Mia's Defines Family-Friendly Restaurant in Houston

Lots of restaurants say they're family-friendly. Some really deliver. One of our faves is Mia's (a Mandola restaurant) near West Alabama and Kirby. This is not a fast food joint but rather a casual place to gather and get a good meal.

Order your food upon entering and your food will be brought to your table. My kids loved the options and so did my husband: grilled cheese & a bowl of fruit, chicken fried steak, fish tacos, pulled pork sandwiches and plenty of salads, too. The biggest hit is the FREE, soft serve ice cream.

As a mom of a one-year-old, I appreciate that Mia's has plenty of high chairs. You don't have to worry about your child being too loud either. There are plenty of folks in and outside on the patio chatting away.

This is great for a Sunday lunch or even a weekday dinner. You won't leave hungry or stressed with the kids.

Until the next nap time...

Houston's Presidents Heads and Other Fun Statues

How can you combine art and history for kids in Houston? Houston has some really interesting statues but some are more fun for young kids than others. Yesterday, Little K, her daddy and I went to visit the Presidents Heads, as I fondly call them. For those of you who frequently take I-45 into downtown, you likely see a sampling of the Presidents Heads that I'm referencing. Each time we drive by this small section on I-45, Little K and I shout "Hi, Presidents Heads!" I'm not even sure how that started but it's funny so I keep doing it.

Years ago, Little K and I made this same trip to artist David Adickes' outdoor studio, but there were significantly less statues and my daughter now doesn't remember that. (I think she was only three years old.) 

The studio location is just south of the Target store on Taylor Street (near I10) and very close to downtown Houston but you have to search a bit. You may recall a warehouse area near there. That's where you'll aim. You only need 10 minutes to browse the statues, although you could spend much more, if you want. Little K thought these statues were really cool, especially when we examined how the eyes were constructed. It looks like instead of coloring the irises, Adickes and his team carved that area deep into the structure so that the dark shadow would give the appearance of a darker color. Clever.

This visit also presents a history lesson since few kids would know who all these individuals are. Not only did we tell Little K about who they were, but also what great things they did. The statue at left of Little K and President Bush was perhaps only their first meeting. (wink). The larger than life size of these statues seems to emphasize the importance of the individuals. It also grabs your attention, no matter what your age.

There were a handful of these large statues for close-up viewing as soon as we pulled into the studio yard (as shown at left). Numerous other statues would cordoned off behind a metal fence. I'm not sure why that was and there wasn't anyone available to ask. There were a few "other" statues, of course, like the "We Love Houston" sign and the statues of the Beatles rocking out on guitars. There's something for everyone.

One of the best things about this trip is that you can easily weave it into a trip to Target, the bank or a restaurant on nearby Washington Avenue. I know many parents feel like their schedules are already so jam packed but this is easy to incorporate and break up the monotony of routines. Why not take your kids and see how many statues they'll recognize? Surely, they'll at least recognize the newest addition, President Barack Obama. Let me know what your kids say. 

Do you have other statues in town that your family likes to visit? Share it here.

Until the next nap time...

Adolf Hoepfl Garage Hosts 7th Annual Fish Fry on Saturday, March 24 to Fundraise for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society

The team at Adolf Hoepfl & Son Garage is used to the heat of car repairs. On Saturday, March 24, the crew will kick into high gear with a fish fry that’s open to the general public. All funds raised benefit the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.

Dinner will include Cajun fried catfish, cole slaw, French fries and dessert. A chicken plate is also available for non-fish eaters. The suggested donation for the adult food plate is $15 and $6 for the kids plate. Music with a festive DJ, dancing and friendly conversations will serve as the evening’s entertainment. The festivities will run from 4:30-8 p.m. at Adolf Hoepfl Garage, which is located at 4610 N. Shepherd Drive in the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area.

 

“This is our seventh annual fish fry and it’s a great community builder,” owner Kathryn van der Pol said. “In addition to being passionate about car care, we’re also passionate about supporting our community through the MS Society.”

In fact, owners Kathryn and Sybren van der Pol ride in the MS 150 bike ride from Houston to Austin each year. Photos from last year’s fish fry can be viewed online.

Guests are not required to be avid cyclists to participate in the March 24 event. Friends of all ages are encouraged to attend. Call 713-695-5071 in advance to reserve your tickets.

About Adolf Hoepfl and Son Garage

Adolf Hoepfl & Son Garage is committed to leading the auto repair industry by providing the highest quality workmanship and the most helpful service for our customers. Since 1946, Adolf Hoepfl Garage has been committed to exceptional, quality car care and the friendliest customer service. Adolf Hoepfl Garage understands that the best investment we can make for our future is contributing and giving back to our community. For more information, please visit www.adolfhoepfl.com call our crew at 713-695-5071 or stop by the shop.

Hope to see you all at this fun event for the family. 

Until the next nap time...

More Fun Things to Do in October in Houston with Kids

     Each month, I publish an email newsletter with fun ideas of things to do in Houston with kids. If you haven't yet subscribed, take just 1 minute to sign up online and tell your friends, too. 

    There are so many fun things to do in Houston in October with kids that I couldn't fit them all in my October newsletter. Here are a few more that I hope you'll try.

    1. Saturday, Oct. 8 – Sunday, Oct. 9 (10 am – 6 pm) is the Bayou City Art Festival, where you can walk through downtown to view all sorts of art from nationwide artists. Welcoming children, the Gexa Energy Creative Zone includes more than 12 activities designed specifically for young, aspiring artists. From creating custom jewelry to making mini art cars, your kids will have a blast. Parents and grandparents will enjoy strolling through booths featuring art work for sale by more than 300 artists. This is a fun way to spend the day outdoors and appreciate art. The festival is showcased in front of City Hall and around Hermann Square on the streets of Walker, Bagby and McKinney, as well as Sam Houston Park. Admission is $12/adult and children are free.

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    2. We had a blast at the Scarecrow Festival in Chappel Hill, Texas last year. It’s about 1.5 hours from Houston. If you have the day free, head out of town to enjoy this outdoor event together. Aim to arrive early as the traffic on Hwy. 290 heading into Chappel Hill backs up for miles. It’s worth the wait though. I enjoyed all the festival food (yum!) and the autumn décor and early holiday shopping. The children’s area includes a small ferris wheel ($5), a train ($3), a petting zoo ($3) with the cutest pot belly pig baby & much more. Be sure to bring cash as each booth has different fees and I didn’t see a place that accepted credit cards. Check out our photos from last year. This year, the festival is Saturday, Oct. 8 (10 am – 6 pm) and Sunday, Oct. 8 (noon – 5 pm). There is no admission fee but parking is $5/car.

     

            3. Monday Oct. 10 is Columbus Day. Do your kids know who Christopher Columbus is? If your children span various ages, encourage your older children to read a story or make up a play about Christopher Columbus so the younger kids can learn. Teach them the “1492 Poem.”Or check out these fun ways to celebrate Columbus Day that I found online.

4. Attend Energy Day 2011 on Saturday, October 15 from 11 am to 5 pm at Houston’s Hermann Square (downtown at Smith between Walker & McKinney. Sponsored by the City of Houston and Consumer Energy Alliance, Energy Day is a FREE family-friendly festival that will celebrate and highlight the importance of energy in our daily lives and Houston’s role as the Energy Capital. The event is designed to educate youth of all ages about the overall role all forms of energy play in meeting our current and future needs. With more than 80 kid-friendly innovative exhibits, demonstrations and booths focused on some of the coolest energy-related scientific breakthroughs, games and interactive displays, Energy Day is sure to be a can’t-miss event for the entire family. Energy Day will also feature Live Music, Food and Prizes. Free parking is available. For more information, visit www.energyday2011.org.

5.   On Friday, Oct. 28 at 11 am, Miller Outdoor Theatre presents “The Adventures of Tom & Huck”, an adaptation of the book by Mark Twain. Bring a picnic blanket and lunch so you can enjoy this one-hour musical with your youngster. You’re sure to laugh, too. Miller Outdoor Theatre is located in Hermann Park at 6000 Hermann Park Drive. Arrive early to find parking before the production begins. Price: no charge

Until the next nap time...

Theater District Open House in Houston, August 28 from noon - 4 pm

I just saw this opportunity today and only wish I had seen it earlier so I could have mentioned it in my newsletter. I suppose this gives readers one more reason to come to my blog. This looks like a fun family activity.

The 18th Capital One Bank Theater District Open House is a fun-filled way to experience dance, music and theater for FREE! Bring the whole family for a day in Houston's world-renowned Theater District as the Alley Theatre, Hobby Center, Jones Hall and Wortham Theater Center swing their doors wide open. Guests can expect live performances, meet-and-greets with costumed performers, Capital One Bank trolley rides & the best ticket deals of the year on season subscriptions!

Addressing Obesity in Our Children

I think this is a great idea so I have to share. According to the American Heart Association, "currently, 25% of the nation’s children are showing early warning signs of heart diseases, but this can be undone."

Our own family set out just last week to eat healthier and be more active. I know, it's only been a week but we all have to start somewhere. Check out the following facts about childhood obesity and health in general and then learn how your family can do more to care for each others' health.

Thanks to Meghan Allen at the American Heart Association for these facts.

"Our nation is facing an increasingly dire obesity epidemic and this includes the Houston community. The number of meals being eaten outside of the home has reached an all time high. Since foods eaten away from the home are typically served in large portion sizes and are higher in energy density compared to meals eaten at home (My insert: not to mention they're usually drenched in salt), it is extremely important that Houstonians are well informed about what they are eating.

The American Heart Association is pleased to announce the launch of the Houston DINEs campaign. Houston DINEs is a local education and awareness campaign to provide dining information and nutrition education to all Houstonians.

The American Heart Association wants to empower consumers by encouraging them to ask questions about the calories they consume. This will increase the ability of consumers to make informed choices in the food and beverages they purchase in restaurants."

Learn more about what the American Heart Association is doing and how it can help you & your family. Visit http://houstondines.blogspot.com/ to learn more.

On a Friday evening, my thoughts of restaurant eating have been curtailed and healthier choices are trickling in. How about you? How do you encourage your kids to eat healthy?

Until the next nap time...

Backwards Day

Have you ever had one of those days where things seem backward? Yesterday was Little K's. After school, we begged her to get her swim suit and a cover-up on so we could run by a networking event in the Heights and then head to Little K's swimming lessons at 6:10 pm. We had so much to accomplish yesterday that we were literally running from place to place. Finally, my husband Trent went into our daughter's room to "encourage" her to get dressed.

After a quick networking stop, we journeyed on to swim lessons. I chatted with my husband and some other parents while Little K and two other children practiced in the pool with their teacher. I noticed that Little K's bathing suit seemed to come way down in the front. Luckily, she doesn't have anything to show but it looked really weird.

Maybe she just needs to pull up her suit, I thought.

Ten or fifteen minutes go by. I watch Little K practice her freestyle swim and she's really trying to work on her arms. Unfortunately, I'm distracted by the fact that it looks like she's wearing a skimpy bathing suit because her backside is hanging out of her swim suit. That's when it hit me.

"Trent, did you help Little K get her bathing suit on today?" I asked my husband.

"No, I told her she could do it herself," he replied. After all, she's 5, right? I get the thinking here.

"Well, she put it on backward. Look!" I said.

There went my Little K paddling away with her bottom hanging out. Maybe I should remember she's my LITTLE K.

Flash forward to dinner time. We were starving so Little K quickly changed into play clothes and we went to a restaurant to eat. By the time we got home, it was past Little K's bed time so we started putting on her nightgown. She was so exhausted from the full day that she lay on top of her bed like a wet noodle. I just looked at my husband and laughed.

"What?" Trent asked.

"Her underwear is on backwards. I've got to fix it for her," I said. "What a day!"

Hope your Friday is better and that all of you have a wonderful weekend! Until the next nap time...

Motherhood Lessons on Mother's Day

This morning at church, Fr. Clint said 90 percent of life is just showing up... even when as a mother you may need a break and want to make a run for it. How pertinent.

Every mom runs into times when it seems she could pull her hair out but instead she pulls her hair back and continues to rear her children. The job doesn't get much thanks yet we continue. Why? Here are a few of my favorite reasons to continue being a Mom and the best Mom that I can be:

• her big brown eyes continue to look up to me. I don't want to set anything but a good example.
• when I make her blueberry muffins on a week crazed with meetings and the swine flu, she smiles and appreciates it.
• I can do small things and she notices.
• My mom would have done it. I had a great example to follow.
• It can actually relieve my stress to cook with Little K and watch her stir the pot or finish a puzzle or go for a walk. Taking time out to focus just on her reminds me of the simple things in life that bring joy.

While my list could go on and on, I'm sure each of you also have your own list swimming in your heads. Good. I also know there are days when I need to look back at this list. At least now I knwo where to find it.
Fr. Clint also retold a story about when he was in seminary and attended a Q&A with the bishop. When Fr. Clint asked what the bishop thought about priest burnout, the bishop responded that he didn't believe it was possible. "To burn out, you must first be on fire," he said. Our congregation laughed and I did, too, but I thought of the fire differently.
Is your parenting spirit on fire? Alive and visible for all to see, including those little feet behind you? I want to be someone who is obviously so happy to be a parent, that others don't have to ask. They will know I am thrilled by the way I look and act. Don't get me wrong, I know there are those challenging days. When I need a boost of fresh air, I'll remind myself of the reasons I continue to nurture my child and why motherhood really matters. I have an impact.
The sermon this morning also reminded me how important it is to stay connected to others as a way to avoid burnout and stay charged. From parenting groups to volunteering through Church and talking to a friend or family member, when we feel connected to another group, we feel supported. I have found that the connections that I have made in my community and in Little K's school have been so positive. We share our child-rearing experiences and work challenges but walk away knowing that most other parents are facing similar obstacles. Together, we can try again tomorrow and know that a spare spit rag or party costume is just a call away.
Even if I am a bit lost from time to time, or frustrated by the sassy young girl that I call daughter, I will show up and I will be on fire. See you there.
Until the next nap time...

Pea Pickin' Memories

The remainder of Day 4, Saturday, found us at Aunt Kenny & Uncle Brad's for an all-American picnic. Cousin Lauren had returned from Europe and filled us in on her faves. Little K enjoyed chasing 3 dogs around the yard, picking peas and cuddling with Uncle Brad.

Day 5 begin with a trip to church with PaPa Don. Grammy went earlier, of course. On the way home, we stopped by Iron Horse Park for a whirl at the playground. Quite muddy, we bathed at the house just in time for the Barrett clan to return for a huge lunch. How I'll fit into the airplane seat tonight, I'm not sure.

We picked peas again today as a last effort to ingrain the memory in Little K's memory. That has been my favorite all these years. You could the pea-picking song for blocks.

Ha, Ha, Ha. You & me

Out to the garden to pick some peas.

Ha, Ha, Ha. You & me

I'll eat pods and & you eat the peas.

What fun this trip has been. Until the next nap time...

Let the Good Times Roll

Is my family jinxed?

On Wednesday, I slipped and fell down 14 of the 16 wood floor stairs... on my tailbone. I went to the doctor yesterday and was told that they don't think I broke my tailbone but have probably torn the ligaments around it. The doctor massaged my tailbone (no, I'm not even kidding. It was SO embarassing.) and told me to keep ice on it. It will hopefully feel better by next week. Ugh.

This morning, Little K was so excited to get into the school that she ran right into the open car door. After she finally calmed down, I saw she has a big scratch and a shiner under her left eye. Poor thing.

Then, this afternoon, my husband called to tell me that he was heading to the ER. He was connecting a trailer to the back of his truck and something moved and his middle finger got stuck in between the hitch and the ball. Several shots & 5 stiches later, Trent has this huge cast on his middle finger that looks like he's flicking everyone off! Somehow in the madness, Trent took time to photograph the gaping hole in his finger. He encouraged me to post the photo but since I gagged when I saw them, I figured the pics were too graphic for my family-oriented blog. Believe me, it was disgusting.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that my sister Colyn was robbed last Monday night. Then, Colyn, who's 7.5 months pregnant, got hit by an SUV while she was walking in a crosswalk in downtown Houston. She was thrown 15 feet from the SUV. Amazingly, both mom and child are okay. I haven't a clue how that worked except by the grace of God. For real.

Now that we have all this bad luck out of the way, we only have good things left. I'll toast to that. Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. I'm heading to pick up Little K now. Our celebrations may now begin.

Until the next nap time...

Kazdin Method Works

Yesterday, I finished reading the book The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child with No Pills, No Therapy, No Contest of Wills. The last phrase "no contest of wills" especially caught my attention and my husband's since he recommended the book to me. (No, he has not read the book yet.) I think this book is one that I'll refer to throughout Little K's childhood & teen years. I really like how it's broken into age-related chapters so I could turn to the preschool chapter and get the answers I need. In 10 years, I'll refer to the preteen chapter. (Wow, that's weird to think about.)

Any ways, we are now using the point chart, reward system & positive opposites that Kazdin describes and Little K is making remarkable progress. Yeah! She's excited about getting dressed in the morning "like a Big Girl" (1 star), some times she's willing to have a "Big Girl Tubby" (another star) and she's doing great with "Big Girl Bed Time" (another star). After so many stars, she gets to choose a treat like reaching into a grab bag or choosing a game for us to play together. Kazdin walks you through the pitfalls and makes it practical. Here's my online review of the book. I'm actually glad my husband put this on my "To Read" list.

Until the next nap time...

Being A Present Parent

Today, I have to watch several Oprah episodes that I had recorded in an effort to get caught up to speed on Oprah's interest for a client. I think it's interesting how so many of her shows hit upon slowing down to "be present" and finding peace with yourself.

One Mom said that she had several adopted children who had lost their biological mother. Almost to make up for their loss, she tried to be the ultimate, the perfect mom. I do this all the time. Finally, this mom said she experienced a powerful awakening. "As a mom, I'm not perfect, but I am present." By present, she meant that she was emotionally, spiritually and yes even physically connected to her children. This was pretty moving to me, too, because I'm learning to let go of striving for this perfect mom (perfect entrepreneur, perfect...) image. This woman's comments gave me something to replace that struggle with. Instead, I can just be happy about being fully present with Little K and my husband. That's doable.

Another Oprah show featured Maria Shriver with some surprising confessions about her struggle to identify herself as Maria Shriver -- not a Kennedy or Arnold's wife or the first lady of California or even the journalist. (Maria was asked to leave the network when Arnold became Governor to avoid an appearance of inobjectivity.) Any ways, here's a quote from Maria that I thought was empowering:

"I was raised in a family that equated self-worth with personal achievement. Achievement brought not just acceptance but power, recognition and love. I'd been taught that if you weren't doing, if you weren't serving, if you weren't accomplishing BIG, then you really weren't being. You weren't even seen.

"I've learned that being seen actually for who you are, not for what you do is probably the greatest gift anybody can give you and you can give as a parent to your child and to your friends." -- Maria Shriver

I love it! Hope that gets your thoughts moving. Until the next nap time...

What's in a Name?

First, congratulations to Shannon W on the birth of her second child - a girl. Yeah! Also, thanks for the prompting to blog away.

I laughed several years ago when a friend of my mom's proudly announced that he had purchased the URLs of his kids' first names. (Think http://www.megan.com/ or http://www.yourfirstname.com/). This very proud father of two adult children was paying annual fees to reserve the rights to those URLs just in case his kids ever wanted to use them. It seemed like a waste of money to me.

Flash forward to last week when I'm curious about the URL for my own daughter. Have you ever searched for the Web site of your child's first name? Little K has a somewhat unique name. It's not popular like Jennifer or Amy. Maybe I could reserve the URL for her. After I carefully type the URL into the browser, I hold my breath as a lot of Flash animation appears. It's an online portfolio for a former pop singer who also apparently did/does some acting and modeling. Okay, you're thinking, it seems pretty harmless.

(If you know my daughter's name, you really should check out the URL.) The photos are a little more revealing than I'd like associated with my daughter. Maybe I should try to buy the URL from the current owner. Ugh. I felt disappointed... until I realized how crazy I was being. I actually was falling for that trap.

What's in a name? For me, when I hear Little K's name, it brings a proud smile to my face because her name translates to an amazing young girl with an independent spirit. In the end, I don't really care what the URL says. I know my girl. But I had to laugh at my reaction as a mother. Who'd have thought 10 years ago when I was first conquering email that I'd be doing this stuff? What funny creatures we are!

Until the next nap time...

Good Mom Definition

I often think about motherhood today compared to motherhood when I was a child and even longer ago than that. My mom told me today that Mother's Day is not one of the most important holidays to her because just birthing a child does not mean you are a good mom. Of course, not. As my mom put it, "cats have lots of babies." It got me thinking: what makes a good mom? What do you think?

Is a good mom the one who puts her career on hold so that she can stay at home with the kids until they are required by the state to go to school? Or is a good mom the one who works full- or part-time (outside the home, I mean) to help pay the bills and provide for her children?

It's not that simple. I know a few stay-at-home moms. One elementary-school-age daughter told me that her mom is constantly on the phone & doesn't have time for the kids. Surprising words from an 8 year old. I think a good mom is the one who is NOT so preoccupied with her corporate job OR socializing beyond the house. A good mom is the one who doesn't miss opportunities to play Thomas the Train and Care Bears.. even if that means climbing on the floor in her newly pressed slacks and button-down shirt to climb through the playhouse door. (I can barely fit through that door, but it makes Little K laugh with glee. I better stick to my strict eating regimen or I'll get stuck.) Somehow I think a good mom is able to rely some on others to help her through the week, while keeping her child/children a top priority. It's a fine line between relying on help and having someone else raise your child.

In the end, we all make the best decisions we can. As if we don't have enough to worry about: from the right elementary school to another episode of child stalkers on 20/20 to potty training to college applications. At some point, I think we all realize that if it wasn't for that overwhelming love for our children, we wouldn't have to make some of those tough decisions about life. Can you look your child in his/her eyes and feel like you're trying to be a good role model -- however you define that? Good job.

Until the next nap time...

Happy Arbor Day, Houston!

On Friday, April 27, Texas celebrates Arbor Day. The city of Houston has honored this day for more than 20 years. Plant a tree in your yard or help your neighborhood care for its trees in local parks. If you join The Arbor Day Foundation, you will receive 10 trees to plant in your yard. What a wonderful way to participate in nature and discuss the importance of growing and caring for trees with your children. The Arbor Day Web site is full of great ideas for kids ages two and up. As if you needed an excuse to enjoy this beautiful Houston weather. Ahhhh...

Until the next nap time...