Visits with Great Grandparents are Such a Treasure

Last Thursday, Little K returned from her trip with her Grand to see her great grandparents in Ohio. It was the day before her "Meet the Teacher Day" and we jam-packed her schedule as summer came to a close.

Little K was tired but filled with stories to tell -- much like the ones I remember from similar trips when I was her age. Her suitcase also came with some interesting items like the live cicada named Emma. (I don't know how that got through security. Nor do I think Houston needs a cicada from Ohio.) Pa Pa Don is still his humorous self.  Little K made the adults laugh until their sides hurt when she claimed that the cicada slobbered on her. Cicada slobber?

The trip had barely started when Grammy served homemade biscuits and gravy. Later Pa Pa Don fixed his now famous fluffy pancakes.

Little K and her extended family found time to go fishing and actually catch something besides grief. Little K discovered a new love for worms. She played with cousin Bentley, who is older and wiser by a few years. They went for a ride in Uncle Brad's tractor and ran in the green fields (a new idea since Houston has only brown grass due to the drought.) Aunt Kenny filled her up with another tasty meal.

They picked fresh vegetables from the garden like tomatoes, potatoes and beans. They relaxed in the hot tub so Pa Pa Don could "soak his bod". From the pictures that I've included you can see that there was even time for dress up.

The only missing piece was Mommy.

I'm so bummed I couldn't make this trip. Still, I am blessed that my mom (a.k.a. Grand) was willing to take Little K to visit her great grandparents. How many adults can recall such times with their great grandparents? Some of us didn't even get much time with our grandparents. The time allowed is never enough but we continue to make the most of what we are given.

It really makes me crave more time with our family members. I encourage you to treasure your time with yours, too.

At the end of the trip, Grand took Little K's picture with her great grandparents. Snap. Then Little K looked up at her Pa Pa Don and said, "Don't worry. I'll be back."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he said laughing. Yes, we will be back. Thanks for a great time and many more memories. We can't wait to see Grammy and Pa Pa Don in Houston this November. That gives me plenty of time to come up with some pranks to play on Pa Pa Don.

Until the next nap time...

When Your Kid Takes a Trip Without You

We dropped Little K off at my parents, kissed & hugged her, & drove away. Her lip was pouting as we drove away & so was mine. I threw her my hand signal for "I love you".

Tomorrow, Little K heads to Ohio with my mom (aka Grand) to see K's great grandparents, great aunts, great uncles & cousins. I don't feel great.

The only other time I've been away from my 6-year-old daughter was 2 years ago when Trent & I took a wedding anniversary trip for 5 days. My sister pointed out that that trip was easier for me because I had a trip to look forward to. This time the roles are reversed. I didn't expect this.

Oh boy! This could be a long week. Plus, in May, I had so many plans of fun things to do over the summer with my girl. Where did the summer go? K returns on Thursday night, only to head to "Meet the Teacher Day" on Friday. What?



I'll keep myself pre-occupied with a weekend trip to Austin but I already miss my girl. Here is a photo of K this morning, counting down the days until her super fun trip to Ohio. (We've taken a photo each day this week & emailed them to PaPa Don in Ohio.) At least she is excited.

Okay, enough of my sob story. AC/DC is on the car radio singing "It's a Long Way to the Top" & we are pulling into Austin. Here's to a fun, safe weekend to all parents & their kids -- no matter the age.

- Until the next nap time...

Cavities Bite

So Little K is getting her 1st filling right now. Since she is crazy scared of shots, the dentist told me not to prep her. "Just bring her in."

They gave her a sip of purple juice that K said tasted like a glove. Ten minutes later, she couldn't stand up & was giggly. Really? I thought the "juice" was just going to make her calm. At least I know what to look for in my super relaxed girl.

The staff guided her down the hall & again coached me on how not to react or grab her hand to reassure her. Apparently, parents often grasp their kids' hands right before the injection. Luckily, the team was set with cartoons on the TV & tales of alligators with wide jaws. Little K lay in the dentist's chair a bit dazed & confused but no whimpering. I don't think she felt the shot & the staff was good about sneaking
The shot in where she couldn't see it. Never having a filling myself, I'm glad I had the extra coaching.




The sedative should wear off soon & her lip will not be numb by dinner. Fingers crossed. Here's to better teeth brushing. Mommy's blood pressure is sky high soon. The dentist asked if I needed a Valium but we opted against since I'm driving home. Pictures later!

- Until the next nap time...

Visit to Houston's Cy Twombly Gallery

 

 Yesterday, I went to the Cy Twombly Gallery near the Menil in Houston's Museum District. My observational drawing class that started last week required the visit as we study drawing as a direct transmission between the brain and hand. If you can see it, you can draw it. Twombly, who passed away earlier this month, used numerous types of mark making to create his art. Scratching, looping, globs of paint, vibrant color, scribbles, smudges, etc. All come together to create Abstract Expressionism. While I won't pretend to be an expert on any of this, I felt like taking time to look and think about his art and really be open to it was a good exercise for this left-brained woman. At first, many think any child could create the scribble scrabble. On further examination, you see words incorporated into the piece and figures become apparent. It's interesting to say the least.

I'd recommend the Cy Twombly Gallery for middle school students and up who have a knack for art or even those who need to broaden their horizons and experience different types of art. There's no charge for entry and you could finish viewing all the art in an hour or less.

The Cy Twombly Gallery at 1501 Branard in Houston is open 11 am - 7 pm Wednesday - Sunday. As my drawing instructor suggested, the lighting is best at this gallery in mid- to late-afternoon.

Until the next nap time...

A Really Good Punishment

Little K was dragging her feet yesterday about brushing her teeth. It was one of those days when she just didn't want to do anything that we asked her to do. In complete aggravation, Trent finally barked back at her: "Go brush your teeth or.... or we're going to do something really mean."

I looked at him and just cracked up.

"I couldn't think of anything to say," Trent told me. He just shook his head.

Even With the Best Intentions, Parents Need Help Guiding Kids Online

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with two leaders from Nominum, which is focused on "an internet to match your lifestyle." The company is now promoting and soon to be selling a technology called myi, which helps parents with an application center that controls all computers and mobile devices in your home. Parents, I think this is genius. Myi allows you to choose from a variety of apps, similar in look & feel to Apple's apps, that provide Internet security, better communication within your family and a mix of fun, too.

John Arledge presented live examples of using myi. For instance, he wants to maintain a close relationship with his family members and be able to discipline his kids with his wife, despite his heavy travel schedule. When one of his children broke a rule (didn't complete his homework, I think), John & his wife talked by phone. So that mom isn't always the "heavy" in disciplining, John who was traveling in Texas, logged into myi and used the Grounded(TM) app to take away access to the son's favorite site when he broke the rule in California. No matter which device his son tried to use in the house, he couldn't access that favorite site. Plus, all of this was done remotely from the dad's iPhone. (Yes, other mobile devices will work, too.) Awesome.

Here are a few highlights of some other apps that they offer. 
House Rules allows parents to set ground rules for the type of Internet sites that are permissible in their home. It uses a filter to block common categories such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs and adult content sites but the parent chooses which content to block, using simple check boxes. If a babysitter or other adult friend visits your home and tries to view something online that falls within the blocked content list, a message appears explaining that this particular web site does not meet the house rules but please try again.

Our Time helps parents schedule time for non-screen use with a drop-down menu and calendaring options. No Internet access would be available during the set time(s) except for tools like NetFlix or streaming video. This is neat in that parents can set dedicated times each day/week just to have time to talk with family members, whether that's conversation between the parents or amongst all family members. With more and more families being "connected" via online tools, I believe there's a growing need to dedicate time to time together offline. Anyone up for a game of Scrabble?

Bedtime will be especially useful for kids in middle school and older. It turns the Internet off throughout the house during times when folks should be "in bed". Instead of your teenager sneaking a computer or mobile device into his/her bedroom to chat with friends after the parents have gone to bed, the Internet is shut down so the option for late night FaceBook discussions just aren't an option. I'm not saying any of your kids would sneak a mobile device into their bedroom but avoid the temptation. Help your kids get a good night's rest.

Wink is super cute. If, for instance,  your husband likes to surf on ESPN.com or download more and more Angry Birds games at night, every time he tries to visit that particular web site, you can re-route him to, say, Tiffany.com or a web site about the vacation you keep asking for.

Crunch Time can be used by parents and kids, allowing you to block a certain web site during a time period when you need to stay focused. I could really use this to keep me off of Hotmail and FaceBook when I need to wrap up some work but would rather socialize. Think about how useful this could be for kids during homework time.

Study Hall sets rules for when kids should be doing homework. It uses filters to allow students to only access education related sites doing the set hours.

There's no hardware to buy or software to install. Everything is maintained on Nominum's servers. Phew! Best of all, you can buy one app at a time ($1.99 - $2.99 each) or get full access to all the apps they offer (a growing list) for $25.99 a year. I also like the fact that I can have all of my myi apps managed on my iPhone and if a friend is interested, I can share my apps and settings with them from my iPhone. My friend would be charged directly for the apps that I'm sharing and all my settings are immediately applied to my friend's home.. with the ability to adjust those settings at any time. It gets my friend up and running super fast.

Schools can use this to share recommended resources like books, art exhibits or web sites that are directly related to the content being studied in class.

Daniel Blasingame of Nominum likes to explain myi not as a lock down tool, but rather as a way to facilitate conversations between parents and kids. Parents choose which content, which hours and which apps to use. Myi is simply the tool. "Myi gives you a palet or tool set to choose your own settings," Blasingame said. "It's not heavy handed."

Arledge laughed, saying "It won't solve marital problems but it's a great digital assist." I agree and am really looking forward to testing myi out, hopefully, later this month when it launches officially.

Check back here for more details or visit http://www.myi.com/ for updates later this month. Post your questions or comments to this blog about myI. I'd love to hear your feedback.

Until the next nap time...

Last Day of School Presents Exciting Opportunities for Summer

Little K finished swim lessons on Wednesday and her teacher sent me this photo of Little K swimming under water. Ah.... thank goodness summer is here. Our daughter also finished her last day of kindergarten today and says she's glad not to have homework for a while. Well, me too.


Happy Memorial Day weekend to you all!

Until the next nap time...

July 4th Fireworks Around Town

Fireworks displays abound around town. Here are some fabulous ones, plus I’ve noted some celebrations without the sparks. Before the fireworks shows, reassure your children and let kids know that the fireworks are loud but safe.

West University’s July 4th Bike Parade starts at West U Elementary at 10 am Friday and concludes at Colonial Park with food, fun, and festivities until 2 pm.

Bellaire’s July 4th Parade begins at 9:30 am at the Bellaire Triangle with the Festival lasting until 1 pm at the Bellaire-Zindler Park.

Don’t forget the Villages Independence Parade starting at 9 am at Memorial High School with a free Festival at Memorial Drive Baptist Church until 1 pm.

The Tanglewood 4th of July Parade and Carnival is 10 am until noon at 5200 San Felipe with clowns, face painting, bounce houses and more. Call 713-552-0505 for details.

Galveston celebrates July 4th, starting with a parade at 10 am at the Railroad Museum (25th and Santa Fe Place). From there, the parade will wind its way through historic downtown Galveston from Strand to 21st; south on 21st to Postoffice; west on Postoffice to 24th, and finally south on 24th to Sealy. Following the parade, there will be a 4th of July celebration at Sealy Pavilion (24th and Sealy) with patriotic entertainment, free hot dogs and lemonade, and free American flags for the children. There will also be musical entertainment. The 20-minute fireworks show begins at 9:15 pm and will last about 25 minutes. The setting is at 37th and Seawall but the fireworks can be seen as far west as 81st and Seawall, and as far east as 14th and Seawall.
Physical location: 37th Street and Seawall Blvd. in Galveston
http://www.galvestoncvb.com/ 888-425-4752

Pearland's Celebration of Freedom is an all-out family festival with craft booths and carnival rides. Admission is FREE, but bring your wallet for all the food, music and rides. Bring school supplies to donate to the city’s drive for needy students.
Time: Noon-11 pm
Physical location: Pearland High School Football Stadium at 3775 South Main
http://www.ci.pearland.tx.us/

Chevy’s Freedom over Texas celebration with Fireworks is presented at Eleanor Tinsley Park along Buffalo Bayou near downtown Houston. This features a concert with several Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert & Jo Dee Messina. The concerts are followed by a huge fireworks show. Plenty of children's activities will also be available. This is the largest land-based fireworks display in the nation!
Admission: $8 per person, Kids 10 and under are FREE
Time: 4-10 pm
Physical location: Eleanor Tinsley Park at Buffalo Bayou near downtown
http://www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/cfot/index.html

Rosenberg’s signature July 4th event includes a concert, an inflatable carnival, KidZone, horseshoes and washer tournaments, food and refreshment vendors, hayrides through Seabourne Creek Park, and a great fireworks show. Guests are asked to bring their lawn chairs, their family and all their friends, but to please leave the pets and alcoholic refreshments at home.

General event parking will be available immediately south of the event site. Event Partner parking and handicapped parking will be available at the Rosenberg Civic and Convention Center at 3825 Highway 36 South.
Time: 5-10 pm
Physical location: Seabourne Creek Park located at 3831 Highway 36 South
http://www.rosenbergtourism.com/ 832-595-3520

Sugarland's annual Red, White and Bluefest will be held in Sugarland at Oyster Creek and Lost Creek parks. If you stay for the fireworks, it's a long evening but a fun one. The holiday activities include jugglers, magicians, parade, music and fireworks.
Time: 4:30-11 pm
Physical location: Oyster Creek and Lost Creek parks but take the shuttle from Mercer Stadium at 16403 Lexington Blvd
http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/ 281-275-2885

Houston Symphony's Star Spangled Salute: Enjoy beautiful American tunes synchronized to the annual celebration at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park in the museum district. Thousands flock to this event site and it remains a great family outing. Bring a large blanket to lie on the hill so your family can lean back, relaxing to the sights and sounds. Music plays until dark when the music is then accompanied by wonderful fireworks.
Admission: FREE
Time: 8-10:30 pm
Physical location: Hermann Park
http://www.houstonsymphony.org/

11th Annual Red, Hot and Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza is a
23-minute fireworks show at Waterway Square. This is the second largest in the greater Houston region, second only to downtown Houston’s show. The soundtrack for The Red, Hot & Blue Festival Fireworks is simulcast on Houston’s Sunny 99.1 radio station.
Admission: FREE
Time: 11 am-8 pm
Physical location: Waterway Square in The Woodlands
www.Town-Center.com/RedHotBlue

Kemah Fireworks: If you have older kids, this is a fun outing. Stroll through the shops on the Kemah Boardwalk, enjoy a tasty dinner overlooking the water and then watch the fireworks show. This is the same show seen each Friday and Saturday throughout June and July but gives the family plenty to do, including amusement park rides and shopping. Enjoy the fireworks show shot over Galveston Bay at 9:30 pm.
Admission: FREE
Time: dinner - 9:30 pm
Physical location: Bradford and 2nd Street in Kemah
http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/ 877-AT-KEMAH (887-285-3624)

Be safe! Until the next nap time...

After an eventful Grandparents Day on Friday, we headed to the ranch for a little R&R. I love it this of year because yes, the weather is cooler, some of the leaves actually change colors in Navasota, TX. and we get to take hay rides.

After lunch, my dad, hubby, Little K & I ran a few errands, including making a stop at a tractor shop. I know, how glamorous. But Dad had to pick up something so Little K illustrated her back-hoe skills by using the "digger for kids" in the store. It was the same one that Dewberry Farm has so Little K was prepared. When my Dad saw her, he promised to take her on the real back-hoes just like he did with me and my sister when we were young. Fond memories.

On our way out of the store, we stopped at the entrance display and took this picture. I absolutely love Thanksgiving -- in large part because my birthday is that time of year and because it's often seems to me like the forgotten holiday. The stores go directly from Halloween to Christmas. Hay! Don't you remember how the United States of America got started? Okay, I also like American Indians but enough of that soap box.

This evening, Little K and her cousin Claire piled into the John Deere ranch buggy/ATV. I insisted on riding with the cool kids in the back while my parents drove up front. We sported a blanket since my sister threatened us with releasing stories bettter left untold if we didn't cover up her daughter when outside. (If Claire gets sick again, it's not my fault.) As we drove, our 9-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback dog hauled it, about one inch from the side of the vehicle. Mom and I were so worried that we'd run over his leg at some point. Potential ightmares ran through my head. Apparently, my mothering "worry" skills also apply to the dog. Finally, Dad stopped the vehicle and I somehow lifted the 73-pound dog into the back with the cool kids. At last, he was cool, too, and enjoyed the rest of the ride.

Tomorrow, we'll return to Houston. Despite the rainy weather, it's been a fun trip to the ranch. I've truly enjoyed spending the weekend with my niece especially. She's just over a year old and clues me into what it would be like to have a second child under foot. (This is not a wish, just an observation! Smile.) How quickly we forget that while toddlers don't have our verbal skills, they definitely understand what we're saying. She's even making me brush up on my sign language talents and Little K is learning how much you have to share with a youngster. I haven't heard her ask for a younger sibling this whole weekend. How interesting.

In advance, Happy Thanksgiving to all. Until the next nap time...

Children's Christmas TV Programming 2010

Here is a line up of the Christmas TV programming for children this year. Hope you and yours enjoy this.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the 1966 animated holiday story loved by all tall and small, airs TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

If you're trying to squeeze in some fun, yet educational opportunities for your kids this summer, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston just made it easier. Check out these events and start penciling in activities on your calendar.

All Summer Long Breakfasts and Boxed Lunches, MFAH-Style
Bring the kids and enjoy a meal in the museum’s Cafe Express, located in the MFAH Beck Building, Lower Level, or enjoy a picnic in the sculpture garden with its delightful café seating.

MFAH Family Packs (MFAH Law and Beck Buildings)
Family Packs are filled with hands-on activities, looking games, and books. These interactive resources are available at the Membership Services desks in the Beck and Law buildings during museum hours and at the Kinder Foundation Education Center Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Borrow them free of charge during your museum visit.

o Buildings and Beyond Family Pack: Explore your inner architect with this blue pack. Use the laminated guide that’s designed like a blueprint to guide your visit throughout the museum. Recommended for children ages 4+


o People and Personalities Family Pack: Meet a variety of people that are featured in paintings and sculptures at the museum using the family guide in the green pack to guide your visit. Recommended for children ages 4+


o Let’s Play! Gallery Games with Mwamba and Naki Family Pack: This purple pack is filled with puzzles, sketching activities, and looking games that will help everyone have fun while learning about art from all over the world. Recommended for children ages 4+


o Five Paintings to See With Your Little One: Designed just for the younger child, with an emphasis on colors and shapes, this resource helps families have great experiences with little ones in the galleries. Recommended for children ages 2+


Kick-off and Finale Events FREE Summer Programs Kickoff Performance at the MFAH (MFAH Beck Building)
Thursday, June 9:  Kick off the summer on Thursday, June 9 at 2 p.m. in Gallery 214. No admission for Free Thursdays. Experience the original performance by Houston’s most unusual string ensemble, Two Star Symphony. The group aims to create new and diverse music that speaks to the collective conscience of a broad audience offering a unique and powerful sound, as each instrument reverberates off the others and fills the audio spectrum with a deep, dark, melodic blend.

Thursday, August 11 FREE Summer Programs Finale Performance (MFAH Beck Building)
A chamber group from the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra will fill the museum with beautiful music during a concert in the galleries that will delight guests, Thursday, August 11 at 2:00 p.m. in the Beck Building.

Tuesdays-Saturdays Detective Days at Bayou Bend
May 31- August 26: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There’s mystery afoot at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens this summer! Located a few blocks away from Memorial Park, Bayou Bend has 14 acres of woodlands and gardens for summer sleuths age 6 and older to explore. Beginning May 31, go on a self-guided outdoor detective adventure. Educational themes range from plants and trees to sculpture and architecture. And, starting August 2, you can also go on an indoor detective adventure. Tour the historic mansion which is filled with antique treasures from the 18th and 19th centuries. Every Bayou Bend detective gets an “Investigator’s Kit” to help them with their sleuthing, and a bottle of water to keep cool during the hunt. Children 12 and under are free; $5 for everyone else. Ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens is located at 6003 Memorial Drive @ Westcott St.
Beginning May 31, 2011:

• The Case of the Missing Trees – Searching for 10 special trees hiding amidst a thousand is kind of like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Locate and identify the trees using special clues we will provide the detective--images of their leaves and rhyming clues. Recommended for children ages 6+
• On the Trail of the Evolving Plant – Take a trip through time as you track woodland and garden vegetation back to the age of the dinosaurs! One problem – those pesky plants are masters of disguise and adaptability, so you’ll have to use your top-notch detective skills to keep up with them. Recommended for children ages 10+

Beginning July 12, 2011:

• The Architect’s Evidence – The 1920s era mansion at Bayou Bend was carefully planned and thought out – clearly, this was no accident. Explore all of the details of the house’s exterior and sort out the rhyme and reason behind its design and construction. Recommended for children ages 10+
• Mysterious Messages – The statues located throughout the gardens have messages for you – but what are they trying to say? Using informational clues, our summer sleuths will learn how to interpret art through history. Recommended for children ages 7+

Beginning August 2, 2011:

• By the Numbers – A riddle has been discovered in the gardens this morning, and the secret to solving it lies within the two-story historic mansion, filled with antique treasures from the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll have to have a pretty sharp eye to find all of the clues, but we are counting on you to figure it out! Recommended for children ages 10+

Wednesdays (June & July) from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m: Storytime Tours at Rienzi
Summer time is story time at Rienzi every Wednesday in June and July. Introduce children to the magic of art and literature in an intimate house museum setting. Rienzi’s Storytime Tour is a fun and interactive activity featuring stories related to themes highlighted in Rienzi’s collection. Admission is free. Reservations are suggested and space is limited, please call (713) 639-7800 for reservations. Recommended for children ages 3+ Rienzi is located at 1406 Kirby Drive.


11 a.m. REEL Kids Summer Movies (Brown Theater Auditorium, MFAH Law Building)
Free Summer Movie Matinees with paid museum admission are fun for the entire family. This incredible line up of films, several with Oscar® connections, screen on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the Brown Theater Auditorium and are free with museum admission and free to members of the museum’s Film Buffs patron group. And here's the line-up:

• June 1 The Karate Kid* (Directed by John Avildsen, USA, 1984, 126 min)
• June 8 The Kid (Directed by Charlie Chaplin, USA, 1928, 72 min., silent with musical soundtrack)
• June 15 The Parent Trap* (Directed by David Swift, USA, 1961, 129 min.)
• June 22 Bugsy Malone* (Directed by Alan Parker, UK, 1976, 93 min.)
• June 29 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial** (Directed by Steven Spielberg, USA, 1982, 115 min.)
• July 6 My Bodyguard (Directed by Tony Bill, USA, 1980, 96 min.)
• July 13 It Came from Outer Space 3D (Directed by Jack Arnold, USA, 1953, 81 min.)
• July 20 Howl’s Moving Castle* (Director by Hayao Miyazaki, Japan, 2004, 119 min.)
• July 27 Secret of the Kells* (Directed by Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey, France/Belgium/Ireland, 2009 75 min.)
• August 3 National Velvet** (Directed by Clarence Brown, USA, 1944, 123 min.)
• August 10 Fantastic Mr. Fox * (Directed by Wes Anderson, USA, 2009, 87 min.)

Thursdays Creation Station (Beck Building): (June, July & August) 11a.m. – 2 p.m. Guests are invited to create art with an MFAH teaching artist and explore the galleries. Each week, explore a different work of art and learn a new art-making technique. Recommended for children ages 4+


Gallery Investigations (MFAH Law and Beck Buildings)
This summer, kids and families can become Art Detectives, investigating a new work of art each week in the galleries—looking carefully, uncovering details, and thinking about the intriguing things discovered. As each case is completed, investigators will earn a clue for their “Clue Book,” which will be used to guess the mystery work of art to be unveiled at the end of the summer. There are two chances to participate each week – Thursdays, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. All Art Detectives are eligible for a special prize-drawing at the end of the summer. Participation in the MFAH Art Detectives program is free with admission. Recommended for children ages 4+

A Book and a Look (Kinder Foundation Education Center, Law Building)
NEW PROGRAM! At this storybook check-out program, families can check out a storybook and take it into the galleries to read together in front of a work of art that that they will also “read” with the help of hands-on materials and looking questions. MFAH staff will match up each family’s interests and favorite things with a storybook and art pairing. Recommended for children ages 2+

Artful Thursdays (MFAH Brown Theater Auditorium)
Explore the museum June 16th, July 14nd and August 18th beginning at 6:30 p.m. for a themed evening with the MFAH. Mythological Subjects and Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting in June, The Music of Cole Porter; Presented by Michael Lasser in July and Aesthetics of the Everyday Presented by Tacey Rosolowski in August.


Sketching in the Galleries (MFAH Law and Beck Buildings) Sundays in June - August
An MFAH teaching artist guides adults and children of all drawing levels during sketching
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. in the galleries. Sundays from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Recommended for children ages 4+

Creation Station (MFAH Law and Beck Buildings)
Guests are invited to create art with an MFAH teaching artist and explore the galleries. Each week, explore a different work of art and learn a new art-making technique. Recommended for children ages 4+

July Family Art Workshops at Rienzi
Family Art Workshops encourage families to come together to create art, write stories and poems, and watch performances inspired by Rienzi’s collection. Admission is free. Reservations are suggested and space is limited, please call (713) 639-7800 for reservations. Recommended for children ages 4+ Rienzi is located at 1406 Kirby Drive.

• Sunday, July 10, 2011: Cinderella Stories from Around the World -- Instructions from the Rice Literacy and Culture Project will explore the many Cinderella stories written from the point of view of different cultures and countries. Families will enjoy hearing these international tales, write their own Cinderella story, and have the opportunity to make puppets for an impromptu performance.
• Sunday, July 17, 2011: Portrait Miniatures; Love Tokens before the Digital Age -- Discover what was used before photography to represent portraits. Learn about Rienzi’s Caroline A. Ross Collection, which includes portrait miniatures by European and American artists between c. 1710 and 1900. Families will explore this unique artistic tradition and create their own version for family and friends.
• Sunday, July 24, 2011: “The Fantastic Fables of La Fontaine”, a musical recital for children -- Early Music Southwest presents “The Fantastic Fables of La Fontaine,” a musical tale of wise and foolish animals from 17th century France. The narration with accompanying chamber ensemble will delight kids of all ages. The musical recital will be followed by a cookies and lemonade reception. The recital will begin promptly at 1:15pm.

1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday Storytime (MFAH Law and Beck Buildings)
Family-friendly Sunday Storytime introduces young learners to the world of art through hands-on gallery activities, close looking, and the reading of a storybook in MFAH galleries. Recommended for children ages 2+

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Gallery Investigations (MFAH Law and Beck Buildings)
Join the MFAH Art Detective program. Each Art Detective case takes kids into the galleries to investigate a work of art. Each investigation is different, but all ask Art Detectives to look carefully, uncover details, and think about what cool stuff can be discovered. Recommended for children ages 4+


Locations: Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005
Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, 6003 Westcott @ Memorial, Houston, TX 77007
Rienzi, 1406 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77019


MFAH Parking: All-day parking is only $6.00 at the Visitor Center Garage or free across the street from the Caroline Wiess Law Building.

For m
Until the next nap time...

How Do You Keep Kids Safe Online?

With summer around the corner, parents like me are planning for ways to entertain the students in our lives. Unlike when I was young, kids love being on the computer and have computers or handheld devices literally at their fingertips. So how do you control which web sites they are visiting? Kids could be sitting in the same room as you but reading web sites that are too mature for them. Can people spend too much time on FaceBook?

Alex Williams wrote about this conundrum & more in the New York Times article "Quality Time Redefined". The articles states: "Nearly 60 percent of American families with children own two or more computers, and more than 60 percent of those have either a wired or wireless network to connect to the Internet, according to studies by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. A third of all Americans log on from home multiple times a day, nearly twice the number that did so in 2004."

So what's the effect on today's children and developing family relationshipos? There are a lot of opinions about whether technology and wireless strengthen or pull apart families. Williams' article covers both sides of this debate. I still think making rules to limit the time on TV and computers is important. Then having time to read stories aloud to each other, color or play games can be allowed so kids get personal interaction with their parents but also enjoy the time online, improving typing or interactive skills.

My concern still is around controlling the content of what's being viewed on your kids computer or mobile device. I've recently learned about a soon-to-launch tool that helps parents manage who's viewing which sites, create no online time, and much more. The price is super affordable too. Check back here for more information as it becomes available and I'll share my thoughts on it. Be sure to add your comments, too. Surely I'm not the only parent wondering how to manage my daughter and the virtual realities that loom.

Until the next nap time...

Free Summer Movies & Cheap Summer Movies in Houston for Kids

Looking to escape the summer heat? There are numerous movie theaters throughout Houston offering discounted or no fees for kid-friendly movies. Here are six different locations offering little to no charge for great movies all summer long. Find one by you and check out a flick.


- Studio Movie Grill at City Centre hosts children every weekend at 11 am with rated-G Kid Toons (cartoons like Olivia) for just $2. Additionally, Studio Movie Grill offers free movies for families raising children with special needs. The lights are dimmed and the volume is softer to help accommodate these children. The next opportunity is on Saturday, June 4 at 11 am when Kung Fu Panda 2 will be showing. Lastly, Studio Movie Grill kicks off the 2011Summer Series with 11 movies played over three months of summer for $1 per child and $2 per adult. Check out the schedule of upcoming movies and start planning.

- Cinemark Tinseltown (in Houston on Hwy. 290 and in The Woodlands) debut the Summer Movie Clubhouse with 10 movies shown throughout the summer for only $5 in advance or $1 at the door. A different movie will be played each week and all movies are rated either G or PG. All shows start at 10 am. Check online for the Houston schedule and The Woodlands schedule.

- For older kids, head downtown to Market Square Park to watch Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade on June 18 at 8 pm. There is no charge to attend.



- Rave Motion Pictures launches its Family Film Fest at Yorktown Crossing in Houston. Each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 am a rated G or PG movie will be played at no charge. Check out the Rave web site for updates on the schedule.

- The Houston Silverado IMAX on Hwy. 249 in Tomball welcomes families for Family Film Festival every Saturday at 10 am. Just $3.99 provides kids with "all you can eat pancakes" as well.

- Enjoy $1 movies throughout summer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 am at The Marquee on I-10. Choose from two movies each time. The show line-up is available at The Marquee and offers a coupon to the Red Robin Restaurant in the same complex.

Until the next nap time...

What Are You Telling Your Kids about Osama Bin Laden?

My husband and I were thrilled and relieved to hear the news about Osama Bin Laden on Sunday. Not that I'm celebrating his death, but I'm glad he's .... well, out of the way. I tried to explain to my 6-year-old that all our prayers for our soldiers came to fruition. How do you explain that to a child? History was made this week but I couldn't bring myself to tell her that in 2001 a horrible man orchestrated two planes to be flown into sky scrapers in New York, killing innocent people... lots of innocent people.

No, instead, we told Little K that our soldiers captured Osama Bin Laden, putting that evil man where he could hurt people no more. Our daughter asked what Osama did and I delicately told her that he didn't like Americans (or a lot of other people for that matter) because so many of us believe in Jesus Christ. That's hard for me to understand so I wasn't surprised as the wheels in her head spun.

Since then, I've talked to a few parents and they've carefully dodged the bullet on discussing this with their children. It's critical that our children feel safe so I can't blame them. Still, I was happy to show Little K the TV when Americans danced and chanted in front of the White House and in New York. "They are glad to be American, baby" I told Little K. "Thank God you live in America"

This morning, I continued to think about the recent events & wonder if the terrorists will strike back. For a moment, I worried. Then, I decided that Americans can be nervous or we can be thankful. We can be anxious or we can be prayerful. I choose to relish in being blessed. And I continue to ask my family and friends to pray for our armed forces and for peace. May this be the beginning to a more peaceful time in history. Here's hoping... and praying for our families.

What are you telling your kids?

Until the next nap time...

Why Don't Families Take Time Off at Easter?

So it's almost Easter and I've been wondering all week why so many people take time off at Christmas to spend time with their families and go to church, but not many people take time off at Easter. I realize Easter is always on a Sunday, whereas Christmas floats on the day of the week. Still, it seems like so much of the meaning is lost on Easter. No, I'm no holy roller but family time is so precious to me and Easter really is what Christianity is all about. Go figure.

I remember years ago when I worked for another company as their marketing manager, one of our executives always held the annual planning meeting on Good Friday and "enticed" us to come by bringing in breakfast, lunch and snacks. Hmmm... Like this executive, I am Catholic so we don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent and we fast on Good Friday. So I would sit watching everyone eating pizza or BBQ during the meeting while I wondered why it was critical that this meeting be held on Good Friday. The message was clear to me: this job was supposed to be a priority.

Today, I have my own business but when a customer calls, we answer. However, I'm knocking off early this Good Friday, won't be stuck in a room full of meat eaters and I've traded in a view of a cubicle wall for the ranch. It makes for a gorgeous backdrop behind my laptop that's outside. The wind blowing in my hair adds refreshment and creative juices to my writing. All the time, my daughter and her cousin Claire can play together. I also avoid a long commute home and instead can just turn off the computer to help my parents prepare for Easter or go to church. What's more, I think families can find a sense of calm, of peace, when they can really focus on their families and the meaning of Easter.

Interestingly, at HP (one of our customers), most people take weeks of vacation time at Christmas, often because they have so much vacation time stored up. Some people even took Thanksgiving through the day after New Years Day off! Wow! However, I have only heard about one  person taking this week off. I suppose the kids had Spring Break recently but I haven't even heard people taking off a day. Maybe a few will leave a bit early but after all, it's Friday.

I'm really looking forward to the Easter weekend and spending time with my family. My daughter told me today about the stations of the cross and how a woman named Veronica wiped Jesus' face when he was on his way to be crucified. (They had a reenactment at her Catholic school today.) I don't think I even knew the name Veronica when I was 6 years old, much less the significance. Is the meaning lost on you and your kids? I hope not. The bunnies may be out this weekend but this family is thanking God for all that He has given all of us. It's hard to realize the depth of what Christ did for us, but sometimes the thoughts of a child can remind us of how blessed we are.

Many blessings to you and yours this Easter weekend. May the meaning of the holiday fill your heart. Until the next nap time...

Baytown Nature Center

After presenting to a MOPs group in Baytown today, I got lots of tips on family-friendly things to do in that area. Thank you, moms!



We began yet another field trip, this time with Daddy, too! We visited the Baytown Nature Center, which has recently


started a new addition. We liked the children's playground that featured carvings from trees that fell during various hurricanes. Little K Really liked the slide & exploring in the area. She even found a lady bug. The Center has big expansion plans & we were impressed with the master plan that we saw from a board member. Here's hoping all the funding comes through so the Center can continue it's build-out.



We wandered over to the pier to watch ships heading out to sea while men fished. The sea breeze felt good softly blowing on our faces.


The land once was a neighborhood that was wiped out during Hurricane Alicia. I suppose


the broken bricks near the bay are remnants.

We crossed the Fred J. Hartman bridge (photo above) to head to the San Jacinto Monument & Battleship Texas. Who said skipping school (kindergarten) wasn't educational?

- Until the next nap time...

Location:W Bayshore Dr,Baytown,United States

Houston Zoo

On Tuesday afternoon, I took Little K to the Houston Zoo as some spring break fun. We had a great time but will never return during Spring Break. We spent


~45 minutes trying to find a parking place -- any parking place. It was uber frustrating! I'd love to see the City of Houston & the Houston Zoo partner to invest in a parking garage for that area. I'd pay for parking if it didn't take almost an hour to find a spot.


Any ways...

Finally, we entered & lived looking at all the usual animals. For the first time we visited the aquarium section & Little K was thrilled with the clear tube that she crawled through, going right through the aquarium. Fish were everywhere!

I also liked listening to the kookaburra birds, which really sounded like they were laughing (just like the song)! The cheetahs were gorgeous too! The only bad thing (besides the parking) was that we ran out of time before we saw every animal! Guess we'll have to return again soon!

- Until the next nap time...

Incorporating Art into Houston Kids' Lives

Enter the world of Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt and Vincent van Gogh at the upcoming MFAH Family Day Pleased to Meet You: The Artists of Impressionism. Listen to Opera in the Heights perform a special selection of Impressionist music in the gallery, sketch the paintings of masters and listen to a storybook in the gallery featuring Vincent van Gogh. Create an oil pastel landscape inspired by Monet and learn more about the characteristics of impressionism at the family-friendly gallery cart.


Don’t miss Storybook Films for the youngest ones at 1:30 p.m. featuring animated adaptations of the popular storybooks Art, Ish, and The Dot. The Reel Kids film series at 2:30 p.m. features a showing of the French classic slapstick comedy My Uncle starring Jacques Tati.

All activities take place in the MFAH permanent collection galleries.

When: MFAH Family Day takes place 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3; Family Activities 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., Museum hours are 12:15 - 7:00 p.m.

Admission: Admission to the museum is $7 for adults and $3.50 for children and seniors. All Family Day activities are free with the price of general admission. Discounts available. For information on the ticketed exhibition Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art, visit http://www.mfah.org/.

Where: Family activities will take place throughout the MFAH’s two buildings. The Caroline Wiess Law Building, 1001 Bissonnet Street, has free parking across the street. Call 713-639-7300 or visit www.mfah.org/planyourvisit for more information.

Activities: Beck Building Activities
Performance by Opera in the Heights
Second Floor, Gallery 214
2:00 p.m.

Listen to the beautiful sounds of impressionism at this in-gallery performance by Houston’s Opera in the Heights.

Sketching in the Galleries
Second Floor, Gallery 222
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Pick up a pencil and sketch works of the impressionist era. An MFAH Teaching Artist is on hand with clipboards, paper and drawing materials at this informal program.

Lemonade Stand
Porte Cochere

Masters of Color: Gallery Cart for Families
Second Floor, Gallery 223
Explore the techniques Impressionist artists used to create their works on view in the gallery. An MFAH Educator is at the gallery cart with hands-on materials and activities to help you explore color, brushstroke, and more!

Storytime: Camille and the Sunflowers
Gallery 218
1:30 and 3:00 p.m.
An MFAH Educator reads this lovely storybook in the galleries. Meet Vincent van Gogh as he befriends a young boy in a French town. Then explore a work of art by van Gogh in the gallery with hands-on materials and looking activities.

Light, Color, Landscape!
Porte Cochere
Rain Locations: Lower Level, SW Bell Studio and Farish Classroom
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
First, be inspired to create your own impressionistic landscape with oil pastels. Then be amazed as you see your work anew through a filter of color and light you build in the studio! MFAH Teaching Artists are on hand to get you started with materials in the Porte Cochere, just outside the Main Street entrance to the Beck Building.

Law Building Activities
Storybook Films: Art, The Dot, and Ish
Brown Auditorium Theatre
Law building - Lower Level
Free with General Museum Admission
1:30 p.m.
Meet the young artists of three celebrated storybooks who, like the Impressionist artists, let their creativity and imagination guide them. Families with young ones will enjoy these animated films, adapted from beloved children’s picture books.

Art
Art, a young boy, joyfully draws scribbles that squiggle, splotches with blotches, zigs and zags, doodles and dogs, and so much more! Based on the book by Patrick McDonnell, with narration and music by the versatile Bobby McFerrin (6 minutes).

The Dot
Vashti may not be able to draw, but she can at least make a dot. When she sees the dot framed above her art teacher’s desk she decides that she can make a better dot. Soon Vashti is making big dots and small dots, red dots, blue dots and purple dots (based on the book by Peter H. Reynolds, 8 minutes).
Ish
With a little encouragement from his sister, Ramon discovers that creativity is about a lot more than getting things just "right." (Based on the book by Peter H. Reynolds, 9 minutes).

Reel Kids Film: My Uncle (Mon Oncle)
Brown Auditorium Theatre
Law building - Lower Level
Free with General Museum Admission
2:30 p.m.
Slapstick prevails in this French film when Jacques Tati’s eccentric hero Monsieur Hulot is let loose in the ultramodern home of his brother-in-law, and in an antiseptic factory that manufactures plastic hose. Tati directs and stars in the second entry of the Hulot series, a delightful satire of mechanized living. (116 minutes)

Until the next nap time...

Pet Parade

What has beads, dogs, cats, a


snake, ferrets, chickens & more? The annual Krewe of Barkus & Meoux (Aka Pet Parade) in


Galveston!



- Until the next nap time!

Galveston Mardi GRAS is Kid-Friendly

Several people have asked me


about Galveston Mardi Gras being kid-friendly. Yes, you can find some good clean fun on the seawall at day parades.

This weekend we attended the


Krewe of Aquarius parade & had a ball. At the day parades the themes tend to be more kid-oriented with fire trucks in the event & giveaways like stuffed animals, cups & of course beads.

Check 2 of the family-friendly parades next weekend (the first weekend of March). The Children's parade starts at 1 pm, followed by the Pet Parade at 2 pm on Sunday on the seawall. It's a fun couple of events after church. Hope ti see you there!


- Until the next nap time...

Go Texan Day in Houston

Today is Go Texan Day in Houston. While other cities just don't get this annual celebration, we absolutely love the hats, horses & friendly chatter. Although I raced to my daughter's dance at school from a required business meeting, I made it in time for the finale. I haven't yet mentioned denting someone else's bumper as I whipped into my parking spot but oh well.



It's always fun to see the kids country & western dance. I remember dressing up & dancing with my annual partner Kris Lambert while in elementary school. It was a good break from the norm.




Again this year, we waved to the trail riders as they journeyed south on Shepherd. They make a put stop at the Sears so kids can pet & ride the horses, check out the chuck wagons & talk to the cowboys & cowgirls. Reminder: this is right in the middle of the 4th largest city in the U.S., but it feels like a small town. We are looking forward to seeing these trailriders on TV tomorrow during the Rodeo Parade. Too fun! Yew haw!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Who's Preparing for Mardi Gras?

This morning as I got ready for church, I decided I'd wear the pearls that my father-in-law gave me for Mardi Gras 2 years ago. I looked in my jewelry box but they weren't there. Our house is on the market so I worried that someone grabbed them from my hidden spot. Nah. I likely put them with my costume jewelry by accident. I checked but the necklace wasn't there either. I double checked both places again. Little K & I recited: " Tony, Tony, look around. Something's lost & can't be found."

I looked again but nada.

I went downstairs to tell Trent with tears bursting from my eyes. On top of it all, we are 1 week from the 1 year anniversary of my FIL's passing. Ugh.

"Check the vegetable crisper & I'll look upstairs," Trent said. Oddly, my MIL found a diamond tennis bracelet in the vege crisper so it's not that odd of a statement. Unfortunately, it wasn't there either.

I followed my husband upstairs on the search. He looked in the same spots but nothing. Then we looked everywhere else & Little K looked through her jewels. I feared the worst. Gone!

Then Trent said: "Are these them?"He pointed to the small stash of my favorite Mardi GRAS beads from over the years. They hung in my closet. There on top of them all ...was my pearl necklace. What? I would never have put the pearls there. But since my FIL loved Mardi Gras, I wondered.

Who's preparing for Mardi Gras?

- Until the next nap time.

Discovery Green Park

The weather was so nice today


that we met some old college friends with their kids at Discovery Green.


Little K had fun playing on all the playground equipment & I like the rubberized floor. Why have we not been here more recently?



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Little K hugged Father Clint after mass with a smile.

He replied with an innocent smile to my 5-year old: "You smell good."

"Oh, I took a tubbie," Little K responded.

Was that necessary for her to share? The man in the collar just smiled.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Denis' Seafood is a Great Restaurant for Families

We have been going to Denis' to eat for years. Somehow I've forgotten to post a review on its kid-friendliness. We went there again today & Little K ordered a bowl of shrimp gumbo.

The staff was exceptional, bringing a high chair for her doll & a small tea cup for the doll.


Of course, I loved the gumbo that I had & Trent enjoyed his lobster bisque & sea scallops. You will love the super fresh seafood!

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Houston

Black-eyed Pea for Warm Food

With all this cold, rainy weather in Houston, we headed to Black-eyed Pea for grub to warm us up. Great grilled chicken & broccoli. Trent loved the chopped steak &


Little K ate most of her spaghetti. Her favorite was the ice cream sundae included with the kids meal. I guess she didn't need to warm up after all.

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Deauville Plaza Dr,Houston,United States

The grinch Who Stole Christmas

It was another great TUTS performance. We loved "The Grinch!"


- Until the next nap time...

Making a Christmas Poster

It's a beautiful afternoon in Houston. Our indoor Christmas decorations are up so my husband bravely agreed to hang the out door lights. Years ago, he chastised me for singing & dancing to Christmas carols while I was holding the ladder. Atop the ladder was my husband, bouncing around amidst strings of lights!

Today, Little K needed help "finding something to do" & I wanted her within eyesight. We decided to set up an outdoor art studio, where Little K could paint a Christmas poster. Instead of wearing a beret, she donned a Santa hat!




I helped write in pencil "Merry Christmas!" & then she painted over the cheerful message. Then she added her own designs. To dry, we hung her masterpiece on the gate, which again proved to be a good display area. It was a nice way to spend time outside with my daughter.

- Until the next nap time...

Singing the Meaning of the Holidays

So Thanksgiving is just 2 days away and I don't like it when we forget about Thanksgiving and jump straight into a shopping spree-induced holiday season. So when my husband sent me this link http://www.philly.com/philly/video/106492678.html, I was hesitant to open it. I'm so glad I did.

When you see and hear things like this, it brings the best of both Thanksgiving and Christmas to mind... and heart. My daughter loved this music and enjoyed looking for the people who wore the big buttons because they are the singers. Great publicity, too! What do you think of this?

Enjoy! Until the next nap time...

Free Holiday Music from the Veggie Tales for Youngsters

For a limited time, the Christmas collection "The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree" by the Veggie Tales is available through Amazon.com for FREE. It has 16 songs by those adorable Christian vegetables. Amazon walks you right through the process in about 2 minutes.

Surprise your youngsters with this festive music.

Until the next nap time...

Thanksgiving Art Work

This morning, Little K & her CiCi made this little Indian. They took a tangerine from CiCi's tree in her back yard. They carefully taped two yellow leaves to the back of the fruit. Then they pushed cloves into the front of the fruit to make the face. Ta da! Thanksgiving art work.

- Until the next nap time...

So it's the eve of Halloween & we're on the way to a Halloween party in Galveston. Little K lost her red hood, which was the key piece in her handmade-by-her-Grand "Little Red Riding Hood" costume. My husband just announced that he forgot his cowboy hat (he was dressing like a western bandit!) and Nestle recalled Raisinets & lollipops because they failed to mention that peanuts are in the candy. Really? As a mother of a child with a severe peanut allergy, that's a big miss! Nestle should have been more responsible.




All this said, the weather in Houston is gorgeous & I'm thankful for my family. We had a great time at the St. Rose School fall festival last night & I'm eager to learn how much money the school earned from the event. (In spite of the fun, it's still a fundraiser, you know.)

My fingers are crossed that my daughter will have no run-ins with peanuts this weekend. It's a high alert holiday when you have a peanut allergy. I hope Little K & all kids revel in the spirited fun of Halloween. I can't stop smiling when I see all the great costumes. Too fun!

- Until the next nap time...

Masquerade Ball at the Houston Symphony for Kids

This morning, Little K (aka Little Red Riding Hood) and I went to the 10 am Houston Symphony performance - Weatherford Family Concert. The theme was "Masquerade Ball" so kids were encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. It really helped the guests get into the Halloween spirit.

The music was fantastic and the conductor was great about explaining what the music was describing in advance of playing a piece -- super for young audiences. I liked the chance to snuggle in our seats with my daughter and relax for almost an hour. We heard music from Ghostbusters, Night on Bald Mountain and Danse Macabre. Fantastic! Plus, the symphony put projections of jack o'lanterns, witches and ghosts on the walls to tie into the music. Even Little K was excited to tell her daddy about the music.

On our way out, we found Radio Disney playing games and music outside Jones Hall. It was a good end to the morning. I highly recommend season tickets to the Houston Symphony's Weatherford Family Concerts. It's ~ $100 for the annual subscription for one child and one parent with a symphony each quarter. One performance is at 10 am and a second on is at 11:30 am. Here's the line up for the rest of the year:

- Saturday, Dec. 4: Raymond Briggs' classic The Snowman (with a visit from Santa)
- Saturday, Feb. 19: Music from The Lion King
- Saturday, April 2: Symphony in Space with tunes from Star Wars and ET

Hope you'll check these out with your families. Until the next nap time...

Fishing Tales

All this fishing this evening reminds me of a funny fish tale. When I was young, Dad took me fishing regularly at Grandfather's ranch.



Once, I was apparently quite talkative. The trees lazily hung above us in a canopy. Dad just wanted a few fish.

"Megan, If you keep talking, you'll scare the fish away. You have to be quiet," Dad said.

My little brain suddenly flooded with hundreds of questions for dear Dad. Finally, one burst from my lips: "Where are fish's ears, Daddy?"

It was suddenly time to go & I had no idea why. Patience is priceless but so are good fish tales with Dad.

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Navasota, TX.

Scarecrow Festival in Chapel Hill, TX

Today, we decided to take our first trip to the Scarecrow Festival in Chapel Hill, Texas. It was really fun.



They had tons of booths with items for sale like a traditional street festival. They had an area for the kids that included a small ferris wheel ($5), a train ($3), a petting zoo ($3) with the cutest pot belly pig baby & much more. Of course, the costs add up quickly.

Food ranged from everything on a stick, fried Twinkies & potato chips, gyros, sausage, snow cones, fruity tea, lemonade, beer & much more. Dieters: be ware!


Little K's favorite part was getting her face painted & getting a unicorn doll now named Abby.

The adults had fun, too, walking around & enjoying the nice weather. Trent said: "I went all the way to the Scarecrow Festival & all I got was poor!' it was really fun though. I'd like to go to the Scarecrow Festival in Brenham tomorrow to do a comparison. Maybe they'll have more scarecrows. I'm not sure I can convince my family to get up tomorrow to go though. We'll see.

- Until the next nap time...

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...

FREE DAYS AT THE ZOO

"Rather than offering free admission on already-crowded holidays, patrons now will be admitted for free after 2 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month." - according to By PAIGE HEWITT of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE

So which Tuesdays are the free days. I checked out the Zoo's web site and found: "the Houston Zoo will offer free admission to our guests on the first Tuesday of every month from 2 p.m. until closing. During the months that Daylight Saving Time is in effect, the Houston Zoo closes at 7 p.m. (last admission at 6 p.m.). During Central Standard Time, the Houston Zoo closes 6 p.m. (last admission at 5 p.m.)."

For more information, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/. Perhaps we'll see you there.

Until the next nap time...

Snow Cone Time

Although school is in full swing, it's still hot in Houston. Yesterday, Little K had been so helpful, that


she earned a snow cone after dinner. These snow cone wagons have popped up all over Houston & are a refreshing treat. This one, at Ella Blvd. & 43rd St., is open until 8 pm. Tasty!

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Houston Heights

That Pizza Place on Ella

We are now trying "That Pizza Place on Ella", formerly Double Dave's. My salad was fresh & the beer was cold. Trent's Stromboli & my calzone is in the oven. There is a good variety of pizzas, subs & more here.

This is a fun, casual pizza joint for families. They have an air hockey table & a handful of video games. The big screen TV caught my eye, too. My favorite part is the wooden patio in the back, which is great for parties & even a DJ. While they will deliver (713-686-3283), kids will enjoy the joint.

And now for the taste test. Yummy!

- Until the next nap time...

Have a Splash at Discovery Green

I've been "itching" to take Little K to the fountains at Discovery Green this summer. When I realized last week that summer was almost over and we had not made atleast one visit, I sent a text to my sister Colyn.

Want to go to Discovery Green fountains? Please say "yes".

Luckily, Colyn agreed. Last night, we took the girls just before 5 pm downtown to the fountains. My sister had not yet been there but seemed to really like it. Her daughter Claire (age 2) and my 5-year-old loved every minute of it. I really like that the fountains will slowly increase in height and strength and then stop altogether.

"Where'd the water go, Claire?" I kept asking my niece. My daughter echoed. She'd look around & around  & around until finally, the water started up again. It gives the kids a bit of suspense. I just like to watch.

Looks like we'll make a repeat trip since I deleted ACCIDENTALLY all the great photos that I took of them playing in the water. Oh well. We always need fun things to do. Hope to see you there. I've posted here some of my favorite photos from the fountains at Discovery Green Park. Enjoy!

Until the next nap time...

Burn Off Some Energy

Little K was bored to tears (almost). I promised an adventure after I finished my work. She stood close by, watching over my shoulder as I typed. (Clearly, she's never heard the tale about the watched kettle that won't boil!) She didn't have camp that week because we were heading out of town to see my grandparents in Ohio in a few days. Trent & I would take turns entertaining her throughout the week. (That does bring up the point that my mom stayed at home with me when I was little but didn't entertain me every moment of the day. Perhaps I'll save that for another blog post.)

Finally, it was her turn. I had promised that we'd head to the "jumpee thing" at Memorial City Mall before school started. She never seems to forget those promises. So, we drove over, parked and head for adventure. (Enter near Eyemasters and Target.) After a short wait, I paid maybe $10, and the excitement began. The staffer strapped Little K into the harness and she jumped for 5 very long minutes on a contraption that seems like a twist between a trampoline and an bungee cord jump. She loved it and eventually figured out how to flip herself over once she was mid-air. It was cute... and did I mention EASY?

Next, she stepped over to the rock wall, was again strapped in, and then she looked a bit confused. "Get to climbing, girl," I told her.

Honestly, what did she think she was signing up for? I didn't push it.

Little K gave it a good shot and I was surprised when she was so close to the top, she slid down. But there's a bell to ring at the top so everyone knows you accomplished your goal, I thought. Okay, so there are a few differences between my daughter and me but only a few. She gave it another try but gave out a bit sooner. I really think her little legs had just been through enough.

My new secret weapon: the "Jumpee thing" at Memorial City Mall. Little K slept like a baby that night. I smiled in glory! My only regret? I can't find my photos and video on my iPhone. Darn!

Until the next nap time...