Archives for November 2011

A quick congrats to the winners of the passes to the Festival of Trees!  These were the lucky comments selected via random.org

Send an email with your address to soundsfunmom@hotmail.com, and I’ll get these off to you today. Don’t forget-it’s always so sad when I have to redraw winners. Thanks to all of you who entered and played along. I’ll try to do more contests like this in the future. Soon (I Hope!) the Facebook page should hit 1,000 likers, and I do plan on doing something special for that. What, I don’t exactly know….feel free to offer suggestions!

Rae says:

This giveaway has Ended. Look for other fun ones soon!

I have a fun giveaway today, and best of all, there will be four winners.

What’s the prize? Two general admission passes to the Mary Bridge Festival of Trees at the Tacoma Convention Center this weekend. The event is a fundraiser and publicity function for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, a terrific, local resource.

The festival features a gorgeous, fairy-tale like landscape with over 70 amazingly decorated trees. You can go Saturday, kids’ day, between 10AM-3 or Sunday from 11AM-4PM. Children 12 and under are free; teens are 2.00, and grown-ups are 6.oo-but you’re going to get in for free by winning one of four sets of two passes from me!

Ready to enter? Just leave a comment. For an optional second entry (shameless promotion alert), tell me the name of the last person you told about Sounds Fun Mom. If you can’t think of anyone, you know…..maybe you should….:)

I want to get these in the mail by tomorrow, so I’m running this contest just through today.

If you spent your ‘puter time cyber shopping yesterday, make sure to take a minute to read about the newest museum pass available from area libraries and a great program for young preschoolers and their parents enrolling now.

I’m starting today with one hot tip-literally.

I’ve written several times about the great library program that lets you check out museum passes for free. One museum that hasn’t been included is the very cool, but fairly pricey, Museum of Glass. Well, guess what? You can now check out passes to the MOG!

Passes are available at the Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Libraries, and the Puyallup Public Libraries. Just go in and ask-I promise they’ll know what you’re talking about. If you’re one of my King County readers, you can get a PCL card thanks to reciprocity agreements. The passes are available for one week and give free museum entry to two adults and unlimited children under 18 (probably poor form to take the daycare, though)! They’re available on a first come, first served basis.

You can read a full round-up of all museums participating in area library pass programs. This is a great little strategy to have in your pocket for those winter vacation days.

If you do the MOG, be sure to sit in the theater and watch the live action in the hot shop as they use fire to bend glass into fanciful shapes. I promise even your kids who don’t think they like art, will think it’s awesome. Bundle up, and you can take less interested kiddos to check out the boats in the marina below.

My friend Barb sent along this hot tip about an upcoming Santa Event at Learning Sprout toy store. There are quite a few opportunities to eat with the big guy (or the missus) this time of year, but I like that this one has time slots you sign up for, which should mean (fingers crossed) a bit less of a mob scene. Plus, it’s reasonably priced at just 5.00 per child-a great deal if you can get out without filling your sleigh. Don’t wait to call, though. Barb said spots were going fast.

Updated 10/25/2012

Here is my round up of South Sound Nutcracker Performances for 2012. I will have at least one Nutcracker giveaway later in the season, and we may see more performances pop up on daily deal sites. I’ll leave it up to you as to whether you want to wait and take your chances or make plans with your sugar plums now!

Feel free to forward this list to little ballet lovers you know, and do let me know if you hear of a show you missed, or want to weigh in on your fav!

The Big One:

The most recognized area Nutcracker is the production put on by the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. It features gorgeous Maurice Sendak sets, and the dancing of nationally recognized ballerinas. I’m not going to dance around it:  This is one spendy show. However, I know many moms who will say it’s worth it. Here’s my sister in law, Cindy, on the subject:

“Even though Pacific Northwest Ballet production is spendy, I think it is worth it. I have seen several lower cost productions in the area over the years. The exta bonuses you get with PNB 1) they have booster seats so you little ones can actually see the stage. They were nice, clean and cozy last time we needed one. 2) They have lovey props in the lobby. Large nutcracker and toy soldier statues and a stage replica. These are great for killing time before the show or great backdrops for your Christmas or Holiday cards. My girls loved dancing on the stage. 3) You can preoreder your cookie treat for intermission. No standing in line. Who wants that with kids. Some ticket packages come with cookies too. 4) The Sendak backdrops will remind you and your kids of their favorite stories and you can recall those fun memories when you read together later. 5) You can’t beat the special effects at PNB. No one has the awe of the growing tree and the lighting and the spectacular costumes. 6) It is more money but way more magic.”

As of this writing, there were some discounted performances available through ticket seller, Goldstar. These aren’t the cheapeset seats, but they’re a very good discount for decent seats. If you decide you’re doing this one, be sure to read the PNB’s very informative guide to attending the Nutcracker with children.

If you’re not sold on PNB, or you just don’t have that much jingle in your wallet, you might consider one of these local Nutcrackers.

South Puget Sound Nutcracker Performances 2011

Auburn/Renton-Evergreen City Ballet  Performances in Kirkland December 1st and 2nd. Performances in Auburn December 8th and 9th, and in Renton, December 14th, 15th, and 16th. Adults are 29.00; students are 14.00, with a few dollars in service fees.  My friend Christy went to this one last year and raved about it. She thought the sets and performers were very professional, and the ballerinas came out after the show to mingle and pose for pictures. I will have a give away for one of the Auburn performances. Don’t want to take your chances? As of today (10/25), there is a great deal to Evergreen City Ballet on Groupon. We’ve seen this offer twice so far.

Enumclaw–Plauteau Ballet Repretory Theater/The Dance Workshop Presents The Nutcracker December 7th-16th Tickets are 8.00 for seniors. 10.00 for children, and 12.00 for adults   Matinee and evening shows

Fife-Ninth Avenue Company of Dance No Nutcracker this year, but there is a Winter Solstice themed show the weekend of the 14th at the junior high school.

Tacoma-Tacoma City Ballet  Performances at the Pantages weekends beginning the 8th and running through the 23rd. Tickets start at 19.00.  If you haven’t been, the Pantages is beautiful. Leah Taff, of TCB wrote in with this plug last year.  “Our Nutcracker is the only one in the area to be performed in a performing arts theater to live orchestral music” SFM Note: As of 10/25, there are still a very limited number of tickets to the Haunted Theater. Find it in my Halloween Events Guide. Don’t wait long on these.

Another Tacoma production performs at Stadium High School. This one is put on by Tacoma Performing Dance Company  and the Jo Emery Ballet School under the direction of local dance legend, Jo Emery. LAST YEAR  Shows were December 17th and 18th. Tickets were 18.00 and 22.00. The website has not yet been updated with 2012 Nutcracker info. I’ll let you know when it is!

Dance Theater Northwest performs in the Mt Tahoma Auditorium December 8th and 9th Regular tickets 22.00-26.00 Half-off for children under 12 and seniors over 60. 10% military discount also available. I.D. required at the door.

Washington Contemporary Ballet  presents the Nutcracker in the auditorium at Mt Tahoma Tickets 15.00-18.00 NOT UPDATED FOR 2012 YET.

Olympia–Ballet Northwest performs at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts Shows the 14th-23rd. Ticket prices range depending on seats. * Note that if you buy tickets online, last year the site had tickets for both this company and the Different Studio West Company below. Make sure you’re selecting the one you want, or call.

Bremerton–Peninsula Dance Theater performs The Nutcracker November 30th and December 1st and 2nd at the high school performing arts center. Tickets are 12-18.00, or 25.00 for reserved seating.

If you decide to take in a performance, you should definitely find a book version of the story first. Children will be so much more engaged if they understand what is happening.

If your kiddos are way too wiggly to even consider a ballet outing, but you’d still like that fancy dress-up photo, you might try the Seymour Conservatory which makes for a festive and ornate looking pic. this time of year. Right now, it’s Pumpkins, but I promise it will look like Christmas before you know it!

Know a great show I missed? Think my post wasn’t on pointe? Let me know!

If you’ve just stumbled  on this little site, I hope you’ll be back! I write just for South Sound families. While you’re here, why not like SFM  on Facebook, or subscribe to my feed or reader, so you don’t miss a think!

 A couple years ago, I got the idea that we should go out in the forest and cut our own Christmas tree. I blame too many Hallmark movies.

The first year we did this it was really fun. We got our permit at the ranger station, navigated some skinny, poorly marked roads and found a beautiful, little tree.

The second year we mixed things up a bit by getting stuck in the snow in the middle of a line of cars trying to back up and manuever on what was a one lane road at best. It was cold, we were on the edge of a cliff, and other men were trying to tell my husband how to drive. Not a good scene.  We did find a really beautiful tree, though, and with the added excitement, my kids thought it was the best day ever.

As you might guess, we’re a little up in the air about what to do this year, but if the idea of going out in the wild appeals to you, you can get more scoop here. If that bit doesn’t scare you off, This link has a pdf with ranger locations, pricing and safety regulations.We got our permit at the Enumclaw station.

If we go again, we’ll start earlier in the day, pull off at the First good spot we see, and we’ll definitely bring more snacks! You actually see quite a few families building fires and tailgating. We’re not that organized.

If this all sounds like too much adventure, consider an area U-Cut Farm!

This deal is such a good one, I’m giving it the front page treatment.

What’s the scoop? Living Social has 4 admissions Plus a 15% gift shop discount to the Hands-On Children’s Museum in Olympia for just 15.00-a big savings!

This is a super-fun museum with tons for kids to touch and explore. It would be a perfect way to spend a day during your winter school break.

You can sometimes find bogo deals or 1.00 off coupons to this museum, but it does Not participate in any free programs, and deals to it in general are very, very rare. If you have any plans to go here, or you’ve been wanting to, I’d jump on this deal. Just go to Living Social, and you should see it right away. If you don’t click on Families in the left or change the city to Olympia.

You can also buy extra for yourself, or to give as gifts. Why not take along some pals and make a (play) date of it? You have until May to use them, and as always, I encourage you to read the fine print. I’ve been very happy with Living Social in the past.

Thanks, QueenBee Coupons for the heads-up on this deal.

Today I’m delighted to tell you about a special program from Franz bakery called Help Us Help Your Neighbors.

Franz is giving 500.00 worth of help to 10 deserving families, people, or organizations. To nominate a worthy recipient, just go to Franz Bakery. You’ll need to fill out the entry form, which includes a brief essay letting Franz know why your nominee should be chosen. You have until December 9th, so don’t put it off too long!

If your entry is selected, you will receive a year’s supply of bread. Whoo-hoo! I don’t know about you, but that would be a pretty exciting win around here.

Franz has been a Northwest, family company since it began in 1906, and as you can see, it remains a company with a commitment to the families in our neighborhoods.

I hope you’ll take a minute to nominate a person, family, or organization who could use some help this season.

Do let me know if your nominee is a winner!

Planning your family’s adventures? Check out my Holiday Events Guide, or for things to do this week, head to What Sounds Fun This Week.