Time to cast your vote - Who's the cutest baby in the land?

The baby named the 2013 KRKT's Most Beautiful Baby and their family will win a grand prize package including:

• A feature in Mom Magazine - Aug/Sept issue
  
• $100 Harry Ritchie's Jewelers Gift Certificate
• A photo session and prints from Troutman Photography
  
• A Downtown Shabby gift certificate
  
• A 2 hour cleaning certificate from Merry Maids
  
• A $50 gift certificate to The Barbers
  
• A $50 Savings Bond from American Bookkeeping & Tax Service
  
• A printing certificate from Wise Photography

You have one more day left to enter that beautiful baby!

Enter the KRKT Beautiful Baby Contest. Click here

Last day to enter is May 2nd, 2013.

Winter weather in the Pacific Northwest can get you down for sure. We spent all day yesterday with the kids cooped up in the house, trying to figure out what to do. They were bored and let their energy out by fighting with each other. This made us realize once again that our kids really need a good amount of daily exercise, and we decided that no matter what the weather, we were going to go on a hike today.

It was pouring when we woke up, but we were determined to go on our hike. We prepared with rain jackets and hiking shoes and hit the trails. The rain was really warm and refreshing, and the kids loved having permission to get soaked and muddy. It felt so nice to get some fresh air and exercise, and the pace that the kids kept reminded us again how much it was needed.

We hiked one of our favorite trails in Corvallis - the Homestead Trail loop from the Oak Creek parking lot of the McDonald Forest. It's about 1.5 miles of relatively flat terrain (I truly believe my kids end up doing an extra mile with all the zig-zagging and back tracking they do, though), and ends with a bridge perfect for throwing Pooh sticks.

Here they are, soaking wet and having a blast:

If the winter weather has you and your kids down, make the extra effort to get out and get some exercise. What is your family's favorite way to get exercise in the winter?

The Mid-Columbia Libraries want to challenge both kids and adults to not let their minds take a holiday this Winter Break. As part of the 2^nd Annual Winter Reading Challenge, local kids are playfully pitted against their parents and other adults to see who can read the most. The competition runs from December 13^th through January 15^th. It's a great way to keep your kids' minds engaged as the holidays approach. By signing up either at a library or online you can take part in this fun event. As an added bonus, kids who read at least 6 hours during the competition can pick up a prize at their local library. Adults who finish are entered into a raffle for a grand prize. Not only does this promote a friendly competition between children and their legal guardians, it's a great way to help instill a love of reading within your family for now and for years to come. Be sure to catch local singer and songwriter Eric Herman-checkout some of his songs on You Tube-to celebrate the start of the Winter Reading Challenge. Visit the Mid-Columbia Libraries' web site to sign up and find out when Eric is scheduled to visit the library closest to you.

My cousin recently got a Kindle and she asked me to sew her a cover for it. I was so happy she asked, as I have been wanting to make a new one for my Nook. I made one that didn't turn out very well, so I was happy to have an excuse to get back on it. I ended up getting a really awesome pattern from Etsy that worked so well for both the Nook and the Kindle 3. Here is how they turned out:

Mine for the Nook



And Sarah's for her Kindle 3

Lace up your shoes and hit the trail with us! Join MOM Magazine Editor Krista and Publisher Raeann at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bald Hill Path in Corvallis. It's the perfect time to get moving on those plans to exercise, hang out with other moms, and talk to your local doctor if you have some questions. The Corvallis Clinic docs lace up too and are open for discussion. The best part - they are real people. (Dr. Carol Morcos at center in pink)

WHO: MOMs and Walk with the Doc for Corvallis Clinic WHEN:  Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 a.m. WHERE:  Oak Creek Drive entrance of the Bald Hill Path in Corvallis WHY:  Get Walking, Get Talking... And, enter below to win a cool walking fleece vest. See you there!

Win something cool! Comment here for a chance to win a cool walking polar vest. Be sure to log in so we can find you! Answer this question in the Comments section: Do you walk for exercise? See you Wednesday morning!