Thank you for the support!
We really do appreciate it. We are sitting here writing, drinking a second cuppa joe as the kids run around, and just still in awe. Our subscriber count doubled the morning of our launch day. That was not at all expected. Then we kept growing. Day after day, very quickly approaching 150 subscribers. Nearly 150 parents, grandparents, and friends all interested in staying connected to this great community that we lovingly (definitely tongue-in-cheek call) “Crapids.”
Doubling our subs again? Let’s keep the momentum rolling. Is doubling every week eventually mathematically impossible? THE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST.
Giphy
Have fun this week.
Adventures Ahead📅📅
Check out some below happenings in the CR area!
Have an event suggestion? Just click here and let us know what it is.
Wednesday, 4/22
Baby & Toddler Story Time
Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, 9:30-10:30 am
A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime.
Dungeon & Dragons
Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, 4:30-6:30 pm
Tables meet weekly for adventure and excitement. Handbooks (2014) and dice are provided.
Thursday, 4/23
Storytime & Spring Craft
Brewed Imagination, 10:30 am
$10/child. From playing chef or vet to building adventures and exploring magical kingdoms, there’s endless fun to be had in our play space. Grip socks are required for all children; any socks work for adults. Forgot yours? No problem! Grip socks are available for purchase.
Friday, 4/24
Doodlebugs: Art with Words
Hiawatha Public Library, 10:30-11am
A preschool based art story time
Saturday, 4/25
Barnyard Days @ Hills Bank
Marion & Mt. Vernon Hills Bank locations, 9-11 am
Bring the family down to meet some barnyard friends, explore interactive stations, and connect with our favorite local community partners.
Cedar Rapids Titans home football game
Alliant Energy Powerhouse, 7:05 pm
Watch your very own arena football team take on the West Michigan Ironmen.
Purchase your tickets here.
Picnic in the Park w/ The Growing Kind
Sunday, 4/26
Spring Family NERF
Usher’s Ferry, 2-5 pm
Grab the kids and your NERF gear and dive into action @ Usher's Ferry! Play together in a tactical, urban-style setting designed for fast-paced NERF battles for kids and adults
REGISTRATION REQUIRED - $28/resident, $35 non-resident. Cost is for family of 4 participants. Sign up here on the CR Parks and Rec site.
Bring in Spring!
The Yard (Kingston Yard) (aka. space between Big Grove and Pickle Palace)
11 am - 3 pm
Vendor market, kids' crafts and activities, and much more! Create your own May Day baskets with tulips from Bloomsbury Farm (limited supply) plus other goodies! Enjoy the Czech Youth Dancers perform a May Pole dance plus other spring dances at 1:30pm.
Monday, 4/27
Prom Wear Time
Hiawatha Public Library, all day
Help local teens celebrate prom without financial stress. Donate dresses, suits, shoes, or accessories so every student can walk in feeling their best.
Donations accepted: March 16 – April 30
Student pick-up: April 1 – April 30
Teen Art & Music Program
Ranshaw House, North Liberty, 4-7 pm
Down in North Liberty, every Monday from 4-7pm, local youth are welcome to join United Action for Youth for music, art, hanging out, and games.
Tuesday, 4/28
Homeschool Ice Skating
ImON Ice Arena, 9-11 am
Ice skating for homeschool students. $7 per skater includes admission and skate rental.
Grown-Up Getaway… 99 problems and a kid ain’t one.
Tango Práctica 💃
Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, 6-7:30 pm
Learn to get your tango on! T….A….N..G.O.
Every Thursday evening, the CR Downtown library hosts a free tango practice class. Learn the basic steps of tango with no fear of embarrassment. Make sure you have a pair of smooth-soled shoes. No need for a partner either, so you can leave you club-footed husband at home! It’s his turn for bedtime anyways.
Or bring your partner (🙄)….. so you can stare lovingly into their eyes, music coursing through the veins, feeling closer with every hot and sultry breath…. entangling your feet, tripping and teetering… finally crashing to the ground like a too-tall tower of Magna-Tiles.
Knee-Slappers😂🤣
Kid Tested & Approved
What do you call a cow with no legs? 🐮 🐮
Ground beef! 😅
What do you call a dog that likes baths? 🛀
A shampoodle! 🐩 🧼
Knock knock…. who’s there?
Ya who…. Ya who?
Wow, you really are excited to see me! 😁
🥁ba-dumm, tsssst…. 🥁
Giphy
Simplify your life… try a sheet pan meal
Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies
Our family tried this meal for the first time a couple of weeks ago. If you were like us, we were definitely hesitant if it would even be good, but man, was it a hit. Give us a moment to gloat and bask… The kids went back for a second helping. That’s right, seconds. Oh yea. 😎
Ingredients
Sausage: 1 lb pre-cooked sausages (mild Italian, chicken, or turkey).
Your Favorite Veggies
i.e. 3 bell peppers, large red onion, medium zucchini, broccoli, etc.
2 tbsp olive oil.
1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning.
1/2 tsp garlic powder.
1/2 tsp salt (or to taste) and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Optional: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for the adults.
Instructions
Preheat: Set your oven to 400°F and line a large-rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Prep the Sausage & Veggies:
Slice the pre-cooked sausages into 1-inch thick coins. Slice and cut veggies in whatever shape is most desirable for the little ones.
Combine: Place the sliced sausages and veggies onto the baking sheet.
Season: Drizzle the olive oil over the mixture and sprinkle with the oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use your hands or tongs to toss everything until the vegetables and sausage are evenly coated.
CRFW Pro Tip: Sometimes sausage can be a little salty to start with, be careful to not over salt the meat.
CRFW Pro Tip #2: Sprinkle paprika around on everything as well.
Arrange: Spread the mixture out into a single layer.
(If it is too crowded, use two pans; crowding causes the vegetables to steam rather than roast).
Roast: Bake for 20–25 minutes, tossing halfway through, until the veggies are tender and the edges of the sausage are slightly browned and crispy.
Serve: Serve immediately.
Try serving alongside some rice and/or quinoa to make a more filling and hearty meal
Need to know Nuggets
Weather Report ⛅🌦
Wednesday, 4/22 | 79℉/58℉ | ⛅ |
Thursday, 4/23 | 79℉/55℉ | 🌦 |
Friday, 4/24 | 66℉/43℉ | 🌧 |
Saturday, 4/25 | 66℉/47℉ | 🌧 |
Sunday, 4/26 | 68℉/53℉ | 🌧 |
Monday, 4/27 | 63℉/43℉ | ⛈ |
Tuesday, 4/28 | 61℉/44℉ | ⛅ |
Pretty much a carbon copy of last week… expect it to be rainy, but only ~30-40% chance each day. As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. 🪷
Weather courtesy of KCRG.com
News Worthy Nuggets
4 interesting local stories from the past week:
Cedar Rapids School District sues state over $18 million funding loss - from IowaNewsNow
Iowa State adding women's wrestling - from IowaNewsNow
Per reader feedback, curated stories last week were leaning too much to the interests of one of the author’s… We’ll try to be better for you (you know who you are and now you get articles from each of us.
That’s it for this week.
Thanks for tuning in once again. Remember the goal of doubling subscribers from the top of the email? We’ll need your help to do it! Please spread the word to your friends and family that CR Family Weekly is a cool thing.
We don’t care how you do it, just do it, we‘ll even lend you the couple of pigeons on our roof to carry messages.
And if you haven’t already, please give us a follow on Facebook, IG, and TikTok.
See you later! 👋