Archives for February 2011

As I mentioned in What Sounds Fun This Week, the Pt.Defiance Zoo is open every day again, and there are some fun story times for the preschool set this week. There are also some exciting opportunities coming up at both the zoo and Northwest Trek for older kids, especially if you have a tween or teen who might be interested in a future career working with animals.

First, on March 5th, Northwest Trek is offering a Free Career Day Event for high school and college students.  Kids under 16 do need to be accompanied by a full paying adult, and the program is limited to the first 50 participants, so register now if you’re interested. This event will include talks and demonstrations about possible animal careers. If your teen is already sold and looking for real hands on stuff, you might want to consider one of the upcoming opportunities at the zoo.

Coming up on March 5th, the zoo offers one of its Keeper for a Day classes for teens 13-17. Kids get a full day of doing the real life work of zookeepers. It’s o.k. to admit you’d like your teen to scoop a little poop! Class is limited to six participants, with a minimum of three. I have no idea whether the March 5th event is filled, but give a call to see. These classes are offered monthly, and there is a level II program after they complete level I.

If sea creatures are more their style, your teens can also take part in a similar zoo program called Marine Biologist for the Day. The next one is on the 19th.

You can get information on all these Career Discovery Programs right here.

Your tween age kids aren’t left out either. The zoo has programs for kids 8-12 called junior zookeeper and junior aquarist.

Now, the zoo programs are a bit spendy, although I think they’re a good value for the experience they offer. The zoo does typically do a free career day in the Fall. I’ll be sure to let you know if one comes around again

Your kiddos aren’t quite big enough? Another new zoo offering is Zoo 4 U a program similar to the Critter Club designed for kids 4-7.

Don’t forget that registration has already opened for the zoo’s popular summer day camps.

If you can’t get enough of creature encounters, be sure to visit the excellent, free HC Mast Center at Redondo which has touch tanks and is open every Saturday. Mast has also offered an excellent summer camp in past years. I’ll let you know if they announce one again.

Wow! March already? Before you plan your week be sure to scroll just one down to read how you might be able to get a year of Family Fun magazine for free. I’ll also be announcing my cookbook winners in just a bit. A quick welcome to TNT readers. I write about affordable family outings just for the South Sound. Explore a bit and you’ll find tons of places to go and things to do with your family-no trip to Seattle or draining the bank required!

Got a tip, or need help with something you couldn’t find by searching or using the menu? Just drop me a line at soundsfunmom@hotmail.com.  I’d love to hear from you!

Ongoing Events

Open playtimes at area Bounce House facilities; Playtime at area gyms; bubble time and art exploration at The Children’s Museum of Tacoma. Open playtime at Discovery Village

All Week

Story times have resumed at Pierce County Libraries. Every library has multiple story time events this week. Select the date you want on the calendar and find a story session at a library near you! Note that other PCL library links in this post are pdf flyers. Story times are also back in session at Tacoma Public Libraries. Scroll down to find the date of interest. I don’t list these separately due to space issues.

The Pt.Defiance Zoo is back on its regular schedule and open every day. Can you believe it’s March this week???

Monday

Budding Scientists (Scroll down) at Adriana Hess in University Place Two different times: 10:15-12:00 or 3:15-4:15  For home schooled children and other interested 5-7 year olds. This requires two day advance registration-call to see if you can still get in. If not, consider signing up for the next session mid month.

Tuesday

It’s National Pancake Day! Head to ThriftyNWmom to find out where to get a free short stack, or just make breakfast for dinner. Let everyone eat in their jammies, and you’ll be that much closer to bedtime!

Wee Ones Weekly 9:30-11:00-Special program for toddlers and preschoolers at The Children’s Museum of Tacoma. 7.00 per child plus museum admission (get the play pass from your library to score free admission). This event is also on Wednesdays.

Luna Moms Playgroup Moms of babies and toddlers and their little ones. Organized by Codi of Stroller Strides, but open to any mom. Free; This week’s group meets at the South Hill Mall play area for a special Tuesday session. Tell Codi I sent you! Want to see your playgroup listed? Just let me know!

Family Time at the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor 3:45-5:00 Every first Tuesday the museum hosts a special story time and craft for the whole family. This month’s theme is portholes. Regular admission + 1.00.

It’s 1.00 day at the Starplex in Federal Way. Catch Harry Potter, Mega Mind, Narnia, Gulliver’s Travels, or Tron. I haven’t seen any of these. If you have any thoughts on them, feel free to leave a comment.

Spanish/English storytime at the Puyallup Public Library at 6:30

Wednesday

Wee Ones Weekly 9:30-11:00-Special program for toddlers and preschoolers at The Children’s Museum of Tacoma. 7.00 per child plus museum admission (get the play pass from your library to score free admission).

Story Time with Leroy at the Tacoma Art Museum 11:00AM included with admission. Try to get an Art Access Pass from your library to go for free. Leroy is the name of the big dog sculpture in the lobby, in case you’re wondering.

It’s Read Across America Day and the birthday of Dr.Seuss. I haven’t been able to find local, public events yet, but you can take the pledge to spend part of your day reading with your child. I’m also devoting the Facebook page to all things reading Wednesday. Stop on by for a list of readers’ favorite read alouds and more! If you’re one of my South King County readers, consider stopping by your library to get a Ready, Set, Read form. After your child completes it by recording his/her minutes spent reading, it can be redeemed for a free book. A similar program for teens is called Read Three; Get One Free. Ask your librarian.

Thursday

Critter Club at the Point Defiance Zoo 11:00  Program for 3 and 4 year olds includes a story, craft, and animal encounter. 6.00/8.00 per child. 10.00 without preregistration. Obviously, you want to register! Got older kids? Check back later for a post on upcoming offerings at the zoo for school age kids and tweens and teens.

Beginning Science for 8-10 year olds at the Tacoma Nature Center. Morning and afternoon sessions available. Register in advance.

Gig Harbor Library Chess Club 6PM Kids in grades K-6 enjoy 20 minutes of instruction and half an hour of game play.

Friday

It’s a Free First Friday at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma

Nature Discovery Hour at the Tacoma Nature Center  Special time for kids 2-7 to explore the Discovery Pond play area with a guide and special tools. 3.00 per child/2.50 for members

N is for Nutcracker 1:30  Story time at the nature center for preschoolers (scroll down for this event). 6.00 per child; reservations required; adults should stay with children 4 and under.

Read With a Dog at the Puyallup Public Library Drop in anytime between 3:30-4:30

Story times at Puyallup Public Library. Preschool time at 10:00; Toddlers at 11:15

Need a quick suggestion from parents near you? Head on over to our Facebook page!

As you know, I am not crafty. Really.

However, even I can occasionally fake like a crafty mom with the help of Family Fun magazine. It truly is my favorite mag. Besides crafts, it features lots of wholesome, totally do-able snacks, games, and travel trips. If you’re a New subscriber, Plum District has a year’s subscription available for 5.00. Plus, if you click on my link, you should get a 5.00 credit, making it…..free! Now, I’m not 100% sure this will work, but if you’re interested, give it a try! Thanks to The Coupon Project for the heads-up on this deal. Update: Reader Megan let me know she didn’t get a 5.00 credit. I have a feeling you will get the credit, but you won’t be able to use it for this deal. 5.00 for a year of Family Fun is still a great deal, but keep in mind that the credit issue is up in the air. If you don’t get one at all, please do contact them, and let me know if it doesn’t get resolved.

Mamapedia also has an excellent deal on Kiwi magazine. Kiwi is a family magazine with a focus on green and organic living. I’ve found it to have helpful ideas with out being preachy. If you’re trying to get your family to live greener or healthier, you might consider picking it up. Today only, you can use code FRIENDS20 to get one year for less than 5.00 or two years for 8.00. If you don’t see this deal right away, look in the sidebar to the right.

Disclosure: Links in this post are my affiliates. Using them supports the site. Thank you!

I have some ideas for your Sunday just one post down, but I’m bumping our first weeknight recipe back up to give you one more chance to enter to win one of three Pampered Chef Seasons Best Cookbooks. You can enter here or in the giveaway post at the Facebook page. I’ll draw the winner tonight, so don’t forget!

This yumminess comes courtesy of my friend Mitzi, who is a Pampered Chef consultant and the mom of a seriously adorable kiddo. I’ve been wanting to add some easy, weekday recipes here at SFM, and I asked her to handpick the best of the best for you. She sent this one, and I have to tell you it was easy and delicious. Even my picky 8 year old liked it. I also had most of the things on hand already (if you don’t have Pampered Chef lemon rub there is an easy substitution at the bottom). I did have to pick up capers, but they pack a big flavor punch, so it’s totally worth it. I also think you could probably do boneless, skinless thighs in place of the chicken breast if you wanted to save a bit.

Interested in doing a Pampered Chef party or picking up one of their products?  Mitzi would be glad to hear from you. I can assure you she cooks super delicious snacks, and she is probably the sweetest, least pushy sales person you can imagine. I tried to get her to talk a little trash before our high school reunion, and she pretty much refused, so you know your party will be lots of fun and no one will feel like she’s trying to give ’em a shake down!

and now for the giveaway……Mitzi has very generously donated three copies of the Pampered Chef Fall and Winter Season’s Best Cookbook. To enter, just leave a comment here and at the Facebook page for an extra entry! Like this feature? If you do, let me know, and I’ll feature other easy recipes in the future….maybe yours!

Here’s your weekend list! It’s clear and dry at our house right now, but do bundle up and drive safely. Headed to Seattle or one of our other neighbors? Check out the big list over at ThriftyNWmom compiled by super bargain sleuth Sia of Centsible in Seattle. If you prefer to stay local, read on for the best of South Sound fun.

Ongoing: Seussical the Musical shows by Tacoma Musical Playhouse. All ages fun based on the works of Dr.Seuss. Tickets 10.00-15.00 Discounts available for groups.

Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum. The grand opening is this weekend with special family activities, or if you’re on a budget, wait until the 3rd Thursday (March 17th) to go for free or try to score an Art Access pass from your library.

Saturday

Read Across America event at Target 9-11   Hear Dr.Seuss favorites. Giveaways and coupons

Kids Thyme Kids’ Gardening event at Windmill Gardens at Sumner 9:00  12.00

Head to Lowes to make a pull back race car at their Build and Grow workshop. This popular, free program requires registration. Sign up now! 10AM

See the Daffodil Princesses at the South Hill Mall-Kids’ crafts activities and autographed posters available in the Center Court from 10AM-4PM Story time by the play area every half an hour from 11AM-3:30PM   You can also purchase a special yellow wristband and receive discounts from mall merchants-it’s a nice thing to do to support the festival. I heard from several of you that loved story time with the princesses last weekend. My friend Lisa told me her 5 year old daughter is already talking about keeping her grades up. Gotta love it!

Water Weekends at HC Mast at Redondo Every Saturday kids can get up close with sea creatures in touch tanks and see other aquatic animals. 10-2

The Knack! family event at Michael’s A Demo of My First Science Kit 10AM-12 Ages 3 and up welcome

University Place Library Grand Opening Celebration Family Concert at 10:30 followed by an author signing with popular author Terry Brooks at 3:00.

Tacoma Parents of Multiples Clothing and Equipment Sale at Bates Technical College  Bring cash and a laundry basket to carry your finds. 10AM-2PM More detail in their Craig’s List post

Hear Hawaiian Music  Every 4th Saturday you can enjoy live Hawaiian music as you shop Renton Uwajimaya 11AM-2PM

Exploring Wetlands event at the WET center in Olympia   *I’ve never been here, but it looks so cool, we’re planning a road trip soon. If you go, let me know what you think! Program starts at 1 PM

Happy Birthday Elmo event at Borders stores. Thanks, Hip2Save For young children. Includes party themed activities, but No Elmo. I always suggest calling your local store with events like this, as sometimes participation varies. The Gig Harbor Borders is on the closure list. Sad news, but there may be some bargains to be had as a silver lining.

Toy Story 3 at the Puyallup Public Library 2PM

Free Workshop at KBTC 2-3PM  for kids in K-3rd grade on how to tell stories with art. Designed for kids thinking about entering the PBS Kids Go! Writers’ contest. Free event but a grown-up must attend and you do need to register. Read more about the contest.

2011 Pie Fest Olympia Bakers’ Guild Presents their annual pie fest to benefit the Thurston County Food Bank and the Senior Nutrition Program. Slices cost 3.00 or 3 cans of food.

Discover E Engineering Day at the Naval Undersea Museum in Bremerton  Hands on science fun for K-8th graders. If you’re one of my readers in Kitsap County you probably already know about this terrific, free museum. If you don’t, you should!

Sunday

ZooZoo Theater by Imago at the Pantages  3:00  Theater troupe with costumed actors portraying animals. Tickets are 20-30 dollars. This is not in our budget right now, but if it’s in yours, it looks like an amazing and unique show.

Family walk at Adriana Hess in University Place Family walk guided by Audubon volunteers. 4-5  Free

Know something I missed? Let me know! If you use this list to help plan your family’s weekend, why not take a minute to share Sounds Fun Mom with your friends or suggest the Facebook page to some of your fun loving friends. If you’re new here, I have ideas just for South Sound families every day. I hope you’ll come back again or consider subscribing via one of the handy buttons on the top left. Have a great one!

Got Snow? Here are  links to my best snow day posts.

You might enjoy new ideas for snow play, or after everyone comes in shivery cold, readpart one or part two of my homebound survival series. If your kids are little, you might consider letting them play with some indoors. It’s not as crazy as it sounds.

Btw, if you brave the roads for provisions, Fred Meyer has an additional 70% off clearance including winter gear (joke is on them….), and I saw 75% off gloves and snow pants at Target. Just be careful out there.

Want to share weather tales or swap reports with active parents in the area? Head on over to the Facebook page. Don’t forget to check out the yummy chicken picata pasta recipe just two down. You can leave a comment on that post or at the fb page to win one of 3 Pampered Chef cookbooks! It’s Thursday, so snow or no snow, you can check back later for your big weekend list!

First, great news for all you foodies! I now have 3 cookbooks to giveaway, so head one post down and leave a comment.

Reader Holly asked me to mention this weekend’s big sale by the Tacoma Parents of Multiples group. If there is one thing I love it’s a good sale so, of course, I agreed! The sale is at Bates this Saturday and features gently used gear and kids’ clothing up to size 5T. You’ll want to bring a laundry basket to help carry your finds and some cash-no other form of payment is accepted. New this year is a diaper drive, so think about picking up a pack to donate to families in need.

Thanks to reader, Gramma E. for posting about the new selection for Tacoma Reads Together. It’s the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba, and it’s the inspiring true story of an impoverished young African boy who made a windmill. It would be a great read with your older kids or together as a family-even if you don’t live in Tacoma! You can get copies at any Tacoma Public Library, or it’s easily found at your favorite bookseller. The libraries will also have an appearance by the author and family friendly activities. I’ll post about these as they come up.

There was blue sky at the Sounds Fun Mom house when I started writing this, but now it’s really coming down!

If we do end up with a bunch, you can scroll one down for some of my best ideas for what to do in it (assuming you get tired of the usual, of course)! Another idea is to bring some of it indoors. I have no idea why I didn’t think of this when Henry was smaller. He would get so excited about going out, and then in about five minutes he’d be miserable-or need to go to the bathroom. Sound familiar?

Try setting up a waterproof station and letting your littlest kiddos have some snow play indoors! Here’s an adorable post with some tips from Pocketful of Posies.  You might also try using the bathtub-of course, then you’re going to have to clean the bathtub at some point-unless you’re pretty confident about your snow!

If your older kids roll their eyes, have them make some snowflakes for the windows or tell them to go shovel the walk-or their rooms.

Photo from stock.xchng by escotlanda    Not my kid; don’t write in to tell me she needs mittens, please!

I was excited to see that beautiful Windmill Gardens in Sumner is offering kids’ classes again (scroll all the way down to see this month’s kids’ class).

This Saturday at 9:00AM the theme is a miniature garden world. Kids are invited to bring along a few toys and create a garden environment for them….think a tiny jungle, a miniature fairy forest….whatever they can dream up! The cost is 12.00, which is quite reasonable considering it includes all the supplies and the mess gets to happen somewhere else!

If you’d just as soon do it yourself, here’s a container version from National Geographic Kids. A less green version, is the fairy house featured at Family Fun magazine. This is a great activity for your next camping vacation. Dishes or milk cartons can make great miniature gardens. You could also pick a small plot outside. The idea is to replicate a real garden in a smaller scale, and it gives everything a magical feel that your little ones will love. If you want to get serious about small, check out The Mini Garden Guru blog. Wee fun!