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Event of the Week: Read and Romp Birmingham

Posted on by Angie

We all know how important it is to read to our children. In fact we get a sheet home from Kindergarten every week and at the very bottom, it says “Read to your children every night, you are their first teacher.” So true. Reading helps them learn, it helps you bond and can foster a very creative imagination.

We were very excited to learn about this Read and Romp event coming up Saturday at Railroad Park. This event designed to encourage children to read during early development will feature over 11 different story stations, free children’s books for the first 400 families, and surprise PBSKids characters.

Railroad Park
Saturday September 17th
9am – Noon

Confessions of a Dance Mom

Posted on by Angie

By Nanci Neighbors-Scarpulla:

She enters the stage and positions herself for her first competitive solo. I hold my breath for a second. What if she falls? What if she forgets? What if….

The music starts and without missing a beat, she knocks out every kick, turn, twirl, and jump as if she had lived this routine all her life. She finishes, throws a kiss and exits the stage. Walking down the stage stairs, she gives several the onlookers high fives and giggles then runs straight to her mom.

That is my 9 year old daughter, and I am her mom. I am a Dance Mom.

The dance mom is getting a bad rap these days and it is totally with justification thanks to a new reality show. If you have seen the new Lifetime Series, “Dance Moms” then you know that the insane parenting cousin of “Toddlers and Tiaras” has been met with train wreck attention.

Moms screaming at each other, teachers screaming kids, kids crying, moms crying, inappropriate dance costumes and more make-up than a Mary Kay convention.

Reality shows are not always reality and “Dance Moms” is definitely not my reality.

Dancing has been a part of my life, all my life. So when I welcomed not one, but two little girls into my world, dance classes just came natural. We tried other things, soccer, karate, cheerleading, more soccer, but I was meant to be a dance mom.

The world of competitive dancing has itʼs ups and downs. The dancing part is relatively easy especially since the girls enjoy it and I can rarely go down a store aisle without having to stop them from pirouetting into the mayonnaise display. The rough part is when they are sitting in the back waiting to go on stage and they see other dancers backflipping and doing moves that seem physically impossible. That is when the nerves hit.

So the last thing I need is for a show to expose what NOT to do as a dance mom and play it off like that represents all of us dance moms. I can never imagine telling either of my girls or any child for that matter that they needed to get better or scream at them for an imperfect kick. I can assure most moms that if your child is willing to practice most of the week, dreams up dances in her naps, and immediately starts grooving to every song on the radio from Gaga to Dvorak, she is probably giving it her all.

Dance can be expensive. It can be costly in money, time, and accessories. It sometimes means we forgo other activities but at any time either of my girls says “No! I donʼt want to go anymore” then I have to decide if my wanting them to dance has become my
desire for them. I think this is a valid question that most moms need to ask themselves when it comes to extracurricular activities or recreation.

Moms need to encourage but there is a fine line between pushing your child into something and encouraging them to participate. It is up to you to look for signs that your child might not be as enthusiastic about it as you.

For now, I am a dance mom. We spend a lot of time at the studio or with our furniture moved to the corner of the living room so the girls can dance “on stage” in front of the TV. I cherish each moment and movement as I watch them improve each step, kick,
and twirl but I know when they reach up, they are reaching for the stars, or at least enjoying the chance to do so.

 

Parenting with a Ph.D, Food Struggles

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen S. Berthiaume, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist

Taking a Bite Out of Food Struggles

Another night, another plate of chicken fingers.  Of course, this is the second (or third or fourth) dinner you’ve made because your kid is refusing the first one. You’re frantically trying to get something in that belly while words like “Starvation!” “Malnutrition!” and “Scurvy!” run through your mind.  Relax. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes.

While your eyes are closed… Imagine for a moment what you want your kid’s relationship with food to be like in 10 years. Most likely, you’re imagining that your son makes good choices about what and how much to eat. You’re hoping that your daughter feels O.K. about the occasional indulgence. Now, come back to the present and consider how the food struggles you’re having nightly are facilitating or impeding those outcomes.

When you and your child struggle over food, the focus is on who has the strongest will. Winning the battle tonight by forcing your child to eat what’s on his plate or go hungry may mean losing in the long run. Your child isn’t learning healthy eating habits or gaining an appreciation for a variety of foods – he is only avoiding punishment. Later when he has his own money and transportation minus the constant supervision, he’s likely to assert himself by making his own food choices. Probably poor ones.

No, you’re not a short-order cook. But that doesn’t mean the “customer” (a.k.a. your kid) is always wrong. Consider these tips for decreasing food struggles in your house:

  • Portion control.  Little tummies are…well…littler. Adjust portions accordingly. When she says she’s full, she’s full. To be sure this isn’t a ploy to move on to snack foods…
  • Beware of snacks. Don’t allow snacks for at least an hour after mealtimes so your child learns that dinner food is all he’s getting for a while. Also, avoid letting your child snack two hours before meals so he’s hungry when it’s time to eat.
  • Offer one meal. If she refuses to eat what’s on her plate, offer a single, healthy alternative that isn’t terribly exciting and requires little effort on your part. Food is in the tummy: Mission accomplished. If she has to eat bananas for dinner night after night, she will eventually try something else.
  • Offer new foods along with old favorites. The plate may seem less daunting with some familiar sides.
  • Present new foods numerous times. It might take 15 attempts. Try different preparations. Cover it with cheese. Everything’s better with cheese. Once your child grows to like a food, you can ease off on the extra stuff.
  • Dips. Kids love to dip their food. Yogurt. Ketchup. Ranch dressing. Did I mention cheese?
  • Use rewards other than foods. Try stickers, toys, privileges, and fun family time as positive consequences instead of treats. Research shows that using junk food as a reward can lead children to view it as more important and desirable. (Note: If you’re in the midst of stressful potty training, ignore this and do what you gotta!)
  • Connect children with food. Your child is much more likely to try a food if he feels connected with it. Go to the grocery store or farmers’ market together and encourage him to pick out something that looks interesting. Look up recipes together. Let your child help prepare the meal. If he made it himself, he’s going to at least try it.
  • Be a model. The number of vegetables on a parent’s, especially mom’s, plate at the dinner table is strongly correlated with a child’s willingness to eat them.
  • When all else fails, hide the veggies. I think we’ve discussed covering them with cheese. Search online for recipes and browse cookbooks like Deceptively Delicious. Look for pre-packaged meals (e.g., Kidfresh) that conceal vegetables inside of kid favorites.

Beyond picky eating. There are many kids with legitimate food aversions. Some choke on foods with certain textures or gag when they encounter particular smells. The above techniques aren’t likely to be helpful for these kids. If you’re not already working with a professional, ask your pediatrician for a referral. Occupational and behavioral therapists can help you with managing these food struggles.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way via email 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: September 11th – September 18th

Posted on by Angie

Birmingham Moms Rock is almost here! We can’t wait for everyone to meet our finalists this week and to announce the winner of our 2nd annual event… Have you voted yet? You should! We’ll even make it easy for you:

Read their stories and vote HERE

If you’ve read their stories and need to vote again go HERE

This weekend will be packed full of events including the Read and Romp at Railroad Park, and Red Panda Day at the Birmingham Zoo.

Story Day with Nene is back at Whole Foods on Friday’s so make sure to check out that fun and free storytime.

Enjoy this beautiful weather and have a great week!

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

Sunday September 11th:

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a drum inspired by African musical instruments with Bart! The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Monday September 12th:

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 September 13th:

Family Night – Emmet O’ Neal Library
Bama Air Dog – Gary Shockley will astonish and amaze you with…his dog! Come see their astounding tricks. 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 September 14th:

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
How much grass can three billy goats eat? What is the ugly troll up to? Find out in The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Then we will play with NOOK and enjoy a drink from our Cafe. We’ll also create 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 September 15th:

2nd Annual Moms Rock! – McWane Science Center
Join us for a great night of Mommy fun! On the plaza at McWane, we’ll have live music, henna tattoos, great food, prizes, swag and a cash bar. We’ll be announcing the winner of our contest and meeting all of the wonderful finalists.
6pm – 9pm

Relax by the Tracks – Railroad Park
Relax By The Tracks is a monthly event sponsored by the Railroad Park Foundation Junior Board and George’s Boxcar Cafe. Free music will be provided by local artists Jon Poor and DJ Omari. Food and drinks available at George’s Boxcar Cafe (cash only). Limited seating so bring your own blanket or chair!

Make sure to stay and catch the free movie at their Sunset Cinema

Sunset Cinemas – Railroad Park
The Pursuit of Happyness – 7pm
George’s Boxcar Cafe and Jim ‘N Nick’s Barbecue will be selling food and drink during the movies! George’s Boxcar Cafe will have all of your movie favorites, including popcorn, nachos, and candy; PLUS they will be serving cocktails! Jim ‘N Nick’s will be grilling their famous barbecue and will have other delectable Southern treats, including their famous cheese biscuits!

What to bring: a blanket or lawn chair and cash or credit card to so that you can purchase delicious food and beverages from George’s Boxcar Cafe and Jim N Nick’s!

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Friday September 16th:

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

Art of Science – Avondale Library
No money for paints,
Not a problem, you see.
If you know the tricks,
You can find supplies naturally.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on art supplies. Learn how to make clay from natural colorants, and how to make homemade paints and soy wax crayons.

At each session, the library will showcase books and videos about the program’s topic, and introduce age-appropriate databases for children to further explore what they learned at each program.
3:15

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Saturday September 17th

Read and Romp – Railroad Park
Story Stations, games, surprise PBSKids guest and free books.
9am – Noon

Red Panda Day – Birmingham Zoo
Come to the Zoo to participate in Red Panda Network’s “International Red Panda Day 2011″. Join other zoo visitors all across the globe by being a part of the Red Panda Games, where you’ll have the chance to become a red panda for the day and learn about survival in the wild, participate in a red panda memory card game, and explore the Zoo to spot other animals that share the red panda’s habitat. Join the Zoo in raising awareness and celebrating the uniqueness of red pandas by becoming a Red Panda Ranger!

Barts Books – Birmingham Museum of Art

In The Clever Monkey: A Folktale from West Africa, a trickster monkey “helps” two greedy jungle cats divide a piece of cheese.

Bart the Art Bat selects one book each month about art that he think 4-7 year olds will enjoy. The storytellers are often our favorite teachers from local schools. Bart’s Books.
11 AM

Fresh Market on The Green – Ross Bridge
Fresh Alabama grown fruits, vegetables, honey, fresh baked goods, coffee café, local artists, kids activity and more!
8am – Noon

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a drum inspired by African musical instruments with Bart! The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Saturday Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
What nice big ears you have — for listening to our Storytime where we will be reading Little Red Riding Hood! Then, we will do some arts and crafts and enjoy a treat from our Cafe.
11am

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Sunday September 18th:

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a drum inspired by African musical instruments with Bart! The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Eat Well, Play Well Exhibit:
What is in the food we eat? Are fruits and vegetables important? Can everyday activities burn calories? Visitors will find the answers to these questions by exploring nutrition and fitness in this summer’s traveling exhibit called Eat Well, Play Well. This highly-interactive exhibit encourage healthy living by teaching the science of making healthy-food choices and helping children and adults discover that there are many fun and interesting ways to stay active. Visitors will discover what an appropriate serving size looks like, see first hand what it takes to burn off calories, test their flexibility and balance, review the latest clinical research and realize that they can reduce their risk of disease with healthy choices that are within their reach.

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 Wild Ocean.

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.

Through the Eyes of a Child: Remembering 9/11

Posted on by Angie

We all remember where we were 10 years ago during the attacks of 9/11. Whether you were watching it unfold on television, or listening to it on the radio, you can probably still conjure up the sick feeling you had when it was explained what exactly it was that was happening to our Country. It’s one of those monumental events that changed things for us, forever.

There have been countless documentaries to account for the events of that day but only one from the viewpoint of the children involved and affected by that day.

The Second Day is a touching and inspirational documentary film about the students and educators at Ground Zero area schools who experienced first-hand the tragic events of September 11, 2001 in New York City. Directed by 14-year-old filmmaker Brook Peters, then a member the kindergarten class at P.S. 150 Tribeca Learning Center, the documentary continues to shed emotional light on the manic moments of that fateful September morning via Brook’s interviews with fellow classmates, students, teachers, faculty, firefighters, and counselors.

Brook Peters and his classmates witnessed something that as a parent you will do anything to shelter your kids from. Our hearts and thoughts go out to all of those who were involved. From the first responders to the witnesses and all of those who lost someone they loved or lost their lives on that day.

To see the documentary you can visit the site to rent it and view it online.

 

Excuses, Excuses. What Keeps Your Kids From Getting to Bed on Time?

Posted on by Angie

“I need water, just one more story, one more kiss, one more hug, where’s my lovey?” These are just some of excuses we have to go through each night as we work our way through our bedtime routine. Only to be followed by a round of needing to go potty right after we’ve said good night for the “last” time, seeming to start the hugging, kissing and 50 other excuses all over again.

I don’t know about you but by 8:00pm each night, I’m done. I’m completely worn out, ready to sit on the sofa with my Haggen Dazs, catch up on my book or DVR and just be. But the little monkeys continue to win at this game we call, Night Night.

I used to feel bad for locking them in their rooms at night. I was always telling myself it was for safety reasons (it really was,) but now I’m thinking we were on to something more than we realized. With that barrier, they would play for a while before going to sleep, but that play didn’t require our assistance. It also kept them in their room past 5:45am every morning which is now the time they get up because they are free to roam. Once that door closed each night, the excuses were locked in there too. Now they come downstairs a dozen times most nights to tell us things or ask for something.

Now that they are bigger and potty trained, the excuses are never-ending. Jennifer Waldburger, co-founder of Sleepy Planet, a Los Angeles-based child sleep consultation firm tells WebMD, many parents fall short because they don’t see the bigger picture. The key in establishing a child’s bedtime routine is to delineate between what your child needs and what she wants, she says. “What she needs is some time with you and good sleep. There’s a whole war between a parent’s head and heart that keeps them from doing [the right things].”

Consistency is a huge key in getting kids to bed on time, plus they like that routine. They love knowing that they can always count on a story and a song or two. A piece of advice that I believe in whole-heartedly is that sleep begets sleep. Once they get overtired things will only go down hill. Keep their bedtime as close to the same time each night as possible.

Sometimes they fight sleep because they are social butterflies and afraid they are going to miss something, sometimes because they have a need for control, but whatever the reason, bedtimes can most definitely become a power struggle.

How do you win the battle over bedtime in your house?

For 10 great tips on getting your kids to bed on time you can read the full WebMD article here.

 

aMOMymous: A Letter to Myself

Posted on by Angie

A Letter to Myself
signed, aMOMymous

When your soul starts to bleed, you know you’re in trouble.

Hell, at least I’m feeling something.

And when I say something, I kind of mean a lot. I’m consumed with guilt, inadequacy, anxiety, sleeplessness, loss of libido, gaining of pounds, the admission of other people’s opinions on why I’m doing it wrong, a few emotions that involve hurting myself/my husband/my babies/the cashier at Target…

<gasp>

Yes.  If you could teach a soul to speak, I’m certain mine would break its silence with a sobbing plea for mercy.  I sit in my idle car at a red light and whimper to myself, “Can they hear me screaming inside?”  I mean, do you hear it, too?

Confession:  I used to be in love with myself.  No, seriously – full on vanity, full on lack-of-shame.  Ever since I got my first car I’ve been bending down the rearview mirror so I can take delight in my profile, viewed from just the right angle, in just the right amount of natural light, with just the right mysterious glare gazing back.  I admit it.  Sometimes I look to myself for inspiration.

But here lately I’ve realized that I’m avoiding my reflection.  I’m afraid I won’t be happy with what I see.  I’m afraid I won’t recognize myself.  I’m afraid to see the void and the anger and the desperation staring back at me.

Let me bring you up to speed.  I’m a thirty-something gal who’s deep in the trenches of her second round of post partum.  I haven’t slept in three months.  I haven’t slept soundly in three years.  I’m not sure how long it’s been since I’ve had sex with my husband.  I might be a little bit disgusted by my marriage, my house, the world.  The stretch marks, they sag now, and I can’t pound three margaritas in a row (to make it just all go away) because I’m breastfeeding.  I wear makeup to church, which is once a week.  On the other twenty-six days a month I just avoid the mirror.  I used to be fabulous.  I used to care.

God, help me.  I think my dark cloud is here.

Birmingham Events Calendar: September 4th – September 11th

Posted on by Angie

Labor Day Weekend! We hope you are all having a chance to enjoy a long weekend with family and friends!

If the weather cooperates at all make sure you sneak in a trip to the Birmingham Zoo to meet the new lion cubs, they’ll have special events going on and you’ll have the opportunity to cast your vote on what to name the last one.

We’ve got a LEGO mini build, 10 cent cookie Tuesday at Whole Foods, Family Day at the Birmingham Museum of Art and Artwalk kicks off on Friday!

If you’ve been missing your local storytimes, check your favorite library this week for a new schedule, they should be getting underway again moving into the fall season.

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

Sunday September 4th:

Meet the Royal Family – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo be rolling out the red carpet as you get your first opportunity to view the five African lion cubs on exhibit with their parents.celebration will feature a lion cub naming contest, regal crowns for the children (while supplies last), special Zookeeper talks, photo opportunities of the cubs and face painting. The naming contest is for the 5th lion cub, who weighs in at around 24 lbs. and is the second male in the litter. Come to the Zoo to get to know his personality and submit your favorite name. The chosen name will be announced on Sept. 12th and the winner will receive a Zoo Prize Pack!

    • Face painting – 11am & 2:30pm
    • Zookeeper talks (Lion Exhibit) – 9:30am, 11:30am & 3:30pm

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a drum inspired by African musical instruments with Bart! The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Monday September 5th:

Meet the Royal Family – Birmingham Zoo
The Zoo be rolling out the red carpet as you get your first opportunity to view the five African lion cubs on exhibit with their parents.celebration will feature a lion cub naming contest, regal crowns for the children (while supplies last), special Zookeeper talks, photo opportunities of the cubs and face painting. The naming contest is for the 5th lion cub, who weighs in at around 24 lbs. and is the second male in the litter. Come to the Zoo to get to know his personality and submit your favorite name. The chosen name will be announced on Sept. 12th and the winner will receive a Zoo Prize Pack!

    • Face painting – 11am & 2:30pm
    • Zookeeper talks (Lion Exhibit) – 9:30am, 11:30am & 3:30pm

Labor Day Celebration and Moon Pie Eatin’ Contest – Tannehill
Participate in Alabama’s largest moon pie eating contest and compete for prize money in both children and adult categories. Across the park, the United Mine Workers hold their annual Birmingham District Labor Day celebration. There’s also plenty of good BBQ and some “picking and singing” too.

Day-Use Admission:
$3.00 Adults (12 years and older)
$2.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and older)
$1.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free

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Tuesday September 6th:

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

10 Cent Cookie Tuesday – Whole Foods
Barring any cookie monster attacks we’ll have our silver dollar-size chocolate chip cookies, baked fresh in the Bakery, for just 10 cents each. Buy a whole bushel and freeze them for later!
While Supplies Last

LEGO Mini Build – Riverchase Galleria
LEGO Scarecrow
One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. See store for more details.
5pm until supplies last

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Wednesday September 7th:

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for Rumpelstiltskin, the story in which a beautiful girl is locked in a room and ordered to spin straw into gold for the king. As we enjoy something cool from our Cafe, we will do some arts and crafts and play with NOOK!
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 September 8th:

SNaP Movie and Popcorn – Emmet O’Neal Library
Come watch the next installment of your favorite wimpy kid.  3rd-6th graders. No registration required.
3:30pm

Cocktails in the Gradens – Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Live music, signature cocktails and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Admission is free for members* and $15 for non-members.
5:30pm – 8:30pm

Sunset Cinemas – Railroad Park
Talladega Nights – 7pm
George’s Boxcar Cafe and Jim ‘N Nick’s Barbecue will be selling food and drink during the movies! George’s Boxcar Cafe will have all of your movie favorites, including popcorn, nachos, and candy; PLUS they will be serving cocktails! Jim ‘N Nick’s will be grilling their famous barbecue and will have other delectable Southern treats, including their famous cheese biscuits!

What to bring: a blanket or lawn chair and cash or credit card to so that you can purchase delicious food and beverages from George’s Boxcar Cafe and Jim N Nick’s!

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Friday September 9th:

Birmingham Artwalk –
Arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities.

The event is free to the public and in the last three years has become a much anticipated fall event drawing visitors from all over to downtown Birmingham. For the past two years, more than 10,000 people walked the streets of downtown during the two-day event.

People of all ages can enjoy being downtown at a safe, family-friendly, community event. Friday night has been compared to a huge gallery opening with a street festival atmosphere, while Saturday afternoon caters more to the family crowd with special children’s activities.
5pm – 10pm

Grandparents Day – Ensley Library
Come join us in the amazing activities for children, as we celebrate our Grandparents!
3:00pm

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Saturday September 10th

Birmingham Artwalk –
Arts festival that transforms Birmingham’s loft neighborhood into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 100 visual artists, live musicians, street performers, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities.

The event is free to the public and in the last three years has become a much anticipated fall event drawing visitors from all over to downtown Birmingham. For the past two years, more than 10,000 people walked the streets of downtown during the two-day event.

People of all ages can enjoy being downtown at a safe, family-friendly, community event. Friday night has been compared to a huge gallery opening with a street festival atmosphere, while Saturday afternoon caters more to the family crowd with special children’s activities.
12:00 – 6:00pm

Harvest Day – Birmingham Zoo
Don’t miss our Harvest Day festival in the Children’s Zoo. We will have some old-fashioned fun with music, games, animal demonstrations, and more! We will also have story time, a craft, and learn about the harvest season.

Family Day – Birmingham Museum of Art
Whether it’s modern rock, drumming from ancient lands, or folks just getting jiggy with it, the Museum is filled with artwork celebrating music and dance from around the globe. Discover the energy of movement and sound through visual art. Live music, art activities, and dancing turn an ordinary Saturday into a rockin’ event!

Full schedule:

11am-3pm
Bubble Mania Dance Party
Get Rhythym! Drum Circle
Art activities
Scavenger Hunts
Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos
Refreshments

Noon
Live performance by the Red Mountain Theatre Company

12:30pm and 2pm
Story time with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a drum inspired by African musical instruments with Bart! The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

Saturday Market – Pepper Place
7am – Noon

Saturday Storytime– Barnes and Noble Summit
This story will be just right! Let’s read Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Afterwards, we will sip on something sweet from our Cafe and play with NOOK. Then we will do some arts and crafts.
11am

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Sunday September 11th:

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
Make a drum inspired by African musical instruments with Bart! The Museum now offers a fun and free drop-in art program for kids and families! Visit Bart’s Art Cart in the main lobby to discover 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, then stop by and make art with Bart!
11am

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Eat Well, Play Well Exhibit:
What is in the food we eat? Are fruits and vegetables important? Can everyday activities burn calories? Visitors will find the answers to these questions by exploring nutrition and fitness in this summer’s traveling exhibit called Eat Well, Play Well. This highly-interactive exhibit encourage healthy living by teaching the science of making healthy-food choices and helping children and adults discover that there are many fun and interesting ways to stay active. Visitors will discover what an appropriate serving size looks like, see first hand what it takes to burn off calories, test their flexibility and balance, review the latest clinical research and realize that they can reduce their risk of disease with healthy choices that are within their reach.

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 Wild Ocean.

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.

Moms Rock 2011 VOTING

Posted on by Angie

Vote as often as you like! Voting ends 9/15/11 at Noon CST.

Do it Yourself: Game Day Wreath

Posted on by Angie

Football starts tomorrow, are you ready? We are! Well I am now.

I have a red front door. A very, very red front door, which I love except for when it comes to football season. I’m an Auburn fan and having a red front door is just not acceptable. So I set out to “Auburn it up” a little bit before hosting our kickoff party this weekend. (Don’t worry Bama fans, this is just as easily made into Alabama colors.)

I have recently become a fan on Pinterest and was inspired by all of the homemade wreaths I was seeing on there so I decided to try my hand at whipping one up. I have to say I’m pleased with the result.

What you’ll need:

* Wreath “base” (I found mine for 3.99 at Hobby Lobby) You can always use a styrofoam base and completely cover it in ribbon.
* Ribbon (I had this on hand)
* A fabric or two of your choosing. I bought a quarter yard of 2 different styles in orange and white. I had gracious plenty left over, but having never made rosestte’s before I had no idea what to expect or how much I would mess up.
* Glue gun

What you’ll do:

*Figure out where you want to place your rosettes and wrap a small portion of the wreath in ribbon
* Use this tutorial to make a few rosesttes. It’s actually extremely easy and slightly addicting. (I’m wandering around trying to figure out what else I can add rosestte’s to.)
* Glue your rosettes in place
*Use your remaining ribbon to hang it and tie a bow on top.

That’s it – You’ve got a very cute wreath that represents your team. Cost around $10, depending on the fabric you choose.

 

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