Birmingham Events Calendar: February 22nd – March 1st

Posted on Sunday, February 22, 2015 by Angie

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

Another tricky weather week for Birmingham. Make sure to double check any events before heading out as they may be canceled, rescheduled or delayed due to the threat of ice and snow.

We’ve made a couple of updates to our Consignment Calendar, so check that out if you’re looking to shop or sale!

Monday February 23rd:

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve – Avondale Library
Shapes are all around us, if you know where to look. This fun Tot Time is all about shapes! 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

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Tuesday February 24th:

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
The ‘Pigeon’ books by Mo Willems are everyone’s favorites. This time the silly Pigeon wants a puppy! Oh my!
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

PJ Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Cozy up with this extra-special storytime in your comfiest pajamas in the round auditorium for nighttime tales!
6:15pm

Movie Time – Springville Public Library
Enjoy a film about baseball great Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, and helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955.
4pm

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?

Wear/Where: Clothing From Around The World will explore self-expression through garments worn in cultures across the globe.
10:30am

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Wednesday February 25th:

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

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Thursday February 26th:

Storytime Live – Hoover Public Library
Stories, songs, poetry, puppetry and more for ages 3 and up. Groups must register.
10:30a

PJ Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Wear your pajamas to this storytime! Kids of all ages can enjoy stories, finger plays, songs, and a bedtime snack.
6:30pm

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

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Friday February 27th:

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.
10:30am

Disney’s Peter Pan Jr. – Virgina Samford Theatre
The VST STARS (Students Take a Role at the Samford) present this immortal classic includes. Talented young performers from various schools in the Birmingham metro area.
Tickets: $20 General Admission, $15 Students 18 and under
7:30pm

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Saturday February 28th:

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!
Ring in Chinese New Year by making your own movable dragon!
11am – 1pm

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
In celebration of Black History Month, join us for Storytime and activities featuring two notable figures with the titles I am Rosa Parks and I am Jackie Robinson.
11am

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Sunday March 1st:

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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: 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.

CPR: All parents need to know this life-saving skill

Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2015 by Angie

by Brady B. McLaughlin, MS, NREMT

As a parent and seasoned public safety professional, my worst nightmare would be something happening to my three month-old son. Every year over 383,000 Americans fall victim to cardiac arrest outside of the hospital – that’s nearly 1,050 per day. Unfortunately, some of these victims are babies, young children, and teenagers. Many of these tragedies can be prevented if only parents, family members, and babysitters knew how to correctly perform the simple, life-saving steps of CPR.

In 2012, I began my vision for offering accessible, affordable, and engaging CPR and emergency training by founding Trio Safety CPR. Headquartered in Homewood, Trio Safety CPR provides students from all walks of life with easy-to-understand, engaging, and practical emergency response training aimed at preparing individuals in the event of a real emergency at home, work, or school, just to name a few. Classes offered include CPR/AED, first aid, choking relief, and much more. The typical student background varies from a stay-at-home mother to an emergency room physician and every occupation in between. Class sizes are kept small to ensure students receive only the best experience with individualized attention from our CPR instructors. All students finish class with an official American Heart Association CPR card in-hand; and more importantly, the knowledge and ability to save a life.

Here are 4 benefits of learning CPR and First Aid:

Lifesaving – the biggest cause of death in infants are respiratory emergencies like choking and drowning. Knowing how to respond and, more importantly, how to prevent these incidents can help you save a life.
Assisting – teamwork is always better when providing help in an emergency. The more people who are trained to provide CPR and First Aid, the better the chance of survival for the victim.
Working – being certified in CPR and First Aid can give you a leg-up when applying for jobs. Babysitters should always be trained in these life-saving skills.
Peace of Mind – knowing CPR gives you and your loved ones peace of mind no matter where you are. Whether on a ski trip in the mountains or enjoying time together at the beach, having the knowledge to save

As an incentive to help get you certified they are offering all BirminghamMommy.com readers $10 off any of their classroom courses. So if you’ve been meaning to or kicking around the idea, now’s the time!

For more information visit Trio Safety CPR and mention this article and discount code “Mom10” when you register.

Big Machines Day is Back at McWane Science Center!

Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 by Angie

For the sixth year in a row McWane Science Center will host Big Machines Day. Get your motors running and head on over for a truckload of fun. Spend a constructive day getting up close and personal with some big machines including backhoes, excavators, dump trucks, loaders, dozers and cranes! Learn the science of simple machines and participate in fun building programs throughout the day. Big Machines Day is sponsored by CraneWorks, with special programming provided by Go Build Alabama.

Visitors will get a chance to see big machines up close and personal as well as learn the science of simple machines and can participate in building programs during Big Machines Day.

This Saturday, February 21, 2015 10am to 4pm

Birmingham Events Calendar: February 15th – February 22nd

Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2015 by Angie

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

Cold Tricky Weather in our forecast for this week.. Make sure to stay weather aware and watch for any school closing or delays on our facabook page.

Big Machines Day is back at the McWane Science Center, and if you’re wanting a little bit of a Mardi Gras feel for Fat Tuesday, check out the Mardi Gras parade happening at Homewood Park.

We’ve made a couple of updates to our Consignment Calendar, so check that out if you’re looking to shop or sale!

Monday February 16th:

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve – Avondale Library
Red, red, is the color I see, when that great big dragon is breathing fire at me. Join us as we ring in the Chinese New Year! 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

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Tuesday February 17th:

Homewood’s 4th Annual Mardi Gras Parade – Homewood Park
All children (and their caregivers) are invited to come join our parade (or watch from the sidelines) as we circle Homewood Central Park, throwing beads and Moonpies. Don’t forget to decorate a wagon, stroller, or box (strap it to your shoulders) for your own “float”!
3:30pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Hugging animals is wonderful! They have soft fur and downy feathers and are so cuddly. But oh. Oh, dear. How do you hug a porcupine?
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

Wear/Where: Clothing From Around The World will explore self-expression through garments worn in cultures across the globe.
10:30am

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Wednesday February 18th:

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Thursday February 19th:

Fairytale Ball, Family Night – Homewood Public Library
Join us as we go INTO THE WOODS with your favorite fairy tale characters in a grand evening full of games, crafts and snacks, in the large auditorium. Come in costume (and bring a camera!) for festive photo-ops, visit different character stations, and leave full of tasty treats after a gala to remember!
6:15pm

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Friday February 20th:

Duct Tape Wars – Hoover Public Library
Games & crafts featuring the worlds most versatile adhesive. Registration begins February 2. Grades 4-6
4:30

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Saturday February 21st:

Big Machines Day – McWane Science Center
Get your motors running and head over to McWane Science Center for a truckload of fun. Spend a constructive day getting up close and personal with some big machines including backhoes, excavators, dump trucks, loaders, dozers and cranes! Learn the science of simple machines and participate in fun building programs throughout the day.
Adventure Hall Only $13 $9 $12
IMAX Only $9 $8 $8
Combo Ticket $18 $13 $16
*Under 2 years old: Free

Home Made Chicken Fingers – Williams Sonoma
Bring your kids to this Free Junior Chef Class where they will learn to make chicken fingers for the whole family! Suitable for ages 5 – 13.

Who doesn’t love chicken fingers—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Learn how to make chicken fingers that are so tasty, you won’t want to eat out again!
10am

Storybook Brunch – Hoover Public Library
A new once-a-month, action-packed Saturday storytime. Served with a breakfast snack! Great for all ages.
10:30

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 The Spiffiest Giant in Town, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
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.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit and Patton Creek
Join us for Storytime and activities featuring Click, Clack, Peep! From the award-winning creator of Click, Clack, Moo comes an adorable story of a cute little duckling that won’t quiet down!
11am

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Sunday February 22nd:

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.

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

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.

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:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

Parenting with a PhD: Kids and Stress

Posted on Friday, February 13, 2015 by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Ample research shows that our kids have a pretty high level of stress and that it can take a toll. When I hear about some kids’ schedules, I’m amazed they’re not downing coffee by the pot-full during piano practice. There are a lot of reasons our kids are stressed out – school is so academic, most time is spent indoors, schedules are busy, sleep is scarce, social situations are complicated – this is giving me a headache. Childhood is often romanticized as a stress-free time full of rainbows and unicorns but that’s really not the case. Childhood is scary. You have little say in what you do all day and virtually no control over your environment. Even when kids are given some choice, they usually get some messages from adults about which option is best. You may have noticed signs of stress in your own kids – irritability, difficulty tolerating frustration, tearfulness, trouble sleeping, stomachaches. Of course, these behaviors can also indicate other issues but considering your child’s stress level is a good place to start.

One of the reasons that we have stressed out kids is that we are stressed out adults. (Reading this article is probably stressing you out – sorry about that!) Stress is one of the most contagious conditions out there – even worse than that December flu epidemic. Just think about how your own blood pressure rises when a colleague walks by you and huffs (you know – that over-exaggerated sigh we do in frustration, probably because we’ve been too stressed out to breathe consistently…). Your kids are by no means immune to taking on your stress; in fact, because strong emotions can be difficult for them to understand and kind of scary, they’re particularly susceptible to “catching” stress. What can you do about this? Manage your own stress level. Take stock of the factors that contribute to you being stressed out. Are you saying yes to too much? Doing the work of three employees at your job? In a tense relationship? What steps can you take to decrease stress? Sometimes getting enough sleep is all it takes. Other times, you might decide to seek professional help. Whatever is needed – understand that managing your stress level is not selfish or frivolous. Managing your stress level will help you be a better (read as: “less yell-y”) parent and a happier, more engaged person. You will also be modeling a very crucial skill for your child – handling stress calmly and putting things in perspective.

Your family’s schedule can also increase the stress germs flying around your house. If someone has an activity every night of the week (and you don’t have a full staff of professional chefs, maids, and chauffeurs at your disposal), everyone else will be affected, too. Minimize this as much as possible by limiting how many activities each child can participate in per semester. Your son wants to play violin but is also interested in art classes? Great! He can do violin this semester and switch to art next semester if he still wants to. If you feel it’s important for your child to stick with one activity so he can “specialize,” that’s fine but the price is that he may not be able to do much else. Consider the costs and benefits of your child being full-force into a particular activity (e.g., travel soccer). Does he enjoy it enough to do it three hours every day after school? Does the intense schedule mean that other family members can’t do things they love? Is it interfering with schoolwork or social interaction? Seek balance among the different factors in your child’s life and don’t get caught up in the “all in” messages you may get from coaches or other parents. If your child is meant to be a world-famous musician, the motivation to get there will come from him – not from you falling all over yourself to force him to practice. Although societal messages might make you feel like the laziest parent ever, giving your kid free time (a.k.a., non-scheduled, non-screen time) is actually very, very good for him. Down time gives your kid a chance to use his imagination, to problem-solve, to take things apart, to go outside, to entertain himself. These are gifts you can give him far greater than a new pair of cleats.

Another area to consider is what I’ll call “fluff stress” – stress caused by tasks that a purportedly for your child but really, really don’t matter. Examples: hand-making individualized Valentine’s gifts according to tastes and personalized for each child in the class; preparing four-course meals on a Tuesday night; monogramming your daughter’s underwear (this is a thing. I checked). Sure, if you have nothing but time and money to burn – knock yourself out! But, if accomplishing these tasks literally does knock you out because you stay up all night, spend a fortune, and obsess about every detail until the entire process takes 30 hours – you’re stressing yourself out for something that’s not going to matter much at all in the grand scheme of things. While it’s fun to explore what’s out there and pin different ideas, we can’t hold ourselves to the same standards as professional designers and party planners for whom creating items on Pinterest is their FULL TIME JOB. You already have at least a couple of full time jobs – there is no more time. If these kinds of tasks feel necessary to you, consider hiring out some of the labor. When you realize how much it costs to pay someone else to do these fluff tasks you were once doing on your own for hours and hours, you might decide to skip them entirely. I’m doubting your kids will even notice if they don’t have an Arbor Day gift for their teacher.

You can’t magically make stress go away for your kids but these and other strategies like exercise, sleep, talking openly about your feelings, and positive encouragement can certainly help. The goal should be to reduce unnecessary stress and then help your child learn to manage the necessary stress (e.g., preparing for a test, confronting a friend who hurt her feelings, moving to a new city, etc.). Help your child create and practice positive and encouraging self-talk to deal with stress. “I can handle this. I’ve done this kind of thing before.” Teach her to use deep breathing and relaxation exercises to calm down. A fun app that makes managing stress easier for the whole family is Smiling Mind, which provides brief, soothing meditations geared towards different developmental levels from ages 7 through adulthood. Bonus: the narrator has an Australian accent, which is pretty fun. The app tracks how many minutes you meditate and you can earn badges for each program you complete. Kids LOVE badges! This is a great practice first thing in the morning to get the day started off right or before bed to calm everyone down. If the kids like this, they might also enjoy kid yoga classes like the ones offered at Villager Yoga and other local studios.

Whatever strategies you choose, you’ll be showing your kids that managing stress is an important priority and one worth the time it takes. Plus, you’ll be less yell-y.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com 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 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.

Savory Soups for the Winter Soul

Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2015 by Angie

It’s cold outside and according to the latest weather reports we have some tricky winter weather in our forecast. Along with the cold weather comes the cravings for comfort food. Here are a few quick and easy soup recipes that will fill those bellies and still give you time to play, do homework, bathe the kids and have them in bed on time. All you need is a tiny bit of prep time and a crockpot!

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla –

Ingredients

1-2 lb. cooked chicken
2-3 large potatoes
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
1/2 C. onion
1 tsp. chili powder
1 small can green chillies
Fresh cilantro, to taste (optional)
3 flour tortillas

Directions

Cut cooked chicken tenders and potatoes into cubes. chop onion into bite-size pieces. Place all ingredients except tortillas into a crock pot and cook on medium heat for 5-6 hours. Cut flour tortillas into small strips. Fry in batches in deep fat until slightly golden brown. Place on top of soup and serve.

Ham and Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

2 cans (about 10 1/2 ounces each) condensed potato soup
1 can (about 10 12 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup
2 cups leftover diced ham
1 cup chopped frozen onion or finely chopped fresh onion
10 to 12 ounces frozen whole kernel corn
1 cup chicken broth
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup half-ahd-half, light cream, or milk

Directions:

Combine the soups, ham, onion, corn, chicken broth, and pepper in the slow cooker insert. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Add milk or cream, cover, and continue cooking for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until hot.

Serve with biscuits or cornbread
Serves 4 to 6.

Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound very lean ground beef
1 large can stewed tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 can beef broth & 1 can water
1 package frozen, mixed vegetables to save time — Use Fresh if you have them on hand and have the time

Directions:

In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Mix all above ingredients together in 4-quart crockpot; cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, until vegetables are tender.

Have a yummy winter soup recipe to share? Let’s hear it!

Birmingham Events Calendar: February 8th – February 15th

Posted on Sunday, February 8, 2015 by Angie

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

Valentine’s day is less than a week away, if you haven’t made your cards for Children’s hospital, you still have time! Check out which local libraries are participating in the program this year.

Lots of heart filled storytimes happening around town this week, several special events taking place at the Birmingham Zoo, and a fun celebration at the Boutwell Auditorium to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Have a great week!

Sunday February 8th:

American Girls Just Like Me: Baking from the Heart – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Creating something yummy for our tummy and sharing with another is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day at The Gardens. As we explore the story of the 2015 American Girl of the Year, Grace Thomas, an enthusiastic young baker, we’ll learn a little about French culture and bake a delicious treat in honor of Heart Day.
$15 members | $20 non-members

OReilly World of Wheels – BJCC Exhibition Halls
O’Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels is held annually, during the second weekend of February, at the beautiful Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. The show utilizes over 220,000 square feet of exhibition space to put on one of the best and most beautiful custom auto shows in the country.
Child (ages 5 & under) ……… FREE!
Child (ages 6-11) …………….. $5
Adult ……………………….. $18 ($15 at all O’Reilly Auto Parts stores)
11am – 6pm

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Monday February 9th:

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve – Avondale Library
Roses are red, violets are blue, Ihope to see you at Tot Time, too! Please bring your valentines to exchange with all your Tot Time friends! Signed: XOXO, Mrs. Eve. 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

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Come by the library after school for hot, fresh popcorn and some fairy rescue fun!
3:30pm

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Tuesday February 10th:

Cupids, Candy and Hearts, Oh My – Hoover Public Library
Join us to make valentine crafts and snacks. All ages.
6:30pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
This is the story of Very Little Red Riding Hood who is off to her Grandmama’s for a sleepover, and she won’t let anything stand in her way – not even a Wolf.
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

Wear/Where: Clothing From Around The World will explore self-expression through garments worn in cultures across the globe.
10:30am

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Wednesday February 11th:

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Thursday February 12th:

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Friday February 13th:

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Saturday February 14th:

Birmingham Zoo – Multiple Events

Audubon Tom Imhof Zoo Bird Walk
Join the Birmingham Audubon Society and the Birmingham Zoo in a two-hour guided birding trip through the Zoo. The walk begins at the Junior League of Birmingham – Hugh Kaul’s Children’s Zoo gate and continues into the natural areas of Alabama Wilds. Bird lovers of all ages are invited to bring their binoculars, bird field guides and cameras for an experience like no other!

Great Backyard Bird Count
This annual event unites birdwatchers from across the globe as they track bird species found in their own backyards, parks and local spaces. Hear birdwatching tips from Birmingham Audubon Society experts and take part in bird conservation activities in the Junior League of Birmingham – Hugh Kaul’s Children’s Zoo and Alabama Wilds.

Woo at the Zoo
Join the Birmingham Zoo this Valentine’s Day as we discuss “love” in the animal kingdom at the Birmingham Zoo Auditorium. The Zoo invites you to enjoy animal greetings, wine and desserts, while the Zoo Staff presents an engaging presentation on animal courtship and other interesting factoids.
*Must be 21 years or older to attend

9th Annual Chinese New Years Festival – Boutwell Auditorium
The Birmingham Chinese American community will be showcasing Chinese Dance, Music, Acrobat, KongFu, Chinese Traditional Educational activities, and Chinese Food. The most colorful, rich stage performance will start at 11:30am.
Open ceremony for dragon dance will start at 11am sharp. Doors open at 10:30am; There will be stage performance starts at 11:30am and have a 15 minute intermission for the stage performance; Serve hot food and cold drink. Enjoy this rich, colorful and educational Chinese New Year festival!
$2 for adult, children under 12 is free!

Lowes Build and Grow – Homewood
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can build this Sweetheart Picture Holder!

Register your kids for a FREE Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic. Bring the kids to your local Lowe’s every other Saturday at 10:00 a.m. to build a wooden project they get to build and keep.
10am

Kidz Kitchen with the Queen of Hearts – Hoover Public Library
Make some tarts for your sweethearts with the Queen of Hearts as this holiday starts! All ages.
10:30am

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 and Patton Creek
Join us for Valentine’s Day Storytime and activities featuring I Love You Just Like This! There are many ways to say “I love you” – and Elmo and his Sesame Street friends are ready to tell you.
11am

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Sunday February 15th:

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.

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

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

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:

Railroad Park:

Southern Museum of Flight:

Homemade Heart Chalk, Great for Your Tiny Valentine

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2015 by Angie

It’s Valentine time and many schools and classrooms no longer allow candy when swapping cards with classmates. We love looking for different things to do that will allow the kiddos to get involved, and what could be better than some heart shaped chalk? All kids love chalk, right? We go through buckets like crazy. This is super easy to do but you have to start now because they take a little time to dry.

Here’s what you need:

Plaster of Paris
Tempera Paint (PinkRred, liquid or powder, we used liquid)
Mixing Bowl (make sure it’s ok if it’s not usable for anything other than crafts after, I picked up a plastic mixing bowl from the $ store)
Spoon
Heart shaped mold (I used a soap mold from Hobby Lobby, less than $3 makes 8 hearts at a time)
Warm Water
Plastic gift bags/tags/Ribbons – anything you would like for embellishments. (We cut out some card stock in fun valentiney patterns to use as a backing inside of clear treat bags. )

What You’ll Do:

To fill 2 molds at once we used:

Mix 1 1/2 Cups Plaster of Paris with 3/4 Cup of Warm Water
Once it’s mixed well, begin adding in your paint until you reach your desired color, mix until color is even.
Once you’ve reached your desired color, pour plaster mixture into molds, make sure to smooth it out and try to keep them about the same level so they turn out the same size.

Once your molds are full, slide over to a safe place and allow to dry in the mold for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, carefully flip molds over and chalk will pop out easily. Allow hearts to dry on a paper towel for another 24 hours before packaging.

Add your tags and you’re done! Homemade chalk!

Beaker Bash, 2015 McWane Science Center

Posted on Friday, February 6, 2015 by Angie

Beaker Bash is back, have you gotten your ticket yet? It’s not too late!!

McWane Science Center Invites You to Unlock the Puzzle At This Year’s Beaker Bash!

McWane Science Center will be hosting the 14th annual Beaker Bash: Unlock the Puzzle. Area families are invited to attend this event and test their brain power and problem-solving skills throughout the museum. Guests will enjoy food, beverages, and educational demonstrations featuring the newest exhibit, Mindbender Mansion. Beaker Bash is McWane Science Center’s family-friendly fundraising event that directly supports statewide science education programs and makes field trips affordable
for thousands of students in our community.

Beaker Bash will be held at the McWane Science Center, this Saturday Night, February 7th. 5pm – 8pm
to purchase your tickets, visit the McWane Website

**Please note that McWane will close early on February 7th for set up.

Valentines for Children's Hospital, 2015

Posted on Monday, February 2, 2015 by Angie

Each year several of our local Libraries provide a space for making or dropping of Valentines cards to help spread some love to the patients at Children’s Hospital. This year we haven’t confirmed as many as in years past but there are still a few options, if this is something you look forward to this time of year!

Homewood Public Library
Swing by the Children’s Department to make a Valentine for the children at Children’s Hospital! Supplies are provided, so come by any time to share the love with a personal valentine!
February 2nd – 10th

Hoover Public Library
Want to share the love with the patients at Children’s of Alabama? Bring a signed valentine to the preschool desk in the Kid Zone. The valentines can be store-bought or homemade, but they cannot include any candy. When you turn in your card, you’ll receive a special treat. We are accepting these valentines February 1-11, 2015.

Leeds Jane Culbreth Library
Valentine’s for Children’s Hospital and our Veterans.
Stop by and make a Valentine for our Veterans and Children’s Hospital! Stop by anytime this week and make a special card for some special people!
February 2nd – 6th

North Shelby Library
The Library is collecting Valentine Cards for patients at Children’s Hospital. You can make a card in the Children’s Dept or drop one off. Deadline is the end of the day on February 12th.

Southside Branch
Teen Time Valentine
Create a valentine for yourself and one for Children’s Hospital.
February 10th
4pm

If you know of another library or place participating in this program, we would love to add them to our list! Shoot us a message and let us know!