Archives for November 2010

Do you write Santa letters at your house? If you do, you might want to cruise by Macy’s. They’ve put out their big, red mailbox, and they’re donating 1.oo to Make a Wish for each letter they receive, up to one million. There is also some seriously cute stationary at their website, that is free to download. Just be warned it takes a beastly long time. They must not have a lot of server power at the North Pole!

If you’d rather take a less corporate approach, you can take Santa letters to a special mailbox at the Puyallup Recreation Center. Get this: If you follow the directions and get them there by the 14th, St. Nick will write back! This is a serioius upgrade from a couple years back when the gal behind the desk couldn’t find the thing.

If your gang doesn’t think Santa lives in Puyallup, you can also get a letter to your child from the North Pole. There are any number of companies that do this, but I suggest the DIY method. It’s simple, it’s personal, and except for the postage-it’s free! What’s the scoop? Basically, you write a letter to your child from Santa. Disguise your handwriting, of course! Then you put this letter in a stamped envelope addressed to your child. You put the whole thing in another envelope addressed to the postmaster in Anchorage who will postmark it from-where else-the North Pole! Get the whole scoop from the USPS right here. You want to click on the link that says North Pole postmarks. It’s on the right side under the stamp with Santa’s picture.

Have you got the 411 on another way to get in touch with the big guy? Leave a comment and let us know!

Sending out a few presents yourself? You have until December 9th to request a free flat rate shipping kit from the USPS. You still have to pay to mail the loot, but at least your boxes will be free! Hard to believe, but mailing deadlines are already approaching if you’re sending goodies to APO boxes. Don’t forget!

Just getting here today? I have a week of fun just one post down! Don’t forget: There is a whole New Facebook page for SFM. If you “Liked,” me before Wednesday, that page disappeared. ‘Um…..oops? Feel free to go “Like,” the new page so you don’t miss out!

Also, it’s Cyber Monday, and I’ve updated the Sounds Fun Mom gift guide with some good deals for you bargain hunters.

With that out of the way…..anchors away!

Organize a trip to the Working Waterfront Maritime Museum, and you’ll be the hero of your playgroup. It’s got tons of things even little kids can touch, but plenty of cool things to interest older kids as well. Admission is reasonable, and you’re likely to have the whole place to yourself!

Sold? Great!

Just wear your coat. Why? The museum is right on the water in an historic warehouse space, and it’s Cold! Bundle up, or save it for when it’s just a little warmer, but do read about it and make a plan to go…I promise you’ll love it. By the way, it’s not totally unheated. Henry and I went the week Before the snow, and we were just fine.

Update: According to the website, the building now has heat! 3/2017

The Working Waterfront Maritime Museum is part of the Foss Waterway Seaport, and it tells the maritime history of the Tacoma area as well as plenty about all things boat. Your kids may want to check out the exhibits, which include examples of every kind of watercraft imaginable, but I’m guessing they’ll head straight for Discovery Wharf.

Discovery Wharf is a classroom sized space full of hands-on exhibits. The highlight for Henry was The Faith, a retrofitted gill netter that kids can climb all over (after they put on required life jackets-love it). Henry had an absolute blast pretending to fish, battle pirates, and generally swaggering about the high seas. In addition to The Faith, there is a play area where kids can push around wooden ships and load them with cargo. Older kids will be interested in the exhibits about sea stars, and most all of your gang will enjoy making a wooden boat. We were literally the only people there last Friday, and it’s the first museum visit we’ve done where I was ready to leave before my little guy. He was so content in the play area that I actually walked around and read the exhibits. I can’t tell you when the last time was I actually got to read something on one of these expeditions. What a thrill.

If you raced through the lobby on your way in, you’ll want to stop on the way out to watch one of the interesting films about the Foss Waterway and the pioneering, Thea Foss. Your kids will also want to steer the giant ship’s wheel (cute photo alert).

Admission for adults is $10, kids, students, military and seniors are $8. Group tours of 10 or more: $8/adults, $6 children, military, seniors and students.

Now, I know you’ve promised to wait until it’s a tad warmer. I also want you to call before you go just to make sure there aren’t any field trips coming through. This isn’t really field trip time of year, but give a quick to call to check because when groups are scheduled they sometimes close the Discovery Wharf to the public, and that really will be the highlight of your trip.

After the museum you can walk along the waterway and check out the ship traffic, which is a fun outing all by itself. If there is one thing I love more than cheap fun, it’s twice the cheap fun! Do keep hold of little ones, of course. I threatened Henry with everything I could think of because November is Not the time of year I want to take a dip in the sound.

Today I’m launching a new feature where I give you the rundown on the South Sound’s best bets for affordable family fun in the week ahead. I hope it’s a helpful tool as you plan your adventures.

I’ll continue to have your weekend wrap-up on Fridays, your Museum Monday post on Mondays, and posts on good deals, cheap fun, and activities that are too good to miss every other day!

Here’s What Sounds Fun for the Week of November 28th! 

*Please note that due to the nature of the Pierce County Library and Tacoma Nature Center websites, you may have to scroll down to find the date and activity listed.

Daily

 Bubble Time and Art Exploration at The Children’s Museum of Tacoma Try to snag a pass from your library to go for free!

Monday

 Play to Learn storytime at South Hill library in Puyallup for ages 0-6 10AM-11:30  

Tuesday

Read to a dog at the Graham Library 6:30-7:45 PM Read my original post here.

Wednesday

Play to Learn Story Time at Graham 10-11:30

Story time at the Tacoma Art Museum  11AM Free with admission; Grab an Art Access Pass from your library to go for free

Victorian Country Christmas opens at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Kids under 5 are free. Adults are 10.00; older kids are  8.00. Save 2.00 off adult admission with discount coupons available at Top Foods and Key Bank. Lots of free activities for kids including the Santa Tram, carousel rides, and crafts. Other activities including face painting and pony rides do cost extra-discuss expectations before you go.

Fetch club for kids in grades 3-5 Parkland Spanaway at 3:30 *Wait List

Play to Learn Parkland Spanaway 10AM

Thursday

Play to Learn  Lakewood

Beginning Science at the Tacoma Nature Center for 8-10 year olds Morning and afteroon sessions; for homeschoolers and other interested children. Preregister 10.00-12.00 All About Chemistry

Santa visit and tree lighting at the the Job Carr Museum 4-6PM  Cocoa and snacks; Free Santa photos while supplies and time allows. See my original post here.

Gig Harbor Library Children’s Chess Club  6:00 PM

Friday

Nature Storytime for Preschoolers at the Tacoma Nature Center today is H is for Hibernators

Ongoing Events

See the Rainy Day Play tab in the menu for indoor playgrounds and bouncy house facilities. Explore Places to Go for information on area museums, roller rinks, and so much more!

This weekend’s event list includes tree lightings and parades in Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Auburn, and Sumner-plus, the start of the Santa Train at Camp Six and so much more!

You don’t have to wait until the weekend to have fun, though! In addition to all the activities in the list above, I have a sleigh load of great posts planned. Don’t forget to “Like,” the New SFM Facebook page (if you “Liked,” me before last Wednesday that page is Gone-sorry)! You can also subscribe to my RSS feed or emails, so you don’t miss a bit of fun!

A quick reminder that the Sounds Fun Mom Facebook page was relaunched on Wednesday the 24th. If you “Liked,” SFM Before Wednesday, that page is gone-I am so, so, sorry! Just click on the icon to the left to “Like,” the new page-and hey, suggest SFM to some friends! I’ve got some exciting giveaways planned when we get back to our original 205!

Sounds Like Fun for Sunday

Santa pics and sleigh rides at the Old Cannery in Sumner. Read my post here. These continue on weekends through December.

If you’re doing a mall photo, Santa has arrived at All area malls. You can get a 20% discount through December 6th at the South Hill Mall in Puyallup

Zoolights opens at Pt.Defiance  Half off for members; otherwise it’s 7.88 or save a buck by purchasing in advance at Bartell drugs. Kids under 2 are free. There is also a value deal that will get you a Zoolights admission and half off a general admission to come another time.

Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Read my original post here. This is a drive through event

Want to do some cyber shopping? I’ve added a little, “Sounds Fun Mom Gift Guide,” with some of my favorite bets for penny pinching presents. You’ll find it at the top in the menu bar. This is a new thing for me….let me know what you think of it!

New here? I write about affordable events and activities just for the South Puget Sound. Consider subscribing to my feed or emails so you don’t miss a thing, or come join a fun group of active area parents on the New Facebook page.

I’m sure there is a joke in here somewhere….

Now until December 6th you can get half off zoo admission to the Woodland Park Zoo by flashing either Cougar or Husky gear. You can wear sweatshirts, gloves, or other outwear, or show a student i.d.  This is out of normal SFM territory, but good deals to Woodland Park are so rare, I thought I’d mention it. Thanks to ThriftyNWmom for this great tip.

Want to stay south? Zoolights opens at Pt.Defiance tonight. Read about it and many other weekend holiday happenings, just one post down!

Are you seeing Sounds Fun Mom on Facebook? I had to do the whole page over Wednesday. If you “Liked,” me before Wednesday, please take a minute to do it again. Thanks!

Despite my best intentions, I often find myself caught up in a frenzy of shopping and planning this time of year (you’ll notice I left off baking-yeah, I don’t go there). Many, many years ago an exboyfriend of mine crystalized this problem for me when he said with exasperation, “Maegen, life is not a Pepsi commercial.”

You’ll notice I said Ex.

I’ll admit he had a teensy, tiny point, but I’m very grateful to have a husband who plays along with my ideas, and helps me to realize when I’m being silly without being, well, let’s say-grinchy.

A couple years ago I insisted that we all stop at the teddy bear suite in Seattle. If you haven’t been, it’s an annual event at The Four Seasons downtown. A whole suite is full of teddy bears, and both it and the massive tree in the lobby make for some seriously cute photo ops if you can get your kids to go along with you. We were already up there to go to a museum exhibit on giant squid (not making this up), and I thought it wasn’t too much to ask of my boys to sit and be photographed amongst piles of darling teddy bears.  Everywhere I looked there were little girls in these adorable holiday dresses preening and posing. And then there were my boys.

Turns out it was too much to ask.

Somewhere in the middle of this forced merriment, my dear husband said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get a little girl, honey, but this is just not working.” We went down the street for cocoa instead. Henry drank it in two gulps and laughed so hard some came out his nose. It was fantastic.

There are tons of special events coming up, beginning this weekend with the bridge lighting and Santa’s arrival in Sumner and the opening of Zoolights at Pt. Defiance. I’m determined to have all the best ones here, as always with an eye for what’s frugal and family friendly.

But before all the merriment begins, I hope you’ll enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and focus on the people who are at the heart of all the memories we try so hard to create.

Thank You, Sounds Fun Mom readers, for going along with me on this adventure!

If you’re just getting here today, scroll down for posts on homemade playdough, indoor play, snow adventures, and upcoming holiday events.

Here’s that recipe I promised in my boredom buster list. This comes staight from co-op preschool, and I do believe it’s the best one out there. Much easier to clean up than the other stuff…unless you’re my friend Brenda who manages to let her adorable children play with the real stuff without a single crumb being left. They don’t mix the colors either.  I’m telling you, it’s amazing!

 Also a quick note that I’m giving away a magazine subscription over at the FB page.

Playdoh

1 C. flour

1/2 C. salt

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 C. water

1 1/2 Tbsp. oil

t tsp. vanilla

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients and add food color as desired. Sit wet into dry. Cook over medium heat Stirring Constantly until a lump of dough forms. Remove from heat and knead on countertop for 2-3 minutes.

Another fun variation is Salt-Flour Dough This can be cut and painted to make tree ornaments or whatever.

1 C salat

2 C. flour

1 C. water

Blend salt and flour. Add water a bit at a time. Knead dough until firm. Bake at 30-45 minutes in a 325 degree oven.

The cooking parts are a grown-up job (but you knew that, right)?

Got your own recipe for fun? Let me know!

 Whoo-Hoo! As you can see, my kids are in the snow day spirit! For most parents a whole day with no escape hatch is more of a mixed blessing. If you’ve got a bit of a sinking feeling, it’s o.k.-I’ve got you covered.

If you are headed out the front door, you might want to read my ideas for offbeat snow play here. If you can find some fresh looking snow, I have a recipe for snow ice cream just one post down (SFM takes no responsibility for tummy aches-this is all on you, mom).  If you don’t last outside long enough to burn off the antsys, I’ve got a whole list of indoor exercise options in part one of this series. Or, check out my post on holiday T.V. specials and make a date with the couch instead!

Today, in Part Two of my Home Bound Series, I’ve got a list of 20 Great Bordeom Busters.

1. Build a fort with blankets, chairs, and pillows  Take in books and read by flashlight.
2. Have a treasure hunt. Hide something fabulous and write clues.
3. Give the kids some toilet paper and tell them to make a costume.
4. Speaking of costumes….haul out that ugly bridesmaid’s dress/Hawaiian shirt/weird tie. Stage a show and take pictures
5. Make playdough (recipe to follow) or try this one for older kids
6. Got an old camera? Give it to the kids and set them loose. Or give them a list for a photo scavenger hunt. Try, “Something that starts with A,” for little kids and “Something more than a decade old,” for older ones. Make the list long.
7. Put shaving cream or cheap lotion on a cookie sheet and let kids finger paint or write letters. Put a little food coloring in shaving cream and let them play in the bathtub.
8. Have kids lie down on a long piece of paper while you trace around them. Have them fill in their outline. Give them old scraps to make clothes or have older kids fill in their circulatory system etc.
9. Got paper bags? You’ve got puppets. No paper bags? Find some socks. Caution: My husband once wore a puppet to work! Find a new home for them.
10. Get out baby pictures of everyone.
11. Put on swimsuits and run outside just long enough to whoop (do wear shoes and keep clothes on the baby).
12. Take a picture for your Christmas card.
13. Learn something new: Yoga poses, knot tieing, how to say turkey in a different language
14. Have you made turkey crafts yet?
15. Play sardines
16. Bake or cook something super simple. Try a baked apple.
17. It’s always a good day for baking soda volcanoes. I bet you could bring in some snow and make an erupting mountain. Yes, this will probably be a mess. Do it on a cookie sheet or something.
18. Check out the website list.
19. Color on aluminum foil for a cool stained glass effect.
20. Bust out something from the gift closet.

Got a great idea? I’d love to hear it! Don’t forget: I’m doing a little give away on the FB page with just 3 more likers. Stay tuned and share this site with fun loving parents you know!

 The holidays are coming, snow or not! I’ve done some posts already about upcoming events. You’ll want to have the bridge lighting at the Cannery and the Santa Train on your list (both of these events are chances to get Free photos with the big guy)!

Stay warm and have fun out there!

Let’s hear it, friends…..totally yummy or totally disgusting?

Henry has been eating snow all day anyway. Maybe it’s time to quit fighting it.

On the other hand, some of our snow looks really, really, gross.

We actually always made snow ice cream when I was little. It’s basically fresh snow, sugar, and vanilla.

If you’re brave enough to try, here’s a recipe.

Speaking of cheap fun, I’m planning on giving away a little something something over at the FB page when I hit 200 likers. We’re oh, so, close. Feel free to share SFM with other fun loving parents you know, and I’ll end the suspense!