☰

Keep Teeth Free of Sugar Bugs This Halloween.

Posted on by Angie

Candy, Candy and more Candy. While dressing up is part of the fun, we all know that the ultimate goal of Halloween is to collect as much candy as humanly possible. While kids wait all year for this holiday of endless sugar, it can often be a nightmare for parents concerned about what the excessive amount of sugar is doing to their kids teeth.

We reached out to local Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Michael Vann, DMD of Vann Pediatric Dental for some tips on keeping those sugar bugs to a minimum while still allowing the kids to enjoy themselves this Halloween.

Dr. Vann says that in addition to brushing Morning and Night and flossing at least once each day, to make sure you never eat or drink anything other than water after you brush your teeth at night. (Hide the Halloween candy if you must.)

He also suggests avoiding sticky candy such as taffy, gummy’s, caramel, etc.  Sticky Candy adheres to teeth and can lead to decay.

Try to consume the candy with a meal. Increased saliva production while eating will help wash the sugar off of teeth.

Drink water to rinse sugar from teeth. Chewing sugar free gum containing xylitol. As with eating a meal, the increased saliva from chewing will help wash the sugar off the teeth and the xylitol in gum will help control the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

“We know you’ll be eating candy on Halloween, just try not to eat too much! And brush and floss your teeth as soon as possible after eating all that candy!”

We hope you all have a very Happy and Safe Halloween.

 

About Dr. Vann: Dr. Michael Vann is a native of Trussville, Alabama.  After graduating college with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998, he attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and graduated in 2003 with a D.M.D degree.  After finishing dental school, he chose to spend a couple of years treating children in an under-served area, which he really enjoyed and gained a lot of experience.  He returned to The Children’s Hospital of Alabama/University of Alabama at Birmingham to complete his education with a residency in pediatric dentistry and received his certificate.  While at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Dr. Vann gained a lot of experience with trauma, dental treatment in the operating room, treatment of special needs, treatment of children who were extremely fearful and full mouth pediatric dental rehabilitation.  He is proud to be associated and have graduated from a world-renowned pediatric dental program. In March of 2011, Dr. Vann finally completed his lifelong professional dreams and returned home to Trussville to begin his own private practice.
1808 Hwy. 11 Ste. 134  Trussville, AL 35235     (205)508-3399     vannpediatricdental@gmail.com

Birmingham Events Calendar October 27th – November 3rd

Posted on by Angie

Only a few more days until Halloween! Lots of fun to be had this week and lots of opportunities to score some free candy!

Take advantage of this beautiful weather and hit some of the festivals we have listed here or on our big Fall Happenings list, here. Make sure to check with your local Library, many will be offering Trick or Treating all day on Halloween. It’s always a great safe option for the little bitty’s.

Dia de los Muertos and Moss Sock Festival will be happening this weekend and should have plenty to keep your whole family busy!

Have a great week!

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

Sunday October 27th

Vulcan AfterTunes – Vulcan Park
Birmingham’s unique musical event returns to Red Mountain this fall for its 9th season! Enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews, and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with Birmingham’s hip iron man, Vulcan. Chill out in Birmingham’s backyard and end your week with friends and family (of all ages) while listening to some of the area’s best music.

Gates open at 1 p.m. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and general admission. Lawn chairs and blankets strongly encouraged. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. All shows rain or shine. For additional concert details and up-to-date artist information, log onto www.visitvulcan.com.

Bring the kids to enjoy fun games and activities.
Music by: Leon Redbone (with Supporting Dead Fingers)

General Admission – $15 (Includes concert, admission to Vulcan Center Museum and Observation Tower and tax)
Children 12 & under are FREE!
Vulcan Members – $7.50
VIP Ticket Packages are available for $75

Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade – Fultondale Bark Park
The Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade is a family-oriented event held in conjunction with the Fultondale Arts Council. The event includes vendors, a dog parade, dog pageant, Guess your Dog’s Weight, dog games, Photos with your Dog, and other family activities.  The Flying Houndz Frizbee Trick Dog Show will be our featured entertainment.
12pm – 5pm

Pumpkin Carving Party – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let your creativity run wild as you create your very own Jack-O-Lantern. Ruffner will provide the carving tools. You may bring your own pumpkin, or buy one from Ruffner. Take your pumpkin home, or leave it to be displayed at Faces in the Forest. The Pumpkin Carving Party will take place on the Back Porch.

Oktoberfest – Our Savior Lutheran Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration. This event will be fun for the whole family. Offering entertainment such as a Corn Hole tournament, inflatables, and music. Please join us and enjoy Bratwursts, hot dogs, German dishes, and homemade desserts.
Noon – 4pm

Trussville Fall Carnival  – Magnolia Park
Featuring rides, activities and food.
$14 for wristbands and $1 for individual tickets. Coupons will be available at the Chamber of Commerce and online.
1 pm to 5 pm

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday October 28th:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday October 29th:

Booktacular Family Fun Night – Avondale Library
Join us for a family fun night filled with stories, songs, and games guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. No scary costumes please.
Free but registration and 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
6:30pm

Pumpkin Painting – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Bring the family and paint a pumpkin. All ages. No registration required.
6:00-6:45pm

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Halloween Story Time and Treats
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday October 30th:

Halloween Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Halloween Story Time and Treats. All Ages
10:30am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come dressed up in your Halloween costume as we celebrate Halloween.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday October 31st:

Happy Halloween!

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade– Emmet O’ Neal Library
A Halloween parade with the feel of Mardi Gras. Parade participants throw Mystics of Mountain Brook t-shirts, beads, stuffed animals and footballs to the huge crowd that lines the streets of Crestline Village. The parade has over 23 floats, the high school cheerleaders, a roller derby, and Mayor Terry Oden driving his antique fire truck. The parade route starts by the Emmet O’Neal Library, goes to the Tot Lot, turns left on Church Street and then left on Euclid and ends back at the Library.
4pm

Monster Walk – Downtown Columbiana
Kids are welcome to come and Trick or Treat at Columbiana Merchants from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm.

Mummy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

—————————————————————————————

Friday November 1st:

Holiday Book Drive – Barnes and Noble Summit
Help us give the gift of literacy this season by participating in our Holiday Book Drive. Our goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of children nationwide. Our store’s book drive will benefit Birmingham Reads/Better Basics.
Noon

—————————————————————————————

Saturday November 2nd:

Dia de los Muertos – 2115 First Ave South
It is sure to be an energetic All Soul’s Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Alabama’s Day of the Dead Festival (Dia de los Muertos numero once). This year is our eleventh celebration! It will take place in our same great spot on 1st Avenue South in Birmingham, AL.

We look forward to seeing you at the festival. Please do NOT bring your pets or cooler or picnic baskets. Please do bring yourselves and friends and a small altar or memento of remembrance. Dress in bones, as a sugar skull or for a fiesta! Join in the procession!
$10 (13yrs & up), $3 (12 to 7yrs), free (under 7yrs)
4pm – 11pm

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.

Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!

For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.

Home Depot Kids Workshop
Come build The Home Depot’s spectacular Tabletop Ship! All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Click here to register online

Cereal and Cartoons – Homewood Public Library
Dry cereal only, available until 10:45 am.
10am – Noon

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! Portrait Project // Look at the people around you. Who do you see?
11am – 1pm

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
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
Join us for Storytime and activities as we join Pete the Cat on his newest adventure, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday November 3rd:

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve
grab friends and family and get outside to the Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve in Hoover. Explore Nature, Eco Ideas, Art + Design at Alabama’s premier eco-creative festival now in its 8th year. Innovation, imagination, and fun await 15,000 visitors under a blanket of fall colors at this idyllic neighborhood setting adjacent to Hoover’s own 350 acre Moss Rock Preserve. MRF features something for everyone.

Admission is free! Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Parking, shuttle, and collections for electronics recycling will take place at the Hoover Met. For all the details, please visit MossRockFestival.com or call 205-595-6306. And follow us on Facebook & Twitter all year long for important announcements, special offers, eco posts, and updates! Join the eco-creative conversation!

For more information on the festival, activities and parking visit their site.

—————————————————————————————

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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titans of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

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.

Parenting with a PhD: Social Skills

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

Dear Parenting with a Ph.D.

I have a 10-year-old sweet daughter who has been experiencing difficulties with girls since kindergarten. We live in a neighborhood with four other girls her age and for the longest time she has been left out by the group. No one is outwardly “mean” but they don’t play with her and if they are invited over they are often “bored.” The parents are always very kind and invite my daughter to birthday parties, etc. but then when she gets there she is left out and feels they are talking about her behind her back. I have witnessed the behavior myself – not wanting to sit next to her, looking at her like she has two heads if she suggests something, always having her ideas over-ruled, etc. Initially, I tried to arrange lots of playdates but it made no difference. Then she joined a Girl Scout troop and made new friends outside of the neighborhood. Similarly, these are very sweet girls, but there are cliques within the troop. My daughter always has fun at the outings and is well-liked by half the troop. At school, however, many of these girls are already in “groups” and she feels alone and excluded. One of her closer friends is now making new friends and is less inclined to play with my daughter. She tells me at recess she asks to join games but is told they don’t need any more players so she plays alone until the boys kick her off the equipment. While she remains very positive on the outside I know this is breaking her inside. She really never talks to me but today opened up for the first time in a long time. I have contacted the school counselor but would love any advice on how I can help her to break this negative cycle and form some peer relationships she is confident with.

Thank you,
A very sad mom.

Dear Very Sad Mom,

I’m so sorry for what your daughter has been going through for, it sounds like, a very long while. I know this is hard to see and it can be pretty perplexing for parents. After all, you know your daughter is an awesome person – why can’t everybody see that? Often when we hear about kids having social problems, we assume they are being rejected or bullied.  But, there are also kids who just get ignored and this seems to be happening to your daughter, at least in a couple of situations.

I think talking with the counselor was a great plan. The school may have interventions set up to help with this kind of thing; for example, some schools hold social skills or “Lunch Bunch” groups or have peer mentoring opportunities. Find out what options your school offers and, if they don’t have anything set up currently, ask how to get something started.  It can also help to have teachers and administrators aware of the issue so they can pair your daughter with appropriate partners for group work and activities, and encourage her inclusion during less structured times.

It will be important to have a talk with your daughter about what friendship is and what makes a good friend. Books like A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by Patti Kelley Criswell and Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them by Stacy Peterson might be good jumping off points for this discussion. In particular, focus on the reciprocal nature of friendship and help her understand that not everyone her age is going to be a good match for her. Sometimes, different personalities and interests can make for one-sided, unhealthy friendships that are unlikely to be fulfilling to her. Be sure that she doesn’t feel like it’s her fault these particular girls don’t seem interested in hanging out – just that they may not have much in common. Encourage her to focus on activities that she really enjoys and get her involved doing these things with others. Does she love to swim? Join Swim Team. Does she enjoy reading? Find her a Book Club. Although she hasn’t clicked with everyone in Girl Scouts – it sounds like she has several friends there and it helps that they have interests and activities in common. Help her to understand that it’s O.K. if some kids aren’t interested in being close and that she doesn’t have to please everyone. We all have different interests and preferences in our friendships.

You may have to assist your daughter in fostering promising friendships. Invite a girl from Scouts over for a play date so that your daughter can interact one-on-one. But, rather than just letting the girls play, stay close so you can observe the interaction and intervene with any problems. If your daughter seems at a loss for coming up with fun activities, consider having a couple of structured games or crafts handy that she can suggest to her friend. If you notice your daughter lacking in some skill – for example, asking her friend if she’d like a snack, letting her have equal turns, expressing empathy if she gets hurt – pull her aside unobtrusively and suggest the appropriate behavior. See yourself as the play date coach.

After the visit is over, talk with your daughter about what went well – be sure to give her lots of encouragement about the positive skills she exhibited and efforts she made. Also, discuss what she might want to do differently next time. Role-playing the interactions would also be helpful. How should your daughter greet her friend? How can she show her friend that she is open to suggestions for fun activities? How should she act when it’s time for her friend to leave?

If you notice that your daughter has consistent difficulties knowing the right thing to say or do in social situations or if she seems to be doing something that often annoys other kids, there may be a social skills issue that needs to be addressed. If the school doesn’t have a social skills group, you may want to seek one in the community.  I’ve included a list of potential options at the end of this article. Look for a group that includes a small number of kids and that focuses on specific skills like having conversations, understanding others’ perspective, cooperating, complaining appropriately, joining activities that are on-going, and social problem-solving. Groups will often meet weekly and can last a planned number of weeks or be ongoing. If you can’t find a social skills group in your area, talk to your child’s pediatrician about a referral for a cognitive-behavioral therapist who can help your child work on social skills.

Thank you for writing and I hope that very soon your daughter finds friends who love her for exactly who she is!

Resources for Social Skills Groups in the Community: Grayson & Associates, P.C. (led by me) – 205-871-6926; Child’s Play Therapy Center 205-978-9939; Autism Asperger Syndrome Consulting Group, LLC (led by Kerry Mataya and primarily for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders) – 205-572-1143.

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 six-year-old and newborn daughters and three-year-old son.

Halloween. It's Not Just For the Kids!

Posted on by Angie

Halloween isn’t just for the kids! Mark your calendars now for these fun events happening for you Moms and Dads!

Magic City Zombie Fest

Classic “Night of the Living Dead” with a spooktacular party on McWane Science Center’s plaza – the first annual Magic City Zombie Fest. Get into your best zombie costume and creep to downtown Birmingham for a night of food, fun and flesh-eaters. The festivities begin at 7 pm with a screening of “Night of the Living Dead” at the Alabama Theatre, followed immediately by a party on McWane’s plaza with music, food, drinks, costume contest and other
undead activities.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE PARTY:
– Zombie costume contest
– Zombie Walk from theater
– Finger foods and bar
– D.J.
– Zombie photo booth
– Zombie makeup station

DATE:  Friday, October 25
MOVIE SCREENING: 7 pm  BlOCK PARTY:  8:30 pm
COST: $20 (Ticket inlcudes admission to Night of the Living Dead, McWane’s
Zombie Block Party and one drink ticket)
FOR TICKETS: Visit www.alabamatheatre.com. Advance reservations required.
Must be 18 and over to purchase tickets.

CLICK HERE for tickets

Trunk or Treat at Avondale Brewery

Join the Alabama Theatre Junior Board at Avondale Brewery on Halloween for a costume party fundraiser benefiting the Alabama and Lyric Theatres.  There will be a costume contest.  First prize is a $500 gift certificate to Diamonds Direct.

To purchase tickets, visit: http://altheatrejrboard.eventbrite.com/

Thursday, October 31, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tips for Dealing with a Bully

Posted on by Angie

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and as we know all too well these days, bullying can happen any time, any where and to anyone, from the youngest children in day care (or even at home) and beyond. The following tips will help parents find ways to detect, prevent and deal with the bullying of young children.

1. Be your child’s go-to person. Make sure your child always feels safe telling you about incidents at school, at play in the neighborhood, at church/Sunday school, or even at home from the other parent or a sibling. I know a family that goes around the dinner table and everyone (parents and children alike) share the best thing that happened during the day and the worst thing that happened during the day. This helps everyone learn to appreciate and really notice when someone is kind and opens a door for them, or plays with them on the playground. To illustrate that no one is exempt from rudeness or bullying, other family members should share with their child/children bad situations at work or when they were young. Exploring how to handle the “bad” situations can be a teaching/learning moment for all members of the family.

2. Parents, don’t be an inadvertent bully. If the parent is constantly saying things that make a child feel bad about themselves, this is form of bullying. You may hear yourself saying, “I know you can get better grades.” But the child may be hearing only, “I’m stupid and won’t ever be able to please anyone.” Listen to what you say often to your child and make sure you aren’t behaving in a manner that would not be acceptable behavior from others.

3. Discuss what actions can be considered bullying. Help your child see that bullying can be words, actions, ignoring someone, giggling and pointing. Discuss ways to positively respond to each instance.

4. Welcome your child’s friends into your home. Perhaps even invite their whole family to a cookout or other event so that you can get to know the parents. If any of the friends seem to have an unusual amount of power over your child, you may need to help your child see that this person is not a true friend if everything always has to be their way.

5.  Stop sibling bullying. Sometimes the bullying is being done by a sibling. If one child seems to have dominance over another child, sit down immediately and let them know that this behavior will NOT be tolerated. Make sure to follow through and discipline the bully when you see this happening either in the way she/he treats their sibling. Also make sure the child being bullied feels safe in coming to you.

6. Discipline your children appropriately if you see them doing or saying (or texting) something that you don’t consider kind. That way others–teachers, other parents or day care workers, etc.–don’t have to become the disciplinarian.

7. Help your child think of ways to react to bullying. For instance, if they are being teased about wearing glasses, perhaps there is a phrase they use to make the other person think twice about making comments like that again. If the child is being teased for being overweight, perhaps the whole family can review their eating habits and activities and work together to lose weight and feel better. Taking steps to change things, or practicing ways to react to mean comments, will make a child feel ready to stand up for themselves or others when they see bullying happening.

When your child gets a little older, you also have to keep in mind these next tips.

8. Understand cyber-bullying. One of the newest arenas where a child can feel helpless against what is being said or shown in pictures about them is online. Make sure to carefully monitor screen time in a way that feels protective to your child and not intrusive. The more conversations you have with your kids about what occurs online, the more likely they will be able to talk to you about what’s going on. Take every opportunity to teach them how to manage themselves in confusing situations.

9. Learn the latest lingo. This includes verbal, texting and online slang. Do you know that CD9 means parents are around and that 99 means parents have left? Your child may be hiding something that can lead to poor self-esteem, depression, even suicide.

10. Remember the Golden Rule. “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you” is still great advice. A friend’s child was having trouble on the school bus with one particular boy. The mother suggested that this child might not know the right way to be a friend. So the child being bullied went out of his way to be extra nice to the bully. Once the bully realized there was a different way to act, the two children became real friends.

While nothing will totally stop bullying, at least by putting into practice some of these tips, I hope you can make the consequences for your child less damaging.

Thank you to Thomas Weck for these tips.

Thomas Weck is a creative and captivating national award-winning author of children’s books, including the popular Lima Bear Stories Series: The Megasaurus, How Back-Back Got His Name, The Cave Monster, The Labyrinth and Bully Bean. Learn more at LimaBearPress.com.

Birmingham Events Calendar: October 20th – October 27th

Posted on by Angie

Lots of Spooky Halloween fun happening around Birmingham this week.

Storytimes, crafts and pumpkin carvings. If you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors, check out Vulcan AfterTunes next Sunday for a little music and fun family time.

For a full rundown of Festivals and Pumpkin Patches, make sure to check our Fall Happenings list so you don’t miss out on any fall fun!

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

Sunday October 20th:

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can see your favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday October 21st:

Pumpkin Carving – Gardendale Public Library
3:30pm

Halloween Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join us for hot popcorn and a cool movie!
3:30pm

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday October 22nd:

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday October 23rd:

Mole Day – McWane Science Center
Join us for hands-on activities throughout the day as we celebrate Mole Day! Mole Day commemorates Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x 10^23), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry first discovered by Amadeo Avogadro (1776-1858).
Activities included in the cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
All Ages
10:30am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. The first one said “Oh my, it’s getting late.” Join us for some fun as these pumpkins roll and run.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday October 24th:

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

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

Campfire Ghost Stories – Homewood Public Library
For our older, braver patrons.  Hear a chilling tale and enjoy some Halloween treats.
Suggested age range: 7 to 12 AND a parent.
6:15 – 7:15

Mummy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

—————————————————————————————

Friday October 25th:

2nd Annual Spooky Tales on the Spooky Trial
This year, the Good Times Traveling Theater will scare the socks off of you with their fearsome folktales from all around the world. Once again, we start out easy in the Community Room for our little ones (ages 5 & under) then progress out to the Amphitheater for progressively spookier tales. The night will end on the trail, which will be “spookified “ for those brave enough to walk it. Seasonal fun for the whole family! Shuttle service will be available if parking lot is full.
6:30pm

4th Annual Halloween Bash – Brierfield Ironworks State Park
Family fun, face painting, games, concessions, trick or treat and moon bounce. Campsite decorating competition.
Walking Ghost Tours $5
Park Admission $2
7pm – 10pm

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

Saturday October 26th:

Keep It Simple Silly Program – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Join us for this monthly mini program.  This month we will be making sand candles!
$2/ $3 (non-member)
1pm

Owl O’ Ween – Alabama Wildlife Center/Oak Mountain State Park
Owl-O-Ween features childrens’ activities and crafts, story time, games, candy, guest owls, and a birds of prey presentation.
Activities are free after paid admission to Oak Mountain State Park
$3 for Adults
$1 for Children 6 to 11 years of age
$1 for Senior Citizens 62 years of age and older

Cereal and Cartoons – Homewood Public Library
Dry cereal only, available until 10:45 am.
10am – Noon

Sugar Skulls – Birmingham Museum of Art
Trick us with your sweet skills while decorating these ornamental treats
11am – 1pm

4th Annual Halloween Bash – Brierfield Ironworks State Park
Family fun, face painting, games, concessions, trick or treat and moon bounce. Campsite decorating competition.
Walking Ghost Tours $5
Park Admission $2
7pm – 10pm

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

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.

Halloween Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Halloween Storytime featuring Go Away, Big Green Monster!, activities, costume parades and treats.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday October 27th:

Vulcan AfterTunes – Vulcan Park
Birmingham’s unique musical event returns to Red Mountain this fall for its 9th season! Enjoy cool tunes, fresh brews, and sweet views on Sunday afternoons with Birmingham’s hip iron man, Vulcan. Chill out in Birmingham’s backyard and end your week with friends and family (of all ages) while listening to some of the area’s best music.

Gates open at 1 p.m. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and general admission. Lawn chairs and blankets strongly encouraged. Food, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. All shows rain or shine. For additional concert details and up-to-date artist information, log onto www.visitvulcan.com.

Bring the kids to enjoy fun games and activities.
Music by: Leon Redbone (with Supporting Dead Fingers)

General Admission – $15 (Includes concert, admission to Vulcan Center Museum and Observation Tower and tax)
Children 12 & under are FREE!
Vulcan Members – $7.50
VIP Ticket Packages are available for $75

Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade – Fultondale Bark Park
The Barking at the Moon Festival and Parade is a family-oriented event held in conjunction with the Fultondale Arts Council. The event includes vendors, a dog parade, dog pageant, Guess your Dog’s Weight, dog games, Photos with your Dog, and other family activities.  The Flying Houndz Frizbee Trick Dog Show will be our featured entertainment.
12pm – 5pm

Pumpkin Carving Party – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let your creativity run wild as you create your very own Jack-O-Lantern. Ruffner will provide the carving tools. You may bring your own pumpkin, or buy one from Ruffner. Take your pumpkin home, or leave it to be displayed at Faces in the Forest. The Pumpkin Carving Party will take place on the Back Porch.

Oktoberfest – Our Savior Lutheran Church
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration. This event will be fun for the whole family. Offering entertainment such as a Corn Hole tournament, inflatables, and music. Please join us and enjoy Bratwursts, hot dogs, German dishes, and homemade desserts.
Noon – 4pm

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

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.

Easy Ideas for a Halloween Playdate

Posted on by Angie

It’s close to Halloween and if you’re planning a party or playdate for the big spooky day, give some of these ideas a try. They’re great for kids and they will love getting involved.

No Cook Pumpkin Playdoh – This makes a great little take home gift for your guests.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of water (go ahead and add your orange food coloring)
3 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1/4 cup of oil

Pour all ingredients into bowl and mix together. While mixing add a little cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to give it a yummy fall scent.

Frankenstein Rice Krispy Treats

Pre-Packaged Rice Krispy Treats
Green Icing
Green Jelly Beans
Black Jelly Beans
Twizzlers

Use the green icing to make the “hair”. Cut your jelly beans in half and use a little bit of the icing to “glue” the black jelly beans on for the eye and the green jelly beans on his neck for the “bolts.” Cut a sliver of twizzler for the mouth and use icing to make it stick.

Spider Oreos

Oreos
White Icing
Red Hots
Chocolate Pretzels

Take your Oreos apart and scrape out the filling. Add a generous scoop of white icing. Use the red hots for eyes and break the curved part of your chocolate pretzels off and use as legs. Put the top back on the icing and make sure your little spider doesn’t crawl away!

Just serving up these few things will help make your playdate a huge success!

 

The Etiquette of Trick or Treating

Posted on by Angie

Courtesy, The Etiquette School of Birmingham

The costume is ready. The pumpkin is carved. A bowl of yummy treats is ready for those eager little goblins. But is there something you’ve forgotten?

How about brushing up on – and coaching your family on – the basic etiquette of trick or treating.

Here are a few tips to go over to ensure that everyone enjoys the fun of Halloween.

It’s always good manners to:

  • Ring the doorbell just once. If there’s no answer, move on. (If there’s a light on, that’s usually a sign that residents are home and ready for you.)
  • Be polite to other trick or treaters and stand patiently behind those who have made it to the door ahead of you. After they have received their treats, step back to let them pass, then step up to the door for yours. No need to crowd—you’ll get your turn!
  • Remember to say “trick or treat” when the door opens and always say “thank you” each time someone gives you a treat, even if it’s something you don’t like. (You can always trade it later for something you like. If you say something like, “Yuck. Why do I always get stuff I don’t like,” you come across as rude. And no one likes a rude guest at their door.)
  • If you’re invited to help yourself to the candy, take just one or two pieces of candy so there’s plenty to go around. You’ll have lots by the time you get home.
  • Stand outside the door to collect any goodies. A trick or treater never goes inside a stranger’s home.
  • Take a walkway to the front door of a home rather than across the lawn. Be careful to walk around…rather than through…flower beds, vegetable gardens and muddy patches of yard.
  • If you are carrying a sword, staff or something similar, be careful around other children. No one will enjoy Halloween if they poked in the eye with a fairy wand!
  • Avoid getting too close to pumpkins and lanterns with real candles and flames.
  • Teens – a special note for you: treat or treat in groups and try not to stray very far from your group.
  • Older children who are taking younger brothers or sisters trick or treating, your first responsibility is your sibling(s)—not any friends you might meet along the way. If you are not wearing a costume, that usually means you’re not participating in the activity. Consider not taking candy.
  • Rolling houses, trees or cars with toilet paper, rubbing soap on windows, throwing paint, overturning trash cans, leaving dead, black flowers is bad form. Ditto on ringing bells and running. The police take these things seriously.
  • When you get home and your parents have checked over your stash of goodies, feel free to share your booty with all your family members…except pets. Chocolate…and most sugary treats…can make dogs and cats very sick.

Courtesy, The Etiquette School of Birmingham:

Kathie Martin is founder and president of The Etiquette School of Birmingham. A communications professional with more than 30 years in the corporate and non-profit world, she holds etiquette certification from the American School of Protocol. Martin provides etiquette training for children, business etiquette training for corporations and adults and speaks to college groups and community organizations on a variety of etiquette-related subjects. For more information, visit www.etiquettebham.com, e-mail her at etiquetteschool@bellsouth.net, or call 205-222-0932.

How Old is Too Old for Trick or Treating?

Posted on by Angie

Free candy is pretty hard to resist, no matter how old you are. So when it comes to Halloween and Trick or Treating how old is too old to be going door to door looking for a hand out?

At 13 I knew I was too old but was too blinded by the promise of free candy to care. At 16 I drove my sister (4 years, 10 months my junior) around and made her split her haul with me. Now? I live vicariously through my children, offering up assistance when sorting the good candy from the bad candy, effectively swiping most of the really awesome candy into a secret stash that I will later eat while hiding in the laundry room for short periods over the next few months.

So, I did it when I was too old, why am I so bothered when these kids come to my door towering over the itty bittys trying to to fight their way to the candy bowl? Please tell me I was a little more considerate than what I see happening now….. Most likely not, but I was wise enough to still put effort into making myself up, unlike some who throw on a t-shirt with a skull on the front and declare it a “costume.”

No one ever called me out on my shenanigans, maybe because like me, they were too afraid of ending up on the “trick” part of the holiday and waking up to a house that has been egged or rolled.

So here’s a good rule to follow: if you’re too old for a party at the bounce house, or Chuck E Cheese, you’re too old to be on my doorstep Halloween night.

What do you think? What’s the age limit for trick or treating?

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: October 13th – October 20th

Posted on by Angie

The beautiful weather continues as we start another week and we’ve got a calendar full of fun things happening in Birmingham.

Start the week with a Scavenger Hunt at Ruffner Mountain or take advantage of the great weather and hit up Boo at the Zoo.

Check out a free yoga class, a spooky storytime or some of the events happening at the Birmingham Museum of Art next weekend.

If you’re looking for a Fall Festival or Pumpkin Patch, check out our list of Fall Happenings

Have a great week!

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

Sunday October 13th:

Fall Scavenger Hunt – Ruffner Mountain
Enjoy a walk through the forest and search for answers to the clues from Ruffner’s Fall Scavenger Hunt. Once you have found all the answers, return your paper to the front desk and claim your prize! Children of all ages. Scavenger sheets will be at the front desk.
This event is on-going. Come any time between 1 and 5.

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can see your favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday October 14th:

Tot Time with Ms Eve – Avondale Library
Storytime for 2-4-year-olds with a caregiver. Includes stories, songs, and craft. 24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday October 15th:

Pumpkin Painting – Hoover Library
Bring your own pumpkin to decorate and enter into our annual contest.  Entries accepted until October 30.

Family Tours – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join us for an in-gallery family experience! Children aged 3 – 8 and their adult companions are invited to join Museum educators to explore our collection, discover activities that make looking at art fun and exciting, and create new family memories about art.

No reservations required. Family Tours are also available by appointment for groups of 10 or more children aged 3 – 8. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 205.254.2964.
10:30am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday October 16th:

Free Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes as we prepare to start our next 8-week yoga series. Free classes for kids ages 4-7
4:45pm

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
All Ages
10:30am

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

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Monsters, monsters everywhere! Join us as we learn all the fun things you could do if you were a monster.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday October 17th:

Preschool Party/Costume Ball – Vestavia Public Library
Join your fairy friends at the Annual Fairy Costume Ball! You are invited to dress in your favorite costume and join us for dancing, games and fairy frivolity. Beware: the evil fairy might make an appearance. I hope we have some Super Heroes there to banish her! Ages 5 & under. Please call to register or visit the website to sign up.
10:30am

Free Yoga Classes – Villager Yoga
Come check out our kids classes as we prepare to start our next 8-week yoga series. Free classes for kids ages 4-7
3:30pm

Ages 8-12 at 4:30

Crafts and Storytime with Ms Karen – Clay Public Library
Join Ms. Karen for Stories and Crafts. After some “Scaredy-Cat stories,” participants will make a related craft. These programs are geared toward toddlers through second graders, but all ages are welcome. Programs last approximately 30 minutes. Stories and Crafts programs are generally held on 3rd Thursdays at 5:30 and 4th Wednesdays at 10:00.
5:30pm

Mummy and Me Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Story Time for our younger patrons (birth to 30 mo.) and their lap partner.
10:30

—————————————————————————————

Friday October 18th:

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

Saturday October 19th:

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

Birmingham Museum of Art – Multiple Event Listings

Bart’s Spooktacular
Help celebrate Bart the Art Bat’s favorite holiday at his SPOOKTACULAR party! Trick your eyes and seek the details in scavenger hunts, treat your sense with art activities and spooky storytelling, and dress up as your favorite character to clear the cobwebs. Create traditional Mexican sugar skulls in honor of the Day of the Dead and decorate pumpkins for your front step. Be prepared to have a spooky good time!
10am – 3:30pm

Spooky Storytelling
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, as part of Bart’s Spooktacular, Bart has selected a special spooky book for you to enjoy!
11am – Noon

Sugar Skulls
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! Sugar Skulls // Trick us with your sweet skills while decorating these ornamental treats!
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.

Voyage of Imagination – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for a Hands-On Learning event. Create and share adventure-themed stories with Rory’s Story Cubes and Jungle Animals Make-a-Mask.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday October 20th:

Boo at the Zoo
Watch as the Zoo transforms into a destination of spooky attractions for 15 nights of Wells Fargo Boo at the Zoo. This year, you can seeyour favorite ©Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America*! Don’t miss your chance to experience special meet and greets with the heroes, get their autographs and take your very own pictures!
Be sure to come dressed in your favorite family-friendly costume to search for Bigfoot on the Sasquatch Safari*, jump on the Eerie Express train*, take a spin on the Scarousel*, participate in animal-themed games at the Creepy Carnival tent, trick-or-treat your way through safe candy villages and much more! Boo at the Zoo is one spook-tacular event you won’t want to miss!
*©Marvel character appearance dates: October 4-5 (Captain America), 11-12 (Thor), 18-19 (Iron Man) & 25-26 (Spider-Man)
*The Zoo will close at 4pm on each day of Boo at the Zoo.
*Animals will not be on exhibit for Boo at the Zoo.
* Daily attraction fees still apply
* Wristband includes unlimited access to: Eerie Express Train, Sasquatch Safari, Scarousel, Creepy Carnival, Gruesome Golf, Ghost Rollers and Cajun Sadie’s Fortune Telling Adventure
$8 Non-members*
$6 Members*–NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT!
$11.50 wristbands*
$3.50 attractions*
5pm – 9pm

—————————————————————————————

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: Flight of the Butterflies, Titians of the Ice Age

Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age – through December 31st, 2013
McWane Science Center is home to Alabama’s second largest natural history collection. Made up of over 500,000 specimens and objects pertaining to the natural history of the state, this important collection focuses on the preservation, education, and research of Alabama’s rich biodiversity and paleobiodiversity. One of the more significant subsets of the collection is Alabama’s largest collection of Late Pleistocene faunal remains – or Ice Age fossils.

Made up of nearly 10,000 cataloged specimens, the McWSC Pleistocene collection contains a unique diversity of fauna that not only includes those native to North America, but migrants to the state from both South America and the Old World. This collection includes mammals, both extant and extinct, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and botanical remains collected from both cave and stream localities in the state. Extinct mammals represented in the McWSC collection include mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, saber-toothed cats, giant armadillos, tapirs, peccaries, and giant ground sloths.

This spring, visitors will have an opportunity to view some of the fossils in the collection with a new exhibit titled — “Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age.” This exhibit will not only highlight many of the Ice Age animals from the McWane Science Center Collection, but will highlight and dispel many of the common misconceptions surrounding the Ice Age in the state. The goal is for visitors to have a better understanding and appreciation for this time in Alabama. For example, guests might learn that Alabama was on average only five degrees colder than today, glaciers did not reach farther south than southern Illinois or that all the Ice Age animals did not go extinct at the end of the Ice Age. While the largest animals, such as mastodons, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats died out, nearly all the animals that are living in Alabama today were also around in the Ice Age.

The Unearthing Alabama’s Ice Age Alabama display is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum. It is included in the cost of admission to the museum and free to members.

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.

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.

Advertisements