Archives for January 2015

Looking for things to do with the family in Tacoma, Olympia, or Gig Harbor this weekend?

You’re in the right place!

Welcome to our guide to free and affordable family fun in the South Puget Sound!  We have one just like it up every Friday! Headed elsewhere? There is always lots more to explore  at ThriftyNWmom  thanks to frugal fun finder, Annaliese, of Grays Harbor Deals!

Friday

Play all day with our friends at WiggleWorks at the South Hill Mall 7.00 come and go admission every weekday!

Keep Reading for complete listings for Saturday and Sunday by area  

[Read more…]

Hey, friends, your weekend events list is going to be late. I had a technical glitch, and it disappeared, and I have to be elsewhere for a while.

I plan on having it up later this afternoon. Thank you for your patience!  One fun event you definitely CAN look forward to is the grand opening with our friends at Jozee Rooz! Come back later for all the rest!

I’m so excited to tell my Federal Way and South King County/NE Tacoma area readers about Christian Faith School.

Christian Faith School offers classes for students in preschool through 12th grade!

I was especially excited to learn about their preschool, which offers a high quality program, experienced teachers, and a developmentally appropriate curriculum grounded in Biblical principles. It also has several unique features you won’t find at other preschools!

If your dream preschool would have caring teachers, dedicated time to getting out in nature, classes that, “Loop,” so your child can have the same teacher each year, and enrichment activities like Spanish and science-well, here is your school, friends!

I was most impressed by the experience of their teachers-an average of 20 years-and by the fact that they have classes of just ten students! This means the teachers are able to truly know each child and his/her needs. There are times through out the day for group and individual work in reading, art, Spanish, science, and math, and once a week kids go off site to their Outside Classroom. You’ve probably heard that kids these days aren’t getting enough exercise or enough time outdoors. I absolutely LOVE that this is a regular part of their curriculum.

Preschoolers can attend for a half or full day, and, of course, the staff would also be glad to discuss their options for elementary and secondary students. Merit based scholarships are available.

You’ll find all the information you need about the preschool right here.   You can also request more information here, or call or email to arrange a tour. I do believe that’s the very best way to choose a preschool. info@christianfaithschool.com  or 253.943.2500

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I would LOVE for you to mention Sounds Fun Mom when you call our friends at Christian Faith School!

 

Wowza! If you’ve had your eye on a Groupon, or you could use a deal on family fun or a date night, have I got news for you!

Groupon is offering an extra 20% off up to three local deals!You can check them all out here!

Considering most are already discounted by at least 50%, that is a substantial savings.

I see deals to Pump It Up, The Family Fun Center, slot car racing, The Harlem Globetrotters, Menchies, and many, many, more. To get the extra savings, just use code TRIPLE. You can also save an extra 10% off up to 3 Goods Deals, and an extra 10% off up to 3 getaways-and yes, it looks like they still have Great Wolf!  Woot!

To see all your choices, head here to Groupon.

Be sure to tell us if you find something great!

Disclosure: Groupon links on this site are always my affiliates. When you use them, I receive a very small percentage of your purchase prices. It does not affect your cost at all, and I do appreciate your use of them to help support the site. As always, never get in on any deal that isn’t a great one for you and your family!

 

Don’t you just love to start the week with a giveaway? I sure do!

Today I have a family 4 pack of tickets to Seussical the Musical with our friends at ManeStage Theatre in Sumner.

We’ve been proudly partnering with Sumner ManeStage for years here at SFM. They’re a locally run company, and they produce quality, uplifting entertainment for the whole family.  If you haven’t discovered them yet, you really should!

The current production is Seussical, a show that’s fun for all ages. It features exciting musical numbers and brings to life some of Dr.Seuss’s most beloved characters. Whether you’re reading The Cat and the Hat for the first time or the 1,000th, you’ll be delighted by this one.

Performances run January 31st through February 15th at various show times. Tickets are reasonably priced. You can buy them, and get more information about this show and other upcoming ManeStage productions, right here! 

And, now, on to the contest……! The winner of this giveaway gets to pick the show to attend! Woot!

Ready to enter? Here we go…..All entries should be left as comments on this post…..

• For a first, required entry, just tell us why you’d like to win.
• For a second, optional entry, like Sumner ManeStage on Facebook and come back and tell us you did so. Remember: You have to leave your comment here, on this post.
• For a third, optional entry, follow the  SFM boards on Pinterest or follow me on Twitter, and leave a comment telling me you did so! Already do? Just say so!
• and, for a final, fourth optional entry, share this contest, and leave a comment telling us what you did. Facebook is easy, but feel free to send an email blast to your mom’s groups, Tweet about it, or tell the other parents at basketball practice-whatever!

Please remember that all entries must be left here on the post, and each should be left as a separate comment to improve your odds. Please leave an email you check (they aren’t visible to anyone else, and I only use them to notify you if you win). Your comments will go to my moderation queue if you’ve never commented before, but I promise they’ll be there just as soon as I can approve them. I will be offline this afternoon, so don’t panic!

I will choose a winner Friday morning, and you’ll have 24 hours to respond!  Good Luck!

Disclosure: Our friends at ManeStage provided the tickets for this contest. I was not otherwise compensated.

 

Looking for things to do with the family in Tacoma, Olympia, or Gig Harbor this weekend?

Wondering about kid friendly Martin Luther King Jr. Day events? You’re in the right place!

Welcome to our guide to free and affordable family fun in the South Puget Sound!  We have one just like it up every Friday! Headed elsewhere? There is always lots more to explore  at ThriftyNWmom  thanks to frugal fun finder, Annaliese, of Grays Harbor Deals!

Friday

Indoor Park at Pen-Met Indoor Soccer Center in Gig Harbor  Every Friday from 11:15-12:30; toys usually left up longer  2.00/child Thanks, Gig Harbor Macaroni Kid

Play all day with our friends at WiggleWorks at the South Hill Mall 7.00 come and go admission every weekday!

Parent’s Night Out at Pump It Up in Tacoma  Mention SFM when you call to sign up!  It’s a pajama party tonight!

Keep Reading for complete listings for Saturday and Sunday by area  

[Read more…]

Updated for 2018

Note-This post was originally written in 2015, so some attractions may have changed. The kids’ fishing pond is definitely still there, and we think the general experience will still be the same. We have updated the hours and dates.

If you’ve been wondering what the Sportsmen’s show in Puyallup has for kids, or whether it’s worth checking out for yourself, I’m here to help!

Henry and my husband went last night, and they reported back on all that’s kid (and….’ahem…big kid) friendly.

Most of the show is about looking at products and services, from fishing guides to drift boats to camping gear.

The highlight for kids is the trout pond. It’s a good sized one, and yes, your kids WILL catch a fish. Henry burst in the door super excited about his two. If you don’t want to bring a dead fish home, you can also do catch and release. There is no additional charge for the pond.

 

I asked the folks at the Sportsmen’s Show what else there was for kids this year, and sports guy Trey sent this over.

 

 

Note from SFM: Now, would I take the kids to this if you’re not interested in outdoor recreation yourself? No, I wouldn’t, only because I think it’s pricey (I’m pretty cheap). But, if you’re going to go, I do think it’s worth bringing the kids along.

Kids’ tickets are just 5.00, and honestly just the trout pond is worth that much. If you think your kids would have more fun than you would, my suggestion is to send them along with somebody else! This is a great outing to do with dad or grandpa (Yeah, o.k…..sweeping gender stereotypes here. I know there are lots of women who love hunting and fishing and what not……just don’t tell my husband because I’ve been denying that for years)!

If you’d like to go, the show runs Wednesday through Sunday at the Puyallup fairgrounds. Parking is free. Hours and ticket prices are below!  [Read more…]

Hey, Puyallup, there is a new orthodontist in town, and we’re thrilled to welcome Dr.Larson and his team as new sponsors this month.

If you’ve been looking for a skilled and caring orthodontist you can trust, I think you’ll want to meet Dr. Ethan Larson and his team. His office is right downtown near the library, an easy trip for most all of you, and he and his certified, experienced team will make the process as easy as they can.

Dr. Larson is a Northwest native. He grew up in Bothell, and after earning his doctorate as one of the Top 5 in his class (!) he’s back to provide area families with top notch care. He’s a husband and dad himself, and I think that is reflected in his mission  to deliver excellent orthodontic care in a Christ-centered, family friendly environment that promotes honesty, integrity, charity, and excellence.

Now, your kids may not care about all that, but I bet they’ll love the tablets loaded with movies and games, and the Smile Bucks reward system!

You’ll like the modern, comfortable waiting room and the free WiFi (If you’re going to be putting in the time to get kids through braces, these things matter, people)!

Dr. Larson’s team will also make things easy for you from start to finish, with convenient office hours, flexible payment plans, and a variety of patient centered treatment options. Of course, they’ll handle the insurance billing, too.

Your dentist may have already talked to you about having your kiddos see an orthodontist. If he hasn’t, you might want to ask. I was surprised to learn that the AAO recommends all children see an orthodontist for a consult no later than age 7.  Honestly?  Our older son is starting to have a real rabbit-y look to his front teeth, and we need to get him in, like yesterday.  I was super excited to learn that Dr. Larson offers Invisalign and complimentary, no obligation consultations. I’ll be sure to let you know how ours goes!

Update-Right now, if you’re a new patient, and you mention Sounds Fun Mom (or show the Smiles ad on your phone), you will get a free Waterpik at the start of treatment! We got one when our son started braces, and it has been Super helpful. This is also a really high dollar freebie-just remember to mention their ad at SFM to get it. Thanks so much!

Dr. Larson’s  office is at 210 4th Ave SW Puyallup, WA 98371 You can check out the Facebook page for Smiles Orthodontics here (look at the reviews), or visit their website here (those smiles are on real life patients-not stock models)!   If you’d like to get in for a free consultation too, just call his friendly staff at  Ph  253-848-4537

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As always, the opinions are my own. When you call for a free consultation with Dr. Larson, I would LOVE for you to mention Sounds Fun Mom!