori from an educational stand point. Relooking at it now, as a parent, has become sort of a fascination: the idea of my child being guided by his own independence – gaining self esteem and confidence in his ability do things on his own, but always knowing we are… Continue reading

  • MeatEater: Your Link to the Food Chain

    Steven Rinella grew up in Twin Lake, Michigan and learned to hunt and fish at an early age. This love of hunting and the outdoors has now become quite a career as an author, television personality, podcaster, and conservationist. He breaks the stereotype we have of the “American hunter” – when he explores a subject,… Continue reading

  • Fall Into Reading: Beyond Halloween

    The leaves are crunching beneath our boot heels, the sweaters are coming out of the corners of our closets, and cozying up with a book goes along with this season like a warm fire and fuzzy socks! Fall into the season with these reads celebrating all the various festivities the season has to offer! The… Continue reading

  • The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly World of Germs

    One thing I was not prepared for in this new thing called mom life, was that once you put your kiddo in daycare they will be sick FOREVER! To be fair, I was warned, but I had no idea the endless days of snot, coughing, and laundry would be this intense. As we all battle… Continue reading

  • Watch and Read: Sweet Tooth

    Those of us who have watched Sweet Tooth know that it’s a show that’s easy to love. The series takes place after an apocalyptic event called “The Great Crumble,” which kills off much of Earth’s human population due to a virus. Babies born in its wake develop certain animal characteristics. Gus, the main protagonist, resembles… Continue reading

  • Fed is Best

    I saw an Instagram post recently that said “Baby-led weaning is the next breast is best” — and that got me thinking. We do so much to shame parents for not “doing it right” when we need to support parents and each other. Baby-led weaning is great, if that works for you; homemade purées are… Continue reading

  • Watch & Read: Ozark

    Watch & Read: Ozark

    Ozark is one of those shows that is just pure madness – it snakes in on itself in perpetual chaos. No breaks, no ease, just edge of your seat shenanigans the whole time. And I can’t get enough! While we wait for the next season, here are a few items in our collection that will… Continue reading

  • National Park Service Founders Day on August 25

    This Wednesday, August 25, is National Park Service Founders Day, and while Washington doesn’t have the most (that belongs to California) we do have three amazing National Parks right at our doorstep: North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park. The Library has a bountiful collection for all your National Park… Continue reading

  • Would you like a Momosa?

    Mocktails aren’t just a mom thing, but they got my attention the most when I was pregnant and breastfeeding, and they just kind of stuck with me. One of my go-to mocktails was a Momosa — orange-flavored sparkling water with orange juice. Mocktails are refreshing without the headache, they make any time just a wee… Continue reading