Giveaway: Big Machines Day at McWane

Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 by Angie

Last year this was a huge hit with kids in Birmingham!
Saturday, February 19, 10 AM – 4 PM

Get your motors running and head over to McWane Science Center for a truckload of fun. Spend a constructive day getting up close and personal with some big machines including backhoes, excavators, dump trucks, loaders, dozers and cranes! Learn the science of simple machines and participate in fun building programs throughout the day! Machines provided by CraneWorks.

Our lucky winner will receive a 4 pack of tickets!
Enter here:
1. Comment here, 1 entry total.
2. Love us on Facebook, comment here that you do. 1 entry total.
3. Love McWane on Facebook, comment here that you do. 1 entry total.

Good luck!

Giveaway will end at 3pm on Monday. Tickets will be left for the winner at Will Call on the day of the event.

Birmingham Area Spring Break Camps & Classes

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 by Angie

It might be hard to think about right now with the frigid air that has settled in over our area but Spring Break is fast approaching, what are you going to do with the kiddos while they’re out of school? We have a list of local camps and classes that will be available but they do fill up fast! If you see something you like, don’t wait to reserve your spot!

McWane Science Center:

Spring Break Camps
March 14th – 18th

Camps Include:

1st rate hands on educational programming
½ day or all day options
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks
Lunch (Subway sandwich, Pizza Hut cheese pizza, hot dog or hamburger with chips and a drink)
Before Care for morning sessions 8:00am – 9:00am*
After Care for afternoon sessions 5:00pm – 5:30pm (only for afternoon camps)*

COST:
Full Day
(Morning & Afternoon Sessions):
Members $60, Non-Members $80

Half Day
(Morning OR Afternoon Sessions):
Members $30, Non-Members $40

Reservations:
Reservations Required. CLICK HERE to register online.

Ruffner Mountain Nature Center:

Spring Break Camp
March 14 – 18

Keep your child active and learning during their break from school!

Drop off is between 8 AM – 9 AM. Pick up is between 4 PM – 5:30 PM.

$40/day, $30/day (member) Campers may sign up by the day or week. A 10% discount is given if a week is purchased.
More Information

Birmingham Children’s Theatre:

During the Spring Break Intensive, your child will be immersed in theatre for one-week of learning with BCT’s team of experienced professionals and instructors. With a focus on acting, dancing and puppetry, the Spring Break Intensive provides a well-rounded curriculum and builds upon the skills taught during the Fall Workshops Series. Maximum 16 students per class. No audition required.

Meets: Monday-Friday, March 14-18, 2011, in BCT’s BJCC performance spaces.

Class Level	Age	Meeting Time	Tuition
Little Ones	Current PreK & K	9:30-12:30am	$125
Primary	1st & 2nd Graders	1:30-4:30pm	$125
Ensemble	3rd & 4th Graders	9:30am-4:30pm	$225
Supporting	5th & 6th Graders	9:30am-4:30pm	$225
Principals	7th & 8th Graders	9:30am-4:30pm	$225

Registration Deadline: Monday, March 1, 2011

To Register: Click here to download registration information for BCT’s 2011 Spring Break Intensive. Call 205-458-8182 or e-mail education@bct123.org for detailed information.

Birmingham Zoo:

Spring Break Camps
March 14,15, 16,17 or 18 2011

Each day campers will learn about different animals and topics. There will be fun activities, crafts and tours every day. Campers will meet and see some of the animals close up.

Adaptations & Reptiles – March 14
Habitats, Birds & Australian Animals – March 15
Food Webs & Primates – March 16
Classification and Savanna – March 17
Life Cycles & Predators – March 18

While attending School Break Camps, campers experience:

Train and/or Carousel Ride (as weather permits)
Crafts and Activities
Behind the Scenes Tours
Mid-morning and Mid-afternoon Snacks
Live Animal Demonstrations
Animal Artifacts (Biofacts)

General Information:

Campers should dress for the weather.
Camp occurs rain or shine.
Sports or water bottles are recommended.
If your child has special dietary requirements, he or she may bring his or her own
lunch and snack (refrigeration is available)

Camp is 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Cost: $40.00/student/day for members
$50.00/student/day for non-members

Lunch
Lunch is $6 per camper per camp day and consists of either: hotdog, baked chicken nuggets, turkey wrap, cheese quesadilla, or hamburger lunch with chips and a drink. Campers may also bring their lunch. We have a camp refrigerator if necessary.

Before and After Camp Care
We have heard the call of parents for early and late drop-offs. If you are in need for your child to join us early or to stay with us after camp, please let us know as space is limited. Before care times: 7:30 am to 8:30 am and Aftercare times: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Before and Aftercare charges will occur for campers being dropped off before 8:00 am and picked up after 3:45 pm. A charge of $1 for each minute a camper is not picked up begins at 5:30 pm. All campers must be picked up by 6 pm.

Before Care: 7:30-8:30 am
Members: $1.00
Non-members: $6.00
Aftercare: 3:30-5:30 pm
Members: $8.00
Non-members: $10.00

Have a camp you would like to add to our list? Let us know at: contact@birminghammommy.com

Juicebox Jukebox with Scott Register, Reg's Coffee House

Posted on Monday, February 7, 2011 by Angie

We have a very special treat for our Juicebox Jukebox this month! Scott Register from Reg’s Coffee House has so kindly submitted some songs for us to lull our babies to sleep with… and a few that will tug on the heart strings too.

We missed Scott while he wasn’t on air here in the Magic City but we are so glad to have him back on the airwaves on Birmingham Mountain Radio bringing sweet, sweet music to our ears!

“A couple of years ago, I put together a bed time record for my girlfriend’s niece. I liked it so much that I started using it for my two children and not they won’t go to sleep without it. It has now become a gift that I give friends when they are having children and I thought I would share it with you all.

Sweet Dreams!!!”

The Delays – Wanderlust – Faded Seaside Glamour: This one get’s dream time started off just right every night.

Alexi Murdoch – Orange Sky Time Without Consequence: One of my boy’s favorites. I think it is the refrain of “My salvation lies in your love” and Alexi’s comforting voice that makes it work so well.

Beatles – I’m Only Sleeping– Revolver: Kind of obvious but it never fails. A Beatles classic.

Bonnie Raitt & Don Was – Baby Mine – Stay Awake: I used to use this cover from the movie Dumbo to rock my children when they were cranky or ill as little babies. It’s as sweet and soothing a song as has ever been written and Bonnie Raitt kills with it.

Aqualung – Brighter Than Sunshine – Strange & Beautiful: Feel good song that ushers in sleep.

Donovan Frankenreiter – Wondering Where the Lions Are – Recycled Recipes: This one just fits and my kids love to sing along to it. Great cover of a classic from Bruce Cockburn.

Whiskeytown – Don’t Be Sad – Pneumonia: Ryan Adams and Caitlin Carey send a great message as they sing you to sleep.

Jack Johnson – Talk of the Town – Curious George Soundtrack: Takes you off to a tropical island and whisks your worries away.

Everything but the Girl – Apron Strings – She’s Having A Baby Soundtrack: This one is for all the mom’s out there and their babies. Kids love it.

Loggins & Messina – House at Pooh Corner- The Best: Loggins And Messina Sitting In Again: One of my childhood favorites. Had to share it with my kids.

Iron & Wine – Such Great Heights – Garden State: Another perfect sleepy time tune.

Priscilla Ahn – Dream – A Good Day: The title says it all.

Wild Sweet Orange – Land of No Return – We Have Cause To Be Uneasy: Another one that just seemed to fit the mix and has a calming effect.

Jack Johnson Feat. Matt Costa – Lullaby – Curious George Soundtrack: Again, obvious but a perfect fit.

Ingrid Michaelson – Over the Rainbow – Be OK: Possibly the dreamiest song ever written and Ingrid owns it on this version. The perfect way to say Good Night and end this mix.

Birmingham Mountain Radio is an internet based radio station featuring a world class rock/adult album alternative format that focuses on local content through local DJ’s, specialty shows, promotions, and through highlighting local and regional bands.

BigBham Deal: Mountain Brook or Edgewood Creamery

Posted on Monday, February 7, 2011 by Angie

Pay $5 for $10 Towards Any Ice Cream Cone, Cake or More at the Mountain Brook or Edgewood Creamery.
Click Here to Purchase

Mountain Brook Creamery & Edgewood Creamery can make your everyday with a tasty ice cream cone! They can also boost your Valentine’s or next Birthday party with a tasty cake to remember! Today’s deal gives you $5 towards $10 worth of an ice cream cake or just a scrumptious ice cream cone! Do not forget to check out their amazing Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Cakes!

Walking into our parlors will immediately make you smile! You will be confronted with THE BEST Ice Cream, handmade ice-cream cakes, and homemade waffle cones & cups around… not to mention their ice-cream pies and clown cones! Both stores provide 40 flavors of premium “Ice Cream Club” Ice Cream and “Only 8” Frozen Yogurt. “Only 8” yogurt has only 8 calories per ounce, no fat, no cholesterol, is all-natural and has a great taste that won’t go to your waist (with only 7 grams of sugar and 7 grams of carbohydrates)!… (Read More)

Mountain Brook Creamery has been a neighborhood fixture for 3 generations while Edgewood Creamery is about to celebrate its 3rd birthday as one of Homewood’s favorite sweet spots. It’s a great family experience from the time you walk in the door and smell the waffle cones cooking to the time you catch your children bouncing off the walls with Superman ice cream from head to toe!

Busy Mommy Bonding: Black History Month

Posted on Monday, February 7, 2011 by Angie

This is a fun and yummy activity that can open a dialogue to discuss why we celebrate black history month. It’s also one of the easiest activities of all time!!

You’ll need:
Graham crackers, or any crackers you like
Peanut butter (substitute any spreadable)
Plain M&M’s (green, yellow, red)

It’s so easy, I’m not sure how to detail it! Spread some peanut butter on the crackers, then put a green, yellow, and red M&M in the correct order. You can discuss colors of the M&M’s, red means stop, green means go, and then get in to the history of the traffic light. Discuss the inventor, Garrett Morgan, and how he was an important part of our history. Make sure the kids know that he was an African American man, and tell them about some of the struggles he had because he wasn’t treated equally.

Garret Morgan — Garrett Morgan, 1877-1963

The background story: The son of former slaves, Garrett Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky on March 4, 1877. He spent his early childhood working on the family farm with his brothers and sisters. When he was a teenager, he left Kentucky and moved north to Ohio in search of opportunity. He invented several amazing things, but in 1923 he invented the traffic light. Morgan witnessed a traffic accident when an automobile collided with a horse and carriage. He set out to invent a safer way to handle traffic, saving so many lives!

Birmingham Events Calendar: February 6th – February 13th

Posted on Sunday, February 6, 2011 by Angie

It’s Super Bowl Sunday! Packers, Steelers or Commercials? We’re sure many of you will be busy tonight with parties but we’ve got you covered for the rest of the week. 123 Play with me is back at Avondale Library and the O’Reilly World of Wheels will be rolling through town this weekend. The first 200 kids through the door each day get a free hot wheels, so if you’re going, go early!

Don’t forget that you can still make a Valentines for Children’s hospital, find out where to go on our list of local libraries that are participating. Stay warm and have a wonderful week!

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

Sunday February 6th:

Celebrate the Chinese New Year– Birmingham Museum of Art
Celebrate the Chinese New Year by creating a unique piece of Chinese art!
1:00pm – 3:00pm

Scholastic Chess Club at Books-A-Million Brookwood Village
In our upstairs Kids Nook. Beginners are welcome, lessons
available, K-12, other mind sport activities are available such as
checkers and GO. Free to attend!
2PM – 5PM

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Monday January 7th:

Storytime – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Nature inspires creativity in children by engaging a full range of the senses. During Story Time we will stimulate the imagination by reading themed books about nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors. After the story, we make a craft that reflects the theme of the day. This program encourages a child’s limitless imagination. We will gather in the Tree Top Visitor Center’s Activity Hall for this Story Time adventure.

•$3/ $2 (member) •All children must be accompanied by an adult. •Suited for pre-school age. •Drop-ins welcome.
10am

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Tuesday February 8th:

MOPS Meeting –
“Controlling Emotions” topic at the Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS) for
Expecting Mothers thru to Mothers with preschoolers at 6:30-8:30 pm at Riverchase
Community Church. RSVP child care with Lynn 664-4531.
http://riverchase.cc/mops.php

Together Time – Emmet O’Neal Library
Action-packed storytime The Letter “R”
All ages. 9:30 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.

Family Night – Emmet O’Neal Library
Fun with drummer Mark Seymour
All Ages
Dinner 5:30pm – Show 6:00pm

Storytime – Homewood Library
Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome.
10:30am

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Wednesday February 9th:

123 Play With Me – Avondale Library
Avondale is providing a special time and place for you to come to the library and spend one-on-one time playing with your child. We will have toys, books, and art activities just for you and your child. A special guest will join us each week to answer some of your parenting questions. Don’t delay, call and register you and your child today.
10am

Wonderful Wednesday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Love is in the air today as we read Henry In Love by Peter McCarty. This delightfully illustrated book tells the story of Henry, a quiet cat and Chloe, an outspoken rabbit and the blueberry muffin that brings them together.
11:oo am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

Storytime – Homewood Library
Join us for the fun of it! All ages welcome.
10:30am

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Thursday February 10th:

SNAP – Emmet O’Neal Library
Alice in Wonderland
Grades 3 -6
3:30pm – 5:10pm

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Friday February 11th:

Storytime with Nene – Whole Foods Market
In the Cafe. Snacks, Songs and Storyboards
10:00am

O’Reilly World of Wheels – BJCC
Hey Kids! Come and meet SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob will be meeting his fans and taking Souvenir Photos. All weekend.
(Due to the nature of the costume, Sponge Bob must take frequent short breaks)

The First 200 kids through the door EACH DAY receive a FREE Hot Wheels Race your car for FREE on the Hot Wheels Drag Track sponsored by the Alabama Hot Wheels Club. ALL WEEKEND!

Don’t miss the most exciting Extreme Bike team around, “On the Edge” Bike Stunt Team -an annual favorite. “On the Edge” will perform their thrilling bicycle and motorcycle stunts all weekend.
Meet Nathan Kress who plays Freddie on the hit Nickelodeon show iCarly. Nathan will be at the show meeting fans and signing autographs Saturday Only from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Show Time – 15pm – 10pm – Buy Tickets

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Saturday February 12th:

Valentines with the Animals – Birmingham Zoo
Make a valentine for your favorite animal at the Zoo. Come to the ZooEd Classroom between 1pm and 4pm to create a valentine that will be displayed by the keepers in the animal areas. This activity is inlucded in the price of admission so come celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Zoo!

Fancy Nancy’s Butterfly Ball – Hoover Library
Put on your butterfly wings and practice your bonjours for a morning of butterfly crafts and games. Call 444-7833 to register until Feb. 11.
10:30am

O’Reilly World of Wheels
Hey Kids! Come and meet SpongeBob SquarePants SpongeBob will be meeting his fans and taking Souvenir Photos. All weekend.
(Due to the nature of the costume, Sponge Bob must take frequent short breaks)

The First 200 kids through the door EACH DAY receive a FREE Hot Wheels Race your car for FREE on the Hot Wheels Drag Track sponsored by the Alabama Hot Wheels Club. ALL WEEKEND!

Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic
Music Box – This kit makes a great Valentine’s Day gift and is even more fun to build! Lift the heart-shaped lid and the music plays!
10am

Celebrate the Chinese New Year – Birmingham Museum of Art
Celebrate the Chinese New Year by creating a unique piece of Chinese art!
11:00am – 1:00pm

Super Saturday Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Please come out and join us for a reading of Ruby Valentine Saves the Day by Laurie Friedman. Find out if Ruby can save Valentine’s Day when an epic snowstorm threatens to ruin it. We’ll have valentines to make and good things to eat.
11:00am

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Sunday February 13th:

Little Naturalists Series – Ruffner Mountain Nature Center
Do you have fond memories of playing in the woods and want to share that wonder with your children? Or, if you missed out on nature experiences when you were young, now is your chance to experience the joy. Ruffner Mountain Nature Center provides a safe haven for youthful exploration for kids and adults alike. Each month, we will focus on a different topic, sparking interest and inspiring curiosity. Bring your budding naturalist to the mountain and let’s explore!
•$3/ $2 (member) •All children must be accompanied by an adult. •Suited for K – 2nd grade. •Drop-ins welcome.
2pm

The First 200 kids through the door EACH DAY receive a FREE Hot Wheels Race your car for FREE on the Hot Wheels Drag Track sponsored by the Alabama Hot Wheels Club. ALL WEEKEND!

Celebrate the Chinese New Year– Birmingham Museum of Art
Celebrate the Chinese New Year by creating a unique piece of Chinese art!
1:00pm – 3:00pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

Itty Bitty Magic City –
The mini-sized Magic City – complete with buildings and factories – encourages young learners to explore new skills as they join the cities’ workforce. By dressing up in a favorite career costume and becoming a steel worker, doctor, pilot scientist or train conductor, preschoolers take one small step into the world around them. While operating cranes, turning gears, pulling pulleys, and building structures – to name just a few of the hands-on activities – children expand their understanding of themselves as they experience how objects behave and how their own actions affect the objects around them. Little explorers are free to navigate this active learning area at their own pace, allowing creativity, fun and discovery to flourish in the Itty Bitty Magic City!

NatureScope – Explore the great outdoors from inside the museum. McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Audubon Society are partnering to create a new exhibit called NatureScope. Explore the science of the birds and the bugs in this new area! Get up close and personal with some resident creepy crawlies! Learn what role insects play in our ecosystem with the decomposition chamber. Meet large bugs including emperor scorpions, a tarantula, and even a giant African millipede!

Animalopolis at the IMAX – ANIMALOPOLIS will take you on a voyage into the magical world of animals. A bit fanciful, a bit “Seussian” perhaps, a place of good natured humor, beauty and just plain fun for kids and their parents.

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!

Behind the Scenes at Children's Hospital

Posted on Friday, February 4, 2011 by Angie

A few months back we had the incredible and rare opportunity to take a “behind the scenes” tour of Children’s Hospital.

In an effort to reach out to the community, Children’s Hospital invited BirminghamMommy.com along with several other local bloggers and media sources to get a first hand look at what goes on behind the scenes in the 10th busiest pediatric medical center in the United States. Our Children’s hospital, founded in 1911 with just 12 beds, is now one of only approximately 45 freestanding acute care hospitals of its kind in the nation and the only hospital in Alabama that is dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children.

We were so pleased to see some of the exciting things going on. The construction is obvious, the building is getting bigger and improving in so many ways. One of the ways that we were shown was private NICU rooms. Instead of having one large NICU with all of the babies in it, Children’s is listening to the requests of the population they serve and providing a private room for each baby complete with isolette, a twin bed, and seating. That is a huge deal to any parents who have ever had a baby in the NICU!

We also had the chance to fly in the helicopter (EEEK! It was amazing!) and learn more about how Children’s serves not only our area, but our region. It is truly touching to hear stories about how people pull together to provide children quality care. One thing we learned is that when a child is flown, the parent doesn’t get to fly with them. The flight staff not only safely transports the sick child, but also provides a loving and caring environment for any fearful fliers.

We drive by the building all the time. We may have even had an experience with our children in the hospital. It’s only when we stand back and take it all in that we really realize what a hard job it is to work at Children’s. Rewarding? Of course. Emotionally draining? You bet. We’d like to thank the entire staff of Children’s for letting us learn more, and for the reminder of the hard work happening right here in Birmingham for children of Alabama.

100 Days of School = 100 Days of Artwork. Where are you stashing it?

Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2011 by Angie

It seems like this is a never ending question for Moms and we’ve touched on it in the past. We had the chance to film a segment with NBC 13 and show Moms at home what we are doing to organize our artwork.. YES! I actually allowed the cameras into the upstairs of my home to film this… What was I thinking?

We are about half way through the school year and we’ve got art piling up, here are some ways to organize and display what your little Picasso brings home.

1. Put it on a canvas. We talked about this a while back and got some really positive feedback. It’s another great way to display your child’s artwork in a cool way! Take a blank canvas and some mod podge and you have some great wall art for a playroom or child’s room.

2. Hang it on a line: When walking into our playroom we have a long piece of twine on the wall displaying some of the larger pieces of art work my daughter as brought home. We painted some clothes pins as an added art project and we can rotate those pieces out as new ones come home.

3. Frame it: Every now and then your child is going to bring home a piece of art that is just downright frame-able. Don’t let it get buried, pick up an inexpensive frame and hang it up!

4. Box it: Each of my girls have a large flat-ish storage bin that slides under their bed. I use it for artwork and special papers, or cards that they collect from family throughout the year.

Pizza boxes (unused, clean and free of melted cheese) also make a great under the bed storage option. Let the kids help decorate it with stickers, then label it with their name and the year.

5. Picture it: Before tossing that artwork out, lay it out and take a picture of it. Photos will take up a lot less space in the long run.

6. Hide It: Use a Shadow box to both Display and Hide artwork. The beauty of these frames is that you can always display the current work of art. When a new piece comes home, simply move the old piece into the frame.

7. Brighten a Day with it: If you have family or close friends that live out of town, let your child pick a couple of pieces and mail it.. It will be new to the Grandparents or Aunts and they will cherish it! Another idea to brighten someones day is to take it to a local nursing home or retirement community. They will certainly love to make space on a bulletin board for a special masterpiece!

How do you organize and display your child’s art?

Groundhog Day at the Birmingham Zoo

Posted on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 by Angie

Head on out to the Birmingham Zoo and find out what we all want to know… Is spring coming or are we going to be faced with 6 more weeks of winter?

Birmingham Bill will make his prediciton of a longer winter or spring’s soon arrival. This event will take place on the Wildlife Stage. Afterwards, enjoy a 20 minute wildlife show featuring native Alabama animals and opportunities to have photographs with Bill the groundhog.

Let’s cross our fingers that this past weekends weather was a sign of things to come… Sooner rather than later!

10:00am Wednesday, February 2nd

Mommy Voices: We Sow What We Grow

Posted on Monday, January 31, 2011 by Angie

By Erin Hicks Moon

You’d have to be living under a rock to not be aware of the epidemic of bullying in this country. Specifically, gay-bullying. The country is trying to decide whether or not a man and another man is an acceptable example of marriage. The government has repealed the ban on gays in the military. And a couple of months ago, four students took their own lives in the wake of being bullied because they were gay.

Forget your personal feelings on the issue of homosexuality. If you’re a person with a rational mind and a heart of compassion, you understand that the fact that kids killed themselves because they felt alone, abandoned, and bullied is, emphatically, wrong. And if you’re a parent, you can feel the loss, deep and dull in the pit of your stomach.

If we aren’t talking to our children about this issue, we’re missing a huge opportunity to teach compassion and true kindness. Bullying is something that all kids deal with on a regular basis: they are either the victim, they are a spectator, or, as much as we hate to admit it, they are the perpetrator. Our children are not always the hero of this story.

But we can change that.

But as parents, what can be done to stop gay-bullying? We are the primary influence over our children, whether we believe it or not. What we say, what we do, how we act, both in public and in private, is crucial to passing on a legacy of love to all people, no matter who they are. How can we empower our children to change their classmates (and in some cases, their own attitude about others? Being the Anti-Bully takes guts. It takes courage.

It starts with us. Here are a few ways you can start the bullying conversation with your kids, and show them that respect is always better.

Open Your Door – Although it is sometimes like pulling teeth to get your kids to talk to you, once they start, it’s hard to get them to stop. Make a pact with your kids about confidential or hard-to-talk-about issues. If you’ve got an “I Promise I Will Not Freak Out” policy with your kids, they’ll be more and more inclined to talk to YOU about things, instead of friends that may not have the best advice. Let them know that you are there for them, ready to hash out the hard stuff. And don’t be afraid of what your kids say. They are watching your reaction like a hawk, waiting for any excuse to take this problem elsewhere.

Empower Your Kids – So many kids today suffer from helicopter parenting. They have no idea how to do things themselves, because adults do everything for them. Let them know that THEY are capable of making a change in their classmates. Encourage them. Kids that do things for themselves and are independent have the self-confidence to stand up to injustices, even when it’s scary or unpopular. It’s embedded in their souls and a part of their character for the rest of their lives.

Take a Look at Yourself – Think about the jokes you made and the ways you try to make kids laugh. Does it demean someone else? If it does, you’re adding to the problem by making a joke out of someone’s skin color, for being gay, or any other number of things. Sure, pretending like you’ve got a limp hand and an effeminate voice is an easy laugh for your kids, but at what cost? You’re an example, and when your kid is in the locker room with his buddies, making fun of a peer, the thought will cross his mind, “Well, my dad did it, so it can’t be that bad.” It seems like something small, but it can add up to something big. Be mindful of making your kids laugh without teaching or demonstrating disrespect towards others.

Parents have the ability to eradicate the gay-bullying epidemic. It takes patience, it takes discipline, and it can sometimes be uncomfortable. But every child deserves to be respected, no matter who they are.

Don’t you think it’s time we show them how to do it?