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McWane Science Center's BIG Discount!

Posted on by Angie

It’s that time of year again! Next week we will be working with the McWane
Science Center to offer you the Biggest Discount you will see this year for the McWane Science Center! $20 off any Membership level!

$20 off is HUGE savings and is only effective from November 13th – 19th, 2011.  You must purchase in person from a BirminghamMommy representative, or in person at the McWane Center.  Make sure to use the promo code “BHAM MOMMY.”   If you’re currently a McWane member, you can renew for next year at this rate!  You can purchase as many of these memberships as you want as gifts!

We’re moms, we know it’s hard to get out and run errands.  To make purchasing easier, we will be set up at some offsite locations.  You can always purchase in person at McWane as well, just remember the coupon.. You must have it in order to get the discount. You can print the coupon HERE.

Cash, check, or credit cards accepted.  Checks payable to McWane Science Center.

Here is our tentative schedule for offsite locations. We’re hoping to add a few more and will update when we do..Make sure you are following us on Facebook for the most current and up to date additions.

Sunday, November 13th – Auto Show at the BJCC, Noon to 4pm

Monday, November 14th – Wee Flip in Vestavia, 11:00 – 12:30

Tuesday, November 15th – Hart and Soul Coffee Shop, 9:30 – 11:00am

Thursday, November 17th – Sweet Bones Alabama, 7pm – 9pm

Friday, Light up at the Summit, on the Patio in front of Barnes and Noble. 6pm – 8:30pm

Available for Pick up Monday – Friday at the following locations:

Instant Sign Center in Trussville
Wee Flip in Vestavia
Do It Yourself Crafts in Homewood
Swaddle in Homewood

Advanced Screening for Breaking Dawn

Posted on by Angie

Alright Twilight Fans! BirminghamMommy.com has been given the opportunity to share with our readers some information that could allow you the chance to see Breaking Dawn in an advanced screening!!

Here is what you do:

TO DOWNLOAD A SCREENING PASS 
==============================
1) Go to: http://www.gofobo.com
RSVP Code:GFBAYRT
2) Print pass and attend screening (Each person will be allowed to print out a maximum of two admit-one passes)
*Please note – Remember to arrive early as screenings are always overbooked to ensure a full theater. Seating is first come-first served, and is not guaranteed. (Please keep in mind that each pass contains a unique barcode that cannot be duplicated. Everyone must present their own pass at the door.

Wednesday, November 16th at 7:30pm at the Rave Patton Creek theater.

Please note that seating is limited and they overbook theaters for advanced screenings and this does not guarantee you a seat in the theater. BirminghamMommy.com can in no way guarantee that you will be admitted with this pass.
Good Luck!
If you aren’t wanting to brave this crowd or don’t make it in for the screening, we still have passes to our early access theater for the midnight premiere, you can purchase those here.

 

A Turkey Pumpkin Centerpiece

Posted on by Angie

Have an extra pumpkin or 2 sitting around? My Daughters class took a trip to the farm last week and she was able to bring home a pumpkin that was leftover in their pumpkin patch. The day after her field trip she brought home this adorable little turkey that we will use as a centerpiece on Thanksgiving.

It’s super easy and you probably have everything you need to make it on hand.

What you’ll need:

Pumpkin
Construction Paper (assorted colors Brown, Orange, Yellow, Red)
Googly eyes
Scissors
Glue Stick
Hot Glue/Gun

What You’ll do:

Trace out the shape of feathers in assorted colors and have your child cut them out
Cut out a Brown Circle for his head
Cut out an Orange Triangle for his nose
Cut out (you’ll have to free hand it) a wattle

Glue the pieces in place on the Brown Circle and add your eyes (you could draw these on construction paper if you don’t have googly eyes on hand.)

Glue your feathers together and then hot glue onto your pumpkin – That’s it… A perfect turkey pumpkin centerpiece for your Thanksgiving festivities..

Giveaway: The Market SNEAK PEEK tickets!

Posted on by Angie

The Market has become known as THE place to knock out some holiday gift shopping, as well as picking up a few things for yourself. The lovely ladies at the Junior League of Birmingham have given us 2 sets of 2 tickets to the Sneak Peek Party, valued at $36 per ticket!

Every ticket purchased promotes the JLB’s mission to support the community by improving the lives of women and children.  Over 50 women have been working tirelessly to make this an event you won’t want to miss.  Feel great about the gifts you share this holiday season knowing that a portion of that gift is making a difference in the life of someone in the Birmingham community.  The JLB thanks you and we look forward to seeing you at The Market!

To enter:
1. Head to Junior League of Birmingham’s Facebook page and post a “Thank You” note for hosting the Market. (1 entry)
2. Comment here and tell us who you’ll share your extra ticket with. (1 entry)

The winner will be drawn Tuesday at Noon.

Lice: Truths and Myths

Posted on by Angie

Raise your hand if your child has brought home a note (or 2 or 3) already this year giving you the unwelcoming news that someone in the class has head lice…..

So far our classes have been fortunate, but after talking to many of our Mommy Friends we learned that we are in the minority, for now.

Because we have been around kids that have been exposed to lice, I’ve been a little over zealous and incredibly diligent in my effort to create what I hope is a very hostile environment for those pesky little bugs. In all of the research I have done I have found that the things I thought I knew about lice weren’t true, so I thought I would share with you the Truths and Myths of Lice: Drumroll please….

1. Dirty Hair attracts lice: Myth! Having head lice is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. The pesky little bugs can be a problem for kids of all ages and socioeconomic levels, no matter how often they do — or don’t — clean their hair or bathe.

2. Lice can jump: Myth! They cannot jump OR Fly, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along.

3. Lice can only live on human scalps: True! Good news for little Fido! Pets cannot catch head lice and pass them on to people or vice versa.

4. Head lice are the second most common condition among children: True! Second only to the common cold.

5. Head Lice travel on carseats: Myth! Head lice never choose to leave the head to travel to an inanimate object to wait for a new host. The only means of transmission is direct head to head contact.

6. Lice do not like heads with short hair: True! They are very sensitive to temperature, humidity and light. Heads with shorter hair tend to be colder, brighter and dryer which head lice think is unattractive.

While finding a nit or louse on your child might seem like the end of the world, rest assured that it isn’t. It does however take a little bit of persistence to rid your family of the unwanted visitors. Always make sure to check all family members if someone in your family has lice, especially if they share bedding. It’s also a good idea to make sure everyone in your family has their own brush or comb. Stress the importance to your children about not sharing hats or personal items worn on their head or neck.

Most importantly emphasize to your child that although having lice can certainly be very embarrassing, anyone can get them. It’s important for kids to understand that they haven’t done anything wrong and that having lice doesn’t make them dirty.

For more information on lice and lice prevention and treatment visit webmd.

Birmingham Events Calendar: November 13th – November 20th

Posted on by Angie

It’s a big week for BirminghamMommy.com and all of our friends. It’s Twilight premiere week and we’re gearing up for a great night of fun in our Twilight Lounge. If you haven’t purchased your tickets you still have a couple of days to do so.

We’re also kicking off our BIG discount with the McWane Science Center! It’s the biggest discount they offer and they are letting us bring it to you for one week only! It’s $20 off any membership level and is available on renewals! Think ahead to Holidays and call the Grandparents, this is what we get for Christmas every year! For more information on where we will be set up around town see this post.

Brookwood Medical Center is bringing Rosie Pope to town and the Summit will be lighting up for the Holidays on Friday! I guess that means the holiday season is officially here!  Are you ready?

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

Sunday November 13th:

Alabama International Car Show – BJCC
A dazzling spectacular featuring the 2012 model year domestic and import cars, light trucks, SUV’s, Hybrid vehicles of all sizes, and vans. Over 400 vehicles from manufacturers all over the world covering 230,000 square feet, inside, and another 90,000 square feet of test driving Chevrolet, Buick & GMC vehicles at the GM Experience the Drive!. . .
The McWane Center is joining forces with the 2012 AIAS in the very successful Kids Fair @ The Auto Show. McWane will be hosting Science Camps at the Auto Show from November 11-13, 2011. This event will be blended into the Kids Fair promotion. There will be special shows, and continuing interactive events.
$8 Adults / $4 children 6-11 / children 5 and under FREE
10am – 6pm

Barts Art Cart –Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Monday November 14th:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Fun Flick and a Tasty Treat
3:30pm

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Tuesday November 15th:

Jim Aycock – Hoover Public Library
Get ready to sing and be silly with a Birmingham favorite in the Library Theatre!
6:30pm

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For larger groups, a call is nice but not necessary.
10:30am

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Wednesday November 16th:

Junior League Market Sneek Peek Party
Cahaba Grand Conference Center
7pm – 10pm

Storytime  – Barnes and Noble Summit
You won’t believe why this old lady swallowed some leaves, a shirt, a pumpkin and so much more! Come find out in this book by Lucille Colandro. Then we will have some fun with arts and crafts.
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 November 17th:

Twilight Thursday! It’s premiere Night!!
Join us at Sweet Bones Alabama for our Twilight Lounge leading up to the midnight premiere!
7pm – 10pm Twilight Lounge
10:30pm – Early Access to the BirmighamMommy.com reserved theater.

Finding your Mommy Style an evening with Rosie Pope – WorkPlay
Brookwood Women’s Medical Center invites women from the Birmingham area to mix and mingle with Rosie Pope at WorkPlay. Rosie is a maternity concierge and fashion designer based in NYC who guides expectant mothers through pregnancy on Bravo’s hit reality show, Pregnant in Heels.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m., Rosie will answer questions and lead an interactive conversation about the joys and challenges of becoming a mom.

From 8 to 9 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to socialize and take photos with Rosie.

Throughout the evening, guests may enjoy special cocktails and “mocktails” for moms-to-be.

Junior League Market
Cahaba Grand Conference Center
11am – 9pm

Storytime Fun – Vestavia Hills Library
join Ms. Amanda for Storytime Fun. Adventures of all kinds for kids ages 3 years through 5 years.
10:30am

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Friday November 18th:

Lights up at the Summit!
Enjoy a festive parade from Barnes & Noble to Sephora and watch as The Summit lights up with holiday spirit.  The parade ends with Santa’s arrival and a grand fireworks show. Make sure to stop by our spot in front on Barnes and Noble to take advantage of the $20 off McWane Membership Discount!
6:30pm

Junior League Market
Cahaba Grand Conference Center
9am – 9pm

Story Day with Nene – Whole Foods
stories, songs, and snacks as Mrs. Renee Schmidt leads the fun.
10am

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Saturday November 19th:

Junior League Market
Cahaba Grand Conference Center
9am – 5pm

Hogwarts Night at the Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo will be open for all muggles, wizards, and future wizards to enjoy the evening. There will be several introduction classes, Hogwarts 101, for muggles and future wizarding students such as Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, and Divination. Activities such as riding the Hogwarts Express, Tales of Beedle the Bard storytime, Dementor Rollers, Animal Demonstrations, Thestrel Carousel and much more in Diagon Alley. The Yule Ball will be held from 7:30pm until 9pm, where students will be able to dance to Hogwarts music. The Leaky Caldron will be open for business for those hungry muggles and wizards! Don’t forget to purchase your Butter Beer!

Ticket Pricing:

Members – $5 – Adults and children 2 years of age and up

Non-Members – $8 – Adults and children 2 years of age and up

Tickets may be purchased at the Zoo’s main entrance beginning at 5pm on the evening of Hogwarts Night at the Zoo (advanced ticket purchasing is not available). Tickets are good for one date only. Children under 2 years of age enter for free.

  • Each ticket includes admission to Diagon Alley (located within the Zoo) and one ride.
  • Partake in fun, games and activities within Diagon Alley.
  • Ride the Hogwarts Express, the Thestrel Carousel and enjoy up-close animal encounters.
  • Experience unique Hogwarts 101 classes.
  • Hogwarts students can enter Diagon Alley after classes have concluded by using their name badge (must be accompanied by a paid “Muggle” parent).

For more information on Hogwarts Academy and how to sign up – visit the Birmingham Zoo Website

Mary Poppins Movie Sing a Long
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!  Come to the library to sing and dance along with Mary Poppins and her friends.  Call 444-7833 to register.
10:30am

Barts Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Rembrant’s young son, Titus longs to follow in his father’s footsteps as an artist.
11am

Barts Art Cart – Totem Pole – Birmingham Museum of Art
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
Super Saturday Storytime with the Nook Color
11am

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Sunday November 20th:

Barts Art Cart –Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Magic of Model Trains Exhibit:
The Magic of Model Trains exhibit offers families a chance to see toy trains of every shape and size zipping around the tracks. This year children will enjoy the chance to become a conductor at one of the new stations and also see several new additions to the train sets. Through January 8th 2012

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Ally,  Born to Be Wild, and Flying Monstors.

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.

Busy Mommy Bonding: Coffee Filter Leaves

Posted on by Angie

Halloween might be over but fall isn’t! We’re bringing a little bit of fall indoors. If you’re a coffee drinker you may have everything you need in your kitchen for this craft.

What you’ll need:

Coffee Filters
Scissors
Food Coloring (Yellow, Red, Orange)
Wax paper
Old medicine or eye dropper

What you do:

Cut your coffee filters into leaf shapes. Don’t be afraid to free hand them, it’s really not all that hard, I promise! Once you have all of your leaves cut out lay them on your wax paper. Mix up a couple of little cups of food coloring and use your dropper to drop the food coloring onto the “leafs.” Then watch as your plain white leaves turn into these colorful little decorations.

Use them loose to decorate tables or grab a stick or branch for the back yard and attach your leaves to the stick(s.) Put them in a vase and make a cute fall centerpiece for your table!

Happy Fall!

Parenting with a Ph.D: Bedtime

Posted on by Angie

Parent Question: I’ve researched this online and haven’t found something that works. How do you get a child to stay in bed??? My three-year-old daughter has a bedtime routine and we’ve tried consistently putting her back for as long as 45 minutes, stroking her hair, reading to her, even taking toys away as punishment — strike outs. I bet other parents wonder about this, too. Thanks!

Parenting with a PhD Response:  A quick perusal of the offerings on Kids and Bedtime at any bookstore will assure you that you’re not alone. The usual scenario: You’re exhausted after a long day and find yourself envying your daughter’s early bedtime and soft, downy pillow. She seems completely unaware of how blissful 12 hours of sleep would be and has caught her second (or third or fourth) wind. If only you could borrow from the plot of “Freaky Friday” (the original version, obviously) and let her stay up to iron and pay bills so you could climb into that cozy little bed…

O.K. – back to reality. If a parent came to my practice with this question, the first thing we would do is more fully assess the evening routine and consider the following questions:

What’s going on two hours before bedtime? Cutting out caffeine (including that sneaky caffeine in foods like chocolate!) is a no-brainer. Some kids can’t even handle caffeine after lunchtime. Also important, make sure your child is “unplugged” (i.e., no TV, computer, etc.) for at least a full hour before bedtime because the type of light emitted by these devices is very alerting. In fact, you may want to dim the lights in the hour before bedtime. It’s also best to avoid stressful or academic tasks before bed, so make sure older kids finish their homework earlier.

Is your child getting special time with you? Spending 20 minutes at the end of the day engaged in a low-stress, fun activity of your child’s choosing may help establish a cooperative attitude for bedtime. Older kids will relish a little sibling-free time to spend with you.

What’s the bedtime routine? The entire process should last no more than 20 minutes and shouldn’t include too much relaxation intervention from you. Fit in the basics like teeth-brushing and story time but limit the number of books and songs so the process doesn’t go on too long.

Is bedtime too late? Children who are overly tired may seem to have boundless energy and might not have the resources to calm themselves for bed. If your child is hard to awaken and tired during the day, consider moving bedtime up by 15-30 minute increments at a time to see if it goes better.

Is bedtime too early? Check out this link on WebMD for how much sleep your child needs. Count back from her wake-up time to determine when she should go to bed. Children who are getting too much sleep aren’t likely to be tired at bedtime. If your child wakes up happy and well-rested even when she isn’t falling asleep until later, try pushing her bedtime back little by little to see if she falls asleep more quickly.

Is your child afraid? Address the fears you can with nightlights and white noise.  Provide your child with positive reminders he can say to himself when he’s alone, like: “I am brave” or “I can handle this.”  For some kids, being allowed to look at books in bed can distract them from fears. For more severe anxiety, therapy may be helpful.

Once the bedtime routine is done, the real work begins. The goal is to make staying in bed more rewarding than getting out so you want to avoid reinforcing her when she gets up. Putting your child back in bed consistently and repeatedly is important. Try to avoid being drawn in by excuses and, most importantly, keep the interaction to a minimum (hint: the extra attention may make her more likely to get out of bed again). Maintain a neutral demeanor and don’t scold. Make a clear distinction between your nurturing behavior at bedtime and your matter-of-fact attitude after you’ve put her to bed. Unless she is extremely upset, try not to provide much soothing during this period. You’ve given her the tools to do this on her own and now she needs to practice.

Consider setting up a reward system to further motivate your child to stay in bed. Initially, try something simple like rewarding him if he gets out of bed no more than twice. If that’s not successful, reward him for staying in bed for successively longer periods of time. For example, if he usually gets up every two minutes after bedtime, explain that he can earn a point (better yet, offer him 10 points – it sounds better) if he stays in bed for four minutes. He probably can’t keep track and the actual number of minutes doesn’t matter. If he stays in bed longer than the usual two minutes, go crazy giving out those points. Increase the amount of time he should go before getting out of bed in order to earn points the next night. Keep track of the points on a brightly colored chart somewhere he can see it during the day. Let him use his points to earn something the next morning (e.g., TV time, special breakfast, a board game with you).

There are other factors to consider like medical problems or medications that might be keeping her up so talk to your doctor if you suspect something like that.

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

Kristen S. Berthiaume, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist

Kristen Berthiaume is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates.She obtained her Ph.D. 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
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 four-year-old daughter and 18-month-old son.

Birmingham Events Calendar: November 6th – November 13th

Posted on by Angie

We hope you all remembered to “Fall Back” today.. Yes, it means an extra hour of sleep but it will be dark so much earlier now. The Holiday Season is heating up and Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, Whew! Time is flying by!!

Lots of fun to be had around Birmingham this week, of course storytimes at your local library is always an option but you can also check out Hogwarts Night at the Birmingham Zoo, the Magic of Model Trains exhibit is now open at McWane Science Center and for the car enthusiasts the Alabama International Auto show kicks off this Thursday. If you haven’t entered to win the tickets we have up for grabs, you can do so here. We’ll have more chances to win this week on our Facebook page so make sure you like us over there!

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

Sunday November 6th:

Moss Rock Festival – The Preserve in Hoover
A regional focus for art, design & environmental lovers everywhere. Enjoy artists, our eco-ideas partnerst featuring green living ideas, products, services and organizations, live music, engaging constructions and installations, a cake expo and tasting, wonderkid studios, wreaths re-imagined, hiking, 5K bike ride, geocaching,  fuel-efficient car exhibitions, a café, and the great outdoors.
10am – 4pm

Barts Art Cart –Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Monday November 7th:

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

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Tuesday November 8th:

Family Night, “Cinderella” – Emmet O Neal Library
The Birmingham Children’s Theater presents a classic fairy tale. Dinner at 5:30, show at 6:00. All ages. No registration required.

Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome. For larger groups, a call is nice but not necessary.
10:30am

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Wednesday November 9th:

Storytime  – Barnes and Noble Summit
It’s Thanksgiving and Corduroy is celebrating with his friends! Come join us as we read together and do some arts and crafts.
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 November 10th:

Alabama International Car Show – BJCC
A dazzling spectacular featuring the 2012 model year domestic and import cars, light trucks, SUV’s, Hybrid vehicles of all sizes, and vans. Over 400 vehicles from manufacturers all over the world covering 230,000 square feet, inside, and another 90,000 square feet of test driving Chevrolet, Buick & GMC vehicles at the GM Experience the Drive!. . .
$8 Adults / $4 children 6-11 / children 5 and under FREE
12pm – 9pm

Lights of Honor Holiday Lighting Ceremony – Shops at Grand River
Join us at The Outlet Shops of Grand River as we honor our Veterans and light up the holiday decor to celebrate their service, courage and dedication to our country.
6:30pm

Storytime Fun – Vestavia Hills Library
join Ms. Amanda for Storytime Fun. Adventures of all kinds for kids ages 3 years through 5 years.
10:30am

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Friday November 11th:

Alabama International Car Show – BJCC
A dazzling spectacular featuring the 2012 model year domestic and import cars, light trucks, SUV’s, Hybrid vehicles of all sizes, and vans. Over 400 vehicles from manufacturers all over the world covering 230,000 square feet, inside, and another 90,000 square feet of test driving Chevrolet, Buick & GMC vehicles at the GM Experience the Drive!. . .
The McWane Center is joining forces with the 2012 AIAS in the very successful Kids Fair @ The Auto Show. McWane will be hosting Science Camps at the Auto Show from November 11-13, 2011. This event will be blended into the Kids Fair promotion. There will be special shows, and continuing interactive events.
$8 Adults / $4 children 6-11 / children 5 and under FREE
10am – 9pm

Story Day with Nene – Whole Foods
stories, songs, and snacks as Mrs. Renee Schmidt leads the fun.
10am

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Saturday November 12th:

Hogwarts Night at the Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo will be open for all muggles, wizards, and future wizards to enjoy the evening. There will be several introduction classes, Hogwarts 101, for muggles and future wizarding students such as Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, and Divination. Activities such as riding the Hogwarts Express, Tales of Beedle the Bard storytime, Dementor Rollers, Animal Demonstrations, Thestrel Carousel and much more in Diagon Alley. The Yule Ball will be held from 7:30pm until 9pm, where students will be able to dance to Hogwarts music. The Leaky Caldron will be open for business for those hungry muggles and wizards! Don’t forget to purchase your Butter Beer!

Ticket Pricing:

Members – $5 – Adults and children 2 years of age and up

Non-Members – $8 – Adults and children 2 years of age and up

Tickets may be purchased at the Zoo’s main entrance beginning at 5pm on the evening of Hogwarts Night at the Zoo (advanced ticket purchasing is not available). Tickets are good for one date only. Children under 2 years of age enter for free.

  • Each ticket includes admission to Diagon Alley (located within the Zoo) and one ride.
  • Partake in fun, games and activities within Diagon Alley.
  • Ride the Hogwarts Express, the Thestrel Carousel and enjoy up-close animal encounters.
  • Experience unique Hogwarts 101 classes.
  • Hogwarts students can enter Diagon Alley after classes have concluded by using their name badge (must be accompanied by a paid “Muggle” parent).

For more information on Hogwarts Academy and how to sign up – visit the Birmingham Zoo Website

Alabama International Car Show – BJCC
A dazzling spectacular featuring the 2012 model year domestic and import cars, light trucks, SUV’s, Hybrid vehicles of all sizes, and vans. Over 400 vehicles from manufacturers all over the world covering 230,000 square feet, inside, and another 90,000 square feet of test driving Chevrolet, Buick & GMC vehicles at the GM Experience the Drive!. . .

The McWane Center is joining forces with the 2012 AIAS in the very successful Kids Fair @ The Auto Show. McWane will be hosting Science Camps at the Auto Show from November 11-13, 2011. This event will be blended into the Kids Fair promotion. There will be special shows, and continuing interactive events.
$8 Adults / $4 children 6-11 / children 5 and under FREE
10am – 9pm

Barts Art Cart – Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
Today is a special day! Curious George will be visiting our Storytime! We hope you’ll join us!
11am

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Sunday November 13th:

Alabama International Car Show – BJCC
A dazzling spectacular featuring the 2012 model year domestic and import cars, light trucks, SUV’s, Hybrid vehicles of all sizes, and vans. Over 400 vehicles from manufacturers all over the world covering 230,000 square feet, inside, and another 90,000 square feet of test driving Chevrolet, Buick & GMC vehicles at the GM Experience the Drive!. . .
The McWane Center is joining forces with the 2012 AIAS in the very successful Kids Fair @ The Auto Show. McWane will be hosting Science Camps at the Auto Show from November 11-13, 2011. This event will be blended into the Kids Fair promotion. There will be special shows, and continuing interactive events.
$8 Adults / $4 children 6-11 / children 5 and under FREE
10am – 6pm

Barts Art Cart –Totem Pole
Get crafty with Bart and create a totem pole with image of family, friends, or a few of your favorite things!

Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to explore great art and create some art of your own with the help of our Teen Volunteers. Each month highlights a different gallery and features a new art activity. Learn how to look at art with your child. Stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Magic of Model Trains Exhibit:
The Magic of Model Trains exhibit offers families a chance to see toy trains of every shape and size zipping around the tracks. This year children will enjoy the chance to become a conductor at one of the new stations and also see several new additions to the train sets. Through January 8th 2012

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Ally,  Born to Be Wild, and Flying Monstors.

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.

Giveaway: Alabama International Auto Show Tickets

Posted on by Angie

Love cars? Here’s your chance to check out some of the latest models at the 2012 Alabama International Auto Show!

This is the 28th year for the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association to produce the Alabama International Auto Show in Birmingham, Alabama. The 2012 Alabama International Auto Show will feature 2012 model year vehicles from manufacturers across the world.

The Auto Show is an event that the whole family can enjoy!  If you’re a Twilight fan you’ll be able to check out the Volvo that Edward drives in the newest movie in the Twilight Saga, meet the Edward look a like, you can check out the xbox 360 truck, inflatables, arcade games and MUCH MUCH More!

 Where: The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex- Birmingham, AL.

 When: Thursday, November 10from 12p – 9p
Friday, November 11 from 10a-9p
Saturday, November 12 10a-9p
Sunday November 13 10a-6p

Up for grabs is (2) Family 4 Packs for the Thursday, November 10th show. Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a Comment Here on this post telling us your dream car (1 per person per day)

2. Head over the the Auto Show Facebook page and thank them for the giveaway (1 per person)

3. Head over to Twitter and spread the word, Tweet: “@BirminghamMommy has tickets to the auto show http://ow.ly/7iYWs”

Winner will be notified by email and tickets will be left at will call. Contest ends Monday, November 7th at Noon.

 

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