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December Happenings

Posted on by Angie

We know this is a crazy busy time of year for everyone.. But if you find yourself with a little bit of free time, here are some activities that will help you have a little fun, get into the holiday spirit and take your mind off that daunting and seemingly endless to-do list. Don’t forget to check our list of places to find Santa around Birmingham. You still have time!

Winter Wonderland – McWane Science Center

Winter Wonderland along with the Magic of Model Trains exhibit features many winter-inspired activities, holiday films in IMAX and visits from Santa.  For the sixth consecutive year, Royal Cup, Inc., a Birmingham-based coffee and tea distributor, is the presenting sponsor of the Winter Wonderland and the Magic of Model Trains exhibit.  “Especially during this time of year, Royal Cup supports initiatives that are family-oriented, and these sponsorships at McWane Science Center are a great example of that,” said Bill Smith, President and CEO of Royal Cup, Inc. “We look forward to Winter Wonderland and the Magic of Model Trains and hope all enjoy the holiday fun!”

Now Through January 10th

Zoolight Safari – Birmingham Zoo

Watch as the Zoo comes alive for 19 nights of holiday-centric fun at ZooLight Safari presented by Wells Fargo! New this year, enjoy the all-new Glacier Glide Ice Rink**. Glide past your friends and family on the ice skating rink in Trails of Africa!  Be amazed by light displays in this transformed winter wonderland. View over one million lights, listen to holiday music and delight in festive snowfalls every night! Enjoy a ride on the Candy Cane Train*, go for a spin on the Jingle Bell Carousel*, experience the thrill of the over 100 foot Yuletide Slide* and so much more. Every night at 6pm, watch a tree lighting ceremony with an illuminating tree reaching nearly 30 feet tall in Trails of Africa! Be sure not to miss a special appearance and photos with Santa through December 23. *Requires ride ticket. **Requires ride ticket and ice skates. The Glacier Glide Ice Rink is made of synthetic ice. Children under 5 must be accompanied by a skating adult.

Dates and Times:

5pm-9pm: December 4-6, 11-13, 17-23, 26-31

Festival of Lights – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

A lifetime of holiday memories await you and your family at the Festival of Lights! There’s a little bit of Clark Griswald in all of us and no better way to get into the Holiday spirit – without the risk of frostbite – than to enjoy a dazzling display of lights in the shapes of holiday themes and characters from the comfort of your own car.

OPEN NIGHTLY THROUGH JANUARY 3RD! GATES OPEN AT 5:30PM EACH EVENING.

Shadrack’s Christmas Light Show – Birmingham Race Track

Come see over 3.25 miles of custom made displays dance to the music played over the radio in your car in perfect synchronization!  Also, see Santa and the gang on their summer vacation in the custom built Santa’s Safari theme of giant all-LED displays. They are guaranteed to delight everyone from young to old!

Dusk – 10pm, nightly through January 3rd. Rain or Shine, open on Holidays.

Holiday Film Series at the Alabama Theatre

For a complete schedule, visit their site

Kwanzaa Celebration – Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will celebrate the spirit of family and community with its annual Kwanzaa program. The event kicks off with a hands-on workshop in the Abraham L. Woods Community Meeting Room at 4:30 pm in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery.  Additionally, the celebration will feature music, youth performances and nore.  Kwanzaa – which means “first fruits of the harvest” in Kiswahili – is an African American cultural holiday with a focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. It was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and is celebrated December 26-January 1.

 

Cutout Christmas Tree Craft

Posted on by Angie

Here’s a cute and simple craft you can make this Christmas with your kiddos at home or if you’re hosting friends and kiddos over for a party or playdate, this is great because you can do as much of the prep work ahead of time that you want, or you can leave some of the hole punching for the kids.

What you need:

Green Card Stock
Card Stock in various colors (yellow if you want to punch out star)
hole punch
large circle punch (I used 2″ for the tree circles)
Glue Stick
Clothes Pins

What you’ll Do:

Punch out large circles to make your tree – 10 per tree
Glue together large circles doing a row of 4 on the bottom, then 3, then 2 and the last on top.
Punch out lots of little colorful holes for your ornaments and glue on randomly
Add your star – I used stickers this time but if you have a star punch, that’s easy too.
Attach your clothes pin at the bottom and stand up

Giveaways To Giftaway: Movie and Dinner, from Pieology

Posted on by Angie

We know you’re frantically trying to finish up your shopping and getting your errands done before the little ones are released into your care for 2 whole weeks over the holidays. So, this giveaway is a treat for you! For a date night or for grabbing a bite before a movie with your Bestie to celebrate making it out of the toy store alive and without causing bodily harm to others. (OR, if you’re looking to save a little cash, Re-Gift it, we won’t tell!)

We have 2 tickets to Carmike Cinemas that we’ve paired up with 2 pizzas from the pizza shop at the Summit, Pieology. They’re new, and they’re delish!!

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment here letting us know what movie you would like to see with these tickets.. (I personally would be seeing Sisters with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler)

2. Extra entry for another comment telling us your favorite pizza topping.

Take a moment to head over to the Pieology Facebook page and give them a like (just because they’re good guys and they’re pizza is so yummy!)

Giveaway will end Wednesday Night (December 9th) at 10pm. Winner will be notified via email and on our social media outlets.

Elf-on-the-Shelf for People Who Hate Elf-on-the-Shelf

Posted on by Angie

By: Kristen Bertiaume

I am not a big fan of Elf-on-the-Shelf (although I do kind of enjoy this and this). The central premise of the book – that Elf-on-the-Shelf will tell Santa if kids misbehave – bothers me for a few reasons. First, the Elf himself often misbehaves (Flour snow angels are kind of a mess) but is supposed to monitor the kids’ behavior, which is confusing to say the least. Second, the Elf monitoring system only works for one month a year, which can leave parents with no system of managing behavior for the remaining 11. Finally, and most problematic, the arrangement sets us up for making empty threat after empty threat. Would we really follow through with giving our kids no presents from Santa? Have any of you ever actually done this? I can say for sure that my kids will not be getting coal in their stockings, no matter how atrocious their behavior. For one, I have no idea where to find coal and don’t have the time or mental energy to go looking for it. Also, knowing my kids, they would find some exceedingly messy way to play with the coal and, as I’ve mentioned, I am not looking for messes. In the midst of opening up their mountains of presents, kids will come to realize that either the Elf didn’t mean it when he said he’d tell Santa on them or that Santa will bring the goods regardless. Consequently, behavior may be even worse next December.

In a perfect world, those who enjoy creating elaborate Elf scenes and posting pictures of them on Pinterest would do that and I’d just ignore the whole thing entirely. Unfortunately, my kids talk to other kids and have started this year desperately pleading for an Elf and wondering why friends have them but they don’t. Dilemma: Shatter all the magic of Christmas in one fell swoop or find a way to make Elf-on-the-Shelf work for our family. I chose the latter and we shall see how it goes. Here are the modifications I made in case you’re an Elf-on-the-Shelf hater who feels like you need to do Elf-on-the-Shelf for your kids. By the way, I totally support you in just straight up saying no to any of this Elf business.

I saw a post I liked recently about a different kind of Elf – a Kindness Elf – and decided to do an Elf-on-the-Shelf / Kindness Elf hybrid. Our Elf looks like an Elf on the Shelf but I didn’t buy the book with all the rules.

Our Elf “wrote” the kids a letter (see below) saying that he didn’t mind if they touched him but that he had to always be returned to the same spot before bed because he could only fly from certain places (I made this rule because I don’t need to be tearing apart the house to find that #$%& Elf every night!).

Our Elf doesn’t tell Santa anything. He does dash back to the North Pole at night to fetch Kindness Challenges printed on long strips of paper to present to the kids each morning. And, when he returns, he’s sitting somewhere new. Maybe he’ll occasionally do something helpful like load the dishwasher (since I’m going to be doing that anyway…).

Some sample challenges:

1) At school, give a compliment to someone;

2) Find out your mom’s least favorite chore and secretly do it for her (I never said this couldn’t be self-serving…);

and 3) Tell someone “Thank you” for something they have done for you recently.

There’s no “prize” for completing a challenge and no one’s in trouble if he or she doesn’t do one. But, completed challenges get stapled together to form a Kindness Chain so, obviously, the more the kids do, the longer the chain gets. The paper chain would be something fun to add to your Christmas tree or mantle so the kids can see their 25 days worth of kind deeds. This activity gives you a good jumping off point for discussing together why it’s important to do things for others, how it feels to be kind, and why kindness is particularly highlighted this time of year. Talk about how Santa embodies kindness and, if you’re Christian, how Jesus does, as well. Consider big, family-wide Kindness Challenges like serving at a soup kitchen, purchasing items for an Angel Tree, or saving money to send to a non-profit like Heifer Project International.

A couple of caviats. I don’t love doing things for my kids just because everyone else is doing it for theirs. However, it can be tricky to completely opt out of Elf-on-the-Shelf without totally spoiling Christmas magic if your kids feel hurt that their friends have an Elf but they don’t. Also, the deception required to convince your kids they’re being visited by Elves (and Santa for that matter) bothers me a bit. Once they know the truth – will they still trust us parents? If this concerns you, too, there are lots of ideas online
for how to tell kids the truth about Santa (and Elves, Flying Reindeer, etc.) when the time is right without losing their trust. I particularly like this idea.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s something you feel you have the resources for. The holidays are a crazy busy time and there’s A LOT of pressure on parents to give their kids the “Perfect Christmas,” which can be time-consuming, and expensive, and
exhausting. It might be a good idea to log out of Pinterest and decide on a mantra like “I can only do so much” to repeat to yourself. Traditions like Elf-on-the-Shelf, Kindness Elves, Santa, riding the Christmas train, or taking a tour of Christmas lights may seem like a lot of fun but you should only undertake them if they’re a good fit for your family. It’s more important to focus on enjoying each other and being kind and generous with your time, than to worry about if you’re doing all the things you’re “supposed” to do this Christmas.

 

Sample Letter:

Dear ___________ –

Merry December! I am so glad to be with you for the Christmas season – thanks for asking for me! You may have heard your friends talk about Elf-on-the-Shelf but I’m a bit different. I don’t tell on you to Santa if you make bad decisions (although I like to see you make good decisions). Your parents will work with you on your behavior. I also don’t make mischief because I know you wouldn’t want to clean up messes (and neither would your parents). Sometimes, I might do things to make you laugh, though. I am a very special kind of Elf – I’m a Kindness Elf. Kindness, which means treating others fairly and gently and being generous with what you have – is my very favorite thing! And Santa’s favorite thing, too. At the North Pole, we’re all CRAZY FOR KINDNESS!!!

So, you and I will be making together a Kindness Chain for Christmas. Each day in December, until Christmas Day, I will dash back to the North Pole while you’re sleeping to collect a Kindness Challenge from Santa. Once you’ve completed it, you will add that challenge to the ones before it so that, by Christmas, you’ll have a beautiful chain of Kindnesses you have shown others. You never have to complete a Kindness Challenge – these are all up to you. I hope you’ll have as much fun with these as I’ll have bringing them to you!

See your very first challenge attached. Good luck and may Kindness be with you!

Love,

Your New Elf

P.S. I know some Elves don’t like to be touched but I don’t mind it as long as you’re gentle. BUT, it is very important that you always put me back just where you found me. I can only fly off from certain places and will be stuck if you move me!

 

The Outlet Shops of Grand River presents Super Saturday!

Posted on by Angie

No doubt the tiny humans are putting the pressure on when it comes to their Christmas list for this year. Maybe they are leaving subtle hints like copies of the list all around the house or maybe they’re asking you every 5 seconds if you remembered to tell Santa they are in desperate need of that Remote Controlled Helicopter.. You know, because you obviously have Santa on speed dial. Regardless of their tactics, the one thing that is very clear is that Christmas morning will be here in a blink, and you’ve got some shopping to do.

Good News for you! The Outlet Shops of Grand River will be hosting Super Saturday on December 19th. Many of their stores will be participating with special deals to help ease the stress on your holiday budget.

There will be all day sales, discounts and special buys, just for you!

If it’s toys you need, Toys R Us Express is the place to be, Or check out GO! Calendars, Games and Toys for some fun ideas. Clothes, Outwear, or new boots? (For you or them..) The Outlet Shops of Grand River as plenty of options from children’s stores like Carters, OshKosh B’gosh, and Gymboree to Old Navy, Gap, Mountain High for the whole family!

Plus!

You can have photos taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their Sleigh from 11am – 6pm and Get festive with Face Painting from 11am – 3pm

So if you’re looking to make the most of that Holiday To-Do List, this Super Saturday Sale is for you!

Extended hours 9am – 10pm

The Outlet Shops of Grand River is located at Exit 140 along the I-20 growth corridor between Birmingham and Atlanta in historic Leeds, Alabama. The convenient location is minutes from Downtown Birmingham and Highway 280.

6200 Grand River Blvd East
Leeds, AL 35094

Enter BirminghamMommy's Bad Santa Photo Contest

Posted on by Angie

We love a good photo of babies with Santa. Now that hilarious photo of your baby on Santa’s lap (or struggling to escape his lap as fast as humanly possible) might just win you a fabulous prize!

BirminghamMommy has teamed up with local photographer, Hillary Gamble with Je Vois Photography to offer our winner a great prize!

Send us the funniest, scariest, most entertaining or downright awkward photo of your child with Santa for a chance to win a mini-session.($200 value,) includes 30 mins and your favorite 5 images on DVD with print rights. (Expires one year from issue date)

Email your pictures to angie@birminghammommy.com or message it to us through Facebook, no later than December 15th, 2015. We will narrow down to the 5 best entries, then open to reader voting.

 

HUGE thank you to our sponsor, Je Vois Photography. To see some of her amazing work, check her out on Facebook and Instagram @jevois_photography.

 

 

(Fine Print: photo submission gives BirminghamMommy.com and Je Vois Photography permission to use your photo for this contest, and for promotion of this contest on our sites, and social media outlets. We will not use photos in any other way except for this promotion.)

 

Giveaways to Giftaway: Ringling Bros Circus AND Monster Jam!

Posted on by Angie

We’re kicking off our “Giveaways to Giftaway” with a BIG Combo pack of tickets to see the circus AND Monster Jam when they come through Birmingham in January.

2 Lucky Readers will win:

A 4 pack of tickets to Monster Jam, opening night, January 8th at 7:30pm

Featuring:
Monster Jam® Trucks: Grave Digger® driven by Jon Zimmer, Carolina Crusher driven by Gary Porter, Higher Education driven by Jim Tracey, Black Stallion driven by Matt Cody, Strait Jacket driven by Kevin King, Instigator driven by Paul Breaud, Backdraft driven by TBA, Barbarian driven by Devin Jones
Subject to change without notice.

A 4 pack of tickets to the circus, opening night January 27th at 7pm

Behold the living legends! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents LEGENDSSM unveils the unbelievable to Children Of All Ages™. Experience epic family fun as legendary circus artists from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and the mysterious visions that have only existed in your imagination until now: the Unicorn, Pegasus and Woolly the Mammoth! Join us for an unforgettable family night of legendary proportions at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC.

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment here letting us know you want this MONSTER Combo of tickets.

2. Extra Entry/Entries for sharing on your social media, with this link: http://ow.ly/VgXxt  and tagging @BirminghamMommy or #BirminghamMommy (you must leave a comment here for every social media platform you post to)

This giveaway will end at noon on Wednesday, December 2nd. Winners will be notified via email and on social media.

Good Luck!!

Birmingham Events Calendar: November 29th – December 6th

Posted on by Angie

We hope you all had a great and filling Thanksgiving! There are lots of fun Holiday Happenings kicking off this week. Fun story times holiday movies, breakfast with Santa, Zoolight Safari and BirminghamMommy.com will be kicking off our “Giveaways to Giftaway” so keep an eye out here on the site and on our Social Media for a chance to win a lot of cool prizes that you’ll be able to keep for yourself or gift away this Christmas!

Have a great week!

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Monday November 30th:

Pelham Christmas Tree Lighting – Pelham Civic Complex
Event begins with the Pelham High School Jazz Ensemble at 6:15pm. Choirs and bands from Valley Elementary, Valley Intermediate, Riverchase Middle and Pelham High Schools will provide Christmas music for everyone to enjoy. Skate performances provided by the Pelham Skate School will accompany the music and a Pelham Mite Under 8 Division Hockey Game will take center ice. Enjoy cookies and cocoa with Santa and meet members of the Alabama Youth Ballet’s The Nutcracker. The Pelham Christmas Tree Lighting is free to the public and sponsored by the City of Pelham and the Pelham Beautification Board. Free ice skating after Tree Lighting Ceremonies!

Tot time with Ms. Eve, I have two hands for helping – Avondale Regional Library
Who just put the toys away? Join us as we discover who that special helper really is. Tot Time is geared for 2 to 4 year olds with an individual caregiver, no groups please. 24-hour advance registration required.
9:30 and 11am

Preschool Playtime – Homewood Public Library
We’ll provide the stations, and you provide the imagination for a fun morning of play with your child aged three and under.  Daycare groups must call 332-6619 in advance to schedule time.
10am

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Tuesday December 1st:

City of Birmingham Holiday Lights – Vulcan Park
The annual City of Birmingham Holiday Lights moves to Vulcan Park and Museum for the first time for a family-friendly evening of musical entertainment, arts and crafts for the kids, prize giveaways, fun with V, the Vulcan mascot and a vist from Santa and Mrs. Claus. You may also enjoy book signings in the gift shop and great food and beverages will be available for purchase. Get your Holiday Season off to a wonderful start with a visit to Holiday Lights.
5pm – 7pm

Evenings at EOL – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the family in PJs and enjoy a different activity each week. PJ Storytime: special sleepytime stories and a bedtime snack. Movie & Popcorn: 30-minute family-friendly movies and movie popcorn. Boards & Blocks: LEGOs and board games. Craft: supplies provided. Call 879-0497 to find out what this week’s program will be. All ages. No registration required.
6pm

Holiday Flix – Homewood Library
We are showing some of our must-see movies of the holiday season, and we would love for you to join us for popcorn and drinks!

Nightmare Before Christmas
3:30pm

Home Alone
6pm

Family Tours, Bon Appetit– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Bon Appetit: The holidays are here and it’s time to indulge! Feast your eyes on art in our collection and learn more about food and dining in art.
10:30am

Toddler Days – Steel City Jump Park
Story, snack and jumping! Parents jump for free, Children, $8.00
10am – Noon

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Wednesday December 2nd:

Wiggleworm Wednesdays – Homewood Public Library
Join Ms. Mandy for our weekly all-ages storytime filled with music, wiggling and fun!
10:30am

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Thursday December 3rd:

American Girl, Girls Just Like Me: Festival of Tress – Birmingham Museum of Art
Celebrate the beauty of the season in The Gardens with American Girl fun!  Enjoy crafting with fragrant plant material such as evergreen and cinnamon, a short hike, holiday story, and delicious treats while learning how your favorite American Girl characters celebrate the holidays.
$15 members | $20 non-members
3:30pm – 5:30pm

Storyday with Nay Nay – Homewood Public Library
Join Ms. Nay Nay for this fun-filled storytime.  Children ages three and under and a parent or caregiver are invited to shake their beanbags and listen to this amazing storyteller!
9:30 and 10:30

Toddler Days – Steel City Jump Park
Story, snack and jumping! Parents jump for free, Children, $8.00
10am – Noon

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Friday December 4th:

Jingle all the Way Christmas Music and Songs of the Season – Homewood Public Library
Stories, songs, and sing-a-longs to make the season bright. Storyteller Dolores Hydock and musical master Bobby Horton mix traditional carols, jolly songs, and sweet stories to fill your holiday with spirit. Advance reservations are essential! The show includes a light hors d’oeuvres buffet starting at 6:30 p.m. ,with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and will be available beginning Monday, November 9th. Purchase your ticket before December 2nd

Polar Express Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of The Polar Express, we will be hosting a Pajama Party! Also, starting Saturday, November 7 at Storytimes, you and your child will be given the opportunity to create a train car of our customers’ “Most Special Gift” memories or pictures. Our Special Gift train will be displayed in our Children’s area throughout the season!
7pm

Zoolight Safari – Birmingham Zoo
Watch as the Zoo comes alive for 19 nights of holiday-centric fun at ZooLight Safari presented by Wells Fargo! New this year, enjoy the all-new Glacier Glide Ice Rink**. Glide past your friends and family on the ice skating rink in Trails of Africa!  Be amazed by light displays in this transformed winter wonderland. View over one million lights, listen to holiday music and delight in festive snowfalls every night! Enjoy a ride on the Candy Cane Train*, go for a spin on the Jingle Bell Carousel*, experience the thrill of the over 100 foot Yuletide Slide* and so much more. Every night at 6pm, watch a tree lighting ceremony with an illuminating tree reaching nearly 30 feet tall in Trails of Africa! Be sure not to miss a special appearance and photos with Santa through December 23. *Requires ride ticket. **Requires ride ticket and ice skates. The Glacier Glide Ice Rink is made of synthetic ice. Children under 5 must be accompanied by a skating adult
Members: FREE
Non-members: $8 plus tax
*Ride tickets: $3.50 plus tax
**Ice Skates: $3.50 plus tax and $1.50 plus tax ice skate rental. Guests can bring their own ice skates.
BEST VALUE! Unlimited attraction wristband: $12 plus tax

5pm – 9pm

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Saturday December 5th:

Zoolight Safari – Birmingham Zoo
Watch as the Zoo comes alive for 19 nights of holiday-centric fun at ZooLight Safari presented by Wells Fargo! New this year, enjoy the all-new Glacier Glide Ice Rink**. Glide past your friends and family on the ice skating rink in Trails of Africa!  Be amazed by light displays in this transformed winter wonderland. View over one million lights, listen to holiday music and delight in festive snowfalls every night! Enjoy a ride on the Candy Cane Train*, go for a spin on the Jingle Bell Carousel*, experience the thrill of the over 100 foot Yuletide Slide* and so much more. Every night at 6pm, watch a tree lighting ceremony with an illuminating tree reaching nearly 30 feet tall in Trails of Africa! Be sure not to miss a special appearance and photos with Santa through December 23. *Requires ride ticket. **Requires ride ticket and ice skates. The Glacier Glide Ice Rink is made of synthetic ice. Children under 5 must be accompanied by a skating adult
Members: FREE
Non-members: $8 plus tax
*Ride tickets: $3.50 plus tax
**Ice Skates: $3.50 plus tax and $1.50 plus tax ice skate rental. Guests can bring their own ice skates.
BEST VALUE! Unlimited attraction wristband: $12 plus tax

5pm – 9pm

Holiday Faire – Alabama Waldorf School
Join us for Alabama Waldorf School’s 28th annual Holiday Faire! Do your holiday shopping here commercial-free and full of good cheer, with local artists and crafters selling original artwork, handmade goods, toys, jewelry, soaps and more! The whole family is welcome to celebrate the season with an International Lunch Buffet and Bake Sale, student performances, games, pony rides, a Little Elves Store, Drum Circle with John Scalici, Climbing Wall from Idlewild Adventure Company, and live music by Taylor Hollingsworth, The Joiners, and Rachel Roberts.
10am – 3pm

Breakfast with Santa – North Shelby Library
Join us for a great time of food, fun, and pictures with Santa. Breakfast will be from 9:00 – 9:30. Pictures with Santa and a Christmas craft will be 9:30 – 10:30. Tickets are $5.00 per person, and is due at the time of registration. Please call or visit the library for to purchase tickets. All Ages are welcome.  Tickets are on sale now!

Bart’s Art Cart– Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!
Tea Time!: Brrr… it’s getting chilly! Warm up with some tea! Make your own cup and saucer to take home, then host your own tea parties all winter long.
11am

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for coloring and activities on December 5th at 11:00AM as we celebrate all things Grinch with a special event featuring How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
11am

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

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Sunday December 6th:

Zoolight Safari – Birmingham Zoo
Watch as the Zoo comes alive for 19 nights of holiday-centric fun at ZooLight Safari presented by Wells Fargo! New this year, enjoy the all-new Glacier Glide Ice Rink**. Glide past your friends and family on the ice skating rink in Trails of Africa!  Be amazed by light displays in this transformed winter wonderland. View over one million lights, listen to holiday music and delight in festive snowfalls every night! Enjoy a ride on the Candy Cane Train*, go for a spin on the Jingle Bell Carousel*, experience the thrill of the over 100 foot Yuletide Slide* and so much more. Every night at 6pm, watch a tree lighting ceremony with an illuminating tree reaching nearly 30 feet tall in Trails of Africa! Be sure not to miss a special appearance and photos with Santa through December 23. *Requires ride ticket. **Requires ride ticket and ice skates. The Glacier Glide Ice Rink is made of synthetic ice. Children under 5 must be accompanied by a skating adult
Members: FREE
Non-members: $8 plus tax
*Ride tickets: $3.50 plus tax
**Ice Skates: $3.50 plus tax and $1.50 plus tax ice skate rental. Guests can bring their own ice skates.
BEST VALUE! Unlimited attraction wristband: $12 plus tax

5pm – 9pm

American Girl, Girls Just Like Me: Festival of Tress – Birmingham Museum of Art
Celebrate the beauty of the season in The Gardens with American Girl fun!  Enjoy crafting with fragrant plant material such as evergreen and cinnamon, a short hike, holiday story, and delicious treats while learning how your favorite American Girl characters celebrate the holidays.
$15 members | $20 non-members
3:30pm – 5:30pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Ocean Oasis, Horses, Journey to Space

Birmingham Zoo:

The Birmingham Zoo offers a variety of daily activities from Giraffe and Pelican Feedings to Bird Tours and Lion Training. For a daily schedule of whats happening at the Zoo, visit their site.

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Parenting with a PhD: Scheduling and Holidays, Helping your Kids Avoid the Holi-Daze

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume

I know what you’re thinking: you’ll sleep when the holidays are over. But, now that Christmas trees go up as soon as jack-o-lanterns are tossed on the compost pile, the holiday season has never been longer. Or busier. Burning the candle at both ends so you can soak up every second may have worked in the pre-parenting days but your kids don’t make the day-to-evening transition quite as smoothly as your LBD. Here are some ideas for helping your family be dazzled but not dazed by the holiday season.

The first and most important step is to compare calendars so there won’t be any last minute surprises. Put everything on the table so there’s likely to be at least one holiday event each family member will enjoy. If you need more options, check sites like the BirminghamMommy.com Weekly Events Calendar for family-friendly events.

Once you’ve taken stock of all the possibilities (and it’s important to see them as possibilities at this stage, not obligations), talk as a family about what’s most essential for each person to make the holiday special. Is going store-to-store with list in hand the only way to jumpstart the season for you? Does your spouse/partner love parties but have no patience for baking? Will your daughter attend to every decorating detail at home but melt down around a lot of people? Take into account everyone’s preferences and create a tentative schedule (key word: tentative) for the season. Then, consider some of the following factors and make changes as needed:

Does this schedule allow everyone to get adequate rest? Try to maintain the regular bedtime schedule, even when the kids are out of school. Most can handle going to bed a half hour later but for children who won’t sleep in the next morning, staying up presents a problem. If you’re going to an event that will require you to be out late, hire a sitter. Well-rested kids: It should be on your Wish List.

Does this schedule allow you to fit in mealtimes? Make sure you and the kids power up between activities and do your best to plan for actual meals, not just quick snacks on the go. Keep in mind that most holiday gatherings offer a fair amount of junk food so fit in the healthy stuff (broccoli Christmas trees?) when possible.

Does this schedule allow time for home work and homework? Most of us don’t feel good when we’re behind on the laundry (don’t look in my basement) and teachers won’t accept missing homework because your child was at a pajama party with Santa. Make sure there’s plenty of downtime for catching up on the things you do every day of your real life. Keep in mind that your kids may need extra homework time near the end of the semester if they have exams or projects.

Does this schedule take into account your family’s financial resources? Relevant health issues? Have you factored in preparation time (Dinner for 30? No problem!) in addition to the events themselves? Most importantly: Does thinking about doing all these activities excite you or leave you feeling drained? If it’s the latter, you have more culling to do.

Some final thoughts: Remember that it’s O.K. to say no. Your real friends will understand if you just can’t make it. Those who get angry at you? Re-think those relationships. You can’t do it all. Trying will only make you dread the holiday season. Send e-cards, go with store-bought (Oh, the horror!), take a break from hosting. And, for goodness sake, go easy on the wrapping – it’s just going to get ripped off anyway.

Once your family’s holiday schedule looks fun and manageable, post it where all can see. But, consider it a work in progress. Use it as a guide but don’t be hesitant to make additions, substitutions, or deletions, as needed. Be prepared to leave an event early or skip it entirely if it proves too demanding for your family. In truth, the holidays should be a time to gather and enjoy being together. Too many activities, even when attended as a group, detract greatly from the overall experience. Even worse, an overscheduled holiday can lead to stressed out parents and children, which is a memory no one will treasure for years to come. Your kids will enjoy the holidays much more if they are spent with relaxed parents, regardless of which activities you do (or don’t!) choose. I wish you all a Happy, Low-Stress Holiday Season!

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way via email at: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com and I’ll tell you what I can: Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel  you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

Kristen S. Berthiaume, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

Winter Wonderland and Magic of Model Trains, McWane Science Center

Posted on by Angie

Winter Wonderland along with the Magic of Model Trains exhibit features many winter-inspired activities, holiday films in IMAX and visits from Santa.  For the sixth consecutive year, Royal Cup, Inc., a Birmingham-based coffee and tea distributor, is the presenting sponsor of the Winter Wonderland and the Magic of Model Trains exhibit.  “Especially during this time of year, Royal Cup supports initiatives that are family-oriented, and these sponsorships at McWane Science Center are a great example of that,” said Bill Smith, President and CEO of Royal Cup, Inc. “We look forward to Winter Wonderland and the Magic of Model Trains and hope all enjoy the holiday fun!”

Winter Wonderland will occupy the third floor of the museum along with the Magic of Model Trains throughout the holiday
season.  Children can zip across the room on the extended zipline, slide down the Ice Slide, take a picture in Santa’s sleigh or try their luck ice fishing.  Winter Wonderland also includes holiday films in IMAX, breakfast in Santa’s workshop, and holiday themed camps.  A schedule of events and registration information is available at www.mcwane.org.

“We really enjoy the holidays and the excitement they bring to McWane,” said Amy Templeton, President and CEO of  McWane Science Center.  “Children of all ages come and enjoy Winter Wonderland each year.”

The Winter Wonderland and The Magic of Model Trains exhibits will open Nov.  21 and will run through Jan. 10.  For more
information, visit www.mcwane.org.

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