☰

Birmingham Events Calendar: March 15th – March 22nd

Posted on by Angie

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

Kind of a slow week around Birmingham this week,  but with the weather warming up it will be the perfect time to get outside and enjoy all of the parks and playgrounds our city has to offer! Fun programming with Bart this weekend at the Birmingham Museum of Art and Tannehill Trade days are back!

Enjoy the sun while it’s lasts!

Sunday March 15th:

Dinner with Cinderella – The Melting Pot
Celebrate the premiere weekend of Cinderella with a magical experience at The Melting Pot!
The Birmingham Meltting Pot cordially invites you to bring your little prince or princess to enjoy a three-course fairytale fondue feast!
An enchanting afternoon wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Cinderella herself! Dress your best for photo opportunities with a real-life princess.
4pm – 6pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday March 16th:

Time for Tales with Ms Charlottes – Avondale Library
Sssss-lither on in to Tot Time for some great stories and songs about snakes! Tot Time is designed for 2 to 4 year olds with a parent or caregiver. 24-hour advance registration is required.
9:30 and 11am

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday March 17th:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we attempt to read as many Dr. Seuss books as we can this month – because they are that good! Come early and pick your favorite for us to read.
11am

Wee Ones Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us on Tuesday mornings for a unique new Storytime specifically tailored to your one year old!
9:30a and 10:30a

Family Tours, Kids at Play– 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?

Kids At Play! See all the shenanigans kids get into, as displayed in works of art from our collection..
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday March 18th:

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

Wiggleworm Wednesdays– Homewood Public Library
Storytime for all ages! Join us for music, puppets, dancing, and so much more in Storytime with Ms. Mandy. Look in the round auditorium every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for your Storytime pals!
Large groups, we appreciate your call to 205-332-6619 to ensure adequate space.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday March 19th:

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
We are now featuring two Mommy & Me Story Times with Miss Renee! Due to high demand (and high squish quotient), we are opening availability to create a flexible time schedule that includes all of our eager young patrons (comfortably). You can now choose between two back-to-back Story Times on Thursday mornings; the first begins at 9:30 a.m., the second at 10:30 a.m.

Come by the round auditorium for lots of music, dancing, and of course, the bean-bag song! Miss Rene uses drama, wit, and a hefty dose of fun things to shake to keep your young one entertained and educated.
9:30am and 10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Friday March 20th:

Holy Inappropriateness! We couldn’t find any special events happening in the ‘Ham today. Make sure to check our list below for fun exhibits happening daily at our local attractions.

—————————————————————————————

Saturday March 21st:

Barts 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!
String together some fun and make your own African necklace or bracelet.
11am – 1pm

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy.
This month, Bart has selected Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back.
11am

Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures
Park admission:
$4.00 Adults (12 years and older)
$3.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and older)
$2.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free
8pm – 4pm

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.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Special Storytime featuring Edmund Unravels. Edmund is ready to discover the wonders of the world and go on new adventures. Activities to follow.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday March 22nd:

Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
Shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures
Park admission:
$4.00 Adults (12 years and older)
$3.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and older)
$2.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free
8pm – 4pm

—————————————————————————————

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: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

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.

Let’s Get That Garden Started: 5 Things you can do right now

Posted on by Angie

by Holly Syx

Growning your own garden is a great way to save money on fruits & veggies.  It’s also quite rewarding to be able to feed your family with the fruits of your labor.

Ok, so I know it’s been pretty chilly outside and gardening may be the furthest thing from your mind.  But believe it or not now is the time to go ahead & start planning for this year’s garden.

There are several things you can do right now to begin the process:

Find a spot for your garden

It will need to be a spot that gets plenty of sunshine during the day as well as have good soil and water drainage.  Don’t choose a huge space for your first time.  It’s so easy to jump in & go huge the first year.  It can quickly become overwhelming.

Gardening know how has a great article here that will help you find just the right spot.

Don’t have good soil? That’s ok.  You can build a raised garden & fill it in with soil.  Here’s an article that will help you set up your raised bed.

No room? That’s ok too!  Try container gardening.  A lot of people do it & it’s a great option for folks who have little or no yard space.  Go check out this article for more help with starting your container garden.

Choose your plants

This step is going to be different for everyone.  What you decide to plant will have a lot to do with what your family likes as well as your garden conditions.

Here’s a great resource here to help you decide and one here with planting guides for 58 different types of vegetables.

Make a plan & map it out on paper

Once you’ve decided how you want to build your garden and what you want to plant now you’re ready to map it out

Here’s a great resource on choosing the size of your garden and another one to help you with designing the garden.

You’ll also need to make a shopping list for all the supplies you’ll need.  You’ll need to consider if you’re starting with seeds or plants.  If you’re planning to build a raised bed or container garden you’ll also need to take that into consideration.  The staff at a local nursery or garden center can help with that.

Start your Seeds

If you’re going to start with plants then you don’t need to worry about this step, but if you’re planning to start with seeds you can go ahead & start them indoors.  You can find the seeds right now in most hardware stores as well as Walmart & Target.  You can also purchase them online.  Burpee is a great source of seeds online.

Here’s a great resource from Savvy Gardener about starting seeds indoors.  I also love this photo tutorial from Renee’s Garden on starting sweet peas with seeds.

Hip Chick Digs has an awesome video on making your planters from newspaper.

Prepare for the Bounty

Once your garden starts producing you’ll not want to waste any of that good stuff you worked so hard for.  If your family can’t eat it all at once you can always preserve it in jars or in the freezer.

If you’re planning to do some canning  you’ll need a few things such as jars, large canner or pot and a few other things are helpful.  Try asking on Freecyle or Craigslist for canning supplies.  People often have them & are more than willing to share.

You’ll also want to check out pickyourown.org for tips on preserving.  My #1 recommended resource for canning & preserving is the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.  It has great tips & recipes for putting up your fruits & veggies.

Here’s his best tip for a new gardener: “The 1st thing to do right now is get your soil ready.  Break the ground open and let the cold weather hit it to kill the weeds.  When it warms up more till it again & make your rows to get ready for your plants. “

For Grocery deals, Coupons, Shopping, and more articles like this go check out My Blog or follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

 

St. Patty's Day Playdate

Posted on by Angie
What do you need in order to have a fun St Patty’s Day playdate? Shamrocks, pots of gold, lots of green and some little Leprechauns, of course!

Since everyone seems to gather in the kitchen, let’s start with food. This can be as easy or as involved as you want it to be. For a simple plan, make some PB&J sandwiches and grab a shamrock/clover cookie cutter to cut them into festive, party appropriate shapes. Throw in some green veggies/fruits like celery, broccoli, green apples or pears. If your kids are like most and won’t touch a veggie with a 10 foot pole, try some sour cream and onion potato chips. Since not all moms care to eat PB&J, get more “sophisticated” with some chicken salad, any type of sandwich can be cut into cute little shapes. You could also try a yummy pasta salad using tri-colored pasta.

For desserts, if you want to go the super easy route, you can buy the pre made cookies with shamrocks already in the middle, or bake some up and use that handy cookie cutter again. Ice cream sandwiches with chocolate chip cookies and mint chocolate chip ice cream would also be a tasty treat.

If you want something other than standard juiceboxes to drink, try making some “Leprechaun Punch” by letting some lime sorbet thaw a bit in a punch bowl and adding some Sprite. Lime Koolaid would also work.

So everyone is fed, now what? How about a craft or a game, or both?

Check out this site for some free downloadable color pages, or this game compliments of Examiner.com:

Leprechaun Search: Put together clues ( a clue, a clue!) and send your children on a scavenger hunt in search of a green leprechaun.  Reward them at the end with wonderful green candy treats such as green jelly beans, M&Ms, sourballs, etc.

There are endless ideas for crafts. One of our favorites is this Handprint Rainbow, it’s easy and if you make it a tradition, you can see how much the kiddos have grown each year. This one is also great because you can do it with all ages.

Don’t forget to wear green so you don’t get pinched!

Erin Go Bragh!

First Time Camper Program – Georgia State Parks

Posted on by Angie

Long-time campers know the gooey fun of making s’mores over the fire, but for those who have never slept in a tent before, spending the night outdoors can be an unfamiliar adventure. Through Georgia State Parks’ First-Time Camper Program, curious guests can see if they enjoy sleeping under the stars before investing in their own gear. More than 300 families have participated in the three-year-old program, which expands this March to include 13 state parks.

For just $50, guests spend two nights in a modern campground, trying out all the necessary gear. Park staff or volunteers will greet campers upon arrival, give tips on setting up the tent, and offer a Camping 101 lesson. Equipment donated by REI and Coleman includes a family tent, sleeping pads, chairs, camp stove, fuel and lantern. Bathrooms and hot showers are a short walk from the campsite. At the end of their getaway, campers return the gear and go home with memories to last forever.

“We often hear visitors say they like the idea of camping, but they don’t have the equipment and aren’t sure they’ll enjoy it,” said the program’s coordinator Ellen Graham. “Once they see how easy it is to pitch a tent and maybe even experience the thrill of hearing an owl, they’ll realize how much fun camping can be.”

Georgia’s State Parks currently in the program include A.H. Stephens in Crawfordville, F.D. Roosevelt in Pine Mountain, Fort Mountain near Chatsworth, Fort Yargo in Winder, General Coffee near Douglas, Gordonia-Alatamaha in Reidsville, James H. Floyd near Summerville, Magnolia Springs in Millen, Reed Bingham in Adel, Red Top Mountain on Lake Allatoona, Richard B. Russell on Lake Russell, Skidaway Island in Savannah and Stephen C. Foster in the Okefenokee Swamp. Both Fort Mountain and Red Top Mountain have enough equipment for larger families or groups up to 20 people.

Author Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods shined a light on America’s growing disconnect with nature – coining it “Nature Deficit Disorder.” Park officials hope that projects such as First-Time Camper will give families an incentive to explore and appreciate the natural world around them.

Anyone who has never camped in a Georgia State Park may participate. While leashed dogs are normally welcome in campgrounds, they are not allowed in the First-Time Camper program since gear is shared among participants. Once settled in, guests can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, boating, geocaching, mini-golf, wildlife programs and many other activities. Reservations are required and must be made by calling the individual parks.

To learn more, visit GeorgiaStateParks.org/FirstTimeCamper.

Birmingham Events Calendar: March 8th – March 15th

Posted on by Angie

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

A busy week and an even busier weekend with lots of activities to choose from. We’re super excited about the St Patty’s Day Parade, it’s always a fun time for the whole family! Check out the special events happening at the Birmingham Zoo and of course Pi Day at the McWane Science Center!

Have a great week!

Sunday March 8th:

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!! SPRING FORWARD!

Cottontails Village Arts and Craft Show – BJCC Exhibition Halls
Are you looking for a one-of-a kind party dress for your little princess? Do you need a personalized Easter basket stuffed with candy, toys, and games? Or, are you shopping to update your home décor or garden accessories? Spring shopping is fun and simple, when new exhibitors join your favorite vendors from Christmas Village to display fresh new ideas and crafts all in the comfort of the Birmingham/Jefferson Convention Complex.
Adults: $6.00
Children 6-12: $2.00
Children under 6 free! (Strollers are allowed on each day of this show)
Noon – 5pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday March 9th:

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve – Avondale Library
2, 4, 6, 8, what do we appreciate? Tot Time! Please join us for fun songs and stories that celebrate MATH! Tot Time is designed for 2 to 4 year olds with a parent or caregiver. 24-hour advance registration is required.
9:30 and 11am

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday March 10th:

Balloon Magic – Hoover Public Library
Stories and balloon art by Dr. Magical Balloons.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us as we attempt to read as many Dr. Seuss books as we can this month – because they are that good! Come early and pick your favorite for us to read.
11am

Wee Ones Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us on Tuesday mornings for a unique new Storytime specifically tailored to your one year old!
9:30a and 10:30a

Family Tours, Wear/Where– 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?

Kids At Play! See all the shenanigans kids get into, as displayed in works of art from our collection..
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday March 11th:

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

Wiggleworm Wednesdays– Homewood Public Library
Storytime for all ages! Join us for music, puppets, dancing, and so much more in Storytime with Ms. Mandy. Look in the round auditorium every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for your Storytime pals!
Large groups, we appreciate your call to 205-332-6619 to ensure adequate space.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday March 12th:

Mommy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
We are now featuring two Mommy & Me Story Times with Miss Renee! Due to high demand (and high squish quotient), we are opening availability to create a flexible time schedule that includes all of our eager young patrons (comfortably). You can now choose between two back-to-back Story Times on Thursday mornings; the first begins at 9:30 a.m., the second at 10:30 a.m.

Come by the round auditorium for lots of music, dancing, and of course, the bean-bag song! Miss Rene uses drama, wit, and a hefty dose of fun things to shake to keep your young one entertained and educated.
9:30am and 10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Friday March 13th:

Leaps and Bounds – Homewood Public Library
Join us for a fun and energetic movement class designed specifically for children ages 2 1/2 to 4 years. Registration is required and begins on the Monday prior to the class that week. (Registration begins March 9 for ages 30-48 months–15 participants in each class).
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Saturday March 14th:

31st Annual St Patricks Day Parade – Five Points South
The parade will make its way through Five Points South and end at Cobb Lane.
Live music from Hooley & Marc Gunn, Irish dancers, and bagpipers will entertain guests at select restaurants, venues and bars from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Attendees can also dine, drink and listen to live music in festive, St. Patrick’s Day-themed atmospheres of participating Five Points businesses well into the evening following the parade.
Parade time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Pi Day and Einstein’s Birthday – McWane Science Center
Join McWane Science Center as we celebrate Pi Day (3.14) and Albert Einstein’s Birthday. Fun hands-on activities will focus on the importance of Pi and other interesting applications of math in our daily lives, and help mark the 130th anniversary of Einstein’s birth.
10am – 5pm

Go Green Day – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo on Saturday, March 14 for Go Green Day and see how the Zoo uses recycled products to help the animals! Animals at the Birmingham Zoo are enriched daily in various ways, through different items to manipulate, smelling special scents, training and puzzles. Enjoy getting to see these special enrichment activities all throughout the Zoo with an emphasis on Going Green!
Schedule:
10am: Sea Lion Training Demonstration, recycling discussion and enrichment
11:30am: Lemur Keeper Chat in the Primate Building
1:30pm: North American River Otter Keeper Chat in Alabama Wilds
2pm: Guinea Forest Hogs enrichment with boxes and paper
2pm: Bears enrichment with boxes
2:30pm: Red River Hog enrichment
3pm: Fox enrichment with boxes and paper

Barts 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!
String together some fun and make your own African necklace or bracelet.
11am – 1pm

Welcome to Whoville – Hoover Public Library
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with your favorite characters. All ages.
10:30am

Rumpshaker 5k – Sloss Furnaces
The 7th Annual Rumpshaker 5K will be held on Saturday March 14, 2015 at Sloss Furnaces.  Since 2009, the Rumpshaker 5K has raised well over half a million dollars to fight colorectal cancer.  As always, this event is a fun, family friendly experience for all ages.  Registration is now open for both the Rumpshaker 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, so sign up today!

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.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
a special, fun-filled Storytime featuring Mustache Baby – aka Baby Billy. Activities to follow.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday March 15th:

Dinner with Cinderella – The Melting Pot
Celebrate the premiere weekend of Cinderella with a magical experience at The Melting Pot!
The Birmingham Meltting Pot cordially invites you to bring your little prince or princess to enjoy a three-course fairytale fondue feast!
An enchanting afternoon wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Cinderella herself! Dress your best for photo opportunities with a real-life princess.
4pm – 6pm

—————————————————————————————

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: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

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.

Member Monday at McWane Science Center

Posted on by Angie

As a thank-you to all of their members, McWane Science Center offers Member Mondays!

Every Monday, McWane Science Center members receive extra perks while visiting!

  • A Special Gift for kids when checking in at the Ticketing Counter
  • 30% Discount on all Really Cool Stuff purchases
  • $1 Small Popcorns at the IMAX Concession Stand

Member Mondays also include an exclusive, FREE members-only evening event every month! On the 2nd Monday evening of every month, McWane Science Center will open its doors from 6 to 8 P.M. for its members .

AND DINNER TOO: In additional to Member Monday evening events, themed buffet dinners will be available. The cost of dinner is $8 for Adults and $5 for Children.  Dinner orders may be placed when you make your reservation but must be made by the Wednesday before each event.

Dinner payment must be made at the time of Reservation and will not be available for purchase the night of the event.

Reservations are required for each Member Monday event. Reserve your spot today by calling (205) 714-8414.

THEME: Soak up the Science

Soak up the science in McWane Science Center’s World of Water! Spend an evening learning about these fascinating creatures in our aquariums. Special science activities and presentations will take place throughout the night.

Make plans to attend next Monday, March 9th, 6pm – 8pm

Giveaway: Thomas the Tank Engine

Posted on by Angie

Thomas the Tank Engine is coming to the Heart of Dixie Railroad in Calera and BirminghamMommy has tickets for one lucky reader!

This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends® series. In addition, children will meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed activities including arts & crafts, storytelling and more.  The tour, now in its 20th year, will make 42 stops across the U.S. and Canada and is expected to welcome nearly one million passengers in 2015.

This year, Thomas & Friends celebrates 70 years of friendship.  All aboard the Best Friends Express for an unprecedented year of Thomas-themed programs and activations as the #1 blue engine celebrates friendship with fans around the world.

Leave a comment here on this post letting us know you would like to win these tickets.

We have a family 4 pack of tickets for Sunday, April 19th at 3:00.

(please do not enter this giveaway if you are unable to make this date and time)

Giveaway will end Saturday, March 7th at 6pm, winner will be notified via email.

Good Luck!

 

Practical Hacks for Parents: DIY Ice Packs

Posted on by Angie

3 Kids, 3 lunches everyday. Factor in forgetting to unpack said lunches, leaving things at school or needing to ice a boo boo (real or exaggerated) and we always seem to be short on ice packs. Here’s a quick, inexpensive tip for making your own.

Hit the Dollar store and pick up some kitchen sponges, wet them, put them in a zippy and freeze. Tomorrow morning you’ll have all the ice packs you need.

They’re the perfect size, and as they melt the sponge retains the water, so no leaking! If you want to go an extra step, use your cookie cutters to trace and cut out some fun shapes for the kids lunches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birmingham Area Spring Break Camps: 2015

Posted on by Angie

We’re just about a month away from Spring Break here in Birmingham. Moms every where are looking for some fun things to do with or for the kids. Here are some options for camps around town.

Birmingham Zoo
Spring Break Camps – Habitats
Join us as we talk to ZooKeepers about the animals they take care of from around the world and how they make them feel at home in Alabama!

March 30th 2015 –  Run Wild in the Rainforest
March 31st 2015 –  Dining in the Desert
April 1st 2015  – Surviving the Swamp
April 2nd, 2015 –  Fun in the Forest
April 3rd, 2015  – Movement in the Mountains

McWane Science Center
A week of fun and learning awaits your child at McWane Science Center Spring Break Camp. Daily March 30, 2015 – April 3, 2015
Each classe is designed for the skill level of that particular camp: therefore, the grade levels must be observed. Enrollment is limited to ensure a quality experience. Registrants may attend only those camps for which they are registered. Registrations are not transferable.

Schedule:

  • Full-day camps begin at 9:00 am and end at 5:00 pm Please make every effort to have your camper signed in by 8:50am. Campers can be picked up as early as 5:00 pm and no later than 5:30 pm
  • Half-day morning camps start at 9:00 am and end at 1:30 pm Please make every effort to have your camper signed in by 8:50am. Campers can be picked up as early as 1:00 pm and must be picked up no later than 1:30 pm
  • Half-day afternoon camps start at 12:30 pm and end at 5:00 pm Campers may be dropped off no earlier than 12:20 pm and can be picked up as early as 5:00 p.m. and no later than 5:30 pm

Camp Fees
All fees are due in full at time of registration. All fees are subject to %10 tax
Daily Full-day camps $80 per day (McWane Science Center Members receive $20 discount)
Daily Half-day camps $40 per day (McWane Science Center Members receive $10 discount)

Visit the McWane Science Center website for more information or to register.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Camp days are from 9am – 3pm.  $45/day (non-member) $35/day (member).  Extended care is available from 7:30 – 9am ($5/day) and 3 – 5:30pm ($5/day).

Sign your camper up for one day or multiple days. Rising K-5th.

All camps include 2 snacks. Space is limited.  After purchasing you will receive a confirmation email with more detailed camp information including what to bring, as well as a link to fill out a Camper Registration Packet.  Please contact programs@ruffnermountain.org or call (205) 833-8264, ext. 13 with questions.

Spring Break Camp Day Themes:

March 30th — Past, Present, Future
March 31st — Scales & Tails 
April 1st — Spring into Spring! 
April 2nd — Furry, Fuzzy Friends  

Mason Music
Preschool Music Camp:

Ages: 3-6 years old (who are potty-trained) Mason Music’s five-day Spring Break Preschool Music Camp is a great opportunity for families who are staying in town during Spring Break to give their children a one-of-a-kind experience exploring musical concepts in a creative and fun environment. This camp will be held from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Mountain Brook Community Church’s Children Worship Room (3001 Hwy 280 East Birmingham, AL 35243).* The cost for this camp is $125 and the deadline for registering is March 16.

Register online

Edgewood Art Camp
Art Camp is a 2 day camp held at Dawson Baptist Recreational Center. Children will work on fun art projects, enjoy snacks and present their work on the last day of camp at an Art Show for parents and friends.

Cost: $70 per child per session.
Cost includes: Camp, instruction, art supplies and snacks

Each Camp will be different, sign up for one or both!

Session 1: March 30, 31 – 9am – Noon, Girls ages 5-10
Session 2: April 2, 3rd – 9am – Noon, Girls ages 5-10

For more information or to register

If we learn of any more camps happening around town, we’ll be sure to update. Make sure to check back!

Reading Rocks!

Posted on by Angie

Today is Read Across America Day! The National Education Association is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA’s Read Across America. Now in its 18th year, this year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.

Ever wonder why your kids homework is to read for 20 minutes a day? That number isn’t as random as you might think.

Reading is like food for your brain. Your brain actually develops as you feed it with the experience of reading. It improves listening skills and academic success. For every year that a person spends reading (either independently or being read aloud to), his/her lifetime earning potential goes up considerably. For a time investment of approximately 87 hours a year (20 minutes a day for 5 days a week), you can increase your child’s ability to support him or herself in the future considerably.

Here are some tips from the National Education Association that will help promote reading for your children.

  • Set a good example as a reader – let kids see you reading every day.
  • Get a subscription in his or her name to an age-appropriate magazine for your child. When relatives and others ask for gift ideas, suggest magazine subscriptions, books, or a book store gift certificate.
  • Make reading fun – a time that you and your children look forward to spending together.
  • Check out The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (New York: Penguin Books, 1995). It’s loaded with fun tips and reading recommendations.
  • Keep lots of books, magazines, and newspapers around the house. Visit the library often and shop for books at garage and yard sales, swap meets, and used bookstores.
  • Don’t fret if “Captain Underpants” has captivated your child rather than Robinson Crusoe. The important thing: he’s reading! Encourage it and he’s likely to move on to more sophisticated titles as he gets older.

What tips can you share that help promote reading in your household?

 

Advertisements