For the past couple years, I've thought it was cute and very helpful and obedient when
my youngest daughter, Breegan, would run quickly out of the house, jump in the car
and be ready for me to buckle her in when we're trying to go somewhere.
Earlier this month our radio began going spastic. Every time I turned a corner or hit a bump—
and sometimes when I did nothing at all—the radio would change channels to one of our
preset stations. After a week or so of that, it began turning sporadically to static stations.
Eventually my kids and I got so tired of it that we just turned the radio off completely. Then one
day the radio stopped turning off! It was stuck on a super loud, random radio station and we
couldn't change the volume or turn it off.

It was annoying, to say the least.

Before buying a new radio, I thought I'd see if it could be fixed. So one day the kids and I
jumped in our van and headed over to my parents' house to see if my dad could figure out
the problem.

Dad got the radio out and proceeded to take it apart. When he had it in several pieces, he
discovered the problem: There were 15 quarters, 12 dimes, 2 nickels and 21 pennies inside
the radio. Oh, and 2 large earrings.

You see, my youngest daughter had been using cassette tape opening as a piggy bank. She's
never seen a cassette tape, never saw that part of the stereo used for anything else, just thought
she'd put it to good use.

When she was running out to the van before me, getting herself in and ready to be buckled,
she also had been grabbing any spare change from the cup holder and inserting it in her
“piggy bank.”

The radio is now re-installed and is in perfect working order.

Breegan is a curious, energy-filled, special needs 3-year-old girl who has to be kept busy. We
work hard in our household to find things that appeal to her and keep her happy, challenged
and occupied while also making sure that we are equally focused on finding activities that work
for our older two kids, ages 8 and 5.

Earlier this summer I was able to take Breegan and her 5-year-old sister Aubrynn to Botanica
to check out the brand new Downing Children's Garden before it opened to the public. I was
blown away by all the gorgeous and functional things there were for my kids to do. The girls
were in love with the stepping stones over the pond, the perfectly-constructed Very Hungry
Caterpillar sculptures and of course the amazing tree house.

Check out the story in this issue of Wichita Family Magazine to learn about many more of the
amazing exhibits that your kids can experience at Botanica's new area and ENTER to WIN
FREE PASSES for your family!

Jessica Lindsey
Editor-in-Chief
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