Archives for June 2014

Registration opened today  for the next Lowe’s Build and Grow!

These popular, free kids’ workshops do require registration, and they seem to fill faster every time!

It’s a Turbo pull back racer on July 12th.

Go here to sign up.

Here are a few highlights for your week ahead.

Let’s Play! You’ll find free fun all over the South Sound this week!

Tons of fun story time events, magic shows and more!

Remember-these are just a  FEW highlights. Hover over Summer in the menu bar for pull downs to much more, OR click on the Summer guide graphic in my sidebar for the complete list all in one, handy place!  There are also lots of great hikes, parks, playgrounds, and places to explore under Outdoor Adventures. Phew! Nobody should be saying they’re bored around here! 

Monday-See Jeff Evan perform a combination of science and magic at the Gig Harbor Library at 10:30 or in University Place at 2

Alex Zerbe does a physics defying  juggling act in Sumner at 4.  For more Pierce County library events or more detail on PCL events you can head here to the library calendar. I’ve linked to individual events at other library systems.  [Read more…]

It’s a great weekend for family fun around the South Sound. The list this weekend is full of outdoor adventures and things to do with the kids in Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Olympia, and just about everywhere else around the South Sound.  Lots of them are Free, too!

For Seattle or Portland area fun you’ll want to check out the fantastic list over at ThriftyNWmom compiled by the newest member of their frugal finding team, Annaliese of Grays Harbor Deals! She’s found some good ones this week!

 All Weekend

Taste of Tacoma at Point Defiance  free admission; charge for food tastings  also vendor and community booths and a stage with kids’ entertainment

Yelm Prairie Days  at City Park  carnival, vendors, and old-fashioned fun courtesy of The Lions Club

Saturday

All Over

Kids’ Club at Michael’s Michael’s offers 30 minute craft sessions for kids for 2.00 from 10-11:30. I believe it’s a 4th of July event, but the site has taken down the June events already, so please do check with your store before you head out . You may also want to read about their Passport to Imagination summer program-open for registration now.

Transformers Event at Toys R Us  12-2 Build a figure and demo new toys

Visit your farmer’s market!

More than two dozen events around the South Sound continue below the fold. Just click, “Continue Reading.” [Read more…]

One of the very best things about running this space is getting to share with you some of the people and organizations that make the South Sound such a special place to live. When I had the opportunity to write a post about Champions for Kids as part of The Motherhood AND  donate $100.00 of frozen food products to help hungry families in our community, I knew it would be a great chance to tell you about Shanna and her team at the Puyallup Food Bank.

First, let me tell you a bit about Champions For Kids. It’s a national organization founded on the simple but powerful belief that All children should have: Someone who cares; a Place to belong; Hope for tomorrow and provisions for their journey. All children.

Champions For Kids also believes in the power of small gifts (and givers) to make a big impact. This summer Champions For Kids and Walmart are partnering with Tyson, Birds Eye, and State Fair in a Summer of Giving- a program that will provide 5 million meals to hungry kids.

You and your family can be part of the Summer of Giving by planning a simple service project to collect donations for hungry children in our community. Your project could be as simple as hosting a playdate and asking friends to bring along donations of kid favorite foods!  Plus, when you submit your great project, you’ll be eligible to win at $25,000.00 prize for your school district.  You’ll find more information and inspiration here  , or look for it in the frozen food aisle the next time you’re at Walmart.

You may be used to talking about food donation events during the holiday months, but the truth is that in the summer the need is as great as any time of year, and for families with children who depend on the security of school breakfasts and meals, it’s even more so.

Shanna and her team of volunteers were thrilled to receive a whole cart load of quality frozen items. I stuck mostly to high protein Tyson chicken because it’s something my own kiddos love. Now, because the volunteers at the food bank can’t be sure how it’ s been stored, they don’t normally accept frozen food (so don’t rush down there with yours), which meant they were especially glad to receive this donation.   As you can tell, Shanna gets asked to posed with food a lot, and she’s just as positive and cheerful in real life. She’s quick to give credit to others, and she’s absolutely tireless in her efforts to make sure there is help for every family that needs it. She jumped up (literally) from writing thank you notes to donors to give me a tour of their warehouse and tell me about their work and how you can help!  [Read more…]

Here’s another fun idea for my Tacoma area readers.

It’s story and crafts at the Job Carr Museum in Old Town Tacoma today, from 1-2.

There are just a few of these fun, weekly summer events left, so if it’s been on your summer bucket list, hop to it!

This is a tiny museum, but it’s lots of fun for kids, and the volunteers love to see them.  We usually combine a trip here with some playground time and a walk down to Ruston Way (You can grab a latte at the Starbucks and fuel up first)!

Story and craft time is designed for kids 3-8 and their families, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about them from readers. [Read more…]

Whoop! Happy Summer Vacation, friends.

A few quick ideas for you today! First, The Vacation Bible School list is updated. You can find it here, or hover over “Summer,” in the menu bar, and it’s one of many fun choices you’l find in the drop down menu.

Other highlights?

I wanted to make sure to tell you about the return of the excellent story time sessions at the conservatory in Wright Park. Children can hear science or nature themed stories and participate in a craft or simple experiment. The first one of the summer is Wednesday.

Be sure to stop by the playground after (You may want to bring swim clothes for the sprayground)!  [Read more…]

Need something to do today? You know it’s summer when the fun keeps going all weekend long!

Here are some ideas for family fun in Puyallup, Gig Harbor, Tacoma, Olympia, and beyond! Let me know about anything fun I missed, won’t you? Thanks!

Sunday

U Pick strawberries at Picha in Puyallup   I have a post here with details on doing u pick at Picha. 

Slug Fest at Northwest Trek weekend of all things slug, including slug races, slug tattoos, a slug photo booth, and more. Included with admission. Also Sunday. Trek is a fun adventure, but admission is spendy. Consider a membership if you’d go two or more times. One can be added to an existing zoo membership.

Half-Off Admission to Wild Waves with a donation of new clothing for Foster Kids.  Each member of your party needs a donation for the discount. Another option is to buy discounted tickets online for 14.99 through June.  The current regular admission price is 19.99.   One note for thrill seekers-some slides have been removed while they make room for new ones (scheduled to open in July).

Water’s Extreme Weekend at the Harbor History Museum 1-4PM Free admission for kids 17 and under and special run related to the current, “Water’s Extreme Journey,” exhibit

Meeker Days continues  in Puyallup

Crafts From the Past at Fort Nisqually  Local artisans demonstrate different crafts each weekend through September 3rd.  Included with admission. I think demos. will probably only interest older children, but kids of most ages enjoy exploring the fort. Sunday only this weekend, due to the cooking event on Saturday. It’s plant pressing today.  Included with admission

Gig Harbor Sunday Farmer’s Market at Skansie Brothers Park  Take a Trolly?  The STAR Center in S Tacoma also has their Sunday market now (it’s next to the new playground and sprayground).

Historic Fort Steilacoom is now open for Sunday tours 1-4PM through Labor Day Talk on the fort during the Civil War at 2PM today

Visit the new South Sound Estuarium in Olympia  10AM-3PM   

If you’ve been super busy like we have, you might have missed the roll out of this year’s great, big South Sound Summer Guide!  It’s all your favorite things for summer with the kids in one, great place! 

I also have a great list of summer camps in the menu bar, a round up of savings on family fun on the deal page, and much, much more! It’s a lot to take in-you might want to become a subscriber and tackle a little bit a day. We have lots of ways to subscribe via those cute buttons at the top, but I recommend the daily emails!

It’s a great weekend for family fun around the South Sound. The list this weekend is full of outdoor adventures and things to do with the kids in Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Olympia, and just about everywhere else around the South Sound.  Lots of them are Free, too!

For Seattle or Portland area fun you’ll want to check out the fantastic list over at ThriftyNWmom compiled by the newest member of their frugal finding team, Annaliese of Grays Harbor Deals! She’s found some good ones this week!

 Friday

It’s Kids’ Day in Auburn  Inflatables, booths, entertainment, and more! Free!  We’ve done this and had lots of fun, though the lines for the inflatables are Immense. If you can talk your kids out of those, you’ll be in business!

Seussical the Musical in Auburn   Also Saturday

Meeker Days begins in Puyallup

Recess Monkey Concert at Charles Wright Academy 6PM  FREE concert open to the public with the popular kindie rockers!

U Pick strawberries at Picha in Puyallup   I have a post here with details on doing u pick at Picha. 

Saturday

All Over

Kids’ Club at Michael’s Michael’s offers 30 minute craft sessions for kids for 2.00 from 10-11:30. It’s a How to Train Your Dragon Perler key chain today. I would not do this with young children as the little beads are small and a bit tricky for small hands. You may also want to read about their Passport to Imagination summer program-open for registration now.

Visit your farmer’s market!

More than two dozen events around the South Sound continue below the fold. Just click, “Continue Reading.” [Read more…]