How to Survive Bad Weather with Kids in the Lehigh Valley!

That's right, another snow storm. If you are anything like me, after multiple snow and ice storms, winter has now lost its appeal.  

Snow flakes hitting my face, once a blissful moment, now tends to turn my stomach. And the idea of being cooped up in the house, with the kids, can be trying.

But as we all know, being a Mom or Dad is a 24-hour job, even if the weather isn't cooperating. With that in mind, here is a list of fun things to do with your kids when Mother Nature has other plans.

Bake cookies!
A perfect way to warm up the home and make it smell yummy too! A special trip to the grocery store isn't always necessary. Many times I can find recipes based on the food items I all ready have at home. We have lots of fun recipes on our Pinterest page.

Get out those board games.

Remember those good 'ol games that are piled in your basement or hall closet? Some oldies but goodies?  Connect Four, Clue, Monopoly (love it) just to name a few.

Clean out those closets.
I have clothing that my daughter has outgrown piling up in my laundry room. A snowy day is a perfect time to gather up all outgrown or unwanted clothing and be a Consignor. A Consignor is a participant who sells new and gently-used items at local, seasonal sales events. There are many consignment opportunities coming up in the near future. The Kids Closet Sale is March 13, The Kid's Clothesline is April 4-6. The Clothing Tree is April 11-13, and Just Between Friends is April 12-13. Most events are looking for Consignors NOW.

Teach your children how to take photos.
Being stuck inside is a perfect opportunity to show your kids how to use a camera. I could spend hours looking out the window at the snowy landscape and capturing photos of it. Our friends at Dan's Camera City have great tips on their website for taking fun winter photos. A great way for kids to see things that they might not notice otherwise.

Get messy, try paper mache.
That's right, I said it. GET MESSY! Put an old table cloth on your kitchen table and let the kids go wild. Check out our Pinterest page for some fun ideas! Paper mache is super easy to make - Mix 1/2 cup of flour with 3/4 cup of water, old newspaper cut into strips - add 1/4 tbsp of salt to prevent mold and to make extra sturdy and 2 tbsp of white glue. Let it dry and then GET OUT THE PAINT! This is twofold messy fun and you will be the coolest Mom or Dad on the block! You can thank me later.  :)

Go sledding.
OK, so this is obvious. But sometimes you have to point out the most common things to those who need ideas. Sled for a little while and then make hot chocolate. This is a MUST DO in my house.

Make an Emergency Preparedness Kit.
Being prepared is a great thing. Ready.gov lists items that are commonly found in your home that could be set aside for an emergency; flashlights, batteries, water, etc. With the amount of homes losing power in a storm, this could help you and your family should the need arise. It is also a great opportunity to teach your kids the importance of being prepared.

Have a Snow Day Scavenger Hunt.
Our friends at Paper Bag Child have a list of items needed by local, Lehigh Valley charities. Check out the list and then do a family scavenger hunt in your house. You might just find a gently-used item, that you no longer use, that could help someone else in need.

So, I hope the above list helps you get through yet another snow day. Whatever you decide to do, do it together with your kids. You might just make a memory or two that will last a lifetime. 

Have fun!

Lehigh Valley Family Fun is a website resource for families of the Lehigh Valley! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.

Places in the Lehigh Valley for Fall Family Portraits

Fall in the Lehigh Valley is gorgeous! (Though, as I am writing this it's about 84 degrees outside.) With the natural beauty all around us, fall makes for a great time of year for family photos and capturing special moments.

GREAT PLACES FOR FALL PHOTOS

Fall in the Lehigh Valley 2013, Jordan Creek (c) Smedstad

Here are few places around the Lehigh Valley that make for great photo backdrops.

1. Lehigh University: With the big trees and beautiful, old buildings, the university is a great place for candid and posed portraits. 
2. Jordan Creek: Upon exiting the Lehigh Valley Zoo, you can forge the Jordan. This area is filled with fall foliage, a picturesque bridge and the water. 
3. Ontelaunee Park: If you haven't traveled this far north on 309, it's worth it. I think this park would be a great place for outdoor shots. 
4. Hawk Mountain: What could be more amazing than a family shot with all of fall's splendor behind you. The view and your photos would be amazing! 
5. Strawberry Acres: A friend of mine had family photos taken here and they were so cute (and there was no charge to for them to do so).
6. Bridges: How about near one of the Lehigh Valley's covered bridges? That could make for a beautiful photo with a local-feel. 

TIPS FOR TAKING FAB FALL FAMILY PHOTOS

I've seen local photographers charge from $75 - $200 for 1.5 - 2 hour photo sessions. If you can do this, I would recommend it. Ask the photographer to take a mix of posed and candid shots. Often it's the candids that make for the best pictures.

1. Coordinate: I love when families take photos in outfits that coordinate, yet aren't too matchy. Creams, browns and oranges. Jeans, boots and sweaters. Fall is usually a season filled with comfy,  warm and stylish clothes. 
2. Be natural: Just be yourselves ... let the kids play ... hug, kiss and be together. Ask the photographer to capture those real family moments. 
3. Time it right: The natural light of early morning or late afternoon is often fantastic for photos. Avoid the outdoors when the sun is highest in the sky ... it'll make for unwanted shadows. I recommend morning, while the kids are "fresh" or after nap time. 

When deciding whether to use a photographer, ask about how they deliver the final proofs. My favorite way to receive photos is on a CD, that way I receive all of the files and can upload (and order) from Shutterfly. Ask about getting exclusive rights to use the photos for personal use.

What other tips or advice do you have about fall photos? Are you planning a family portrait day in preparation for the upcoming holiday season? 

Call for Nominations: The Best Fall Places in the Lehigh Valley

Can you smell it? Fall is in the air in the Lehigh Valley! And, with a change in seasons comes a whole new host of family fun. We're fortunate to live in a region filled with great fall ideas and we want to hear which fall-themed venues are your favorites.

CALL FOR LVFF FALL FUN NOMINATIONS

This year, Lehigh Valley Family Fun wants to officially recognize the best fall places and we need your help to do so. We're now accepting nominations for the "Best of Fall" in these three categories:

1. Apple Pickin' -- What is your favorite place in the Valley to pick apples?
2. Pumpkin Patch -- Which local patch is your family's favorite?
3. Corn Maze -- Which maze is simply a-maze-ing?

GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATIONS

The guidelines are easy: the places that you nominate have to fit into one of our three categories and be located within the Lehigh Valley. You can nominate a location by commenting on this post, via the LVFF Facebook page or sending a tweet on Twitter to @LVFamilyfunn.

WHEN WILL THE WINNERS BE ANNOUNCED?

LVFF will accept nominations now through September 20. That's when the fun begins! You'll have a chance to vote amongst our top nominees between September 21 and October 5. Winners of the very first Lehigh Valley Family Fun's Best of Fall will be announced the second week of October.

We hope you have fun with this contest, share it with friends and encourage others to vote, too. Follow the fun on Facebook and stayed tuned for the announcement of this year's Best of Fall winners.

Who will you nominate? Copy this "template" and paste it below in the comments section, then add your official nominations. 

My Nominations Are ...
Apple: 
Pumpkin:
Corn:



OFFICIAL RULES

Contest is open to fall-themed places and venues located within the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Venues or events located outside of the specified region are not eligible. Relatives of LVFF bloggers are not eligible to win.

Contest voting will begin at 8 a.m. on September 21 and end at 10 p.m. ET on October 5. Votes will be verified by LVFF. Winners in each of the three categories will be notified the second week of October and winners will be announced the second week of October. LVFF has not received any payment or gifts in support of this promotion.

What is the Lehigh Valley's largest lake?

Do you know what the Lehigh Valley's largest lake is? Have you ever heard of Leaser Lake? Neither had we, until we spent a fantastic afternoon there. Located in the northwest section of the Valley, Leaser Lake is a great place for a quiet canoe ride, family picnic or catching minnows with the kids.

Paddling on Leaser Lake

A couple of weeks ago, I had seen a sign near New Smithville that mentioned paddle boats and Leaser Lake. So, when we were trying to find something to do with the kids over the 4th of July holiday, we decided to Google it and find out more.

Several years ago, Leaser Lake was drained so the dam could be repaired. Earlier this year, the lake reopened for the first time in three years for trout season. This is also the first season for Leaser Lake Boats, Bikes & Bait (LLBBB), which provide rentals seven days a week to outdoor adventurers.

WHAT'S NEW AT LEASER LAKE?

LLBBB is located at 8912 Levans Road in Kempton just behind Wanamakers General Store (which if you haven't done so already, be sure to stop in. Their sandwiches are delish!). You'll want to first visit LLBBB to pick out your rental and then head to the lake.

Rental options include kayaks (single or tandem), paddle boards, canoes, row boats, fishing rods and bikes. Prices range from $5-$10 per hour for bikes and $20-25 per hour for boats. My husband and I rented a canoe and purchased lunches from Wanamakers, and spent quality time with our girls ... all for less than $50!

Coming later this summer via LLBBB ... yoga on paddle boards while on the lake! That sounds both awesome and slightly dangerous at the same time. 

WHAT TO BRING TO LEASER LAKE

I'd recommend bringing a blanket and/or chairs to sit on if you plan to picnic; there are a few picnic tables, but we find it easier for our kids to have a place to sit on the ground, too. Water shoes, hats and sunglasses, and sunblock are a definite. It can be hot out on the boat with the sun reflecting off the water.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

There is no swimming at Leaser Lake and there's not much of a beach. It's simply a quiet place, away from all the hubbub of the busy community pools and more commercial lakes, where you can enjoy nature's beauty.

Connect with Leaser Lake Boats, Bikes & Bait on Facebook or visit their website for more information. Interested in learning more about Leaser Lake's history? Check out the Heritage Foundation site.

Discover the Magic of the New Crayola Experience in Easton!

Color, color everywhere ... The Crayola Experience (formerly known as the Crayola Factory) is still located at 30 Centre Square in Easton, but that's about the only thing that's the same. The renovated building offers a new layout, new activities and a nice, new cafe. Whether or not you've been there before, it's definitely worth a day trip!

FOUR FLOORS OF COLOR & MAGIC

On the first floor, you'll find ticketing and a huge, new store (some of you may remember the old store was connected to the Factory; the new store is where the former eating-meeting space used to be). From there, take the stairs or elevator to the second floor.

iPads are a great new activity!

The Art Alive room features tables of iPads for kids and parents alike, and today's theme was underwater. Once we finished drawing our octopus and sea turtles, something magical happened! The drawings leaped to an animated wall with all of the other sea creatures.  I could have spent a full hour just in this room. It was a fantastic blend of art and technology.

Also on the second floor is the Crayola movie room which shows the audience how a crayon is "born." The show happens every hour on the half hour, and is much more clever, interactive and upbeat than before. My daughter and her friend sat through the entire show ... captivated by the presenter and her two, colorful sidekicks. 

Waterworks & crayon boats

Floor three features a two-story playground, sidewalk chalk, activity centers, Doodle in the Dark (my favorite room!) and water works. From the playground area, take the stairs to the fourth floor to experience a real Meltdown.

The Meltdown floor doesn't mean it's a floor filled with crying kids. It's an entire space dedicated to melting crayons and turning the wax into a new art form.

 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

If you have any old Crayola Factory tokens lying around, they will not work in the new machines. However, you can exchange them at the ticketing desk for new Crayola Experience tokens. These can be used to get markers, make your own crayons, and snag some model magic in a larger array of colors.

The Crayola Cafe is located where the McDonald's used to be. It's bigger, cleaner and offers a decent lunch selection, including pizza, hoagies, Naked brand juices, hummus, fruit and colorful cupcakes. 

I would recommend bringing a water bottle for the kids; there is a lot of climbing and dancing going on! Also, it's very busy. If you can get to the Experience on a weekday, just as it opens, you may have a better chance of avoiding large crowds. Here is more information on planning your visit to the Crayola Experience.  

FUN FACTS ABOUT CRAYONS

• Crayola crayons have been around for 110 years! The first crayons were made in 1903. 
• There are more than 200 different crayon colors, but only 13 label colors.
• The label machine can label 180 crayons per minute.

DISCOVER THE CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE

All in all, each of the four unique floors is dedicated to bringing out your child's imagination. Give yourself plenty time to enjoy each of the activities. This is one place you won't want to rush through.

Watch this YouTube video and see for yourself what makes the Crayola Experience a truly wonderful experience for kids of all ages.

We are off to Girl Scout Camp: Part Two

This post is a continuation from yesterday - We are off to Girl Scout Camp:  Part One

Monday...
The morning started off well.  The girls got up but were a bit anxious at what they would encounter on their first day of camp.  
Since I had not been to Camp Mountain House before, I had to depend on GPS to get there.  I knew it was some place off of Route 78.  But this is a camp, surely it will be way off the beaten path somewhere, right?  

We head down Route 78 to the Summit Lawn Exit.  We come off the exit ramp and within minutes we are turning onto a stone driveway for Camp Mountain House.  I am amazed by all of the trees and nature!  It is hard to believe we are only a few minutes from the interstate!  

Camp Counselors & My Girls

We continue down the driveway and we are directed to an area where campers are being dropped off.  We meet two counselors who help the girls out of the car and begin the check-in process.  Within minutes, the girls are singing songs and playing games with a bunch of other campers.

Camp started at 9 a.m. and I was all ready heading back out to Route 78 by 9:03 a.m.  WOW!  Their check-in & drop-off process is extremely easy and very well organized!  

What a wonderful way to begin a week of camp!  

For more information about Camp Mountain House or any of the camps in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania's Camp Experience, visit their website. 

If you are interested in sending your daughter to Girl Scout Camp this summer, I have an AWESOME coupon to pass on to you!  Go to this link and use the promo code SUMMER for 30% off summer camp!

Fun-filled Educational Experience at the Museum of Indian Culture

Museum of Indian Culture

We recently visited this hidden treasure to tour the museum and meet some of the program instructors.  It’s in an extremely convenient location just down the road from Lehigh Valley Hospital on Fish Hatchery Road, but the property itself is quite scenic and beautiful. There is also convenient off-street parking right next to the museum.  The museum employees were kind enough to come in prior to the actual opening time of the museum to accommodate my schedule, but it is typically open from noon-4PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  However, they are also available for appointments during the week. The building itself was beautiful and interesting, and within the museum they had pictures and information about the origins of the building.  

Though my children were a little young to fully enjoy touring the museum, I found the information fascinating and believe that elementary aged or older children (as well as adults, of course) would greatly enjoy a tour.  There were two different rooms containing artifacts, replicas, and other pieces of interest.  One of the best parts, kids are allowed (and encouraged) to touch several items.  

There were instruments and tools, animal pelts, and even weapons available to be held.  My kids really enjoyed feeling the animal fur and discussing which type of animal they were touching!  In addition, a plethora of arrowheads, handmade dolls, moccasins, quilts, and much more is on display.  The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly! They also had a small library containing an array of books and videos about Native American culture and a gift shop where patrons could purchase dream catchers or other souvenirs from their time at the museum.  

In addition to providing tours, the museum has many programs available for groups.  They provide programs for children preschool aged through college age.  These programs are $7 per child.  We met with Barry, who is responsible for the programming for younger children.  He explained that the program for young children includes storytelling and a craft, while programs for older kids include learning about the lifestyles of the early Native Americans and specifics about the tribes that lived in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  They even take children outside to get to throw an "atlatl", a large dart-like weapon.  I assure you, it seemed incredibly safe and is well supervised to ensure safety!!  Program directors at the museum will even travel to an alternate location to present one of their programs. 


All in all, we enjoyed our visit, and I would definitely consider taking a group to the Museum of Indian Culture to experience one of their programs!

July Events for the Kids at Wegmans!

Just in case you didn't love Wegmans enough already ... here are six more reasons! Throughout the month of July, Wegmans, located at 3900 Tilghman Street in Allentown, will host events for the kids. Some are free, others cost
a small fee.

Photo from the Morning Call, mcall.com

 FUN EVENTS FOR THE KIDS AT WEGMANS

July 13
Story & Craft Hour
10 - 11 am
Free event

July 19
Story & Craft Hour
10 - 11 am
Free event

July 20
Breakfast with Sully from Monsters University!
9 am - 12 pm
Breakfast Bar available until 11:30 am @ $8.99 / lb

July 21
Breakfast with Sully from Monsters University!
9 am - 12 pm
Breakfast Bar available until 11:30 am @ $8.99 / lb 

July 27
Story & Craft Hour
10 - 11 am
Free event

July 28
Cooking with Kids, Make your own ice cream
3 - 4 pm
$5 / child, purchase tickets at the Service desk

Maybe we'll see you there! If you have any questions about these events you can visit or call the Customer Service desk, (610) 336-7900.

A Whole Lotta Fun for a Really Good Cause!

Male or female, young or old, there’s something for everyone at the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley’s annual Trucks & More event.  My family certainly had a great time!  I admit, my son is a truck fanatic, so we knew we’d have fun.  But my daughter also loved

seeing, sitting in, and honking the horns of all of the cool vehicles at this event!  Trucks & More is an annual fundraising event for the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley.  At this event there are fire trucks, ambulances, dump trucks, tractor trailers, bulldozers, and so much more!  This year, the MedEvac helicopter was even there, and kids were allowed to climb in it!  There was also a K-9 police officer who did a presentation about his dog.  As soon as we arrived at Allentown Fairgrounds, my son spotted the Air Products tanker truck and began yelling “a tanker truck, a tanker truck. Look, a tanker truck!”  And that was just the beginning!

At a cost of just $5 per person, this amazing event was quite a bargain! The smile on my son’s face as he got to climb into a dump truck and honk the horn is a memory I won’t soon forget.  My daughter giggled like, well… like the little girl she is when she saw the remote control ambulance brought by Cetronia Ambulance Corps.  We walked around to all of the different vehicles and meeting the men and women who drive these vehicles.  It was fascinating for my husband and me to see the fire truck ladder 70+ feet in the air and talk to one of the firefighters who climbs that ladder when necessary.  We got to talk to and learn about a high-tech trailer that Lehigh Valley Health Network has that enables them to communicate with multiple emergency organizations at once.  We even got to learn a little bit about how some K-9 police dogs are trained.  Each child also got fitted for and given a free bicycle helmet after being educated about the dangers of head injuries.  And of course, no event would be complete without a little treat as well.  There was a truck there selling cupcakes that the kids loved!  It was truly a fun and educational morning for all of us, and my son hasn’t stopped talking about it!  The bonus is that it is also for a good cause!

The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit group that trains volunteers and works toward bettering the community, and educating and helping women in the area.  This amazing organization has donated approximately a million dollars to various Lehigh Valley charities, grants and projects over the past ten years!  Trucks & More is just one of its annual fundraisers.  Each Spring, the Junior League also hosts an American Girl Fashion show showcasing historical and current fashions for women.  This event was held in March of this year, but watch for it for next year!  They also hosted a Bunco Bash this spring to help with fundraising for their many generous programs.  Though these 3 big events have taken place already for 2013, they are annual events and will be sure to be a hit again next spring!

The Junior League uses the money raised at their fundraising events to provide amazing educational programs throughout the Lehigh Valley.  One of these programs is their Strong Moms Strong Girls program for tween girls and their caregivers.  The goal of the program is to empower these girls and women to handle conflicts and bullying appropriately.  What an amazing program!  They also have a Kids in the Kitchen program that helps teach kids and families about healthy eating!  These are just a few of the wonderful programs and fundraisers done by this extraordinary organization!  Check out their website to learn more about them and to find out what other fun events they have coming up!

Sign Language: Helping Babies Tell Us What They Want Without the Fuss

Six years ago, when my sister-in-law mentioned baby sign language to me, my initial thought was, "Really? That seems sort of hokey." Two kids later and this mom is very happy that both of my girls learned a few important words to sign. As a baby, we taught my 5 1/2 year old to sign and now she teaches her 18-month old sister "words," too.

My daughter learning how to sign Yogurt.

Baby signing has been a blessing and saved us from major tantrums! As parents, my husband and I began introducing signs when our girls were nearly 7 months old. Every time we offered a bottle, we would use the sign for Milk. By 10 months, both girls were using the sign for Milk when they wanted a bottle. Slowly, we began introducing more and more signs.

Dena Ruege is a Certified Instructor with My Smart Hands, and teaches sign language classes for hearing babies and children, ages 0 to 5. Recently, my family attended a free session at the Parkland Community Library to see what My Smart Hands was all about.

 

TOP BENEFITS TO TEACHING YOUR BABY TO SIGN

From my own experience, I can tell you that signing greatly increased my children's abilities to communicate. By giving them signs to use, such as Milk, Nap, All Done, More, Please, Food and Potty, they could tell me what they wanted without pitching a fit.

According to the My Smart Hands program, research shows that babies who sign:

1. Talk sooner
2. Have increased cognitive development
3. Have larger vocabularies and word retention
4. Experience less frustration, crying and tantrums
5. Show more interest in books
6. Engage in more complex play
7. Score higher on IQ tests (when tested around ages 7 to 8) 

 

SIGNING IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNICATION & FRUSTRATION

Dena teaches the group the sign for Cheese

I thought that Dena put it best when she said, "Signing offers more communication and less frustration." That's absolutely the truth! Just think how different each day would be if your little one could tell you what he or she wanted.

During the 30-minute class, we learned how to sign the song "On Top of Spaghetti," as well as signs for various foods, including Grapes, Cheese, Milk, Cake, Cookies and Ice Cream. She also taught the parents and kids how to sign Thank You, Again, Hungry, Eat and many other everyday words.

 

WITH SIGNING, PATIENCE & CONSISTENCY ARE KEY

Kids will not pick up the signs after one introduction. It takes time and consistency to build up the association between the sign and the object. So, every time you offer your baby milk .... sign Milk. When you offer food ... sign Food. When you put them down for a nap ... sign Nap. Then, one day -- when you least expect it -- your child is going to sign and tell you what's on their mind.

And THAT is an awesome moment in parenting!

 

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

My Smart Hands is the first baby signing program to receive the Parent Tested Parent Approved award of excellence for their American Sign Language curriculum, and the program is available right here in the Lehigh Valley!

Dena offers an 8-week "Level I" class on Friday mornings and plans to start a weekend class soon. For families looking for more one-on-one time, she also offers private lessons at an affordable cost. More information is available at www.mysmarthandslehighvalley.com or by emailing Dena Ruege.

Get Creative... Go to Roey's Paintbox Parties!

Do you have a child who loves to paint, draw, etc?  Perhaps this child is a budding artist with true talent, or maybe they are just a preschooler who always wants to smear paint all over the paper. 

Have you ever dreamed of being an artist?  Maybe you’re already pretty good.  Or maybe, just maybe, you’re like me and realize that even your stick figures are pretty terrible!  Whatever your or your child’s level may be, you could be an artist and create a beautiful canvas at Roey’s Paintbox Parties.

I had never heard of Roey’s prior to my visit, but I can easily say that I will be telling all of my friends, family members, and anyone who will listen to check this place out!  I also can safely say that I will be going back there, both with my kids and without them sometime!  When I went recently, I was there with a mom’s club, so the focus was on the kids.  My daughter loves to paint and draw, and my son loves to get messy while pretending to paint or draw!  Needless to say, they both loved going to Roey’s Paintbox Parties, and they both came home with incredible paintings that we will all cherish! 

 Roey’s is located conveniently on Main Street in downtown Bethlehem.  It is just down from Hotel Bethlehem.  Upon arrival, I immediately was taken aback by the beautiful paintings on all of the walls, the doors, and even the steps.  I think my creative juices started flowing just by entering the unique and gorgeous rooms there.  When everyone had arrived, the kids were given smocks to wear and were instructed to sit in front of a blank canvas to get ready to paint.  Roey gave each child the paint they needed for the first step, and then she explained and demonstrated what the kids should do first.  And they were off!  With Roey’s clear instructions, the kids were easily able to paint beautiful cherry blossom trees! Although they were given step-by-step instructions so that their paintings really looked like cherry blossom trees, there was also room for creativity.  Each child’s painting still had its own unique flair! 

 

Approximately half way through the paintings, the kids took a break to allow the paint to partially dry.  While the paint was drying, Roey read the children a few books with beautiful painted illustrations.  The kids were captivated by Roey’s enthusiasm and energy while reading.  She was really great with the kids!  When the stories were finished, the kids returned to their canvasses to complete their masterpiece.  My daughter did her painting completely by herself, while I helped my son a little bit.  In the end, I brought home two happy children and two amazing canvas paintings that are now hanging in my living room! (Yes, they are actually THAT good thanks to Roey!)

Roey’s isn’t just for kids either!  There are open paint sessions every weekend, and often there are BYOB paint parties throughout the week and on weekends.  All sessions can be reserved through Roey’s Paintbox Parties website, but walk-ins are welcome as well!  There is a theme each week, and you can choose to paint the specified theme or create your own painting.  These programs range in price from $5 to $40, and it’s worth every penny!  You’d easily spend $40 on some mass-produced canvas “painting” at a department store, but you can create your own (along with the memories) at Roey’s for that much or less!  Plus, imagine the laughs and the joy you could have by painting with a bunch of your friends, or doing something unique on date night instead of the same old dinner and a movie!  Show that special someone your hidden talent instead!

As I mentioned, I attended a preschool program with a mom’s club.  Roey’s does lots of private parties for all different age ranges, but the preschool one was great!  Even if you just want to get a bunch of moms together and reserve a private party for the kids, it would be a blast!  And the preschool parties (you’re never going to believe this) are just $5 per child!!!  That includes the painting experience, the story time, and taking home a canvas masterpiece!  Now that’s a deal!  And just imagine your child’s face when he or she sees the canvas they painted displayed prominently in your home!

What are you waiting for?!  Check out Roey’s Paintbox Parties and show off your creative side!!

Great Playgrounds Abound in the Lehigh Valley

Spring is finally springing here in the Valley! And, it's about time. I don't know about you, but it feels good not to be cooped up in the house anymore. As a mom of two little ones, going to the playground is a welcomed treat, as well as great exercise and bonding time. With so many great playgrounds peppered across the Lehigh Valley, sometimes it's hard to choose which one to go to.

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY

• Lone Lane Park in Upper Macungie: This is a great place to play and one of our favorites. Lone Lane has soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts, a huge playground and a running / walking path through the woods.

• Cedar Beach Playground in Allentown: Every time we've been here, the playground is very crowded, as is the parking lot. However, my 5-year-old loves it! There is a lot to slide, climb and jump on, and the playground is right next to a walking path. To wind down after some serious playing, we like to take the girls to the nearby lake to see the ducks.

  

  Fall 2012 at Cedar Beach

• Bob Rodale Fitness Park in Trexlertown: While there is no playground, there is a huge ... no HUGE ... sandbox for the kids to play in. If you haven't been here before, it's worth going to. This is also a great park for family walks, jogging and bike riding.

• Macungie Memorial Park in Downtown Macungie: We used to live within walking distance of this great playground. Not only can the kids burn off some serious energy, the train runs by periodically for some added interest.

Here are some additional playground ideas from The Morning Call. 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PLAYGROUND FUN

Here's a little insight: I get nervous when I take my kids to crowded places. Therefore,  I dress them in bright colors when we go to the big playgrounds. This helps me easily spot them while they are running around like crazy banshees or playing hide-n-seek on the equipment with other kids. Other ideas include:

1. Dressing in layers. It's still a little chilly out, so I have been dressing the kids in layers. This way, as they start to sweat, we can peel off layers. 
2. Bringing water bottles. I've seen so many parents without water for their red-faced kids that have just ran non-stop for 30 minutes. It's important for the little ones to stay hydrated ... pack a water bottle and remind them to take water breaks. 
3. Giving a 10-minute warning. Before you're ready to pack everyone back up in the mini-van, let them know the end is near. I've seen plenty of children pitch royal fits when mom or dad says, "Let's go now!" Kids need a little heads up when the fun's about to end; try to avoid being so abrupt with your little people. 

Climbing high at Lone Lane Park

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO PLAY?

What are some of your kids' favorite playgrounds? Do you have any recommendations for our readers? 

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Franklin Institute...a "not so far away" treasure.

Every once in a while, my family & I get the "itch" to leave the Lehigh Valley.  Crazy, right?  Why leave the Lehigh Valley?  We've got everything right here!

Yeah, well a few weeks back we headed down to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.  My husband & I had visited many years ago, pre-kids.  But the recent television advertisements about the Titanic Exhibit had wet our appetites enough to make the trip.

So we packed the kids up, jumped on I-476 and we were at Pat's Steaks in 1-1/2 hours.  Pat's Steaks?  That's right, Pat's Steaks.  Since we were making the trip, we decided it warranted a trip to Pat's.  

Ah Pat's Steaks...The Cheese Steak Sandwich that can't be duplicated ANYWHERE!  All that glorious cheese mixed with that heavenly steak on a warm roll... my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

OK, where was I?  Right, the Franklin Institute.  

The day of our visit was a particularly busy one and the on-site parking garage was full.  Five blocks later we dumped the car and we headed to the museum.  We enjoyed our stroll, checking out the nearby shops and eateries.

Upon our entry we saw Ben Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States.  A man of many trades.  It totally makes sense why he sits at the front door.  A man responsible for many of the major steps in history:  the lightning rod, bifocals, and the theory of electricity.

After winding through the halls, we found ourselves in front of Maillardet's Automaton.  WOW!  What an incredible piece of machinery!  I saw a TV show about the Automaton, so I knew about it before seeing it at the museum.  I highly recommend checking it out on the the museum's website.  The Automaton imitates life by mechanical means.

Next we browsed the section with all of the pulleys & gears.  My girls just LOVED touching all of the displays.  And that is what is really cool about the Franklin Institute...most exhibits are totally touchable!

We wandered from floor to floor and ended up in a huge room dedicated to Electricity.  The kids LOVED being able to see how electricity worked, especially when I became the conductor for a static charge and jumped from the shock.  :)


We hit the Train Factory next, which was my 6 year old's favorite part of the museum.  There was a display which allowed you to see how coal turns into energy and both my girls really enjoyed this.  We also liked touring the locomotive and touching all of the levers and turning the knobs inside.

But my absolute FAVORITE part of the museum was Fel's Planetarium!  Space junk, planets, constellations are some of the titles they show, and I LOVE IT!  I could have sat in there for hours staring at the state-of-the-art aluminum dome.

Well, I have to say, the Franklin Institute was totally worth the trip.  But I won't lie, it is definitely a whole day event if not more.  If you have the option of staying over at a hotel, I would highly recommend in doing so. There is a TON of things to see and do and this blog only scratched the surface.

Be sure to plan your visit by checking out their website first.  This will allow you to prioritize what you want to see, whether an exhibit or show in the planetarium or IMAX Theater.

Many thanks to the Franklin Institute for this opportunity!  In the spirit of full disclosure, I received tickets in exchange for a review of the museum.  However, all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

StoryPirates.org: Channel Your Child's Inner Writer

Do you ever wonder what your kids will be when they grow up? A lawyer? Doctor? Teacher? My husband and I swear (hope?) that one day our girls will use their creative talents. We both work in marketing, and grew up with a strong appreciation for art and literature. At five, my oldest loves reading, drawing, playing the drums and putting on shows. At one, my youngest already exhibits creative abilities and has painted several mini-Picassos.

Our little family also enjoys music. The hubs is a big Avett Brothers fan, and I love Billy Joel and Ryan Adams. However, in the car, we often give into our oldest's request to listen to Kids Place Live (KPL), channel 78 on SiriusXM. One of the featured vignettes that we like best is the Story Pirates.

All rights reserved by storypirates

WHY WE LOVE THE STORY PIRATES

The Story Pirates are an acting troupe based out of New York City that encourage young writers to write and they also perform for children. On KPL, they take real stories that have been submitted by kids (for kids) and act them out during the Absolutely Mindy Show. We all enjoy the stories ... wow, the imaginations that some kids have! I just love it.

I think this quote sums them up best:

“The Story Pirates teach kids a love of creative writing.  It helps kids to see that their words and ideas are really important.  I believe that what the Story Pirates are doing is helping America, nay, humanity – helping humanity itself. It’s crazy entertaining.”
- Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

OUR RECENT STORY PIRATES SUBMISSION

I'm proud of my daughter's imaginative story and am grateful that we can share it with you via Lehigh Valley Family Fun. My hope is that you'll be inspired to sit down with your little one and ask them to tell you a story ... any story ... while you write it down or record it on your smartphone to transcribe later. So, without further ado, I give you The Giant Onion, as told to me by my five-year-old aspiring writer: 

THE GIANT ONION BY AVA

Once upon a time, there was a onion that got thrown into the woods. Every year, when it rained and sunshined, it grew and grew. One morning a little girl woke up and looked outside her window. She saw a giant onion.

Giant onion illustrated by Ava's Mom

She went outside her front door and saw the giant onion walking around the town and destroying the place. Her dad and mom woke up and they saw it too. The onion was destroying all of the grocery stores!

They were afraid they'd have no food left. The family walked to find the farm. The farm was not there, but the onion was. The onion smashed the farm! So, they got a giant rope and lassoed the onion. They spun the onion around and around until he spun into outer space and landed on Onion planet.  

Everyone was now safe and they lived happily ever after. 

Are you interested in submitting your little author's story? Here is the link to send it to the Story Pirates. I hope that some child from the Lehigh Valley is featured on the air and that we all get to hear it!

OZ: A Bit Too Great & Powerful for Little Ones

When a good friend texted me last week about taking our kids to see "Oz The Great and Powerful," my initial message back to her was:

Do you think it's too scary?

After doing some brief, additional research, we couldn't find much information about age appropriateness. So ... I met her at RAVE in Center Valley, Pa. Our daughters, both five, have seen the original Wizard of Oz and were excited to go the movies.

Now, this is just one mom's opinion, but I wish that we would have erred on the side of not watching this particular movie. The wicked witch (played by Mila Kunis), flying baboons, fog and fire, eerie music, broken china doll and violence were all a bit too much for the girls, and quite frankly, the moms. My daughter spent the majority of the movie scared and curled up on my lap with her eyes covered.

I've seen other sites claiming that Oz is the "biggest hit so far in 2013" (CBS News) and it's received nearly 800,000 likes on Facebook. Overall, the movie did nothing for me. As we were leaving the theater, I even overheard some young women in their 20s talking about how they were "bored halfway through it."

As a James Franco and Zach Braff fan, I'm sort of bummed that I didn't enjoy the movie. As a mom, I feel irresponsible for taking my 5-year-old to see it. I can only hope that it doesn't cause her to have nightmares.

My clan is a big Disney movie family, but this film just seemed a bit all over the place: sometimes weirdly funny, sometimes fantastically beautiful ... but then other times, down-right scary.  I asked my little one for a quote to include in this post, here's what she had to say, "It was sort of scary, but sometimes cute. I think it's OK for ... like ... 7 or 8 year olds." And, I agree. Oz The Great and Powerful is more appropriate for older children.

It's really not my style to post something negative online. However, as a mom, I feel it's important for other moms (and dads) to make informed decisions when it comes to what their children watch. My hope is that this "review" helps you to decide whether or not to take your little ones to see Oz.

Arts, Crafts & Playtime? Yes, Please!

Motherhood is a glorious, joyful experience filled with love and kindness and a lot of tantrums … both from child and mom. The only people who ever say that raising little people is easy never had any. And the only thing harder than raising kids is entertaining them especially when they are little and home all .. day .. long.

How many of you moms out there were nodding along just now?? Well, last weekend I found a little gem that you are going to love. No really.

At 52 South Main Street in Nazareth, moms (and dads too) will find the entrance to Jelly Bean Town, USA. Your children will be so entertained upon entertaining that you will actually be able to – gasp – enjoy playing with them while not arguing or bartering or pitching tantrums! You won’t find jelly beans though, so read on for the scoop.

Jelly Bean Town USA is the vision of its owner, Tara Carson. It is, at its core, an arts and crafts center; but it is nestled inside a kid-friendly ‘town’ complete with a library, mail stop, dress-up center, grocery store, tool station and train table. A town whose every colorful detail is perfect and exact; thanks largely to its co-owner, Tara’s husband (vision-realizer & architect) John Carson.

You will see a bookshelf full of Dr. Seuss, a map listing capital cities, tables covered in art paper and supplies, several Purell stations, a water cooler, a coat rack and a clean bathroom. Your child will see the clouds on the ceiling, the jelly beans on the walls, the princess hat and knight mask, the balloons, the Legos, the trains, the huge chalkboard, and the stickers, oh and the STICKERS!! Together, you and your child will spend an afternoon laughing and creating and forgetting why you hate Barney and naps respectively.

And it is not just for the ultra-mini set. I brought along my Rooks (or little Castles), who are 11 and a half (so important to a girl) and 9. I knew my daughter would love the crafts. I was surprised to see how much fun my son had banging around in Tool Time and playing with the trains.

Jelly Bean Town, USA received 2 Thumbs Up from the Rooks. What better endorsement could you need?

Details:

Open Play Times are only $5 per child no matter how long you stay. (Seriously!!)

Monday 9:30a – 2p

Tuesday 11a – 5p

Wednesday 9:30a – 3p

Friday 9:30a – 2p

Every Sunday from 1 – 3p is a themed craft and playtime. Again, only $5.

There are also several one-day and one-week camp sessions during the summer.

Best Detail:

2 words – Birthday. Party.

Oh yeah. Tara loves birthdays and has several themes from which you can choose such as Princess Royalty or Diggin’ for Dinos. She is also open to any ideas you or your birthday bean may have. Ready to break out of the boring birthday bash grind? Of course you are. So call Tara.

 

Cool Details:

Jelly Bean Town, USA offers art classes after school for the young, budding-Picasso set. There are also special Crafting Sessions for adults several times a month. In the future, look for after-work art classes for adults too!

Tara, who studied art in school and is a graphic designer, really does see art everywhere. Her ultimate vision is to help old and young alike experience it for themselves too.

Helpful Details:

Need to fulfill an art credit for your home-schooled kids? Want to earn an art-centric merit badge for your troop? Yep, Tara does that too. Shoot her a call or email to make special arrangements for your class or troop.

Quirky Detail:

Jelly Bean Town USA’s mascot, Shelly Jelly Bean, can come to your parade or event. Guess how you find out more? Yep, call or email Tara.

Necessary Details:

52 South Main Street, Nazareth, PA 18064

610.248.0549

www.JellyBeanTownUSA.com

info@JellyBeanTownUSA.com

Cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted.