Author: Tracy Cleland

Tracy Cleland is a middle school teacher, wife, mother, and grandmother. She loves to visit new places and share her experiences with the world.
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Classic Board Games Your Preschooler Will Love

I’ve spent the last ten days in Denver with Meghan and Joe, living in a hotel, waiting for our newest grandson to be born. While here at the Staybridge Suites, J.R. and I have spent a lot of time in the Great Room. What do we do there? We play board games, of course. J.R. has just turned four and is the perfect age for beginning to learn to play board games. Because he’s had so much fun, I’ve put together a list of classic board games your preschooler will love.

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Got Kool-Aid? The Hastings Museum in Nebraska Does

If you’ve been following our adventures somewhat regularly, you know that I have a goal to visit all fifty states by the time I’m out of my fifties (50 by 50 went out the window a few months ago). Driving through doesn’t count–I actually have to do something or visit something in the state. Enter our trip west on Route 80 from the Ohio/Pennsylvania border to Laramie, Wyoming, before veering off to head south to Denver, Colorado. On this trip, we’d go through three states I’d never visited: Iowa, Nebraska, and Colorado.  In Iowa, we stopped to visit the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, a mere 1/4 mile north of I-80, but we had no idea what to see in Nebraska. After consulting my Roadside America app, I decided we should visit the Kool-Aid Museum, a.k.a. the Hastings Museum in Hastings, Nebraska.

 

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Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Recently, my husband and I took a 1600 mile road trip from our home in Northeast Ohio to Denver, Colorado. After a few changes in plans, mainly due to Dennis’s work schedule, we decided to take the northern route along Interstate 80. I was excited because this would be my first time traveling through Iowa and Nebraska. While most people aren’t as excited about the plains states, I was happy because of my goal to visit all 50 states. Driving through isn’t good enough though.  I actually have to stop and visit an attraction to count the state. In the interest of time and convenience, I chose a place right off I-80, the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, the two room cottage where he was born

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Reading Roundup: May 2019

May signals the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation here at the home of the Cleland Clan.  It’s a busy month–we’re out in the yard, planting flowers, finishing up projects and grades at school, and so much more. Luckily I was able to squeeze in a little reading time this month, mostly in the evenings before I went to bed. Dennis has been traveling for work–he’s on a big library move out at the University of Missouri, so it’s just me and the dog at home, leaving me time to read 15 books this month.  So, without further ado, here’s my May reading list!
May reading list graphic--girl holding book across face

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Expedition Lodge in Moab, Utah

Living in Northeast Ohio, I’d always wanted to visit Utah. Home to five national parks, the landscape is so different than what I’d experienced my entire life. Visiting Utah for spring break would allow us to see a new place (and mark another state off my list) while also giving us a little time to spend with Meghan, Joe, and J.R.  We decided to meet Meghan and Joe in Moab, Utah, using the Expedition Lodge as a jumping off point to explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

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Reading Roundup: April 2019 — 8 Books to Read

April was a really busy month for our family.  I actually didn’t teach a single Friday this month due to field trips and Good Friday. I spent the first Friday of the month in Washington, DC, viewing the gorgeous cherry blossoms along with the 80 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students I was chaperoning. On the second Friday, I attended the Youngstown State University English Festival along with several junior high students. The third Friday was Good Friday, and our school was on break for Easter leaving us time for fun as a family. Then, the last Friday was our annual eighth grade field trip to Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania. You’d think that would leave me a lot of time to read; however with several evenings spent working the finish line at track meets, I actually had less time to read this month than in March. Even so, there were several books on my April reading list that I’d love to share with you. 

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Perfect Pancakes, Homemade with Love

When my brothers and I were young, our father would often make us breakfast  before school. He worked shifts at a local steel mill, so if he was home and awake, we would have our choice of French toast, eggs, or pancakes. I can remember going to school and boasting that Dad had made us each 20 pancakes. Okay, some of them were dime-sized, but that really doesn’t matter when you’re nine.

This weekend, two of the grandbabies spent the night. We don’t usually keep cereal in the house because we don’t use it before it gets stale. We didn’t have any bread and only had a  little milk. So, for breakfast, homemade pancakes to the rescue!

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The 2nd Annual Cleland Clan Easter Egg Hunt

If you know me, you know that I don’t make Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter dinner. However, there is one tradition I’m trying to establish with our growing family, and that is our annual Easter egg hunt. Last year we started this tradition with our grandchildren, the oldest of whom was almost three (read about our 2018 egg hunt). We had so much fun that we decided to hold it again this year and to involve the older “children.” By children, we mean our 20-something year old kids. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good Easter egg hunt?

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Tips for Touring Washington DC during Cherry Blossom Season

Many tourists visit Washington, DC, during cherry blossom season each year. The beginning of April is a prime time for people to travel to the capital.  Washington’s weather is usually mild, colder in the mornings and warm in the afternoon. The rising temperatures and the fragrant abundance of cherry blossoms bring 1.5 tourists to the nation’s capital during this time. Many of the tourists congregate around the monuments and the Tidal Basin where hundreds of cherry trees show off their fancy new blooms.  After a recent visit, I’d love to share a few tips to make your trip a little easier. 

 

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Reading Roundup: March 2019

March was a great month for reading here in Northeastern Ohio. It’s cold and either snowy or muddy, so there’s not much to do outside. In my world, that translates to more reading time. This month, I was able to finish seventeen books. Find out more about my March reading list titles below.