There's still time to sign up to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this weekend. This is such a wonderful activity for the whole family. After walking, running or strolling the 5K (about 3 miles), your family can enjoy music and food in downtown as the party congratulates all its participants. Sign up in person this week:
Wednesday, Sept. 27: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 28: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 29: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
RACE DAY, Sept. 30: Sam Houston Park - Registration ONLY
6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Komen Race Takes Center Stage in Houston
There's still time to sign up to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this weekend. This is such a wonderful activity for the whole family. After walking, running or strolling the 5K (about 3 miles), your family can enjoy music and food in downtown as the party congratulates all its participants. Sign up in person this week:
Wednesday, Sept. 27: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 28: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 29: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
RACE DAY, Sept. 30: Sam Houston Park - Registration ONLY
6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 27: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 28: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 29: theGalleria on 1st Floor near Nordstrom
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
RACE DAY, Sept. 30: Sam Houston Park - Registration ONLY
6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Grown Up Songs for Kids
I subscribe to several parenting magazines but one of my favorites is Cookie. My favorite part of the magazine each month is the music recommendations. Sticking to a theme, the magazine suggests five otherwise considered "adult songs" (like "Car Wash" by Rose Royce & "That's the Way" by KC & the Sunshine Band) that kids adore. You can simply head out to iTunes and download any of the recommended songs for $1 each. Alternatively, my cousin Jon just recommended Baby Rock Records so I don't have to do the downloading myself. Baby Rock Records dedicates one CD to rock artists like The Cure and Led Zepellin but plays the music in softer lullaby tunes. I can't wait to try it out. If you check it out, let me know what you think. Either way you choose, these are great ways to enjoy music with your kids.
Until the next nap time...
Until the next nap time...
Cornelius' Fall Harvest Festival
The weather outside is beautiful. What a great day to enjoy the park or have a snack and watch the birds & butterflies. My daughter & I love it! Hope your family does too.
Mark your calendars for Cornelius' Fall Harvest Festival. On Saturday, Oct. 7 (al9 am - 6 pm), Cornelius Nursery will have a family day and it looks super fun. Shop the old fashioned Farmer's Market with pumpkins, corn stalks, and seasonal decor. Choose a scarecrow for your yard. (It's perfect through Thanksgiving!) Take a photo of your child during the Picture Takin' Place -- a scene focused on a giant pumpkin cut-out and surrounded by corn stalks, hay bales, scarecrows and festive activity. Plus, kids can enjoy the Decoratin' Parlor, where they use paste-ons, safe markers, masks & feathers to decorate a pumpkin. Then your youngsters can have some gooey fun in the Slime Station. For more details, visit http://www.corneliusnurseries.com/Events/index.html.
Mark your calendars for Cornelius' Fall Harvest Festival. On Saturday, Oct. 7 (al9 am - 6 pm), Cornelius Nursery will have a family day and it looks super fun. Shop the old fashioned Farmer's Market with pumpkins, corn stalks, and seasonal decor. Choose a scarecrow for your yard. (It's perfect through Thanksgiving!) Take a photo of your child during the Picture Takin' Place -- a scene focused on a giant pumpkin cut-out and surrounded by corn stalks, hay bales, scarecrows and festive activity. Plus, kids can enjoy the Decoratin' Parlor, where they use paste-ons, safe markers, masks & feathers to decorate a pumpkin. Then your youngsters can have some gooey fun in the Slime Station. For more details, visit http://www.corneliusnurseries.com/Events/index.html.
Cornelius' Fall Harvest Festival
The weather outside is beautiful. What a great day to enjoy the park or have a snack and watch the birds & butterflies. My daughter & I love it! Hope your family does too.
Mark your calendars for Cornelius' Fall Harvest Festival. On Saturday, Oct. 7 (al9 am - 6 pm), Cornelius Nursery will have a family day and it looks super fun. Shop the old fashioned Farmer's Market with pumpkins, corn stalks, and seasonal decor. Choose a scarecrow for your yard. (It's perfect through Thanksgiving!) Take a photo of your child during the Picture Takin' Place -- a scene focused on a giant pumpkin cut-out and surrounded by corn stalks, hay bales, scarecrows and festive activity. Plus, kids can enjoy the Decoratin' Parlor, where they use paste-ons, safe markers, masks & feathers to decorate a pumpkin. Then your youngsters can have some gooey fun in the Slime Station. For more details, visit http://www.corneliusnurseries.com/Events/index.html.
Mark your calendars for Cornelius' Fall Harvest Festival. On Saturday, Oct. 7 (al9 am - 6 pm), Cornelius Nursery will have a family day and it looks super fun. Shop the old fashioned Farmer's Market with pumpkins, corn stalks, and seasonal decor. Choose a scarecrow for your yard. (It's perfect through Thanksgiving!) Take a photo of your child during the Picture Takin' Place -- a scene focused on a giant pumpkin cut-out and surrounded by corn stalks, hay bales, scarecrows and festive activity. Plus, kids can enjoy the Decoratin' Parlor, where they use paste-ons, safe markers, masks & feathers to decorate a pumpkin. Then your youngsters can have some gooey fun in the Slime Station. For more details, visit http://www.corneliusnurseries.com/Events/index.html.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Fall Festivals in Houston
As the temperature starts to cool off in Houston, many families start looking for outdoor festivals. And why not? There are so many to choose from. For a great listing of festivals this fall and into winter, check out the Houston Chronicle's online listing at www.chron.com/bazaars. It even includes our family's favorite Dewberry Farm.
Until the next nap time...
Until the next nap time...
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Confession from a Houston Mom
My daughter doesn't look a thing like me.
I used to think this would be horrible. No, it's not because I think I'm a beauty queen in the making. As soon as I became pregnant, I wondered what my little one would look like. I repeatedly told my husband that I was going to be mad if our daughter didn't look a thing like me. "Not as mad as she's going to be," my husband laughed, softly touching his thinning red hair.
I looked at one of my friends and her son, who is a spitting image of his father. "How unfair. The mom did all the work!" I said. I really wanted my child to look as if we belonged together. A total stranger would look at us and never wonder where my daughter came from. My hair, my nose, my smile... just in a smaller size. But that's not how things worked out.
Instead, my 17 month old looks remarkably like my mother-in-law! I know. It should make me mad. It's enough to make you see red. But after getting to know my daughter for a year and a half, I've come to realize something. When people see us playing "Kissing Tiger" and having a tickle fest, no one wonders whose child she is. When I'm laughing and pulling the wagon down the street while my daughter is sweetly waving to every man, woman, child and animal on our way, nobody comments that she doesn't look like me. She is her own person and I couldn't be happier. Things have a way of working out for the best. It's another lesson my young daughter taught me.
Until the next nap time...
I used to think this would be horrible. No, it's not because I think I'm a beauty queen in the making. As soon as I became pregnant, I wondered what my little one would look like. I repeatedly told my husband that I was going to be mad if our daughter didn't look a thing like me. "Not as mad as she's going to be," my husband laughed, softly touching his thinning red hair.
I looked at one of my friends and her son, who is a spitting image of his father. "How unfair. The mom did all the work!" I said. I really wanted my child to look as if we belonged together. A total stranger would look at us and never wonder where my daughter came from. My hair, my nose, my smile... just in a smaller size. But that's not how things worked out.
Instead, my 17 month old looks remarkably like my mother-in-law! I know. It should make me mad. It's enough to make you see red. But after getting to know my daughter for a year and a half, I've come to realize something. When people see us playing "Kissing Tiger" and having a tickle fest, no one wonders whose child she is. When I'm laughing and pulling the wagon down the street while my daughter is sweetly waving to every man, woman, child and animal on our way, nobody comments that she doesn't look like me. She is her own person and I couldn't be happier. Things have a way of working out for the best. It's another lesson my young daughter taught me.
Until the next nap time...
Friday, September 15, 2006
Free Train Rides & Looking for Jean Painting in Houston
In addition to Museum District Day, Houston Area Live Steamers (HALS) is running FREE train rides this weekend. The hours are 10 am -4 pm this Saturday the 16th. For complete details, visit http://www.hals.org/.
Also, fellow Houstonian Leah heard about a place in Houston where kids can paint their own pair of jeans and then take them home to wear. I've been looking for this place but can't seem to find it. If you know about this, please email me.
Until the next nap time...
Also, fellow Houstonian Leah heard about a place in Houston where kids can paint their own pair of jeans and then take them home to wear. I've been looking for this place but can't seem to find it. If you know about this, please email me.
Until the next nap time...
Houston's Museum District Day
Museum District Day is this Saturday, 9/16 from 10 am-5 pm. 16 museums will waive general admission fees so this is a great way to head to a few museums with the kids. Pack a lunch or snack and enjoy Hermann Park and then head to the Zoo (general admission fee does apply at the zoo).
Until the next nap time...
Until the next nap time...
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11 Impacts Parents Still
As I dropped my daughter off at nursery school today, wearing an American flag dress, I wondered what parents felt like 5 years ago. I didn't have children then so it's hard for me to imagine. Instead, I found myself holding on to my little one a bit longer today. Her teachers quickly picked up on what was going on. My one-year-old was ready to play but mom was holding on in case there was another terrorist attack on the 9/11/01 anniversary. I wanted that image of my girl smiling to remain in my memory... just in case. My behaviour begs the question: should you hold on longer every day?
You just never know.
But my child doesn't know either. And so I'll go on like many parents who realize what happened five years ago and how different our lives could be if something tragic happened today, drastically changing our family. But I'll force the tears back and remember that I live by example and my daughter would rather play with friends than hide inside. We've got big plans tomorrow to attend MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and the playgroup for the children. The afternoon will unveil mommy & baby time just for us. At dinner, my toddler will throw peas on the floor and I'll grit my teeth in frustration. And then I will remember that just the day before I wondered how it would be not to have that time with her. So I'll be more patient and I'll smile in thankfulness for all that we have and all that our soldiers have given us. Perhaps this is one way to pay respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11/01 when you have a child that can't possibly understand. Have you forgotten? No, I doubt you have. Showing your children how to truly live life to its fullest is evidence of that.
Until the next nap time...
You just never know.
But my child doesn't know either. And so I'll go on like many parents who realize what happened five years ago and how different our lives could be if something tragic happened today, drastically changing our family. But I'll force the tears back and remember that I live by example and my daughter would rather play with friends than hide inside. We've got big plans tomorrow to attend MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and the playgroup for the children. The afternoon will unveil mommy & baby time just for us. At dinner, my toddler will throw peas on the floor and I'll grit my teeth in frustration. And then I will remember that just the day before I wondered how it would be not to have that time with her. So I'll be more patient and I'll smile in thankfulness for all that we have and all that our soldiers have given us. Perhaps this is one way to pay respects to those who lost their lives on 9/11/01 when you have a child that can't possibly understand. Have you forgotten? No, I doubt you have. Showing your children how to truly live life to its fullest is evidence of that.
Until the next nap time...
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Family Tree with One Limb?
Ahhh... my little one is taking a Saturday morning nap. So what, you say? That morning nap has been "outgrown" for months. Its pleasant return on a weekend was a God send.
Which leads me to another thought... I was watching my daughter running through her grandparents' house earlier today and realized how much she's grown. At 17 months, her exploratory skills are being finetuned. But it seems just yesterday that she was learning to walk. I'm now at the point where so many adults ask when I'll have my second child. Will I? I'm not sure. Why is it that people are in a rush to build out my family tree? Perhaps ours will remain lean but strong. Or maybe another limb will be added down the road. In any case, I've decided to focus on the child I have for now but I hope I never pressure others to make family decisions that might not be right for them. After all, it's still a personal decision.
It's interesting, too, to note that in my effort to capture all of my daughter's special moments in photographs, I've actually learned something else. Her childhood memories will not be specific to one of those moments but all of them. Her life will not be one defining moment but a mixture of many. And so old mom can ease back a bit and not fret about forgetting the camera (again!). Life is full of many moments that aren't categorized and captured but experienced and relished. This weekend I hope your family enjoys many pleasant moments. My family will.
Until the next nap time...
Go Longhorns!
Which leads me to another thought... I was watching my daughter running through her grandparents' house earlier today and realized how much she's grown. At 17 months, her exploratory skills are being finetuned. But it seems just yesterday that she was learning to walk. I'm now at the point where so many adults ask when I'll have my second child. Will I? I'm not sure. Why is it that people are in a rush to build out my family tree? Perhaps ours will remain lean but strong. Or maybe another limb will be added down the road. In any case, I've decided to focus on the child I have for now but I hope I never pressure others to make family decisions that might not be right for them. After all, it's still a personal decision.
It's interesting, too, to note that in my effort to capture all of my daughter's special moments in photographs, I've actually learned something else. Her childhood memories will not be specific to one of those moments but all of them. Her life will not be one defining moment but a mixture of many. And so old mom can ease back a bit and not fret about forgetting the camera (again!). Life is full of many moments that aren't categorized and captured but experienced and relished. This weekend I hope your family enjoys many pleasant moments. My family will.
Until the next nap time...
Go Longhorns!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Curious George Debuts in Houston This Weekend
Looking for a fun activity for the kids this weekend?
When: Saturday, September 9 at 10 am, 11 am & 1 pm
Where: Houston Zoo at 1513 N. MacGregor
Join Ernie Manouse, Houston PBS Host of The After Party and InnerViews, at the Zoo for the Curious George Kick-Off Event. Kids will enjoy:
- Monkey Facts
- Curious George Video Presentation
- Goody Bags &
- A Surprise.
The TV show "Curious George" began on Labor Day and continues Monday - Friday at 7 am. Visit the Curious George website on PBS Kids for more details. If your kids are in school during the week, set your Tivo or video recorder so your family can enjoy this monkey on the weekends.
And don't forget Sunday, September 10 is Grandparents' Day! Take your child's local grandparents out to eat, to a movie or enjoy bowling. If your child's grandparents live out of town, prepare your youngster to call them this weekend. Or mail them a masterpiece created by your child.
Until the next nap time...
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