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Birmingham Events Calendar: June 17th – June 24th

Posted on by Angie

Happy Father’s Day to all of our Birmingham Dad’s! We hope you are enjoying some family fun time, don’t forget, Dad’s get in free for Big Reptile Day at the Zoo!

Atlantic Coast Theatre supplying lots of fun at a couple of the local libraries. If you have an iCarly fan in your house, take the kids out to Splash Adventure Waterpark for a chance to meet him!

The Alabama Theatre will host the 2nd Harry Potter film, Chamber of Secrets, a great night out for families.

Don’t forget about the summer movies happening all over town! They’re a great way to beat the summer heat!

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

Sunday June 17th:

Happy Father’s Day BirminghamDaddy’s

Big Reptile Day – Birmingham Zoo
Get up-close and personal with some humongous reptiles! Every year, the Zoo takes a day to measure and weigh the largest snakes in our collection – the Aldabra tortoise, reticulated pythons and much more. Bring your camera for a special photo opportunity!

In honor of Father’s Day, dads get in free with the purchase of a child admission.
9am – 7pm

Fiesta de la Aventura – Splash Adventure Waterpark
Annual Hispanic Festival in conjunction with HOLA Latino. Exhibitors will be set up in Celebration Street.
Special offer for this event: $50 per carload (limit 6 people)

Normal Park Entrance Fees:
Adult General Admission Ticket: $25.99 (42″ and above)
Junior General Admission Ticket: $19.99 (anyone under 42″).
Children 3 and under are FREE
Senior General Admission Ticket: $19.99
11:30am – 8pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
1pm

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Monday June 18th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
A movie for all ages! Popcorn and juice for kids who come to watch.
3pm

Angry Birds – Hoover Public Library
Your favorite game morphs into a life-size battle against greedy pigs. Let the demolition begin! Grades 2-6. Call 444-7821 to register
6:30pm

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Tuesday June 19th:

Atlantic Coast Theatre, City Mouse and Country Mouse – Hoover Public Library
An updated musical version of Aesop’s fable in The Library Theatre
10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

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Wednesday June 20th:

Atlantic Coast Theatre, City Mouse and Country Mouse – Hoover Public Library
An updated musical version of Aesop’s fable in The Library Theatre
10:30 am, 1:30 pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Pass It On. Find out what happens when a cow gets stuck in a fence and how the message changes when the animals tell each other. There will be a fun activity and a treat from the Cafe.
11am

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

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Thursday June 21st:

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

Childhood Stories with the Atlantic Coast Theatre – Vestavia Hills Civic Center & Wald Park
Always a favorite, this traveling theater troupe will keep you in stitches as they act out favorite childhood stories.

The program is specially designed for preschool children through Grade 3.

This program will be held at the Vestavia Hills Rec Gym. Park at the Vestavia Hills Rec Gym and a shuttle service will be available after to take you to the library. Don’t miss a moment of the fun!
3pm

Free Family Night – WC Patton Park
The event will include family-friendly activities, movies, games and food. Participants should bring their own lawn chairs.
5:30pm

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Friday June 22nd:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Alabama Theatre
Harry ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him.

We’re showing all of the Harry Potter movies this summer! Enjoy Butter Beer and Bertie Botts Beans from the concession stand.
Doors open at 6, come dressed up and enter the costume contest for some fun prizes! Movie starts at 7pm
Tickets will be $8 at the door. Passes to all 8 movies will be available for $40 at the door.

Zoo Members Night at the Birmingham Barons
Members get in free (with membership card) to the Barons home game! The Zoo will be there with animal demonstrations. Click here for this season’s Barons schedule.
7:05pm

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Saturday June 23rd:

Gumbo Gala – Sloss Furnaces
40 cook-off teams will cook and serve gumbo and compete for awards at this fun-filled, seventh annual event
$10 per person; Children 12 and under admitted FREE
11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Meet “Gibby” (Noah Munck) from Nickelodeon’s iCarly – Splash Adventure Water Park
Noah Munck is an American actor. His roles included Gibby in iCarly and Bobby Sinclair, the junior lawn-mowing entrepreneur in the TruGreen commercials.
Meet and Greet – 1pm – 4pm

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 4pm

Super Saturday Fireworks – Birmingham Barons
Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular presented by Red Diamond, MINI of Birmingham.
6:30pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Re-open again for the season! Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine!
7am – Noon

Yard Sale and Market –
Yard Sale, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Baked Goods, Local Arts and Fun Children’s Activities. For more information please contact the Norwood Resource Center at 205.322.7361.
Norwood Community @ 15th Avenue and 32nd Street North on Norwood Community Blvd.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

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 as we read Zorro Gets an Outfit. We will find out what happens when Zorro the dog gets dressed up by his owner. There will be a fun activity and a special treat from the Cafe.
11am

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Sunday June 24th:

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
1pm

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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: Born to Be Wild, & Flying Monsters.

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Dora and Diego, Let’s Explore Exhibit
Get ready for adventure with Dora and Diego at McWane Science Center in the new exhibit Dora & Diego—Let’s Explore! The exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, along with their friends Boots, Map, Backpack, Isa, Tico, and of course Swiper, now in their own exhibit for children to explore as they learn and play along.

This new, interactive traveling exhibit, was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon, and presented by the WellPoint Foundation.

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.

Why Dads are Better than Moms (Sometimes)

Posted on by Angie

Moms always get the kudos, but Dads are pretty amazing too! Here are a few ways that Dads rock this whole parenting gig:

1. They don’t care if clothes match. We’ve all seen our child head out looking homeless or in their pajamas while under daddy’s watch. We may cringe, but it’s a good thing. It builds character and it’s a nice reminder that what they’re wearing doesn’t matter at all. That mismatched outfit is PERFECT for playground time.

2. They wrestle. With sound effects. Dads roughhouse and kids love it. Reading a book with mommy and teddy bear is nice, but having teddy bear turn into a tickle monster and attack your belly with monster sounds is divine.

3. They are guilt-free. Mommy guilt doesn’t exist for dads. They don’t care if Mary’s mom only feeds her toddler homemade organic foods. Dads keep their focus on the simple things.

4. They are vulgar. Burping, farting, chewing with your mouth open… all things that kids learn from dad. At heart, most dads are still 8 year old boys inside. A good fart is all they need to fall into a fit of laughter. Guess who appreciates that? Your child.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

Naptime Confessions: Vacation is work?

Posted on by Angie

It never fails- taking a vacation means pre-work/post-work and let’s not get started about the work ON vacation

 

Giveaway: Family 4 Pack McWane Science

Posted on by Angie

Because we love the new Dora and Diego Exhibit so much, we want to share it with you! We’ve got a family 4 pack of tickets to the McWane Center so you can check it out, along with all of the other fun stuff going on this summer.

Here’s how you enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post letting us know how much you love McWane: 1 per person

2. Head over to the McWane Facebook Page and thank them for the tickets: 1 per person

That’s it! Super Easy!

Giveaway will end Thursday, June 14th at midnight and the winner will be announced Friday via email and on our Facebook page.

 

Love Like Kids, Act Like Adults

Posted on by Angie

Barack and Michelle do it. Brad and Angelina do it. John and Yoko did it. How?

As the divorce rate hovers near an estimated 50 percent in the United States, many blame career stress as a major cause of separations. But somehow some couples grow stronger, especially when they work together.

Jamillah Lamb, co-author along with her husband, David, of “Perfect Combination: Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving Together” Share some tips and live by their guiding rule, “Love like kids, act like adults.”

“That means to love freely and completely, without a fortress around your heart, and behave responsibly,” David says.
A crucial ingredient for any successful marriage is friendship, the Lambs say.

• Enjoy life: Some couples won’t go to theme parks until they have children. But letting one’s inner child out to play with their partner’s inner child strengthens a relationship’s bond.

• Forgive the small stuff: No one is always right, and no one wants to be around someone who always needs to be right.

• Appreciate individuality: Everyone needs to have their own identity, including those in a long-term relationship and couples who work together.

• Do not misdirect anger: In psychology, it’s called transference; dumping your bad day on someone else. It is poison for any relationship.

• Remember your love: Couples may fight, but guard what you say. There’s no need for ugliness even when you disagree.
Couples need to remember relationships take work, but they can also be a blast of fun, David says.

“Love is worth the sacrifice,” they agree. “Today, with stories of celebrity couples walking away after only days of marriage and even more people living as though sacrifice is nearly a curse word, we say: ‘It’s worth the sacrifice.’

Love is, in part, the acknowledgement and deep appreciation for another human being, Jamillah says. “Couples should never take each other for granted,” she advises. “In love, as in business, everyone wants to be appreciated. The simplest gesture can go a long way to help your significant other feel like they are making a significant contribution to your life, your family, or your business.”

Protecting the relationship with your spouse can be extremely difficult once you add children to your family. What guiding rules do you and your spouse live by?

Gifts for Dad!

Posted on by Angie

I’m not sure about your Dad or Husband but both of mine are not very easy to buy for. We go back and forth trying to hint around and then end up just point blank asking them what they want or suggesting they go out and get something for themselves that I can wrap up and have the kids present to them on Father’s Day.

So what to get the Men in your life when they seem to have everything already? We’ve got a few ideas.

1. Never underestimate the power of a gift card. Restaurants, clothing, sports, whatever they are in to, you can most certainly find a gift card to go with it.

2. Cheeriodicals are simply awesome- you can choose which kind of box o’ cheer to send. We sent my dad the BBQ one and he raved about it.

3. For those dads who are just so hard to buy for, yet have a great sense of humor- how about a book that will keep him laughing? Sh*t My Dad Says is a bit raunchy, but absolutely hilarious! It’s a collection of the many sayings the author’s dad used to say to him. One example:  On human survival–  “No. Humans will die out. We’re weak. Dinosaurs survived on rotten flesh. You got diarrhea last week from a Wendy’s.”

4. Pictures of the family for his office are always a great fall back.

5. How about getting crafty how about some cute little magnets? Super easy to make, here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll do –

Supplies

Clear glass gems (found at crafts stores, usually in the floral dept.) round magnets, hot glue gun, white cardstock, sharpie markers, pen and scissors.

What You’ll Do:

Color designs on your white cardstock about the same size as the glass gems. Place glass pebble on top of artwork you wish to use, and draw around it with a pen, Cut out circles from artwork or if you have the right size punch, you can use that too.
Hot glue the back of gem, attach artwork, and allow to dry. Attach magnet to the back of the cardstock using hot glue.

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 11th – June 17th

Posted on by Angie

Hero Day, Bart’s Books, Storytime in the Garden, Fiesta de la Aventura and more! Plenty to do this week to keep you busy, rain or shine!

Are you having fun marking activities off of your summer fun list? We are!

Whatever you choose to do this week, have fun!

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

Sunday June 10th:

Story Time in the Garden – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Free children’s story telling event in the Arrington Plant Adventure Zone.
3pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
1pm

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Monday June 11th:

Creatures of the Night – Birmingham Public Library
Explore the unique adaptations of some of native Alabama night creatures from Ruffner Mountain. For preschool age children.
10:30am

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Tuesday June 12th:

Atlantic Coast Theater – Emmet O’Neal Library
City Mouse, Country Mouse
Live theatre production of a favorite children’s tale.
10:30am and 3:30pm

Dream On! Pillow Case Art – Vestavia Hills Library
Get ready for summer by designing and customizing your own pillowcase. B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Pillowcase) and we supply everything else to make your creation one of a kind.
7:45pm

Madcap Puppets presents When You Wish Upon a Fish – Hoover Public Library
The Grimm Brothers can’t decide which fishy fairy tale to choose for their book. Each outrageous version includes audience participation, a magical talking fish and a surprise ending in The Library Theatre.
10:30 am, 1:30 pm & 6:30 pm

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

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Wednesday June 13th:

Madcap Puppets presents When You Wish Upon a Fish – Hoover Public Library
The Grimm Brothers can’t decide which fishy fairy tale to choose for their book. Each outrageous version includes audience participation, a magical talking fish and a surprise ending in The Library Theatre.
10:30 am, 1:30 pm

Dream Big with Steve Burgess – Irondale Library
Steve Burgess will be here to entertain with a little bit of magic, a little bit of music, and a whole lot of fun. Don’t miss out!
10:30am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Storytime as we read Me and My Dad. We will read about all the ways a little bear loves his dad and the things they do together. There will be a craft and we will have something yummy from the Cafe.

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

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Thursday June 14th:

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 1pm

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Friday June 15th:

Frogs and Families – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Let’s go to the wetlands and hear the frog calls of those species that are active in June.  We will hopefully hear Green frogs, the bellowing Bullfrogs, Green and Gray Treefrogs, and maybe even the high pitched call of Spring Peepers.  We will look at some of these creatures up-close and learn more about them, their importance, and how to identify them.  Meet herpetologist Nick Bieser at the Ruffner Road gate.  $7/ $5 (member).  Reservations required.  Reserve your spot at shop.ruffnermountain.org.
7:30pm – 9:30pm

Third Friday in Forest Park
Dine, Wine and Shop in Birmingham’s Hippest Neighborhood!
Restaurants will have specials, wine tastings and more!
Shops and galleries will be open late until 8:00 PM, allowing you to catch the shows you may miss during the day, shop for gifts while enjoying a refreshment, and enjoy the social scene of Forest Park after hours!
5pm – 8pm

Friday Flix at the Hoover Public Library Theatre
Free admission and refreshments.

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary and Mary from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10-million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit the Frog reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways.

Amy Adams, Jason Segel, Chris Cooper
Walt Disney Pictures; Directed by James Bobin
Rated PG; 98 minutes; 2011

Our license doesn’t allow us to publish the titles of our free movie showings. Please visit our website or call the Box Office at (205) 444-7888 for more information.

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Saturday June 16th:

Hero Day – Mcwane Science Center
Join us for the most heroic day of the year at the science center as we introduce you to the amazing men and women who use science to come to the rescue. Your family will hear sirens, see flashing lights and come face-to-face with everyday heroes from police officers to paramedics. Come dressed as your favorite hero for this special day.
Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Museum: $12.00 Adults, $9.00 Ages 2-12 and Seniors 65+, Under 2 free
Combo Tickets (Museum & IMAX Film): $17.00 Adults, $13.00 Ages 2-12 and Seniors 65+, Under 2 free

Hours and admission are subject to change without notice and are subject to a 10% sales tax.

Summer Science Studio – McWane Science Center
Join us for a summer of fun and learning in the new Summer Science Studio for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.
10am – 4pm

Bart’s Book – Birmingham Museum of Art
Polar Bear Son– the tale of an unlikely friendship between an Inuit woman and a polar bear.
11am

Weather – Oak Mountain State Park
Lightening, rain, snow, sleet! Are you fascinated by weather? Want to know a little more about it? Come find out about weather, what causes it, what makes it change, and what it can do.
Meet at 10a.m. at the Campground Pavilion (B-side).
Free after admission to Oak Mountain State Park.

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
Re-open again for the season! Pepper Place Saturday Market brings the best local growers, food producers and artisans to you each Saturday morning. Rain or shine!
7am – Noon

Yard Sale and Market –
Yard Sale, Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Baked Goods, Local Arts and Fun Children’s Activities. For more information please contact the Norwood Resource Center at 205.322.7361.
Norwood Community @ 15th Avenue and 32nd Street North on Norwood Community Blvd.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

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 a very special Father’s Day Storytime — Dr. Seuss style! We will make something special for Dad and a tasty drink from our Cafe, so don’t miss it!
11am

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Sunday June 17th:

Happy Father’s Day BirminghamDaddy’s

Big Reptile Day – Birmingham Zoo
Get up-close and personal with some humongous reptiles! Every year, the Zoo takes a day to measure and weigh the largest snakes in our collection – the Aldabra tortoise, reticulated pythons and much more. Bring your camera for a special photo opportunity!

In honor of Father’s Day, dads get in free with the purchase of a child admission.
9am – 7pm

Fiesta de la Aventura – Splash Adventure Waterpark
Annual Hispanic Festival in conjunction with HOLA Latino. Exhibitors will be set up in Celebration Street.
Special offer for this event: $50 per carload (limit 6 people)

Normal Park Entrance Fees:
Adult General Admission Ticket: $25.99 (42″ and above)
Junior General Admission Ticket: $19.99 (anyone under 42″).
Children 3 and under are FREE
Senior General Admission Ticket: $19.99
11:30am – 8pm

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
During the month of June, join us for a special parent and child art activity – Make an Inuit inspired animal sculpture out of soap!
1pm

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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: Born to Be Wild, & Flying Monsters.

The Tornadoes of April 27th – Looking Back — Moving Forward, a new exhibit at McWane Science Center, reflects on the experiences of the April 27th, 2011 storms. The exhibit shares personal stories from those who experienced the devastation of the storms firsthand, while emphasizing the importance of tornado preparedness and explaining the science behind tornadoes.

Photos and stories from The Birmingham News help tell the story of the storms and the affect they had on survivors, volunteers, and the community as a whole. Students from Daniel Payne Middle School also help tell the story of their school and community through photos and artifacts from the storm for the exhibit. UAB students worked with the children from Daniel Payne Middle School to create short documentaries that can be seen in the exhibit as well.

In addition to sharing the personal stories from that day, the goal of this exhibit is to inform the community about how to prepare for extreme weather conditions, explaining the science of tornadoes and stressing awareness.

With vivid displays, the exhibit allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the scientific side of tornadoes. Graphics within the exhibit illustrate tornado formation and anatomy, educating visitors on how such extreme weather conditions develop. Additionally, the exhibit displays statistics and disputes common myths concerning the destructive storms.

Guests can watch live video from the storms that rolled across our state on April 27th, 2011, including the
weather forecasts from that day and actual images of the tornado as it made its way through our area provided by FOX6 WBRC. The exhibit is located in the City Gallery on Level 2 of the museum this summer.

Be Ready Alabama Exhibit Presented by:
The Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
www.readyalabama.org

Dora and Diego, Let’s Explore Exhibit
Get ready for adventure with Dora and Diego at McWane Science Center in the new exhibit Dora & Diego—Let’s Explore! The exhibit features beloved characters Dora and Diego from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, along with their friends Boots, Map, Backpack, Isa, Tico, and of course Swiper, now in their own exhibit for children to explore as they learn and play along.

This new, interactive traveling exhibit, was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon, and presented by the WellPoint Foundation.

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.

Preventing Summer Slide: We all Scream for Ice Cream!

Posted on by Angie

We recently demonstrated this with our friends from NBC’s Daytime Alabama.

This is a simple, fun activity that will make your kids think you’re a brilliant scientist and chef! It’s great for allowing each family member to have their own flavor, and works great when you’re camping or if you want some homemade ice cream at the beach! The possibilities are endless..

Plus, you get to exercise their mighty math powers a little by letting them do the measuring, or counting the dots you make with the yogurt!

Materials:
rock salt or table salt
gallon freezer bags
pint or quart freezer bags
half and half
sugar
vanilla
ice

Create an ice bag: Fill the gallon bag half full of ice. Add 1/2 c. of rock salt. If you use table salt, add extra.
Create the ice cream bag: In the smaller pint or quart bag, place 1 cup of half and half, 2 Tbsp of sugar, and 1/2 tsp of vanilla. Seal the bag very tightly and place it inside your ice bag.
Seal the ice bag and let your little one shake, shake, shake!  In about 5-10 minutes, they’ll have delicious homemade ice cream.

Consider adding flavors or candy. If you prefer chocolate, just use chocolate milk and omit the sugar and vanilla.

If you don’t have time to shake it for some homemade ice cream, try these yummy Yogurt Dots. They’re super simple and the kids love them!

What you need:

1 container of your favorite yogurt
ziploc bag

What you do:

Empty your yogurt into the ziploc bag and snip the corner to make the corner to make a piping bag.. Pipe little dots onto a cookie sheet.

Place in the freezer for about 45 minutes and you’re done.

Yogurt dots! A cool treat for a hot day. But eat them quick, they melt fast!

Summer Science Studio at McWane Science Center

Posted on by Angie

Just when thought you couldn’t possibly have any more fun at the McWane Science Center this summer they have opened up a new exhibit, the Summer Science Studio sponsored by the Junior League of Birmingham.

Stop by for a summer of fun and learning in the new Studio (formerly the Messy Art Studio Space) for early childhood education programs. Junior League of Birmingham volunteers will be guiding activities for children ages two to six in the studio that are designed to help children learn while they play. The Studio will offer a fun, hands-on educational environment that inspires creativity and exploration. Little ones are sure to have a blast using their imaginations to paint, make music, dress up in costumes, and more.

The Studio will be open, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 AM — 1:00 PM and on Saturdays 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM. The cost is included with admission, FREE to members.

It will only be open until August 4th, so make sure to stop in soon!

Can we prevent a fashion-obsession? Should we?

Posted on by Angie

Just about every mom asks herself the following questions… What’s in style this season? What’s the latest trend?

And then we say (silently) to ourselves, I have nothing to wear and I am not in style. *Is this how we want our daughters to talk to themselves?

I propose we ask ourselves this: What’s truly important?

We all want to look fabulous and current, but we don’t need to take our cues from couture or high fashion magazines. Sure, it’s fun to look at the trends and get ideas, but we shouldn’t feel “less than” the women who wear $600 heels that are 6” high. It’s okay to wear jeans and cotton shirts. I’m not advocating “letting go” of yourself, but I am asking that we let go of this ridiculous notion that we should spend our precious time and money on things that only last for a short time.

Having kids changes us, as it should. I used to look at clothes in a different way. It was a high priority. Now, I feel like I don’t care about what brands I’m wearing and I don’t care if someone knows this shirt came from TJ Maxx. On top of that, I have a daughter and I’m trying to teach her about what’s really important. My “important” list has changed in the past 10 years, and that’s something to be proud of.  Now I buy clothes for my kids more than myself. I feel proud that they go to school each day in clean, respectable clothes. They don’t need the $400 Marc Jacobs flats that Beyonce’s infant was wearing.

Have your priorities changed? Are you proud of it?

I’m trying to pass this onto my daughter:
Wear what makes you comfortable, but remember—clothes don’t make you anything. Your actions make you kind, intelligent, and beautiful.

What’s your message to your kids?

Note: Now, if you love fashion, that’s a different story. In that case, it’s your hobby and I’m all for devoting time and reasonable resources towards a hobby you enjoy. I love reading so I devote time and money to books. It’s okay to feel that way about fashion. I just think too many women beat themselves up because they don’t go to the grocery store looking like a rock star.

 

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